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Chapters (53)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Half Title Page
  4. Books by Elizabeth Goddard
  5. Title Page
  6. Copyright Page
  7. Dedication
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. TEN
  18. ELEVEN
  19. TWELVE
  20. THIRTEEN
  21. FOURTEEN
  22. FIFTEEN
  23. SIXTEEN
  24. SEVENTEEN
  25. EIGHTEEN
  26. NINETEEN
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. TWENTY-SEVEN
  35. TWENTY-EIGHT
  36. TWENTY-NINE
  37. THIRTY
  38. THIRTY-ONE
  39. THIRTY-TWO
  40. THIRTY-THREE
  41. THIRTY-FOUR
  42. THIRTY-FIVE
  43. THIRTY-SIX
  44. THIRTY-SEVEN
  45. THIRTY-EIGHT
  46. THIRTY-NINE
  47. Author’s Note
  48. Acknowledgments
  49. Another Thrilling Story from the Author
  50. ONE
  51. About the Author
  52. Back Ads
  53. Back Cover

“Uh, yeah. I heard about it. Listen, Mom, I have some news for you. It’s going to feel like a bomb.” He squeezed his eyes shut. Should he open this door? But the door had been opened, and he had a feeling his mother was well aware of the past. He’d prefer that his mother be prepared to meet Shelby—Alex’s half sister.

“Well, what is it?”

Moisture erupted on his palms. He didn’t really want to do this now over the phone, but he had to leave town. This could be painful for Mom. But not telling her would be equally painful when she found out. Besides, Alex had a feeling he would need an entire family, his family—yes, that included Ron—to encourage and help Shelby, if she would accept their help at all. She needed love.

“I have a sister. She’s here in town.” He held his breath, waiting for her response.

Seconds ticked by, and he released it before she answered.

“I knew your father had an affair, yes, with Camille Colton, twenty-one years ago. I didn’t learn about it until fifteen years ago, though, and we argued and tensions were high. Then he died in the avalanche. I’m sorry . . . I didn’t think it was your business, but more than that, I didn’t want you to be disappointed in him or hurt by it.”

But I have a sister! He bit back his angry retort. “But you also knew he had a child with her.”

Tear-choked words filled the line. “I didn’t know, I swear.”

Oh . . . Mom . . .

“What’s her name?”

“Shelby . . . Shelby Colton. And she needs a family.”

THIRTY-EIGHT

Mackenzie rode in the passenger seat of Nora’s Lexus. It was already past 10:00 p.m. when they left Carson. Because of a severe concussion, he would remain in the hospital for overnight observation. Carson had apparently been conducting his own investigation, including tracking Nora for her protection. Carson had a degree in accounting and investment banking, but he also headed up the cybersecurity department for a company in the financial sector before coming to Hanstech. He discovered Mackenzie’s rogue access point and went down to the servers to remove it when he came upon William, who Tasered him. When he fell, he struck his head on the corner of a server rack, knocking him unconscious.

Poor guy. She’d had Carson all wrong and should have suspected Nebulous 2.0 would be framing all sorts of people in his mad revenge scheme. She stared out the window and watched the dark forests of Montana go by. She imagined them during the light of day—blue skies and green trees and purple mountains, snowcapped at times.

Glorious.