Hard Wired Trilogy DeAnna Pearce (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

to pull forward. Fighting every instinct to run back to Reed to find comfort in those arms that provided so much of it, she drove forward for her appointment in VLEX—back to the one thing that would kill her.

If she was going to totally freak out, and she knew she would at some point, this wasn’t the time or place. Ari needed more information, needed the truth, and there was only one place to get it: VLEX.

Chapter 31

Running behind, Ari hurried to her rooms, changed into her smart suit, and managed to skid inside Niomi’s lab right on the dot.

“You’re cutting it a bit close.” Niomi stood in front of her screen.

Not trusting herself to speak without a flood of anger and resentment pouring out of her, Ari shrugged. Her trainer glanced in her direction but said nothing. Ari reclined on the chair and reached for the cable.

Niomi turned around to face her. “You were suspended for health reasons and have only been given a chance to go and collect your messages. Answer anything urgent with work as to not arouse suspicion with Kari’s absence, though I doubt there’s much to do this late in the season. Then message Antoine. Make it quick.”

“I don’t think he’s the type to settle with short.” Her words were sharp, Ari’s hurt and betrayal seeping through.

Her dark eyes narrowed. “We don’t know the warper in there and now isn’t the time to hang out. Watch your back and run at the first sign of trouble. Okay?”

“Okay.” Ari wished she heeded those words long ago, and she would have never trusted Niomi or anyone at VisionTech. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and entered VLEX.

She found herself in Kari’s office and wondered if this would be the last time she saw it. God, she hoped so. She was tired of living someone else’s life, of being a chameleon in someone else’s game. After hurrying through the emails, she messaged Antoine as soon as she was inside. “Can you meet real quick before you head home for the day? It’s important.”

It took a few minutes for the reply.

I can get away. What has been going on? You haven’t said a word to me in days. This distance makes me wonder if you really want to go away with me.

You have no idea, she thought. Instead she kept her reply simple and sent it off.

Hurrying down to the market, she grabbed a table in the corner for privacy. She twisted the cloth napkin in her hands trying to figure out how to explain this to him. Would he even believe her? Maybe she had more options than she thought. Thinking of her shelf life, ideas began to grow.

His tall frame maneuvered through the tables. She greeted Antoine with a hug, as he kissed her cheek softly, she didn’t even bother pulling back to watch the interaction in code. She owed it to him to be here, to be present.

Once they sat, he ordered a drink and swiped the screen aside. Looking into her eyes, Ari could see the pain and worry.

“What’s been going on, Kari? You don’t return my calls, you miss work all the time. I’m surprised you still have a job.”

Ari was too sometimes, but she didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes. “I’m sorry.” Struggling to swallow, she realized she wanted to tell him the truth. To be honest about everything and release the heavy burden she’d been carrying around. She couldn’t do that… now, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t do it one day.

“I need more than sorry.” Antoine’s brow tightened as he watched her.

“There is only so much I’m allowed to tell you,” then, leaning forward, she added, “here.”

“What are you talking about?” He lowered his voice as well.

Adrenaline raced as she thought about what she was going to do next. It was crazy, but right now, she didn’t know what was up from down. But a nugget of an idea sprouted, and she had to keep her options open.

Keeping her voice low, she reached for his hands. “It’s stuff with the government, outside of the VLEX. Nothing I can talk about inside here, but I’ll tell you later. When we meet outside.”

He searched her eyes, looking for something more. Something she couldn’t give him. Not now.

“We’re still meeting?”

Ari prayed she was doing the right thing, not that the right thing was clear anymore. She could feel the emotion burn the back of her eyes. “Yes. Just… be there, okay? If you want the whole truth.”

“Don’t be nervous.” He squeezed her hands. “I’ve wanted you in person, to really touch you, look at you through my real eyes, not this dusted over computerized version. I love you for you, not this program. I hope you remember to feel the same when you see me.”

It dawned on her that he may not look like this in the real life. Normal people couldn’t just change how they look, but they could buy skins. Diplomats and officials didn’t bother, since they were well known, but the lesser staff probably would.

“How will I know it’s you?”

“I’ll be holding your favorite flowers, waiting for you.”

Thinking back to the file on Kari, Ari remembered the lilacs and smiled. “Okay. I’ll see you then.”

He leaned forward and placed a sweet kiss on her lips, then walked out. A pain tugged at her gut, realizing however much she did this for Kari, part of her cared for Antoine. She had grown to care for Antione. He was a good boyfriend to Kari and obviously kind and loving. She didn’t love him, but she cared for him.

This may be something she needed to tell Reed about. He deserved to know, yet it hurt to think about it. Maybe hearing the real reason why she was doing all this would help Reed move on, because dating a warper with a shelf life wouldn’t end well for him either.

Since her meeting with Antoine went smoothly, she had time