Hard Wired Trilogy

by DeAnna Pearce

  “I’ll make toast,” Reed’s mom said to herself as much as Ari. “You’re too thin.”

  “So are you,” Ari replied.

  “Maybe.” Anita turned and watched her for a moment. “What did you call the stray cat Reed and Marco found?”

  A light smiled pulled up her face as she remembered the mangy feline. Neither mother would let them keep the cat, so they worked hard to feed it from the scraps. Soon it had enough of the kids and left, but it kept them entertained for a whole summer. “Sparks.”

  “Just had to make sure,” Anita nodded, not any happier to see her, and turned to open a cabinet.

  “Where is Reed?” Ari couldn’t hold in the question any longer.

  Anita didn’t answer at first, instead sticking the bread into the toaster. After pouring a glass of water, she set it in front of Ari. Then she went back to work on the toast, leaving Ari with the raging thoughts in her mind.

  Glancing around, she found a picture of Reed on the mantel in the front room. He stood surrounded by friends. It looked like it was taken at work at the factory. His smile lit up the whole room. Ari didn’t think she could take another minute when Anita finally spoke.

  “It’s not that I don’t care for you, child. I watched you grow, and your mother and I always did watch out for each other’s children.” Her gaze skittered to the door. “But with you, always comes trouble. My son has finally found some peace. He’s finally happy again.” She motioned to the same picture Ari had been looking at earlier.

  Biting her lip, Ari nodded. One of her biggest fears was that she hurt Reed, along with those she loved. Anita was right. Ari’s life, chaotic and crazy, hurt those she was around no matter how she tried to help. Coming back to see Reed was purely selfish. Did she really think that he would just leave his mom, his home, and run around the world with her with the threat of death or imprisonment always hanging over her head? She loved him more than that.

  Pushing back from the table she stood, heat flooding her face. “I understand. I just needed to know that he was safe and okay.”

  “He’s working right now and is showing great promise. Management material is what they call him. I recently got laid off, but he has a good job down at the plant. Makes a decent wage, despite leaving school early. He’s a smart boy with many prospects here.” The way she said prospects, Ari knew it referred to the opposite sex. Reed was always popular, and girls at school were always eager to talk to him.

  “Glad to hear it.” Ari had to leave, before she broke down completely in front of Anita. “I’m sorry I came and put you at risk. Like I said, I had to know for sure.”

  As tears burned her eyes, she spun towards the door. It swept open without her command and standing in the doorway was Reed. Her Reed, with his perfect hazel eyes looking kindly down. He had let the stubble on his face grow in more than usual. She reached out a hand, her heart aching with every passing moment. Then she stopped. This wasn’t her Reed. Not anymore. She didn’t deserve him.

  He glanced at his mother. His eyes questioning, before returning to her. She realized hot tears flowed without restraint and he must think her insane. Seeing him now didn’t make any difference. His mother was right. It was best for him if she just disappeared. The knife had dug just a little deeper in her heart when she stared at his beautiful face and he didn’t even recognize her.

  Chapter 26

  Realizing how she must look, a strange woman crying inside his door, Ari turned her head and hastily wiped at her tears.

  “Mom?” Reed turned to Anita for an explanation.

  “Just a friend, dear, going through a hard time. Excuse us as I see her out.” Anita stepped behind Ari, helping her out.

  “Oh. I’m so sorry.” Reed stepped around them and with him, taking her heart.

  Anita placed a hand around Ari’s shoulder and escorted her outside. The door closing behind them, leaving them alone outside. Ari clenched her hands, reining in her emotions.

  “Just remember,” Anita said. “Family has to come first. You know that.”

  As she tucked away the pain and hurt, a coldness spread down Ari’s back. “I understand. I guess I just thought we were family.” Then she headed down the walkway, not looking back.

  She didn’t blame Anita for protecting her son. It was something Ari had wanted to do since Reed first left the country with her. But that realization didn’t ease the pain she forced back.

  In the lot, a strange car sat idling with no driver. The shiny silver sedan without a hint of rust stood out amid the half-running heaps that littered the street in Reed’s neighborhood. Maybe she had alerted someone when she checked on her dad. It would make sense the next place the government would check would be Reed’s. Instinct kicked in and she continued to the next apartment complex.

  Once she hit the alley, she picked up her pace, jogging quietly to not draw attention to herself. She was grateful she parked her car behind the liquor store. In between the dumpster and tow truck, no one could see her small car from the street.

  With a quick glance at her watch, she realized she had only hours to find a secure connection and leave a message for Patrick. She itched the wig on her head and hurried to the car. It wasn’t until she was miles away on the highway that she tore the pins out of the wig and pulled it off. Then the emotion she forced down to get past the major city checkpoints finally broke.

  The sobs came out between ragged breaths. Tears blurred her vision and she had to pull over on the side of the road. She never imagined this loss would wrack her body with such pain and sorrow. Aching pain tore through her as she realized there would be no more Reed for her. That love and light in her life had come to an end. Reed stood for safety, for home, and she didn’t know she could live without him.

  But she had to. For his sake. If she really loved him, she’d let him be. It went against every instinct she had. While her gut told her to turn the stupid car around, she knew she couldn’t. His safety and peace meant more to her than her own selfish needs.

  Time that she didn’t have sped by as her tears ran dry. Patrick was right. She needed to close this door and focus on the future. The team needed her. Tricky needed her.

  The bottled water was warm, but she finished it off, wiped her face, and drove back onto the highway. These bastards that stole her life from her would live to regret it.

  Before boarding her plane, Ari got a message off to Patrick at one of the many IP addresses they regularly checked. She had the long plane ride to reaffirm her decision. The past was the past and unless she did something, her future didn’t look all that better.

  It took almost a day to get back to the cabin between the varied transportation. She messaged that she was back in town, and they said they’d send someone to pick her up. Restless, she started the path towards the house. The sun was falling but gave plenty of light to guide her path.

  The roar of the vehicle sounded, and Ari stepped off the path, but remained visible. As it slowed to an idle in front of her, she was surprised by the driver. She thought one of the others would pick her up, maybe even Marco, but it was Patrick.

  He turned off the Jeep and got out. Straightening her back, she steadied her nerves, though she had no clue why she was nervous. She didn’t plan on pursuing a relationship with Patrick. It wasn’t fair to anyone. Ari planned to work, nothing more.

  “How did the trip go?”

  “Smooth. No glitches with the documents and fingerprints you gave me.”

  “Good. You find what you need?”

  Ari swallowed, her throat tightening. “He was there with his mother.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t bring them both back.”

  She had wanted to, had walked into that apartment with those exact intentions. “They were better off where they were. He is safe and has a good life there.”

  His face softened. “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you?” Ari couldn’t help the bitterness that crept up.

  He kept his distance but watche
d her carefully. “I am. This life takes a lot from us. It isn’t fair.”

  “No, but what is?” She swung her bag over her shoulder not wanting to talk about it. She buried those emotions and wasn’t going to dig them up in front of Patrick. “I’m here, one hundred percent, and ready to work.”

  He watched her for a minute, like trying to decipher her intentions. “I wanted to let you know what you missed while you were gone.” His serious tone put her on edge.

  “What?”

  “While you were gone, Maxim used the virus to infect the Vice President of China, who also happens to be a diplomat and their country’s representative on the Board of VLEX.”

  Ari dropped her bag in shock, but Patrick continued talking.

  “It wasn’t inside of VLEX but in a Realm inside of China. And the real kicker is: guess who replaced the Vice President?”

  “No, they wouldn’t?” Ari shook her head.

  “Maxim is now on the Board.” Patrick ran a hand through his hair. “While we’ve been chasing emails and praying for a crumb of information about Maxim, he’s been murdering dignitaries and putting himself in control of the world’s political stage.”

  “Why would they put him on?” Ari knew there were only ten seats on the Board, mostly assigned to government officials.

  “We need to figure that out, along with a host of other things.”

  “I meant what I said. I’m ready to work.”

  “Good, then let’s go.” He turned back to the Jeep.

  Once buckled in, they began the journey back. Patrick kept his eyes on the road. “I do have some good news.”

  “I’m ready for some good news.”

  “Tricky’s awake.”

  Ari straightened. “Really? For good?”

  “She still sleeps about 12 hours a day, but she’s back to demanding her computer and goes to meetings when she can.”

  Ari exhaled with relief, happy at the good news. “That’s great news.”

  “Her brother is constantly torn between giving her what she wants and trying to keep her offline for as long as possible.”

  Ari was familiar with that struggle with her own brother after his VR coma. “Has she said much about how it happened?”

  “Yes. Maxim.” His jaw tightened for a moment. “Maxim is at the center of this web, but we need to figure out his game plan before others get hurt. He has a weapon that could hurt millions and now sits in a position of power he stole.”

  “Maxim needs to die, and for once I wish I could do it.” Ari wasn’t usually the violent type, but Maxim had dealt with everything from weapons to the sex trade, and everything in between.

  “I agree, but it’s not going to be easy. They figured out a way to hurt people online. To infect people’s brain. And as much as I’d love to use this tech against them, I’m also terrified of what that means.” He glanced her way, and back to the road. “Virtuals will never be safe again.”

  “They never were.” Ari thought back to the last time she saw her father, and the news she’d have to give her mother and brother when she returned.

  They drove in silence the rest of the way. Ari found comfort in the thick trees that hid them from the rest of the world. They pulled into the basement garage.

  As he turned off the engine, Ari turned to him. “Patrick?”

  “Yes?”

  “I want to thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “No. I really mean it.” She had a long time to think on the flight and realized how much this team, how much Patrick had meant to her. “Not only did you help me escape VisionTech, you helped me rescue my family, you let me tie up loose ends with Reed, and the biggest thing was when I was gone I didn’t worry about Marco and my mom. I don’t think I can ever repay you.”

  His steely gaze never left hers. “You repay me every day by being here, by helping with Tricky, working to keep us all safe in a world that is trying to weaponize our kind.”

  She realized how much her life had changed because of Patrick. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He broke off eye contact and turned to leave.

  The cabin felt like home in a way nowhere else had for a long time. The others greeted her with hugs and the familiar smell of onion and spices enticed her stomach. Before she could make it to the kitchen, her mother appeared before her and wrapped her in a fierce hug.

  “I’m not happy with you, chica, but I’m glad you’re back safe and sound. No more trips for a while.”

  Ari laughed. “I’m back. No need to worry anymore.”

  Her mother pulled back. “You are not a mother or else you would know. It is a mother’s job to worry. It never stops.”

  “Well, I’m back. You don’t have to worry.”

  Cynthia gave a dismissive ‘umpf’ and turned back to the kitchen. “You are too skinny. Come eat. We will talk later.”

  “Of course, Mom.” Ari had arrived just in time for dinner.

  Dinner conversation revolved around work. Even Harini, who was a stickler about work time and personal time, let it slide. Everyone hypothesized Maxim’s next move. Even though the outlook with Maxim was bleak, Ari couldn’t help but be happy that she was home. Marco had kept his distance though, which was unlike him. Maybe this Maxim thing was getting to him. The cold shoulder meant things were bad.

  Ari waited until the dinner rush faded, and everyone went their separate ways. She followed Marco down the hall. He must have been going to work with Joe or Blur. “Hey, Marco.”

  He stopped, his back stiffening, but not turning or saying a word.

  She hesitated for a moment, then continued forward. “Can we talk?”

  As he turned around his still demeanor disappeared, and he shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, why don’t we talk. You can talk to me about ditching me yet again. Talk to me about seeing my best friend, and how the world revolves around you.”

  “That’s not fair.” Ari did notice the irony of how she recently told Patrick life wasn’t fair, but Marco didn’t need to know that.

  “I was his best friend for years. You dated him for, what, a year? Get over yourself.” He shot a hand through his hair. “I was forced to leave my home for you. Mom and I were displaced. Then you just drop us off at the next place and take off again. Ever think of what would happen to us if you didn’t return?”

  “Patrick would have taken care of you.”

  “Sure. Another guy who has the hots for you. So generous.” His gaze turned ice cold. “I don’t blame Reed for not coming back. You’re not worth it.” Turning, he headed off.

  Ari wasn’t sure how or why the next part spilled out. “He’s dead.”

  Her brother stopped but didn’t turn back. “Dad?”

  “Yeah. I stopped by the center.”

  “If we were still there, he’d be alive.” Marco said the words Ari feared.

  “I know.” The truth burned raw in her throat. If it wasn’t for her, they still would be back home as a family. “Reed has a good job at the factory. If you wanted to go back, maybe you could. I can talk to Patrick.”

  “You don’t know what Reed had to do to get that job, or what was done to him by the government when he returned. I don’t need any more crumbs from you.” Then he stormed down the hall, hands fisted at his sides.

  Ari didn’t try to follow. When she turned around, she found her mother there, frozen with tears streaming down her face.

  “Is it true?” Her mother’s voice came out as barely a whisper. “Is he dead?”

  Biting her lip, Ari nodded. “I didn’t mean for you to…” To what? Find out like that? Hear Marco tear into her dark, selfish core?

  She placed her hand over her mouth to hold back the sob that erupted.

  “I’m sorry, Mom.”

  Her mother stepped back. “No, Arianna. It is not your fault.”

  The words felt empty and false. Before Ari could say anything else, her mother spun around and left. Ari stood alone in the hall, the heaviness of t
he last few minutes threatening to pull her under. She almost went to talk to Patrick or Harini but changed her mind. Ari didn’t deserve compassion or kindness. It felt surreal as she walked to her room, took a sleeping pill, and then sunk into oblivion. Tonight, she’d let herself grieve for what she lost, for tomorrow she would seek revenge.

  Chapter 27

  The next morning, Ari headed to Tricky’s room. Blur had looked better over breakfast, but still tired. Harini told Ari that while Tricky was conscious longer she hadn’t returned to her herself, physically or mentally.

  When Ari knocked softly on her door, she didn’t know what to expect.

  Tricky opened the door, underweight with a ghostly complexion. “Hey, I wondered when I’d see your mug around.”

  “Hey, stranger.” Ari hugged her friend and to her surprise Tricky grasped her back tightly. “I thought I lost you for good.” Her voice hitched with emotion.

  “No way in hell I’d let Maxim off that easy. You on your way to breakfast?” Tricky joined Ari in the hall.

  Ari didn’t want to go to breakfast, didn’t want to see Marco and her mother, but she couldn’t avoid them forever. Not when they lived under one roof. “I’m not that hungry.” Maybe she could just avoid them for another hour or two.

  “I can eat both of ours then.” Tricky pulled her along. “I want to talk shop, anyway. I have a theory on how to trap that devil Maxim.”

  “No devil-talk over breakfast,” Harini snapped at them as she joined them in the hall.

  Tricky mumbled as they continued into the kitchen.

  Ari remembered their last conversation before Ari left. Tricky wanted her to find the connection between Maxim and who unleashed the virus. She felt a twinge of quilt at not helping Tricky in that regard. If Maxim had the virus, then there was some sort of connection between VisionTech and Maxim. But Ari barely survived the encounter with VisionTech, never mind finding anything useful to Tricky.

  At breakfast with Tricky the morning meal carried on as usual with the exception that Marco purposefully avoided Ari. Harini raised an eyebrow at her once in question, but Ari shook it off. Her mother came in to refill a basket of muffins, her eyes rimmed red. When she was in reach, Ari squeezed her mother’s hand. Her mom gave her a short nod then hurried back to the kitchen.