My shirt clung to my chest, sweat dripping down my face. I removed a handkerchief from my suit pocket and dabbed at my forehead. The New Mexico heat was like a sucker punch to the face. Trapped in the desert, I missed Connecticut and the icy breeze that flew off the bay.
I couldn’t wait to go home.
Tate stood beside me as people applauded my presentation at Tech Wars. I knocked it out of the park, impressing the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps with Lovelace’s technology. Dozens of my competitors displayed their weapons, but none were on the same level as Battle Industries.
As I approached the water cooler, Tate nudged my arm with his elbow. “You killed it, brother. Battle Industries is coming out on top.”
Tate was not only my half-brother but my best friend. Even on my darkest days, he was the light at the end of the tunnel. He was the only person other than Olivia who made me feel whole.
“Our dad would’ve had another heart attack if he’d seen what I did with his company. He never approved of my techniques. He called my ideas science fiction and said they would never work.”
Tate slid a hand through his sweaty dark hair and laughed. “You proved him wrong.”
“Yeah. I sure did.”
He poured water from a jug into two cups and handed one to me. “I’m glad he’s gone. I know that sounds shitty, but he didn’t give a damn about me when I was alive. He waited until he was dead to burden you with a half-brother you never knew existed. We could’ve grown up together. You could’ve had siblings, and I wouldn’t have had to live in bullshit foster homes or on the streets.”
I gulped down my water and filled the cup again. “The only good thing he ever did was leave me that letter.”
“I’m glad he did. These have been the best five years of my life.”
We rarely had heart-to-heart moments or discussed our father, but after riding out the high and excitement of a successful demonstration, we were both overcome with emotion.
“I’m ready to get out of here,” I said, wiping more sweat from my brow. “When is our convoy leaving?”
Tate shoved up his shirtsleeve and checked his watch. “Twenty minutes.”
I pointed at the tent to our right. “Let’s get out of the heat.”
We took cover under the tent and found an open bench. I stripped off my suit jacket and rolled up my sleeves. Already feeling ten pounds lighter, I fanned myself with my hand.
Tate passed me a water bottle from the cooler. “Here, bro. You need to cool down.”
I held the bottle to my head and let the beads of perspiration drip down my face. The water felt good, but the feeling didn’t last long. Within minutes, the water was warm.
Someone sat beside me, shifting the bench. I turned to my left, not at all surprised to see the owner of Titan Tech, Mark Ruben.
Just what I need.
For the past two years, Mark had done everything in his power to get his hands on Lovelace. He offered billions of dollars, sent professional whores to my workplace, and even tried to entice me by dangling special editions of my favorite comic books in front of my face like a carrot.
“Drake.” Mark raised a bottle of water as if toasting to me. “Great presentation. You killed it out there.”
“Thanks, Mark.”
I glanced at Tate, giving him a look that saidGet him away from me.
He smirked and whispered, “Play nice. He won’t bite.”
I rolled my eyes.
Mark had been breathing down my neck for the past year, offering me everything under the sun to get his hands on Lovelace. My deal with the government didn’t grant them exclusive rights to my algorithm, nor did it prevent me from leasing the technology to other companies.
Mark tapped my forearm. “Think we can meet later to talk about Lovelace? I have a proposal for you that’s too good to pass up.”
“She’s not for sale.”
I never intended to let anyone get their hands on her. Lovelace was my baby, my pride and joy. She was more than a piece of software. If the board of directors at Battle Industries hadn’t forced my hand, I would have kept her to myself. And now that everyone knew what she could do, including terrorist groups like The Lucaya Group, I wished I’d never shown her to anyone.
