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

Marco traced a finger along the edge of the empty glass. Maybe Lou was right. And after seeing that addict today, it scared him. One more program, one more job, always led to never having enough. Last year, he slipped into his first VR coma, not wanting to return to reality. Ari pulled him out, and it was harder than he imagined. His slip resulted in him getting kicked out of school and running gigs full time in the city.

“This is different,” Marco told Lou. “Not only did they hack my program but there were people ready to storm the joint. My jobs shouldn’t attract that kind of notice.”

“In this age, you never know who will notice you.” Lou typed away on the keyboard, then paused. “Are you really going?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” He knew he should find a safe place for his mom. Living underground, with random people, and different names every time they went out, wasn’t what he wanted for his mother. But what other choice did he have? His friends, his livelihood, his connections were all he had. In another town or country how would he fair?

“Is it Telli?”

Marco shrugged. He’d dated Telli for a couple months now, but he couldn’t do serious. Problem was Telli was Lou’s friend, so he had to tread carefully around the subject. “Not really. She knows I may have to leave. It was never anything serious.”

“I’m not sure she knows that.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“VR girls are easier for you, I guess.” Lou spun in his chair to face him with a smirk on his face. “She’s on her way.”

“Damn, Lou. Why did you do that? I need to head out ASAP.” Ignoring the insult about his electronic love life, Marco bolted up and ran a hand through his hair.

“Don’t stress. She told me before you came over that she had something to drop off. I thought it wasn’t your problem.” The disgust was evident in Lou’s voice and his dark narrow eyes.

“It’s not.” Marco may not be that interested in Telli, but he never led her on. He didn’t have time for a relationship when he was barely keeping his head above water, and he didn’t have time to deal with Telli right now.

Lou turned back around to face his computer, clearly upset.

Marco didn’t have time to worry about Lou. “So, can you get me new IDs?”

“Can you pay?”

“Of course. Don’t I always?”

Lou turned slightly to glare at him. “I want payment in actual cryptos.”

“I’ll transfer the cryptos right now. It’ll be from an offshore account.” As soon as he gets Tessa or someone to transfer it for him.

“Good.”

Marco walked back to the kitchen and splashed water on his face. A nagging feeling in his gut couldn’t forget what just happened to him. If they hacked him from his sister’s end, then these were powerful people. People that wouldn’t stop just because he ran off.

He’d need to get to his mom soon. Then maybe they could relocate to the north side. It’s a richer neighborhood but maybe that would be easier. Rich people often thought laws were only an obstacle for their wealth. If he got hold of his sister, he could afford it. At least for a couple weeks, which would give him time to think.

A small beep came from the computer.

“Telli is here.” Lou didn’t turn or make a move to answer the door.

Marco rolled his eyes, not looking forward to telling her he was relocating again. “Thanks. I’ll get it.”

He opened the door, and Telli’s blue eyes met his, widening in alarm as she tried to mouth something. Marco didn’t have time to even comprehend what she was saying before she fell into him, pushing him back into the room. “What the hell?”

Her screams echoed through the apartment and chaos ensued. As light spilled in through the open door, armed men in dark garb filtered in behind her. Marco held onto Telli as one of the men shot something towards them. A small dart hit her in the neck. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she slumped in his arms. Something fired and soon gas seeped into the room.

Without warning, Lou gave a war cry and barreled towards them. His large frame may not be all muscle, but it grabbed the men’s attention. While the mercenaries turned to Lou, Marco sprinted to the bathroom.

He didn’t have time to think, just react. As he turned the corner, something buzzed past his temple and he ducked, skidding into the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind him. More muffled shots rang out as footsteps filled the room beyond the door.

These people didn’t want them dead. If so, they would be shooting with live ammo. He had a twinge of guilt abandoning his friends, but they all knew the code. It was everyone for themselves. The fact Lou didn’t run here first surprised Marco. Maybe there was something more there between Telli and Lou than his friend wanted to admit.

Marco turned to the large bathroom mirror. It stood next to the towel rack, at least four feet tall, bigger than anything except the shower. Marco reached behind the bottom of the mirror and hit the small notch that opened it. It opened to a small electrical panel and an escape route. Marco had helped find the tech to put it in here years ago. Stepping inside, he shut the mirror and flipped the switch.

An electrical current flashed brightly and Marco could hear shouts coming from the apartment. He’d just fried everything electronic in Lou’s apartment. Not only did it keep all of Lou’s secrets safe, but all the electric guns or weapons, and possibly any tracking devices will be dead as well. Marco didn’t have time to see the destruction. Something large struck the bathroom door, which was stronger than it looked. He shimmied down the secret passage. Dust scattered as he made his way down the inside of a