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

They raced up the ramp, a man on top greeting Tamar with a hand on his shoulder. “Cutting it close, cousin.”

“Keep safe on the waters.” Even Tamar appeared slightly out of breath.

“We always do.” He motioned Ari and Reed on top of the massive boat.

Hand in hand they stepped on to the boat, and the large metal gate shut after them. Ari turned back to tell Tamar just how much all this meant, for being a friend and caring for her when she really needed it.

Tamar just shook his head. His kind eyes peering through wet clumps of hair that hung down his face. “No time. Be safe.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. Emotion flooded through her, washed away by the rain splattering her face. There on the ship, she promised herself if she ever had the means, one day she’d return to the island, where beautiful people gave her a gift she could never repay.

Chapter 36

Being stowaways, Reed and Ari were led to a small mop closet for their lodging. Tamar’s cousin, Manu, handed them some water and a couple of blankets. “Sorry I can’t do much better. If we give you a room, then I have to log you in as passengers or crew. Both have a record I think you’d be better off avoiding.”

“Don’t worry. I appreciate what you’re doing for us.” Ari squeezed the water out of the ends of her hair, straight into a drain. Practical at least.

Manu shook out his short curly hair. His tall and wide build barely fit inside the room. “The crew knows you’re here, but it’s best if you keep to yourself and only deal with me. The bathroom is down the hall if you need it. Hunker down for the night as we sail ahead of the storm, and I’ll come bring you breakfast in the morning.”

Reed reached a hand out and clasped hands with Manu. “Thanks again.”

“Night.” Manu turned down the hall.

For the next few minutes, Reed and Ari took off extra wet layers, squeezing out the water. In an undershirt, Ari wrapped the blanket around her. Reed, in a pair of boxers, did the same.

They picked the corner without the drain and cuddled next to each other. Reed placed an arm around her. “Let’s hope our clothes dry by morning.”

“It’d be nice.”

“Since we have time now, can you tell me what happened? And why you didn’t tell me until tonight?” Reed didn’t yell or even sound angry for Ari flipping his world upside down.

With guilt heavy on her shoulders, Ari explained the mess she found herself in and how the restrictions in her contract forced her to not tell him. Even though he knew that, he agreed the separation between them was just another ploy by VisionTech. He didn’t argue, just listened.

Then when she began explaining about her mission, the hardest part came—explaining about Antoine. “I should have just broken up with him. Niomi told me too, but I thought the mission would end soon and Kari would have her life back. I didn’t want to ruin her life more than I already did.”

“That makes sense.” He remained composed, his face not giving anything away.

“And there’s more.”

“What?”

Ari pulled back, not willing to let herself be comforted. She didn’t deserve it. “I kissed him. At first, I pulled back. Only watching their interaction within the data. Like a director moving Kari’s body to react positively to her boyfriend. Keeping everything normal until…”

“Until what?”

“The last time I kissed him.” Tears fell silently down her cheeks. “I can’t really explain it. I don’t care for Antoine like that. I just… I felt bad for stealing his girlfriend, for destroying her life, maybe even being the cause for her death. I caused him so much sorrow that I wanted to say goodbye and have it be as real as possible for once.”

Reed stood up, fists clenched, he looked like a trapped animal. With a loud exhale, he stepped forward and slammed his fist into the wall. Ari flinched, but he didn’t seem to notice.

The punch dented the drywall, but probably hurt him more. Shaking his hand out, he then slapped the wall with such force. With both palms on the wall, he lowered his head. The muscles on his back strained.

Ari gave him time. He deserved it with the bomb she just dropped on him. And now he was unemployed and on the run to a foreign country. He could have all the time he needed.

“Do you love him?” He spoke softly, still looking down.

“No. I care for him, mostly out of guilt. I love you.” She prayed he believed her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you on the island, before you came with me.”

He spun around. “Do you think that really would have mattered?”

“I don’t know.” She lowered her eyes to her lap.

After slowly exhaling, he kneeled in front of her and lifted her chin with a finger. His anger appeared to melt off him, his face softening. “I don’t regret being here with you. I’m furious at VisionTech for putting you in an impossible situation, and even more furious that I couldn’t do anything about it.”

“It’s not your job.”

“But I want it to be.” He cupped her cheek with a soft hand. “I know how you feel about the VR, and after Garrett last year I know how you feel about romance in the VR. I don’t think for a minute you did it because you had some virtual fantasy. We’re real, together, and that’s what matters.”

The pressure of shame and guilt that had been bogging her down finally lightened as she reached for Reed.

He sat back down and pulled her next to him. “What ended up happening with Antoine? Did you break up?”

She bit her lip, hoping he wasn’t going to hate this next part. Her story just kept getting worse and worse. “No, I told him to plan on their vacation.”

Reed turned to look at her. “Isn’t that worse? Leaving