Page 102 of Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage 3)

“Did he say something?”

“He didn’t have to. I think he simply wanted me to know how very close he was, and he could kill me in any way he wanted.”

Mackenzie was finally beginning to understand. “I’m so sorry, Nora. About everything. Have you told Carson?”

“No. I can’t lose him too. Telling anyone puts them in danger.” She lifted her gaze to Mackenzie. “That’s why I wanted you to go home.”

Rising from the bed, she paced—just like Alex. A shiver started in her belly and crawled over her. So Nebulous 2.0 was here in Montana? Was it really him—the guy the FBI couldn’t get their hands on before? The man who had twisted Julian and Mackenzie’s efforts on their Robin Hood scheme? Was this about the money they’d taken? Or something more?

But she’d had no contact with Nebulous 2.0. The FBI had kept tabs on her for years, waiting and watching for him. Why was he suddenly back in her life, targeting her family and the company? Was it solely to get to her?

She had the feeling that her being here was actually part of his plan. She would feel the most pain if she was involved and in the middle of it. Had Julian been part of a ruse to get her here? Or had Nebulous 2.0 simply played him, suspecting he would warn Mackenzie and set things in motion? She needed to learn if the hit-and-run driver had been found. The less cybercrime she committed through this ordeal, the better it would go for her on the other side.

Nora sighed, the sound bringing Mackenzie’s thoughts back to the present.

“I know who’s behind this. I recognized the code of the cybercriminal while hacking into the network at the lower level.”

“You what? No wonder he tried to kill me tonight! You don’t know what you’ve done!”

“He wanted me in the system.” Or did she have it all wrong?

Nora rose and fisted her hands. “Are you saying it’s the same guy you were in cahoots with years ago? And he’s back now? Because if you are, then ... then you brought this down on us. We’re being punished. Rowan is dead because of—”

“Stop it,” Alex said as he stepped into the room. “Mackenzie isn’t to blame. We have a mad hacker on the loose. We need to report this.”

“We can’t. We’ll lose our contracts. I can’t be the reason for Hanstech’s downfall.”

“You won’t lose your contracts unless you handle this cybersecurity breach poorly,” Alex said.

It could be much too late for that.

“The security threat is only part of what’s at stake,” Nora said. “Our lives are too. Then there’s the prototype drone lost somewhere in the Montana wilderness.”

Mackenzie climbed to her feet. “What kind of drone? You mentioned the Iron Dome, but I need to know details.”

Nora pursed her lips as if she feared saying more, but then finally said, “I . . . I shouldn’t be telling you, even in this situation. But our enemies are using autonomous lethal drones powered by artificial intelligence to engage soldiers. Our government and military are falling behind in this technological landscape, and this lethal threat is only going to grow over the months and years. It’s an unacceptable risk level for our military forces, and for civilians right here at home.”

Nora hadn’t exactly answered the question.

“So Hanstech has built a weaponized drone with special capabilities?”

“No. It’s next-level threat detection technology that will protect against explosive attack drones. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when those attacks will occur, and we’re running out of time.”

Alex’s tone was somber. “And if someone gets their hands on the technology, they could develop the countermeasures, taking out our defense system against the weaponized drones.”

Nora nodded. “And like I said, our prototype is missing. At first, I thought Rowan had died of a heart attack because we lost it.”

“Then you absolutely have to tell someone,” Alex said.

“And lose our contract and all future contracts—that is, if I even still have my life?”

Mackenzie squeezed her fists. “Don’t worry. We’ll find the missing drone.”

And she wanted to meet this man face-to-face—and end this, once and for all. With Alex by her side, of course.

Nora yawned.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow.” Mackenzie headed for the door.