Nora rushed into the living room from the sliding glass door at the side of the house, smelling of horses and tack. Her eyes were bright and contained none of the fear from last night. “Carson’s here!”

Mackenzie stood as Nora flew by and headed toward the front door.

“Nora, wait.” She wanted to follow her sister. She glanced at the screen, and Sir Galahad was gone.

“You wanted my computer so you could play a game while you worked?” Terra stood over her.

Mackenzie ignored Terra and rushed after Nora in time to see Carson getting out of his car, then catching Nora up in his arms.

“Protecting your family.”

Wasn’t finding the drone, finding the man behind everything part of that protection?

Mackenzie averted her gaze when the two kissed. She remembered the opened computers. She didn’t need more questions from Terra. She headed back into the house, and Terra was at the kitchen counter.

“Thank you for letting me use your laptop. I’ll just close out of my tasks.” She hoped Terra hadn’t read the conversation.

Mackenzie moved to the coffee table in the living area. Terra washed her hands at the sink and said nothing. Maybe she hadn’t heard Mackenzie. She wouldn’t bother trying to explain that she wasn’t actually playing a game. It was all too complicated. Mackenzie skimmed through the results of her counterattack and queries to search for additional nefarious code before she closed the tabs. She shut off Terra’s laptop, closed it, and carried it over to the counter where Terra was looking at her phone.

Nora’s and Carson’s voices echoed from the front door, and they entered the house. Nora held his hand and brought him all the way into the kitchen to introduce him to Terra, who then offered drinks.

Carson declined.

Nora glanced at Mackenzie, and her smile said it all—her sister was in love and felt safe with her husband-to-be now at her side.

“I flew back on the earliest flight.” He looked at Nora. “I want to know what’s going on. Everything.”

Nora offered a tenuous smile, then an apologetic look at Mackenzie. “We’re going now. Carson is here, so I should be okay. I just want to go home and get into my own clothes.”

“Protecting your family.”

“Wait. I’ll go with you, if that’s okay.” She rushed to the living room and grabbed her laptop and bag.

Arms crossed, Terra looked like a force to be reckoned with, and gave Mackenzie pause.

“What?”

“Aren’t you going to wait for Alex? He’s expecting you to stay here. You told him you both would stay here.”

Oh. Right. “I’m sure he’ll be fine with me going with my sister and Carson.” She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Terra, I can’t let Nora go. I’m protecting her. I’ll text Alex and let him know.”