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

leaned back against the seat, but instead of resting she obsessed about her plan and all the ways it could go wrong. That same edgy nervous feeling followed her through a few different sectors of the European Union. She made it to the Spanish sector as the sun rose.

Chapter 20

In the tram’s bathroom, Ari had put on new fingerprints and pulled out the new identity. She wrapped her hair into a low pony and put on a ball cap that she’d taken from Marco. It wasn’t the best disguise, but it would have to do. She spent the next couple of hours scoping out the area. She’d stolen some spare cameras from Joe and placed them indiscreetly at store fronts and along the street.

Keeping the video feeds linked to the HUB on her arm, she went out for breakfast and privacy. The Spanish sector of Europe felt the closest to home than Ari had felt for a while. Ari never learned to speak Spanish fluently, though her grandmother used to speak it when Ari was a child. Ari let the words and smells of the country comfort her as she prepared for the meet up.

Even at breakfast they used a spicy chorizo that would challenge her mother’s. Ari enjoyed her meal at a small café under a sunny sky and soaked it all in. The potted flowers on the nearby building and the old men gossiping over coffee felt almost normal, like she could pretend she lived here and had an average life. A life where she lived in one city, had a job she could be proud off, and Reed. Her life would always include Reed.

She glanced at her HUB again, flipping through the cameras. Unfortunately, there was nothing to see. Even reviewing the recorded data, there was no one familiar or out of place near the meeting site. She would continue watching until they showed up. She had no intention of showing until she saw Reed, and even then she hoped for an opportunity to grab him on the way to or from the meeting site.

Ari’s table sat outside near an alley that provided an easy exit if needed. Finishing her drink, she glanced on her screen and flipped through the different camera views again. The meeting spot was only a couple of blocks away. She wondered why VisionTech would pick this spot. If they wanted to take her against her will, there would definitely be a scene.

Unless there was something she missed. Watching nearby shops from behind her dark glasses, she scoured the cameras for possible exits and found none. There were a few storefronts to drag someone into, maybe. Or maybe VisionTech had enough leverage she would go with them willingly. Across the street there were apartment buildings, making it a great viewpoint for whoever wanted to watch.

With less than thirty minutes until the meet-up, she kept a close watch on her HUB. An uneasiness crept under her skin, a feeling that she missed something. Only a few minutes left until noon. She pushed back from the table to find a better viewpoint.

“Have a seat. I think this is a much cozier meeting spot for old friends than a street corner. Don’t you think?”

Ari’s stomach dropped at the sound of the voice. Memories flooded her, both good and bad. Of all the people to use Reed against her, Ari didn’t think it would be her.

Niomi took a seat on the other side of the table. “Please, sit.” She still had the bottom half of her head shaved beneath platinum hair that fell to her chin. Gone was the bright red lipstick though, and now it was a dark plum to match the rest of her dark outfit.

Startled, Ari couldn’t help but show her surprise. When Ari was fleeing her servitude to VisionTech, Niomi convinced her to leave Reed with promises that he’d be taken care of. With every sense on alert, Ari had no clue if this was a friend or foe. Of course, Niomi worked for VisionTech, so that said something.

“I like the new look.” Ari motioned to Niomi’s hair.

Niomi shrugged it off. “You look… taken care of.”

“I am.”

“So then why are you here?”

“For Reed. I assume you sent the message.” Anger began slowly building in her body and she forced her hands to remain relaxed.

“No boy is worth that, Ari. If I knew you were that stupid, I would have never worked with you.” The familiar sneer pulled up her dark lips. “And this wasn’t my idea. I told them it would never work.”

“I liked you too.” Ari glared at her. “Where’s Reed?”

“Not here.” Niomi leaned back, nonplussed by Ari’s anger. It never did bother her.

“Then I’m leaving.” Not trusting her shaking hands, Ari stood to leave, swearing at herself for falling for this stupid plan. Was it too late to get away in one piece?

“Don’t you want to know where he is?” Niomi’s demeanor turned sickly sweet.

Slowly returning to her seat, Ari checked her temper. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“I guess you don’t, but it would be easy enough to check. He could be anywhere in the world. Don’t you at least want a head start?”

“In exchange for what?”

“At this point in the game, there is no more negotiating, Ari. You were stupid enough to show up here, so your options are limited. Just like mine are working for VisionTech.”

She ignored the threat. “Where is he?”

“Home.”

Ari pulled back in surprise. Could it really be that simple?

“Once we created a profile and skin for him, we really didn’t need him. Did we?” She leaned forward and quieted her voice. “I told you I’d take care of him, didn’t I? They were happy to let him go home and leave a trap for when you return. You really shouldn’t have come here. There is only so much I can do to protect you.”

“What do you mean?” Ari readied herself to bolt.

Something stung her in the neck. Reaching up, she found a