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

“Hey, Mom,” Reed appeared shortly behind them, in a new navy shirt and jeans.

“I don’t know if I’m more tired than normal, or I’m getting old. Why are you not at school, but coming out of your bedroom with two girls and a flush on your face that tells me you’ve been up to no good?”

“Hey, I’m the innocent one in this.” Tessa pulled up a chair to their small kitchen table. “I was just passed out the whole time.”

“I don’t think that helps anything,” Ari said, trying to keep a guilty look off her face.

“Come here.” Reed’s mom pulled him into a hug, breathing in his scent. “You’re going to give me gray hair.”

She released him and ran a hand over his hair. “Have a seat, kiddos. I don’t have much for breakfast since it’s usually only me, but I’ll fix something while you tell me the whole story.” Her fiery gaze, focused on Reed, would have shot laser beams if possible.

“Thanks,” Ari said.

“It’s good to see you, Ari. Hope Reed has been treating you right.”

“Of course.” If anything, she wished he was a little less gentleman-like, but she didn’t think anyone would like to hear that, especially not his mother.

Reed made Ari sit down while he helped his mom pour coffee for everyone, and he told their story. Ari listened to the whole thing, adding pieces here and there, but pretty much let Reed tell the tale. Gratefully, he left out the part of being attacked at the rest stop. By the time he was done, Ari had finished her coffee. Tessa refilled her own cup and sat down again, holding her mug tightly.

Reed’s mom took another drink. “So why are you guys here instead of at Ari’s?”

She’d never missed much, and often had to keep Reed and Marco in line when they were younger. Reed had her same intelligent hazel eyes.

“Ms. Ramses,” Ari started.

“Ari, you are too old for that anymore. Call me Monique,” she told Ari.

Ari swallowed briefly and adjusted the foot tucked under her on the chair. “Well, you see—”

Reed broke in. “We think we’re being followed. There is this guy at school, a real jerk. We’re worried he might have said something to someone, so we came here instead. Since I have Dad’s last name and you have yours, we were hoping they wouldn’t be able to find us.”

“While I don’t love the circumstances, it’s good to see you.” Monique wrapped her son in a hug, holding tight. When she released him, she turned her attention to Tessa. “And how do you fit into this mess?”

“I’m the get-a-way car.” Tessa grinned.

“Oh, that’s yours? I was wondering about that. And you go to their school?”

“She’s my roommate,” Ari chipped in.

“No, more like her idol,” Tessa added.

“I can see why,” Monique added sarcastically, looking at Tessa’s piercings.

“Tessa has helped me a lot,” Ari said.

“Okay.” Monique nodded as if coming to some sort of agreement within herself. “I’m glad you’re a good friend.”

Tessa never once moved her gaze from under Monique’s inspection. “I do try.” Of course, Tessa followed it with, “By the way, I’m not sure I’d call this coffee.” Before Monique could respond, Tessa held up a hand and interrupted her. “Don’t worry, I’ve had worse. Once in another country, I think.”

Tessa smiled at Monique who pinched her mouth closed. Tessa was like that.

“Let me fix some toast for you guys before you head down to the center,” Monique offered.

The care center where Ari’s dad lay in his coma handled long-term medical and psychiatric care patients, a lame name for a place that changed a lot of tubes and bedding.

“Here, let me help with the toast.” Ari stood as a ring sounded, signaling someone at the front door.

Everyone froze. Ari knew no one should be coming around at that time of the morning, at least not any neighbors.

Reed went to the door and looked at the small electronic screen. The way his hands clenched, Ari knew it wasn’t good. Williams, he mouthed the words. Ari cringed, wondering how her Advisor knew where they were. He must have been tracking them. Reed motioned for them to all follow him out the back. Monique grabbed Reed briefly on his way, placing a kiss on his cheek. The front bell rang again.

“Ugh, let me get decent please,” she said in a loud voice. She locked eyes with her son for a moment, communicating as only a mother and child could. Monique nodded briefly and then waved him off.

Ari grabbed her bags from his room. If they were running, she would have to dump them somewhere else so Monique wouldn’t get in trouble. She headed towards the fire escape, but Reed caught her arm, pulling her into her mother’s room.

“What?” Ari whispered.

Reed pointed up. Tessa’s black boots dangled from a hole in the ceiling. Ari wanted to ask all sorts of questions, but Reed only offered his knee for her to climb aboard. There might be a time for questions later. But that moment wasn’t it.

Monique spoke loudly from her spot at the front door. “What? My son? He’s supposed to be at school. Are you saying you lost him?”

Ari pulled herself up into a cramped space with several long jackets. Tessa pulled her up and out through the maze of winter wear. They were in the bedroom of a completely different apartment.

“Hey,” Tessa whispered and lifted her eyebrows in amusement.

Reed appeared next out of the closet. “We need to ditch our gear. They’re tracking us.”

Ari pulled off her ring and dropped it in her bag.

“I hope you know how painful this is.” Tessa reluctantly emptied her pockets.

“I’ll pay you back,” Ari said.

“It’s not the money, but the hours I spent setting it up to my specifications.”

Once everything was stashed in the neighbor’s closet, Reed left the bedroom with the two girls right behind him. They followed him running through an apartment almost exactly like his, with brown shag carpeting and faded