Page 32 of Austen

“My mind is in a thousand different places, but I want to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Do you?Because it feels like you’ve already made a judgment about me.Does this have something to do with how you got shot?”

A flinch, then, “The fact is that you told me that you hadn’t sold your AI program to the Department of Defense.You said it on the way to the conference in Barcelona.But I met my cousin Colt there, and he specifically said that you had.”

Declan frowned.

“And no, I didn’t want to believe him.Because I trusted you, Declan.And then I got caught in the landslide—under your vault—” Something flashed in his eyes—memory?panic?“Somehow I found my way out on the other side of the mountain, and that’s where I watched a couple Russians who were part of a mining crew blow up the mountain.”

“They were the ones that shot you.”Not really a question, because it felt like the only answer, but Stein nodded.

“I did a little research when I got back to the States and discovered that they were part of the Bratva, the Russian mob.What are they doing in Mariposa?”

Great.Declan wrapped his hand behind his neck.“All right, here’s the truth.Yes, the DOD has my AI program.But it’s just for testing purposes, so they can see if it works on some of their drone equipment.I did not let them—I did notlicensethem to deploy it on any cyber soldiers, so that wasn’t a lie.”

“I hope that’s the truth, because we’re going full-on Terminator, and you’re the director of Skynet.”Stein didn’t smile, so that wasn’t a joke.

“Calm down, Stein.I’m a patriot, and when the DOD came to me and asked for help, of course I was going to do what I could for my country.”

Stein’s eyebrow went up.

“Including trying to keep dangerous material out of the Russians’ hands.You’ve heard the saying ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer’?”He held up his hand.“They asked if they could come in and mine sulfite from the mountain, which, as you know, is a prime source of sulfur.I thought the money would help with the repairs for the island.And I was watching them because I knew they were lying.They were truly mining something called obsidite.It’s a mineral that helps?—”

“I know what it is,” Stein said.“And I know that in the wrong hands, coupled with your technology, it could create a cyber soldier that would be a threat to the entire world.”

“Exactly.That’s why I intercepted the shipment.”And now he was treading on bigger secrets, the kind that might get him into trouble, especially since Stein didn’t work for him anymore.And technically, the entire operation was top secret, so there was that.But Stein had been a SEAL, so once upon a time, he’d had clearance.Which meant he could keep a secret and was trustworthy, right?And they had had a friendship once, or at least some semblance of it.

“Let’s just say that I have a plan to keep the obsidite out of the Russians’ hands.A plan that’s working.”

“But then it’s inyourhands.”Stein met Declan’s eyes, a darkness in his own.

A beat.Declan frowned.“What do you think I’m going to do with it?Sell it to the highest bidder?”

Stein’s gaze didn’t waver.“You said it, not me.”

“Were you shot in the head too?Stein, I am not aterrorist.I’m not going to contribute to someone attacking America.I promise.”

Steinbeck just stared at him, his jaw tight.

“Really?Come on.You know me.You worked with me for five months.”

Stein seemed to consider that, his chest rising and falling.“What happens when the Russians find out that you’ve stolen their obsidite?”

“They won’t,” Declan said.“I have a plan.”His voice softened.“And I would really like Austen to stay if she feels welcome.Your sister is...she is...I’d like to get to know her better.I think that there’s something between us, and if it’s possible?—”

“No,” Stein said.

Declan raised an eyebrow.“I don’t think she needs your permission to stay on this boat with me.”

Steinbeck’s mouth tightened.

“No, I don’t.”Austen walked up behind Steinbeck.She glanced at her brother.“Hawkeye’s looking for you.He wants to leave.”Then she glanced at Declan, back at Steinbeck.“But I’m staying.”

Steinbeck cocked his head.“No, I think you need to?—”

“I don’t care what you think, Steinbeck.I do appreciate you looking for me.Of course I do.If you hadn’t, then I’d still be out in the ocean.But you’re just going to have to let go a little bit and let me live my own life.”She crossed her arms.

So this was something between the two of them.And Declan wanted to let them sort it out, but not if it meant her being pushed into something she didn’t want to do.So, “Steinbeck, I will make sure she gets to the island safely.I’ll have Doctor Julia look her over.And then we’ll look for her boat.I promise you I will get her back to Key West in one piece.”

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