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

He leaned in and nuzzled her neck. “Have you decided what you’re going to do?” he whispered, knowing that there was probably an audio bug on Ari’s computer as well.

She kept him close, wishing they didn’t have to have this conversation. “You mean besides pretending that it’s not real and hoping it will all go away?”

“I was talking to some people about what the recruiter told you.”

“Who?”

“Some friends that I’ve met online, gamers that I’ve known for years. It was untraceable.”

“And?” She had a feeling he would be a lot happier if the news was better.

“They only had rumors, nothing too concrete. But they agreed that warpers are never acknowledged because they are too valuable. Companies and governments will kill to have a warper. They said if you have an outside offer, you should take it.”

“But I can’t.” Her body tightened in frustration and she struggled to keep her voice down. “I have to pay back my loan, and I can’t leave it for my family. I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

When Reed didn’t answer right away, Ari pushed him to tell her what he’d discovered.

“Most warpers drop off the grid in various ways, but it appears that those that go into government work are erased off the grid—permanently.”

Ari stared blankly for a moment trying to understand what he meant. The government wouldn’t kill warpers. They were worth too much. “Maybe they don’t stay in touch with old nerdy gamers anymore,” she reasoned.

“Maybe. It’s the not knowing that is driving me crazy.”

“Me too.”

He tightened his hold on her, his body pressing against hers. His firm grasp grounded her.

She leaned into his chest. “I’ll be careful in the VRs. We have time.”

“Maybe we could talk to that guy again? You never know what he could work out.”

“Maybe.” Ari didn’t want to think about it. Reed was acting more like a big brother than her actual brother who she hadn’t heard from all week.

He tried to object, but Ari silenced him with her lips. At first, he resisted her attempt at distraction, but then surrendered and kissed her back with gusto. Her belly burned with desire. Every touch, every kiss ignited her senses, making her want more. It must be what a junkie felt like, never getting enough.

In between kisses, Reed mumbled, “We have time.” Ari prayed they were right.

Over the next couple of weeks, she realized how difficult it was going to be to hide her gift for the rest of the year, much less for the years to come. In the VRs, she didn’t have to search for the code anymore, it stood out plain as day, and the actual virtual easily faded in the background. When she spotted errors, she had to resist the urge to fix them right away and then remember to fix them in the program.

Her favorite class turned out to be art design with Ms. Mienka. Ari didn’t have to create the drawing, but just manipulate the images. She thought of all of the drawings and sketches Reed had hanging in his room, and how amazing it would be to see those drawings brought to life. Her thoughts of Reed were interrupted by a message on her HUB asking her to go to the wellness clinic after class.

Wellness clinic? Ari had never needed to go there before and wasn’t sure what they wanted with her.

Professor Mienka continued to lecture while Ari’s thoughts raced. Ari checked her HUB again and messaged Reed.

Wellness clinic asked me to come by after class. Any ideas?

Her foot tapped nervously against the floor. It was probably an annual checkup, she told herself. Her HUB flashed Reed’s reply.

Girl stuff???

Ari rolled her eyes, even though he might be right. Maybe it was to check her implant for mandatory birth control—required for all underage girls and boys. Embarrassed, she wished she hadn’t brought it up to Reed.

After class, she made her way to the student center amid the noisy and hungry students fighting their way to the cafeteria. Soft flakes fluttered around her. The first snow of the season seemed to add to the excitement. Ari smiled as she turned heavenward to the white chaotic sky. At home, snow was rare. It was more ice and sludge, lining the sidewalks early in the winter and hung around like a muddy border outlining everything during the cold bleak months. But here, the grounds were always kept immaculate. It might turn into a beautiful winter.

The snow distracted her from her curiosity about the appointment. As she walked through the entrance to the wellness center, she was caught off guard when greeted by Advisor Williams.

“Enjoying yourself?” His lips curled up into a cruel smile, while his eyes remained fierce.

“It’s snowing,” Ari answered, a bit thrown off. What was he doing here?

“I’m glad you noticed. Have you spoken to your brother recently?”

“No.” Ari shook her head, trying to think back to their last conversation. They’d messaged several times back and forth since the weekend they were busted in the virtual. He’d given her a hard time about turning into a rebel. They’d even talked about going home over break. She tried to tie him down for dinner to tell him about being a warper, but he was always too busy. Ari assumed it was another girl, or just hoped it was.

“Follow me.” Williams turned briskly and headed down a hall.

Her stomach tightened in fear as she plodded after him. Where was Marco? Was he hurt? He was always the one to be reckless.

Williams wasn’t giving anything else away as he stepped inside the room and waited for Ari. When she walked in, there was Marco, lying peacefully on a bed as if he was asleep.

Ari bit her lip and blinked back a burning feeling in her eyes. She stood there not wanting to move closer. If she touched him, reality would slap her in the face.

“He’s in a virtual dependent coma.”

Ari knew, deep down she