Virtual Heaven, redux by Taylor Kole

Author:Taylor Kole [Kole, Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

The sound of Rosa crying nearby welcomed Alex back to the real world. Rising to his feet, he pulled back his privacy curtain, intending to comfort her, and saw her exit their private access room. He considered giving chase, but what would he say, sorry I’m super happy my best friend is alive, or, at least available.

They just didn’t see things the same. Besides his feelings of extreme paranoia over the Lobby’s future, and knowing they’d need a pinch of magic to keep this quiet, he found the entire turn of events too surreal to be upset. The hardest part, when dealing with Rosa, would be hiding how happy he was. He’d just have to avoid talking about it with her. She’d sense his inner wonder, and that would light the wick to an explosive difference of opinions.

She held onto a hope that their faith in a higher power aligned. If she knew the depth of his doubt, that one separate belief could erode their marriage. That was the last thing he wanted.

Listlessly, he pushed the curtain all the way open until it compressed on the rack.

He surveyed the room with a heavy heart. Landing on the open space beneath the control panel—the two missing server boards—reminded him his life lay in others’ hands.

This additional complication of a dead man living posed an imminent threat to everything.

Opening the door required extra effort, as if strength had left him. Before he stepped over its threshold, he found Rosa ten feet away, arms crossed, eyes puffy but sharp, and focused on him.

“I want that machine out of my house.”

The last thing he needed was another frontal assault.

Moving toward her, he raised his hands in a placating manner.

She stepped back and lifted her hands, palms out. “You get it out of here, or I will.”

A snake slithered into the base of his spine and wormed its way through his organs, around his heart, and squeezed. For two seconds, he feared the oncoming of a stroke. “Honey, will you calm down? Let’s talk.” The entire house could crumble. His legs could break—he could accidentally chug hydrochloric acid, but as long as his access room remained, he would feel content.

“I am calm,” she said, and marched into her closet. A minute later she returned in jeans, tying her hair with a scrunchie. “I’m going to see Father Michael.”

He stepped into her path; a dozen feet separated them. “Rosa, I seriously think it’s best if we limit the people who know about this.”

“He’s a priest, Alex.”

A priest who drives an Audi A8, thought Alex. As distasteful as it was to admit, he celebrated Father Michael’s expensive tastes—they boosted his confidence that Tara could stifle that avenue before it became a problem.

“Alright, alright,” Alex said as he stepped out of her way.

Before Rosa reached the point where their room door would automatically open, she faced him. “Get your people. Do whatever you have to, but…” She shook her head and composed her thoughts. “That is no longer some big video game, Alex.

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