Bad men don't change. That belief built Grant Lockridge's empire. And Vic Hastings believed it too-until the NeuroMesh started rewriting his mind. A lifetime of deception made Vic the perfect con artist. He lied. He manipulated. He got away with everything-until an experimental brain implant forced him to feel the weight of his past. Now, for the first time, he wants to be a good man. Grant Lockridge doesn't believe in redemption. As the architect of a prison system designed to keep men like Vic locked away, he's determined to crush the NeuroMesh program before it threatens everything he stands for. But when his sister falls for Vic-a man Grant considers beyond saving-his war against the technology turns personal. Now, Vic must pull off the greatest con of his life-not to escape justice, but to deliver it. If he fails, the people who gave him a second chance will pay the price. But the real question remains: Was the man Vic used to be truly gone? Or was he just waiting for one last score? Michael Crichton's Prey meets Blake Crouch's Dark Matter-a blend of high-stakes technological suspense and deep psychological transformation, where cutting-edge science collides with identity and morality.