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

“I know.”

She tried to push aside the fury building inside and focus on how to help her brother. “You don’t think he’s stealing.”

“No, Marco wouldn’t do that.”

“Wouldn’t do what?” Marco asked in a jovial voice as he walked through the door but froze when he saw Ari.

The color drained from Marco’s face, and she raised her defenses. This was Marco. She had fought with him enough as a kid. Unfortunately, now, the stakes were much higher now.

“Reed, I’ll only ask this once.” Marco slowly shut the door. “Why are you on my bed with my sister, and where are her pants?”

Ari stood, determined not to let him turn this situation around. “Marco, why do you have a gun? Do you think it makes you a man?”

Ari took after her mother and grandmother and could yield a hot Spanish tongue. They both stood for a moment starring at each other. Finally, Marco caved. He headed to his drawer to make sure it was there.

“You don’t know, okay. I need it for protection.”

“Who do you need protection from?”

“None of your business!” Marco spit back at her.

“It is my business and Mom’s if you wind up dead.”

“Is it Mom’s business that you’re sleeping around like some slutty freshman?” He glared at her with more contempt than Ari had ever seen. They had fought over the years, like most siblings, but there was a line of how far they would go and he’d just crossed it.

Ari’s words stuck in her throat. In her frustration and rage she lunged for him. She punched him in the shoulder and tried next for his face. Marco grabbed her hands. Reed had both hands around her waist hoisting her away from her brother. She fought against his hold. How dare he stop her? Did Reed not hear what Marco had just said?

“You don’t want to do this,” Reed said.

Blood rushed in her ears. “Yes, I do.”

“Give me a minute, and then you can kill him.” Reed turned back to Marco, keeping Ari behind him.

“Look, Marco. I didn’t sleep with your sister. We’ve kissed a bit and that’s it. She came over soaking wet. She was looking for a pair of sweatpants when she found the gun.”

Marco lowered his gaze, a red mark blossoming on his cheek. He nodded and bit his lower lip. “Okay.” Then he reached inside his drawer to grab the gun and put it in the back of his jeans.

“We’re worried about you, Marco,” Reed said. “I don’t want to see you hurt, or your future destroyed.”

Ari’s temper continued to boil. She didn’t want to care about her brother. How could he talk to her like that? He knew her better than anyone, or so she thought.

“It’s my future.” Marco looked at his face in the mirror above his dresser and ran a hand through his hair. “I gotta go. Don’t wait up.”

“Can’t we talk about this?” Reed asked again.

“Don’t worry. You have my blessing, Reed.” Marco motioned to Ari with weary disgust. “You can have her.”

Ari growled and reached for the closest thing she could find, a cup of water, and threw it at Marco. It missed his head and crashed against the wall as he shut the door.

As he left, he’d sucked out all the energy and fight from the room. A bot beeped and emerged from under the bed to begin cleaning up the mess. Ari stumbled back and sank onto Reed’s bed.

Reed approached, hesitantly. “You okay?”

Ari stared at the tears that fell into her hands. Suddenly aware that she was partially naked and sitting in Reed’s room with tears pouring down her face, embarrassment burned her face.

“I better go. It’s getting late.” Ari hurried to put on her wet jeans while avoiding Reed’s glance. “Turn around so I can change my shirt.”

Reed reached for her arm. “Hey.” He steadied her and waited for Ari to meet his eyes.

“Keep the shirt. I like it on you.” Reed pushed a wet strand of hair out of her face. “Let me walk you back, and we can grab a drink from the student center.”

“I don’t think I can.” Ari’s voice wavered.

Reed pulled her in close. She fought back the tears as she relaxed in his hold.

“You’re not alone in this, okay?”

Ari nodded.

“You sure you don’t want a hot chocolate or something?”

Ari shook her head. She didn’t feel like hot chocolate but tightened her hold on Reed. Her world was unraveling around her and the only thing she had to grab onto was him.

Chapter Nineteen

After a couple days, Ari’s anger at her brother gradually turned to fear. She had tried messaging him several times, but he didn’t answer. She wanted to tell their mother but decided to give him a few more days to respond, a week max. Besides, what could her mother do?

Throwing herself into her schoolwork, she hoped to ignore the mess that was her brother, and the unanswered questions about her abilities in the VR. The routine helped, but the worry and ache remained. After hours of work in Programming, her grade climbed to a B+. She found art a nice distraction, and even Dr. Coleman’s VR class was easier, although her cuticles might have disagreed with that last part as they received the brunt force of her anxiety from the VRs.

Thursday night, Ari and Tessa were knee deep in homework when a knock sounded. Not surprisingly, Tessa ignored it. Ari jumped up to answer it. They didn’t have many visitors, other than other students wanting to borrow notes or something lame.

When she opened the door, Reed stood there. His dirty blond hair was styled up in front and his shirt looked crisp and clean.

“What’s up?” She tried not to be too obvious as she checked out his cute jeans that hung just right on his slender hips.

“I wanted to ask you something.” He glanced down at his shoes and nervously kicked at the carpet.

“Okay ...” She wondered why he didn’t just message her.

“Do