Downloading Heart & Chrome (Nova City Stories)

A gang leader who protects his own, no matter the cost. A medic who sees a man where he was taught to see a monster.

In a city run by megacorps, Kane’s crew survives because he makes the hard calls and doesn’t hesitate when it counts. But when an attack from a rival gang leaves his fixer dying, he’s forced to cross a line: taking a medic from Midtown into his territory.

Rafael was taught the Outer Districts were a lawless void of chrome and violence. But as a medic, he doesn’t see gangs. He sees a community holding the line, and a leader who carries every loss like it’s his to answer for.

Taking Rafael was a means to an end. Kane wasn’t prepared to protect him like his own—or to want him, when wanting anything is a weakness in his world.

Going home should be Rafael’s only concern. But leaving isn’t simple when Kane treats his kindness like something worth keeping…or when walking away means leaving Kane behind.