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

at the front sat before a large statue of Christ. He held out empty pierced palms, his gaze tired and sad.

A noise drew Ari’s gaze to the rows and rows of wooden pews. Down among the seats, someone was working and set down a hammer. He stood, dark hair falling into his face. With a familiar brush of his hand, he pushed aside his wavy hair and tucked it behind his ear. His face lit up as he recognized her.

“‘Bout time you came back to church, sis. I’m sure you’ll have rosaries in the triple digits.” Marco smiled as he leaned against the pews.

“I’m surprised the place didn’t start a flame when you stepped inside.” A warmth spread through her chest at the sight of her brother, and the banter felt natural.

“Who’s to say it didn’t?” He cocked a familiar brow.

She couldn’t keep it together anymore and rushed towards him.

He picked her up in a big hug. “I’ve worried about you, little sis.”

“Me too.” She held him tight, her heart ready to burst. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that. She only let go when she heard her name.

“Ariana?” Her mother’s accent carried through the chapel like music.

Air turned to find her mother, Cynthia, rushing towards them. She had lost weight, which she didn’t have much to lose. Her long hair was twisted into a familiar bun. Despite her small frame, she nearly tackled Marco and Ari as she wrapped them up in her arms.

“Watch it, Mom. Don’t want to break Ari just when she returns,” Marco managed to say under their mom’s iron grip.

Ari laughed and squeezed tighter. Her heart swelled, and her cheeks were wet with happy tears. After a long time, she finally felt hope.

Chapter 9

Their reunion was interrupted by a priest who needed to start mass. Their small party moved to Marco and Cynthia’s room in the back. The modest bedroom held two beds, two nightstands, and a small dresser. Ari’s room was bigger and better furnished. Guilt burrowed deeper at what her family must have gone through because of her.

It took them a while to catch up on what had happened the last year. They stayed in their country as long as they could. When some mercenaries went after Marco inside a program, he knew it was time to leave. He reached out to Tessa who helped them relocate.

“But why a church?” Ari turned to Tessa. It might seem safe, but was it really?

“Churches are some of the few organizations that don’t have electronic monitoring, especially old churches like this. The government keeps out of them, which is rare,” Tessa explained, sitting in one of the folding chairs while she sipped a glass of wine.

“Where did you find wine?” Ari glared at Tessa.

She pursed her lips. “Just picked it up along the way.”

Ari’s eyes narrowed, glancing at her mom before speaking in a hoarse whisper. “Is that sacramental wine?”

Tessa averted her eyes for a moment. “Maybe.”

“There were other options,” Cynthia added, watching Tessa and Ari closely. “But when Tessa mentioned this, I thought it was time for us to go back to church. Refocus our lives to what’s important.” Ari’s mom sat next to her on the bed, clutching Ari’s hand in hers, as she had since they arrived.

Ari had no intention of letting go.

“And you’ve survived here without being plugged in?” Ari asked her brother.

“I’ve survived.” His reservation and lack of jokes told Ari it wasn’t as easy a transition as his mother made it out to be. “What about you? You’re living in a mountain?” Marco glanced at Patrick with an apprehensive gaze.

Ari had introduced Patrick to the others but gave them the least information possible. She wouldn’t threaten Patrick’s security after everything he did in getting her here. Patrick had been great in giving Ari and her family their space too. Ari recognized his uneasy stance with his tight shoulders and watchful eyes, ready to run at the first sign of trouble.

Ari turned back to Marco. “I’m safe. Patrick gave me a place to live in a secure location with others.”

“The church is safe. Why don’t you stay here with us?” Her mom squeezed her hand.

Marco rolled his eyes, which thankfully his mother didn’t catch.

“I don’t think spending the rest of our lives in this church is realistic,” Ari said. “And I have important work I do.”

“With Patrick?” Marco asked, pushing for information she didn’t want to give.

“Yes.”

“You guys can’t stay here long term. People that actually come to this church may one day mention the family all working here.” Tessa set her drink down on the floor.

“I agree with Ari,” Marco leaned forward from his spot on the other bed, placing his elbows on his knees. “Why don’t we get lost in a big town? Between the three of us, we can figure it out.”

“I have a better solution,” Patrick interrupted. “Why don’t you and your family come back with us? We are always in need of help.”

“Who are you again?” Marco turned to Patrick. “I mean beside a first name. Why are you helping my sister?”

“Marco!” Ari scolded. “Patrick is a friend I met when I worked with VisionTech. He has helped me more than you know.”

“That’s what worries me,” Marco stood. “Why are you interested in my sister?”

Patrick stood up. “I think that is between me and your sister.”

Ari stood as well, hating where this was going. She turned to Tessa and mouthed, “Help.”

“Hey, I’ve been wondering the same thing, and I’m waiting to see how this plays out.” She put her foot on the bed and leaned back on the chair.

With an impatient huff, Ari turned back to Marco. “I have no right giving away other’s secrets. Let me just say Patrick, as well as many others, has given me a safe place to live. He helped me find Tessa and you both and is our best bet to help get Reed back.”

Marco’s jaw tightened at the mention of Reed. “And how exactly did he