“No. It was nonsensical. I can’t remember most of it.” She stared up at him—emotion building in her chest.

In the shadows, she couldn’t see the gray of his eyes, but she could feel the intensity of his gaze on her. His musky scent wrapped around her.

“Are you going to be okay?” The tenderness in his voice curled around her heart.

No. “Yes.” The word came out breathy.

He remained by her side for a few more heartbeats, then eased away and stood as he scraped a hand through his hair. “I’ll leave you to get back to sleep then.”

At the doorway, he hung his head and hesitated as if he wanted to say something else or return to her side, but then he simply walked out and pulled the door shut behind him.

She fluffed her pillow and laid down again, doubting sleep would find her. That dream had left her troubled and with a rising sense of doom.

SEVENTEEN

The sun peeked over the mountains with the promise of a blue-sky kind of day, but that promise didn’t reach all the way into Alex’s troubled soul as he left Mackenzie at the Hanstech facility with her sister. Nora had met them at the entrance where two security guards stood. He was uneasy leaving her, but Nora assured him that Mackenzie would be safe. No visitors were allowed in the facility over the next two weeks, and everyone in the building was employed by Hanstech.

Though the power company claimed the cause of the malfunction had to do with equipment failure, Mackenzie had suspected a cyberattack, and her suspicion remained. His too. And he couldn’t wait for the moment he could come back and pick her up—whether two hours or ten, the day would feel long and arduous.

Before he started his vehicle, his cell rang. Keenan. He’d texted him last night after Mackenzie’s nightmare. Keenan definitely knew more than enough about drones, and probably cybercriminals as well, to fill a book. Diplomatic Security Services was considered a global leader when it came to international investigations. Alex was well informed in threat analysis, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism, but he didn’t feel like he understood their adversary in this situation. He wanted to know more. To understand. Getting in the head of Nebulous 2.0—and he had a strong gut feeling that was exactly who they were dealing with here—could help him strategize.

He answered his cell. “Knight here.”

“Alex. We’re becoming regular buddies. I don’t think you ever talk to me so much, even when you’re working.”

“Funny.”

“Think like a hacker.”

Alex rubbed his forehead. “That’s your answer to my question?”

“That’s my answer to the question you didn’t ask.”

“You got me. I’m confused.”

“You asked what I know about cybercriminals. Dude, that’s a terrifically vague question.”