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

there was something like that. Something that made her unable to get out. I tried to get her out, tried to break it.” Ari’s voice broke. She coughed, trying to hide the emotion.

Patrick placed a light hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”

“If I haven’t been distracted by Reed, I might have got a better look at what she was doing.”

“Doesn’t mean you would have been able to stop it. These are expert organizations that will stop at nothing to get what they what. Don’t forget that and don’t underestimate how dirty they will play.” He watched her intently.

They hadn’t been alone since the trip to get her family. She had ignored the spark of restless energy between them. Now that she felt it again, the nagging guilt about Reed settled in.

She turned back to the code on the wall. The muted white numbers and characters turned and twisted as she tried to recreate the code she had only seen for a few moments. It almost felt like her old child’s toy where she could touch and move the letters to make different words. Instead of a screen, though, the code filled up her whole view, and they were way past simple words.

“Let me try.” With a flick of his hand, Patrick pushed a section behind them and started a new line in front of them. Then he slowly went through variations as they flashed past. “Sometimes if we isolate sections it’s easier to get it right.”

“Wait.” She grabbed his arm. “Go back.”

“Which one?” He flipped through the options.

“There. That one.” She dropped his arm and pointed to the screen.

He enlarged the characters. “Really? This?”

“It’s not exact, but it is the closest thing I’ve seen.” Ari knew she wouldn’t ever be able to fully recreate it. She didn’t have enough time with it.

He stared at it for a while. “Okay. I’m not sure I understand how this works, but maybe Joe will have an idea. He has more experience with viruses.”

The tightness in her chest lifted as they made some progress, but it wasn’t enough for her. “Patrick?”

Turning, his intelligent eyes were intense. “What?”

“I want to go with you and Blur.”

“When?”

“Against Maxim. I’ve seen him before and familiar with how he works. If you’re going after him, I want in.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

She stepped towards him. “Please. I feel responsible. I was there when it happened.”

“I understand, but I’m not going to put my team at risk because of your guilt.” He reached for her hand, then pulled back. “Sorry.”

“At least think about it. I’m an asset. You know that.”

Glancing at the code again, he quickly transferred it to the outside computer. “I’ll think about it but can’t promise anything.”

“Okay.” That’s all she could ask for.

Ari closed her eyes and pulled out of the program. Blinking against the light, it took a minute for her vision to clear. Longer than it should, but she wasn’t going to say anything. Not now, with Tricky lying unconscious in the other room. No, she’ll rest after.

Once out of the system, Patrick and Ari headed towards Joe’s office. “Why don’t you work with Joe and Marco for a bit on this new code and see what you can come up with? Maybe put some feelers out there on the dark web and see if anyone knows anything.”

“I’m sure Joe has some ideas.” Ari didn’t know Joe much, no one really seemed to, but he was impressive to work with.

“Don’t discount your brother either. He’s held his own with the team.”

“I try not to think about where he learned his skills.” Ari always worried about Marco. He may be her older brother, but the dynamics were usually reversed.

“Speaking of the devil,” Patrick motioned down the hall to where Marco walked towards them. “What’s going on?”

“Joe wanted me to let you know if you weren’t already out. Blur headed in the program this morning. Just after you and Ari went in.” Marco looked uncomfortable, probably because he wasn’t used to ratting out others.

“What?” In a flash, Patrick’s stress morphed into anger. Then, without another word, Patrick sprinted away.

Marco looked between the two of them. “Is that normal for him? Should we follow?”

“We better hurry.” Ari started towards the other VR room in the basement. “And yes, Patrick usually doesn’t sprint around here. But I’ve never seen someone go against his directions either.”

“It is his sister.” Marco sounded sympathetic.

Ari remembered Blur that morning, with the dark circles under his eyes. “Blur is running on caffeine and revenge. Going in by himself was stupid. We work as a team, to stay safe.”

They arrived at the room. Blur was unconscious in the chair while Joe sat behind the screen.

“I didn’t know he planned to go under,” Joe told Patrick, who watched the screen over his shoulder. “I needed to speak with him about what Marco found, and he was already in here. It looked like he went to one of the dark realms. One of Maxim’s regular joints.”

“Get the address ready,” Patrick instructed Joe. “I’m going in.”

Before Patrick could reach the other chair, Joe raised his hand. “Wait. He’s back with us.”

Blur blink his eyes open.

“You better have a hell of a reason to go against a direct order.” Patrick stood over him, anger and worry focusing those steel eyes.

“There was a rumor that Maxim was in the Dark Caves Realm.” Blur removed the cable and got out of the chair. The empty look in his eyes didn’t speak positively of his trip. “I had a short window and didn’t have time to interrupt your little date.”

“What the hell are you talking about? We got a lead on how the virus works.” Color dotted Patrick’s face as his voice rose in anger. “Don’t give me weak excuses to cover your ass. You could have taken Joe or anyone else to help. You were stupid and reckless to go in alone. If you were attacked, we would have learned nothing.”

“I wasn’t attacked. I kept a low profile. I’m