Page 35 of Conrad

Stein knew Antoni Gaudí might be deemed a little unconventional, but a strange part of Stein liked the unconventional nature-themed architecture that defied reason and felt a little like a theme-park attraction. Declan had planned an outing to the cathedral during the conference this week, so Stein hoped to get a closer look.

He could get used to traveling with Stone. Working for Stone. The guy had a level head, wasn’t an eccentric billionaire, and had even asked Stein to spar with him on a couple occasions.

Maybe to see if the former SEAL really could hold his own. Stein had tried not to hurt his boss when he’d taken him down. Again. And again.

Then again, he’d had to tell Declan the truth about his scars and why he’d left the teams, and while he’d left the story sketchy, he’d told him enough about the Krakow disaster for Declan to realize the decision to leave the Navy had been agonizing.

And out of patriotism.

He just couldn’t slow his team down, not with his knees.

But he could slow down someone trying to take out his boss, or even rob him, which Declan thought had happened when Stein had returned his phone after finding it in his coat pocket the night of Boo’s wedding.

Weird.

Now, he watched as Declan, dressed in a velvet navy sports coat and tweed pants, his dark hair freshly cut, stood with a couple men from Germany.

Speaking German, of course.

Stein caught a few words, but he wasn’t really listening.

He was watching. Watching the delegation of men from Hungary, scientist types, talking with a researcher from Prague, a woman with dark hair. There were only three women at the conference, which felt strange since AI technology didn’t discriminate. But add that to the defense applications—hence the AI-Genesis Conference, a summit of technology-progressive thinkers.

And Declan Stone owned one of the largest AI research programs in the world—Spectra. Stein had done some not-so-light reading on the plane on his way over about Axiom, the AI program that had a number of—in his opinion—frightening defense applications. But only in the wrong hands.

It gave Stein the reason why Declan might be unnerved about someone stealing his phone, and more specifically, his passwords and any other gateways to his program.

Like personal coercion.

His gaze fell on a blonde grabbing a drink at the bar. Vermouth with an orange slice.

“Your tan is fading.”

He glanced over at the voice and grinned. “What are you doing here, cuz?”

Colt Kingston held out his hand. Colt stood the same height as Stein, his dark hair clipped short, in a blue suit that stretched over his shoulders, a white oxford, dress shoes. “Same thing you are. Shadow work.”

“Really.” He released Colt’s hand. “I thought you were on a boat in Florida.”

“And I thought you were teaching bikinis how to scuba dive.”

Stein laughed and Colt grinned. “So, who are you with?”

Stein lifted a chin. “Declan Stone.”

“The tech guy. Yeah, we know him. His AI program is leading edge. The DOD has used it with some of their cyber soldiers?—”

“I really don’t want to hear the end of that sentence.”

“Can you sayTerminator?”

“‘Come with me if you want to live’?”

Colt nodded. “It could be prophetic.”

“And I’m working for the creator of the Terminator—Skynet.” He glanced at Declan. “He doesn’t seem like a power-hungry dictator. I ate a plate of patatas bravas last night with him in the Gothic Quarter.”

“No. He’s been vetted. Actually served in the Marines, so a patriot. But Logan Thorne has us just . . . watching.”

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