Hook stood, brushed himself, and strolled toward the door like a proper gentleman. She followed behind him for lack of knowing what better to do.
With the back of his hook, he knocked on the door quietly.
It creaked open, just a little. And out came a shimmering ball of light.
Tinker Bell.
A real life fairy. Sasha stared at the glowing thing in awe. She was beautiful, with short hair cropped to fall over one eye, and large gossamer wings that fluttered at a speed that made them almost impossible to see. She was naked.
Of course she was.
Sidney liked all types and was always the popular one of the two twins. She’d been the source of a lot of gray hairs for her parents growing up. Not because she ever dated in excess—it wasn’t like that. In fact, their dad always commented that Sidney’s girlfriends made him “a lot less nervous” than her boyfriends, for obvious reasons.
But just by comparison alone, Sidney was the rambunctious one. Always out at parties with friends, coming home a little too late and smelling a little too much like weed.
Sasha had been the quiet one who was in her room reading or playing games, and preferred chatting with online friends—which meant she had a non-existent leash growing up. Something she never tested, which was what Sidney found the most infuriating.
It was the only real source of tension between them as high school kids. Sidney had always been jealous that Sasha had gotten to do whatever she wanted—but Sasha never wanted to do anything.
Where Sidney was always under a microscope because she wanted to do things.
It wasn’t fair, and so on.
But once they’d gone to separate colleges and gotten out of the house, Sidney proved to be more than capable of balancing her social checkbook, so to speak. She had no issue having a flourishing social life and still coming out of it with a bachelors in marketing and an internship at a high-powered firm in L.A.
Sasha, meanwhile, had never come out of her shell. One masters in library sciences later, and…it was clear which one of them won the game.
“Of course, Lady Bell.” Hook’s voice was a sensual purr as he bowed low, his hand pressed to his chest. “I would never think of double-crossing you. I am a gentleman, after all. I am only thinking of the tragic mistreatment you have suffered at his hands, after he brought that Wendy here. How could he believe a radiant and rare creature such as yourself could be so easily replaced?”
He really could lay on the charm when he wanted.
And nowshewas the one feeling a little bit jealous.
Sasha. No. Bad. Don’t be stupid.
But she wasn’t the only one falling for it. Tinker Bell was blushing, her fingers over her lips as she bashfully smiled.
“We will take her away.”
“Wait—is—is Sidney—” She paused. “Is Wendy alive?”
Tinker Bell looked at her, clearly flabbergasted as to why “Mr. Smee” would care. She nodded.
Sasha felt a weight leave her shoulders.
Hook cleared his throat. “As I was saying. We will take Wendy away, and a few of the Lost Boys—just enough to make it not seem suspicious. And we will not harm a hair on Peter’s head.” Hook lifted his hand in the air beside him. “On my honor.”
Tinker Bell chewed her lip. The fairy nodded and flew inside. The door swung the rest of the way open. How the little fairy moved thedoor, Sasha had no clue. But whatever. Fairy. Evil electric WWI-era crocodile. Flying children. Details.
Just go with it.
Hook gestured for his men to go inside. The pirates, toothless grins and eager smiles etched on their wrinkled and sand-pocked faces, went inside to do the deed.
At least the kids wouldn’t be slaughtered.
Yet.
Hook walked over to one of the pirates left standing guard, holding a wood and glass lantern aloft to light their way. Taking the lantern, he opened the door and blew out the candle. “Mr. Smee, come here for a moment.”
