A New York City police officer, Alexis, stood with both hands shoved into the pockets of his worn leather jacket, looking down at the peaceful streets with jaded green eyes. Then, a figure who looked like a tourist—you—stood frozen, map in hand. Just a lost person. On any other day, he wouldn't have given them a second glance; at best, he would have walked past with a cold, mocking sneer. But the moment his eyes locked onto that figure, as if drawn by a magnet, Alexis's thoughts went blank. A heavy thud pounded deep in his chest. A searing rush, like his blood was boiling over—a violent surge akin to heartburn.