Chapter 20 - Kane
Terra’s meat tastes the same no matter how Kane chews it. Spongy with an almost chemical-like flavor. The vegetables aren’t any better, and the soda’s gone flat.
Yet with Rafael beside him, lashes fanning his cheeks as he carefully cuts his food, every bite feels worth the agony.
Kane knew the risks before he came. Thanks to Coda, the jammer on his wristlink should fry any facial recognition, and his HOV bike’s loaded with the best trackers and scramblers to dodge corpo drones.
The alternative was letting Rafael come to him. But that’s not an option when any day could bring Natural Order’s next hit.
Still, nothing prepared him for this VitaCorp apartment. Beige chrome-lined walls, lifeless pristine appliances, flawless window screens, too-clean purified air. It’s mega corps at their finest with every surface wiped clean of when the government pretended to matter.
But traces of Rafael break through. A worn, colorful blanket draped over the couch. Terra’s ingredients neatly stocked on the shelves. Framed holographic portraits along the walls, cycling through photos that make the place feel almost alive.
One catches his eye in particular: Rafael with a young woman, grinning at the camera. Both have voluminous brown hair, big dark eyes, and tan skin. Kane would normally tune these details out, but with Rafael, he wants to know more.
“Your sister?” He nods at the portrait.
Rafael’s smile widens. “Maria—we’re only a few years apart but complete opposites.
” A chuckle escapes him. “She can’t stand the mega corps.
It led to a lot of fights with our parents growing up.
But she’s still supportive of me, you know?
” His focus drifts for a moment. “You two would probably…get along.”
At least someone from Rafael’s world might approve of Kane. The odds are certainly stacked against him.
“Well, I’m not interested in her,” he murmurs, brushing a curl from Rafael’s face. “I’m interested in you.”
Color rises along Rafael’s cheeks. “Good.” The possessiveness leaves Kane more smug than he anticipated.
“How’d your parents handle having an anti-corp kid?” he asks before taking another bite of his food. “Can’t imagine that was easy around here.”
His question draws a chuckle. “Well, she wasn’t always like that, but yeah, my parents—they don’t really get my sister.” Rafael’s expression softens. “Especially now. But we see them regularly, at least once a month, for family dinners. It’s…not perfect, but it works.”
He pauses to stir his food. “Sorry, didn’t mean to ramble. But enough about me—what about you? Are your parents…around?”
Kane’s grip tightens around his fork. Would someone like Rafael understand? His compassion extended as far as Natural Order extremists, but family is different. Those scars may have healed, but they still burn when touched. And Kane can’t afford to let anyone see that part of him. Not even Rafael.
“Not much to say.” He shrugs. “They passed a long time ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Rafael’s expression falters. But his grin returns. “So, um, how’s the food? Hopefully, it’s not too bad. You, Echo, and Pixie are the only people I’ve cooked for outside my family.”
Warmth stirs in Kane’s chest. He’s one of the few people to taste Rafael’s cooking, and he just shut him down. But he has his reasons. “I told you before,” he says, setting his fork down. “You’re wasted on VitaCorp.”
Those brown eyes almost shine bright. “Still? Um—thank you.” He ducks his head, clearing his throat.
“They—your lieutenants mentioned you helped everyone in the marketplace get those ingredients. I thought that was really admirable. Is it because of your interest in baking? Or something your uncle started? Or maybe your aunt?”
Kane’s shoulders tense, and Rafael swallows. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
Sorry. The word sounds so wrong coming from his mouth.
Kane looks down at his plate, jaw tight. Rafael knows more about him than half the crew does. He’s never once thrown it back in his face. And Kane’s the one who keeps saying to ask questions, to speak his mind.
If he wants them to have something real, Kane needs to meet him halfway. Play his own cards for once.
He straightens. “No. I helped start the Shreveport market, not my uncle.”
Rafael blinks.
“Look—family isn’t something I dwell on…
” Kane drums his fingers on the counter.
“Lost both my parents when I was young. Mom to a faulty Lux Systems product, Dad to the gang that ran Shreveport back in the day. My uncle stepped in after that, started our crew to protect the neighborhood—to make sure what happened to his brother never happens again.”
His gaze drops to the half-eaten meal on his plate. A hand settles on his leg. Kane looks up to find Rafael watching him, expression soft with understanding.
“Your uncle…” Rafael starts. “He probably did what he thought best in the situation. That must’ve taken a lot of courage and strength. He sounds a lot like you…”
A knot forms in Kane’s throat. “Yeah.” He shifts in his seat.
“My uncle—he stood up for the people who couldn’t.
Shreveport changed under him. It’s still dangerous, but we became a shield against the worst of it.
I joined right after high school. Echo and the others took me under their wing until—” His jaw clenches at the painful memory. “My uncle died in a deal gone bad…”
Silence falls over the kitchen. Rafael stares at him, not with the pity he expected but pure, unguarded sympathy. “I’m sorry, Kane.”
The tension drains from him. He rests a chrome hand over Rafael’s on his leg.
“Most of the lieutenants left after that day, all but Echo. Dragan, our version of Viper, was taken by the dealer. Personal grudge or something. Never heard from him again. Our medic—she died that night too. Our techie stayed behind and brought my uncle back. But I told them to leave. They were just as responsible. And Athena—she fled the scene. Disappeared. Until now.”
Her smug grin flickers in his mind. “And she’s not just back. She’s leading Natural Order—the same anti-cyberware cult that’s been stirring up trouble for a century, the crew that’s led all those attacks on our borders.”
“Wow.” Rafael frowns. “That’s…awful. It must be frustrating…knowing she’s working against you now.”
Kane snorts. “Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover it.
” A bitter laugh escapes him. “They used to be harmless. Just idiots yelling about purity and protesting VitaCorp. Hell, they won’t even use guns.
They think circuitry ‘corrupts the body.’” His jaw tightens.
“But with Athena running them? They’re organized and armed.
And she knows how we operate—our contacts, our weaknesses, everything. ”
He exhales slowly. “She always said Duke played too safe. Said if she were in charge, we’d run the whole city. But she’s blind to what that will cost. Athena will gut this neighborhood and leave it like it was before my uncle took over.”
Gaze lifting to Rafael, Kane straightens in his seat. “But we’re still here. And we’ll win. I’ll make sure of it.”
Rafael’s fingers intertwine with his. “Well, I’m rooting for you…and the crew…If that means anything.”
Something inside Kane shifts. Rafael’s too kind for this world, especially his. But Kane’s selfish enough to keep him anyway, and he refuses to think about his dead parents, his aunt and uncle, or the damn war anymore.
With Rafael within arm’s reach, plush red lips parted and curls falling across his forehead, all Kane wants is to hold him close.
Kane’s hand shoots out, catching his arm. With a tug, Rafael comes off the chair easily, guided into his lap with legs straddling Kane’s hips.
“All you need to worry about right now…” His voice drips needy. “…is what we’re having for dessert.” A smirk curves his mouth as Kane leans in. “Because I’m craving something very specific.”
A flush spreads across Rafael’s cheeks. His arms loop around Kane’s shoulders. “Oh…you mean—”
He’s cut off with a kiss, but Kane draws back quick to see Rafael’s face even redder.
“Yes, that’s what I mean.” His fingers trail up a jean-covered thigh.
Rafael’s gaze falls to Kane’s hand, then flicks upward, lashes fluttering.
When they meet this time, Rafael closes the distance. With a low growl, Kane deepens the kiss, his free arm circling Rafael’s waist. Their bodies press closer until a soft needy sound escapes him.
This only spurs Kane’s hunger. His tongue finds his lips, and Rafael tilts his head back. Beef and tomatoes bloom across Kane’s palate, but even with that synthetic Terra’s tang, there’s no doubt he’ll replay this later tonight.
His fingers tighten in Rafael’s curls, drawing another shudder that vibrates against their joined mouths. Heat coils low in his gut. He drags his teeth lightly along Rafael’s throat, claiming more of the skin there.
And he doesn’t stop. His mouth trails lower while his hand slides up, tracing the inside of Rafael’s thigh until his fingers brush the edge of what he wants. Rafael trembles, breath hitching.
“Kane…”
The sound barely leaves his lips before a familiar ping echoes through the apartment.
God dammit.
Gritting his teeth, he lifts his head from Rafael’s neck. A pulse flashes from his visor on the counter.
Rafael settles his face into Kane’s neck. “It’s okay,” he says, his words muffled against the fabric.
Kane stretches over his shoulder and snags the visor with a curse. When he activates the device, a prerecorded video of Echo comes to life.
“Sorry if I caught you at a bad time,” she starts, smirking.
“But this can’t wait. Viper and Wren found a few Orderlings hiding in our territory.
Thought you’d want to question them yourself—” Her grin widens.
“But we can hold off while you…handle things in Midtown.” A wink from her human eye, and the feed cuts.
Kane exhales through his nose. Normally, he’d already be there. But the lieutenants have been holding the line without him. That was the plan. Except for some things, like interrogations, can’t be handed off.
“You have to go?” Rafael asks, peering up at him.
“Yeah.” His fingers thread through dark curls. “I’m sorry.”
A smile tugs at Rafael’s mouth, but doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s okay.”
No, it’s not. As Kane stands, one arm slips around Rafael’s waist while the other cups his face. He leans in, capturing his lips in a slow, deliberate kiss.
When they part, the guarded look is gone. Rafael’s grin is bright.
Steel settles in Kane’s chest as they say their goodbyes.
His territory, his crew, his man.
He’ll fight to keep them all, even if it means learning to loosen his grip.