Coded Embers

By M.S. Dressler

After escaping a cult, Harper is in a constant battle with her psyche. As she attempts to rejoin society, she’s forced to understand her mental illness and its origin on an entirely new level. With fear being the only thing running her life, she hides in the only world she understands. Computer code.

Nico is trying to stay on the right side of the law, which proves to be difficult when you’re a Romano; the family that runs Chicago. When a sassy Harper crashes into him, Nico learns to stay on his toes and expect the unexpected.

Can Nico handle Harper and her past? Can Harper finally find peace? Will their love prevail or will it all just turn into Coded Embers?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781387925087

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

-HARPER-

THE WIND begins to send a warm breeze over my body as I look around Wrigley Field, full of fans. We’re in the nosebleed section but that doesn’t matter because all I care about is that my Cubs win. The sun is out in full force today, so the breeze is more than welcomed. Jade sits back down next to me passing me a beer and I take a sip as a White Sox batter steps up to the plate.

I don’t know how you can drink that. Jade crinkles her nose.

It’s kind of a staple when it comes to baseball. I take another sip. Suddenly, the crack off the bat sings across the stadium and the ball goes flying. FUCK! I scream throwing my hand up in the air.

It’s cute how you seem to think they’re going to win. Jade pokes fun at me.

Hey! I point my finger at her. Don’t jinx it!

Before the fifth inning begins, I decide to head to the bathroom and Jade stays behind.

As I glance at myself in the mirror, I notice that my makeup is smudged. At least my Cubs shirt and hat look great on me, although, I’m much smaller than I used to be. As I’m walking out of the bathroom, I hear a few fans fighting in the distance. I turn my head to watch the commotion when my body suddenly stops dead against another person and their beer comes flying up, soaking the front of my shirt.

I just stand there in disbelief as beer drips off of me. What… the… fuck?! I look up at the man. Tall, olive-skinned, but all I see is red.

Oh, fuck, I’m sorry! The man begins.

Are you fucking kidding me?! I snap.

Bitch, you walked into me! I tilt my head to the side as I can feel the fire in my stomach ignite. I am more than aware that I walked into him but that does not mean I am not pissed that I am now covered in sticky beer. My eyes go hard as they come up and connect with his.

What did you call me? His eyes go wide seeing the fire in my own. Do you really wanna see my crazy? My voice calm, level.

When our eyes finally connect, I feared what he might see. Would he be able to tell just how crazy I am? Ok, he’s sorry, you’re sorry, let’s leave it at that. The man who looks similar but younger next to him butts in.

I never said that. I snap at Mr. Butt-Inner.

It’s baseball, shit happens. The friend unleashes an all-American white smile at me, and my stomach does a backflip. ‘NO, bad stomach! Stay mad!’ I try to hold on to my anger but, honestly, what am I expecting to get out of this? If I punch him, I get hurt and thrown out.

Fucking douche. I grumble as I turn on my heel to head back to my seat.

Arriving back next to Jade, she tries to hide her smirk when she looks up at me. Oh my God, what happened?

I don’t want to talk about it. My response causes her to burst out in laughter.

After the game, Jade convinces me to go to one of the bars by the stadium for drinks. The only reason I agree is that I want to celebrate that the Cubs actually won. I change my drink from beer to bourbon to celebrate in style.

As the night continues, Jade and I are laughing, drinking, flirting, and having a hell of a night out. Even though I feel like I am safe I keep feeling like eyes are watching me. I look around but nothing. ‘It’s your paranoia, stop.’ I say to myself until my eyes lock with another set across the bar from us. It’s the asshole and Mr. Friend-of-Asshole who ruined my only Cubs shirt!

Are you kidding me? I complain out loud.

What? Jade looks around, then back at me.

The guy across the bar, the one in the White Sox jersey and hat; he’s the one who spilled his beer all over me. I explain to Jade. She looks over at them then back at me.

They’re hot! Jade grins with a twinkle in her eye.

I already know what she is going to say. Don’t even think about it! I snap at her.

Come on, I need to feel pretty and get hit on. She pleads with me.

You don’t need me for that, if you want it, go get it.

You already have an opening with them though. Jade stares at me wide-eyed.

No, I’m not going. You go do you. I swing my hand in a way to tell her to go. She smiles as she begins walking over towards the shirt-ruining asshole. I sip my drink and look up at the TV above the bar.

Hi. I hear next to me. Oh, look, it’s All-American smile man.

Hi? I crease my brow confused.

Can I buy you a drink?

I lift my glass up, I’m good. I try to brush him off but instead, he takes the stool next to me. Uh. That seats sav…

You should go out with me. He states stopping me dead in my tracks.

"What? Why would I ever go out with you?"

Oh, ouch! He lifts his hand to his heart. Am I really that ugly? He smiles and my stomach does backflips.

I didn’t say that I just don’t… I look over at him, a standard pretty boy. You’re not my type.

How could you possibly know that? We could have tons in common and you don’t even realize it. He maintains.

Wow, you’re not used to being told no, are you? I grin.

It’s not that, it’s just when I see something I want, I do everything I can to have it.

Well, that’s kind of rapey, and, what? I’m an object to you? His eyes go wide.

Uh… no… not at all... He lets out a sigh and runs his hand through his thick brown hair. A small part of me is enjoying making him squirm. I’m just trying to tell you, you’re fucking hot and I want to take you out.

My cheeks flush as I start to feel bad for being such a bitch towards him. Here’s my number. If you ever feel like going out, give me a call. It’s all up to you. He slides me a napkin with his name and number printed across it, Nico, 401-555-9487.

As he stands up to leave, Wait. I blurt out. He stops looking back down at me. Here. I smile at him. I grab a napkin and jot my number down quickly.

I’m Nico by the way.

I can read, Nico. I’m Harper. I state as I pass him the napkin.

It’s not long before Jade comes back with a giant smile. Did you get his number? I ask.

I gave him mine. Looks like you got a number too. She nudges my shoulder with her own. Before Jade can say anything else, I grab the napkin shoving it down into my pocket.

Can we go home now? I’m so sticky from this beer I just want to shower. Jade sighs but eventually agrees to leave with me. In reality, I have a huge project at home I’m craving to get back to.

As we are walking home Jade does not let it go at all. Not all men are bad. She begins.

I crease my brow. What? it stops me dead in my tracks.

Ever since Cyrus, you think all men are ‘bad men’, but they aren’t. Just because he was an asshole doesn’t mean every guy who talks to you is also an asshole.

You don’t know what I went through… I snap at her.

I know exactly what you went through because you told me. She snaps back.

Yeah, that’s the same, Jade. Did you ever think that maybe I’m just not ready to trust another person yet? She stops and begins to think about what I said.

I never thought about it like that. We begin walking again. I get it but how do you expect to ever trust anyone if you never let anyone in?

I let people in. My voice is higher than expected.

Yeah, ok. Jade scuffs. We continue down the street while I mull over the annoying truth that Jade just laid out for me.

Later that night, I can’t seem to fall asleep. Glancing over at the clock, I exhale heavily. I sit up in my bed and look around my tiny apartment. It’s dark, too dark, I think to myself when I hear a noise in the distance. Shelby, my guard dog jerks up in my bed. Before I can even move, Shelby is on the case checking out the apartment. As she moves about, she stops by one of the windows and just stares at it. A deep growl comes from her as she refuses to take her eyes off the window. My heart starts racing and my palms begin to sweat. My mouth feels like cotton as I stand up and walk over to the window. My hand raises to my LYLAS necklace around my neck as I reach for the edge of the curtain. After quickly pushing the curtain to the side, I see a giant branch scratching against my window. I run my hand through my hair as I fall to the floor next to Shelby. I grab a hold of her as I try to calm my panic-stricken body.

Over an hour goes by and sleep is still nowhere in sight. I let go of Shelby and make my way towards my computer. I exhale as I sit down and stretch my back out. I begin opening screen after screen and I grin as I realize I have a hook for one of my phishing hacks. I begin typing away as I turn the camera and microphone on. I begin downloading and digging. Everyone has something to hide. Everyone. And if you ever have the misfortune of running into The Red Fox, you better be ready to come face to face with your evil and pay up. Literally.

***

The next night, I arrive in Jade’s apartment, bourbon in hand to watch our weekly episode of Grays Anatomy. Jade! I yell as I walk into the kitchen. I’m here! I walk over to the cupboard retrieving two glasses. I take a sip from my glass as I look around Jade’s apartment. It’s larger than mine as she has an