He rolled to his side to see Mackenzie lying on her back. Tears streamed down her temples. “Are you okay? Did he physically hurt you?” Because William had already inflicted plenty of pain on her.

“I’m okay. Please tell me my sister is alive.”

“And safe. I got down to the lower level in time to free her and Tilden, and they assisted Carson out. We got out before the blast. Nora used a drone to find you.”

She closed her eyes. “It’s over.”

He brushed his thumb across her temples and cheeks, wiping away the tears. “There’s still a lot to sort out, but if he was Nebulous 2.0, then yes, that part of it is over.”

Would either of them be given a pass on the measures they’d taken to stop the cybercriminal? Would they have a chance to explore a relationship? He hoped so. With everything in him, he hoped so.

Mackenzie was traumatized, as he was, and now certainly wasn’t a moment to kiss her. Except she opened her eyes and lifted her hand to his face and cupped his jaw. He saw the longing in her gaze, and he couldn’t resist. Before they faced the chaos of the aftermath, he would have this one moment with her.

Alex leaned forward and pressed his lips gently against hers. She weaved her hands through his hair and pulled him closer. Emotions and warm sensations surged through him, and his heart soared. He liked this girl—really, really liked her—and needed more time with her.

Approaching footfalls drew him up and away from the kiss. Mackenzie sat up as well.

Nora rushed forward. “Oh, thank God!” She dropped to her knees and pulled Mackenzie into a hug.

Alex stood to face the contingent of law enforcement that Nora had led to the ravine.

Jack, Nathan, Terra, and Trevor stepped into view, along with a couple of others he recognized instantly as federal agents. He’d been informed other agencies were on it. Now they show up.

Let the games begin . . .

THIRTY-SEVEN

Back at the county offices in Big Rapids, Alex finished giving his statement to the federal agents. Mackenzie was around the place somewhere, and he intended to find her. The agents had found William’s female accomplice, Anna Craven—a criminal for which a red notice had been issued by the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol. William had met her on the dark web. She’d been apprehended at a warehouse in Indianapolis, along with the prototype drone, thanks to intel provided by Julian Abel. Anna was driving the vehicle that hit Julian and was also the one who shot at Mackenzie in the woods. Apparently, Anna had only been tasked with observing Mackenzie with the drone but was jealous of William’s infatuation with her. In addition, the FBI had also taken into custody the individuals who’d arranged to purchase the classified prototype drone.