Hard Wired Trilogy by DeAnna Pearce (smart books to read .TXT) 📕

to be government related. Maybe whatever group ran VLEX was behind this. All of a sudden, Ari felt very small and very outmanned. Patrick and the team had resources, yes, but nothing like VLEX. They helped run the world. Sweat gathered at the nape of her neck. She tried to swallow and not be overwhelmed with the ramifications just yet.

The imposter just smiled at Patrick. “I wanted you to spread the word. We can go on killing warpers like you, such blood-sucking ticks. Or you can join our forces, and become functioning members of society for once in your life. Either way, your other teammates deserve a chance.”

Marco strode forward. “Functioning members of society? Do you hear the crap you’re dishing? Please tell me you’re making millions reciting this script?”

Ari stepped next to Marco, not wanting him in a line of fire clearly directed at her. “Please, Marco, let me.” Without hesitation, she punched the fake Reed in the face. He didn’t deserve to wear that face.

“Nice,” Marco said.

As the man recovered, Marco stepped forward fists up. Several others appeared behind the imposter who now held his bleeding nose. The alleyway exit that had been open to the public was now closed off. Either they were warpers or had one hell of a program.

Patrick swore under his breath. “They want us to use our abilities.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t need to.” She turned and sprinted towards them. Niomi had taught her doing the unexpected in a fight always had interesting results. She ducked low, hoping to take out a woman’s legs. Before she connected, she was flung back into reality, gasping as she stared at the ceiling.

Her limbs tingled as if ready to strike, but now had nothing but air to fight. Her head throbbed, the usual headache from her time inside. Rubbing her temples, she closed her eyes, trying to ease the pressure.

I’m Ariana Mendez. I’m eighteen. I’m in the real.

Patrick interrupted her normal mantra. Evidently, Patrick didn’t want to give anyone time to wake in the real. “That was so irresponsible and reckless. How dare you pull a stunt like that? We could have learned more by talking to them…” Patrick continued ranting while Joe came over and checked everyone’s vitals.

Ari winced as his loud tone aggravated her headache. Opening her eyes, she squinted against the bright lights. She turned her head to see Marco, who was already unplugged with a big smile on his face.

He turned to look at her. “That’s one hell of a hook. Where did you learn that?”

Laughter bubbled out of her. Completely inappropriate laughter. Yes, Reed was in danger, warpers were threatened, and who knew what came next. The world may be going to hell, but at least her brother approved of her fighting. He would have loved Niomi.

Patrick stopped talking and looked between the two of them, shaking his head.

“How mad do you think he is?” Marco asked her as if Patrick wasn’t standing there silently.

Ari pushed up, ignoring the lightheaded feeling and black dancing dots. “Patrick, I know I may have been rash back—”

“You think?” He raised his brows.

“Sarcasm isn’t your color,” Marco interrupted.

“Please, Marco,” Ari glared at him.

“Does he ever know when to shut his mouth?” Joe stepped back after finishing with Ari.

“No, unfortunately,” Ari told Joe then turned back to Patrick. “I know it didn’t go like you hoped but look at what we learned.”

“What? That you have a hell of a hook?” Patrick repeated Marco’s words. Patrick’s frustration kept him from seeing things clearly.

“We know they probably had warpers, but they weren’t that good. Not like anyone here. And the fact they could change the program in the VLEX during main hours means that either they don’t care if they are caught or something else. There was a reason they didn’t attack us. Maybe something we did triggered the virus.”

“Or they chose not to attack us,” Patrick said, sitting down on a nearby chair.

“Maybe… but why wouldn’t they?”

Joe returned to his computer. “Hoping that the virus is only triggered by our abilities is unrealistic. I think our abilities make us targets, maybe triggering an alert inside a realm. But if they really have the code for that virus, then they could use it on anyone. I think they were after something else.”

Patrick moved to look at Joe’s screen. “What did you find?”

“While you guys were inside, multiple people were hitting pretty hard at the IP addresses we had for you three. They were organized, focused, and would have broken through in seconds if I had let them. Both Blur and I worked furiously to counteract them to buy you enough time. I had to pull you when I knew we’d exhausted all our tricks.”

Marco cussed under his breath as he brushed the hair out of his face.

“You were talking to one of the impostor Reeds for a while. What did he have to say?” A small part of her couldn’t help but be disappointed that none of them were the real Reed.

“I knew right off that it wasn’t him. But they did a pretty good job replicating him.”

“How did you know?” Patrick asked, turning back to the two of them.

“I referenced the first and only girl we ever fought over, and he was clueless.”

“Who?” It slipped out before Ari could stop it.

“No need for jealousy, sis. It was our first-grade teacher.”

“What did he say he wanted?” Patrick brought the conversation back on track.

“He wanted to make sure Ari was okay. Wanted my help to get out. He asked more questions, wanting info, but I hinted that I was hiding out in the Ritz.”

She remembered rumors of the Ritz from when she lived at home. A fancy neighborhood Ari wasn’t even allowed to come within a mile of. “They’ll think you’re with Tessa.” Ari worried about the backlash with her friend.

Marco shrugged. “Probably, but she can take care of herself. Her dad’s into enough sketchy stuff, and they are well protected.”

Patrick picked up a nearby tablet and typed something in.