The program had scanned the data that had been retrieved from Lincoln’s files. The data that was categorized on the side table on the right contained the files with keywords that the program recognized. But the one in the left-hand table had keywords it didn’t recognize, nor did Levi, much to his horror.
He held the coffee mug at his lips while he read over the title of the files. He felt himself tremble, then placed the mug down after feeling weak.
Levi braced the side of his desk as he read over the keywords again, placing his spectacles back on. There was nothing there about going to Mars. It was everything that Mary, his PR agent, had warned him about and everything that Hannah had even tried to stir up in him when they spoke about the drones.
Lincoln was just another fear-mongering devil looking to take over the world with violence.
Levi was able to interpret from the files that the plan was to use Levi’s drones and technology to get a hold of the world’s satellites. He would then hold them hostage to the highest bidder, which would likely end up being China or Russia.
He leaned back in his chair, then removed his glasses again. He rubbed at his eyes, considering his options while trying to slow down the rush of rage moving through him.
Who the hell was he supposed to contact about what he was looking at? The CIA? The FBI? If Hannah was around, he was sure that she would know better than him. He began to type into the search engine about who to contact for such matters when he heard a knock at the door. It was his housekeeper, and she informed him that his client, Lincoln, was there to get an update on the project.
Levi felt himself swallow hard with anxiety. Was there any way that he knew what Levi had found out? If he had, why would he come over and be so direct about it?
“Calm down,” Levi whispered to himself.
He picked up his glasses and adjusted his shirt, taking a breath so deep his stomach bulged out. He left the office and told himself to keep it cool. There was no way Lincoln could know what he did.
Levi went downstairs into the lounge to meet with Lincoln, where his housekeeper had placed him. He walked into the room with hands in his pockets, painting a smile on his face that was akin to a clown’s.
Lincoln was an older man with the face of an ancient deity and a body of a much younger person. He was always dressed in three-piece suits, no matter the occasion or the weather. He looked like he’d asked his publicist for the opposite of the Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs aesthetic.
“Lincoln!” Levi said, holding his arms out wide. “Now, how did I earn the pleasure of this visit?”
He was leaning on a cane, despite not seeming to physically require one. Levi rounded the long hallway and found that the billionaire wasn’t alone. With him were two men that stood near him like gargoyles perched on the side of a medieval church.
“Levi,” Lincoln said. “This is Joe McIntyre, my head bodyguard.”
Lincoln glanced toward the man on his right, who looked like he was rolling around a giant piece of gum in his mouth. Joe looked at Levi through thin eyes the color of the darkest of chocolate. He was a heavy-set man, which made Levi think he was a shifter too. All at once, he wished that Hannah was there, standing around with her intimidating and powerful presence.
Levi nodded back at Joe, who folded his thick tree trunk arms in response.
“Great to meet you,” Levi said.
Lincoln was leaning against the fireplace with one hand, then turned around swiftly, motioning to the other man on his left.
“This is Fox Bane,” Lincoln said. “I have hired them both as bodyguards to keep me safe during these tumultuous times.”
Levi nodded at Fox, who barely looked him in the eye. He seemed to be looking at the door that led back to the hallway, which made Levi feel a little uneasy.
“You’d know all about that, though, wouldn’t you?” Lincoln said.
The man stared at Levi as he made his way toward a large recliner. It was Levi’s go-to recliner when he would listen to records, read, or simply contemplate life. Lincoln sat and crossed his legs, looking more and more like the Godfather as the interaction went on.
Levi frowned, leaving his hands in his pockets. “What, having a bodyguard?” he said, still smiling.
“I was told you have a wolf out there,” Lincoln said, nodding toward the woods.
Levi continued grinning but worried that it was betraying his true emotions. “Well, I was kidnapped, Lincoln,” Levi said, walking over to the couch casually. “This whole ‘threatening the tree-huggers of the world’ is new to me.”
The words sickened him as they came out of his mouth, making him realize that he had already changed astronomically after meeting Hannah. He felt his fists clench as he thought about her, half hoping she would burst through the door, the other half hoping she would stay away.
Lincoln shrugged, then held out his hand.
“It comes with the territory.”
Joe let out a guffaw that seemed out of place, startling Levi in his seat. Lincoln noticed, which made Levi sweat.