The streets of New York grow darker as the Oak Street Goons push from Yonkers into the Bronx, forcing Malcolm James into dangerous alliances. Nikki’s loyalty to him crumbles under the Cartel’s grip, while MayBac and the ruthless Aqueduct Hittas unleash chaos across the boroughs. Detectives Mike and Pretty Lou face mounting pressure from Internal Affairs, even as Lou’s affair threatens to expose him. And in the shadows, undercover agent Queenie Glam walks the razor’s edge between duty and desire. Alliances shift, betrayal cuts deep, and the Bronx becomes the battleground for control of the city.

The Heart of the City is the first installment in a gripping detective thriller series by Milton Johnson and Cole Manning. Set in New York City, it follows detectives Mike “LL Big Mike” James and Luis “Pretty Lou” Martinez as they navigate crime, corruption, and betrayal—while Mike’s twin brother, Malcolm James, rises as a powerful criminal kingpin. This is the story that launches a saga of loyalty, secrets, and survival in the city that never sleeps.