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

much as they could with a pumice stone, then placed the new silicone fingerprints over theirs.

“How do you know they won’t notice these?” Reed asked as he finished putting on the last one.

“Because we use them all the time. Officials know what goes on here, and we pay them to look the other way. They work at the bigger ports too. You can’t tell even if you shake someone’s hand. Enough hand washing and they will come off, though, so take them off if you expect them to last more than a couple days.”

“Okay.” The silicone went on smoothly. As Ari rubbed her fingers together, she could barely notice them either. She slung her bag over her shoulder. “Thanks, Fetu.”

“I got you on the first ship out of here this morning, the Jackal. Don’t be late.” He picked his pipe back up and waved goodbye. “Safe travels.”

Once back on the street, she turned to Reed, who looked just as agitated.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. Or at least nothing I can put a name to.” He tugged on his cap. “I didn’t like him offering us jobs.”

“Me either.”

After a moment, he continued, “I just don’t feel comfortable here. After the attack last night, I feel like I can’t protect you or keep you safe, and that bothers me.”

“I get it.” She reached for his hand. “But it’s not your responsibility to keep me safe.”

“That doesn’t make me feel a whole lot better.” He leaned down and kissed the top of her hair. “Let’s just get out of here.”

“Deal.”

The smell of the port hit them before they saw it. Instead of the fresh seafood Ari regularly ate at VisionTech, it smelled like rotting fish. It didn’t look a whole lot better either. Too bad they couldn’t afford a plane to get off here.

At least the storm had passed, and clear skies greeted them on their voyage today. A cool breeze brushed against them as they strolled down the port. Keeping to the shops, they aimed for the crowds whenever they could. Ari couldn’t help looking back to make sure they weren’t being followed. It felt like people were watching them, more than when they first arrived. Maybe it was Reed’s bad eye.

At last they found the ship called the Jackal, sitting low in the water. Its green paint highlighted the rust on the large tin can. Smaller than their last ship, it sat a couple stories high. Hopefully the important parts of the ships weren’t rusty. No use regretting their decision now.

Ari squeezed Reed’s hand. “Ready to get back on board?”

“Yeah. I won’t be looking back on this place for sure.”

There was a line of people lined up on the ramp. Men and woman of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Reed and Ari placed their translators in and stepped in line.

“What’s taking so long?” the man in front of them asked the fellow next to him.

“Probably doing a head count for supplies or something. Don’t worry.”

Ari shivered and shoved her hands into her pockets.

Reed pulled her into a hug. After a moment he stiffened, then spoke in a low voice. “Don’t turn around, but I think I recognize someone from before.”

She tensed in his arms. They couldn’t have come this far only to be caught now. “Who are they? Guards from the island? They won’t attack us in public like this. Will they?”

“They looked like they are from here. Thugs really. If they were going to attack us out in the open, they would have done it by now. We need to keep an eye on them.” He pulled back, smiling and rubbed her arm like nothing was wrong. “They are the two tall guys, wearing black tees and ball caps.”

After a minute, she glanced back to find the men. They quickly averted their eyes, lowering their faces. Obviously, they were watching them, but for who? Did Fetu rat them out?

The line moved forward, and Ari and Reed followed, stepping up on the ramp. Fetu had told them a couple of lazy security guards would check them in. Instead, they found a team of agents in keen blue suits managing the check-in and even searching bags. From the crisp tone of their voices down to the razor-sharp haircuts, something felt off.

The line separated then, one for males and one for females.

Something Fetu didn’t warn them about either. She turned to Reed, her chest tightening with fear. Behind them were thugs and in front of them, security obviously on high alert.

“It’ll be okay.” He gazed into her face as if memorizing it. “It’ll be okay.” He repeated before they separated, each going into their own line.

Once separated, the lines sped up as they ushered people through. Maybe it would be better to not be together, Ari thought. VisionTech would be looking for a couple. Except now the two men in the back were even closer to Reed, and he was outnumbered. She kept them in her peripheral vision, waiting for any sign of attack.

The guard spoke, pulling her focus forward. The computerized translation coming through her ear piece. “Hurry up.”

Stepping up, her stomach tightened into a mess of nerves and fear. She slipped off her backpack and handed it over to the guard. While one guard pawed through the backpack, another guard waved her forward.

As she stepped into the metal arch that scanned her entire body, she held her breath. What if the pads on her fingers showed up on the scan? Hands shaking, she jammed them into her pockets. Not until he waved her through, did she finally breathe out.

Someone handed her bag back to her. She avoided their gazes in case they’d seen a picture. She threw the bag over a shoulder and turned to watch Reed go through the scanner.

His ball cap was pulled low to cover the bruises, but it didn’t help. His gaze flicked up to Ari and the edge of his mouth pulled up. It helped melt the tension inside of her. The scanner beeped at completion.

Reed stepped