Page 30 of Ready For His Rule

“You have a problem with Neverland, Captain?

John slanted his head forward. Then a little more, until his forehead almost pressed against hers. He could almost hear her heart pounding. Or was that his? Or did it matter? Not with the comeback he yearned to give her.

“Not sure you can handle my idea of Neverland, popoki.”

The challenge he went ahead and whispered.

The dare she went ahead and took him up on, working a hand around the blades of his tie then pulling…until he came close enough their skin did touch…

“Second star to the right, Captain. Then straight on ’till morning.”

He swallowed. Hard.

Pushed back once again. This time, by inches.

Excruciating ones.

Somewhere in the gray matter he was hopefully still calling a brain, his comm line crackled again.

“Braw Boy to Dragon,” demanded a thick Scottish accent. “What’s going on? Who the hell’s calling the ball on this circus now?”

With a tight groan, making the brat-kitten next to him softly giggle, he straightened in the seat then spoke into his wrist. Yeah, the one still pounding with his pulse rate. “You’re talking to him,” he barked. “But I’m going to need your help, man. In some big ways.”

“Go big or go home, Franz. Ask away.”

Be careful what you offer.But John knew better to add it aloud. Sam Mackenna was the kind of friend who’d sprawl across railroad tracks for a friend. This plan wouldn’t come to that—hopefully.

Which meant it was time to set the gears in motion.

To do what his government had trained him best for.

And in doing so, to protect the most valuable asset of his life.

“The circus is hitting the friendly skies,” he said to Mackenna. “And we’re taking the Tigress completely dark.”

“Well.” Sam inserted a rough chuckle. “Guess you did come to the right source.”

“I’ve been known to do that from time to time.”

He took heart in that truth—and in the instinct he was going to have to trust again, despite everything his own government had done to discredit it—and most of all, despite the alligator of self-doubt still snapping at his gut, an alarm clock gleaming in its gullet with every greedy new bite.

Tick…

Tock…

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