In a future where the United States is slowly rebuilding itself, Omega Travis Danten is a big city cop sent to a seemingly desolate city on the edge of the Waste. This desert is full of undesirables, and it’s only a matter of time before they wreak havoc. But, Omegas are always assigned Alphas, and his new partner’s job is to protect him.<br><br>But SdAI Alpha Virgil is not at all amused with the partner who chose him. Travis is willful and naive to the dangers a homicide detective faces here, and it makes Virgil’s job that much harder. And Travis, of course, is human and develops feelings, feelings that go beyond the rules about Omega/Alpha partnerships.<br><br>Travis and Virgil have to find common ground, find a killer, and find space for each other in their own hearts, even if one is artificial.

Artificial Heart

“Have you eaten?” Virgil asked in a slightly desperate bid to figure out a peaceful place to talk.


A mute shake of his head was all the answer Virgil received, but it was a start. Travis was easy to hustle into their car and silent as Virgil drove to that little taco shop where they had first came to know each other. Once they stopped, Travis was out of the car like a bullet.


Virgil let him go. What point was there to follow his partner into the small building when he could see everything that happened from the driver’s seat? No doubt, Travis would enjoy the time to compose his obviously distressed emotional state alone.


The scent of chimichangas and hot carrots wafted his way in the dusty breeze long before his omega sat back in the passenger seat. Instead of devouring it in the same way Travis had before, Virgil watched curiously as his partner dropped the container at his feet and nibbled on the carrots with a complicated grimace on his face.


Chapter 24