Page 25 of Freeing Hook

“That’s a tad presumptuous of you, don’t you think?” says the captain, and rather blandly.

Maddox snickers, but I’m undeterred.

“You need someone to play your wife, don’t you? And you know no one is going to believe that you and Charlie are involved. So why not take me?”

The captain tucks his fingers underneath his chin, like he’s thinking. “Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps because I abhor your very existence?”

I don’t expect the pain that goes barreling through my stomach, but I’m too motivated by the hopes of saving Peter to let my trampled feelings get in my way. “Hate? Love? All the Carlisles need to sense between us is passion. Doesn’t matter which type,” I say, fighting not to bite my lip in embarrassment.

“Oh, I’m liking this plan,” says Maddox, mischievous dimples appearing at his cheeks.

I expect the captain to argue, but he doesn’t. Instead, he says, “And what do you presume is in it for you?”

I bite my lip. I’d rather not tell the captain about my desire to cure Peter’s inability to feel pain. It feels like handing him fodder to mock me.

When I don’t come up with an answer quickly, Astor stares at me. “Spit it out, Darling.”

Maddox shoots him a disapproving look, but I wet my lips and let my mouth run away with me, hoping it’ll come up with something good while I’m talking. “Well,” I say, stalling. “You didn’t travel all the way to Neverland for nothing, did you? There’s something you need me for, and I assume it has to do with getting rid of that Mark of yours.” I try to read the captain’s face for any sign that I’m on the right track, but his hardened face betrays nothing. “You wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble to kidnap me, just to pivot to a completely different goal.” My mind races, and it lands on my and the captain’s conversation earlier. “You kept asking me about my nightmares. You’ve been suspicious that I’m a shadow soother,” I say, remembering Peter’s speculations that I might have fae blood in my ancestry. “That’s it, isn’t it? You need a shadow soother to help you get rid of that Mark.”

The captain’s expression shutters, but Maddox’s doesn’t. The First Mate runs his hands through his hair.

I can’t help the satisfied smirk that taints my lips.

“There we are,” the captain finally says, realizing his First Mate’s inability to suppress his reaction. “Wendy Darling, finally showing some cleverness.”

The cruel words threaten to sting, but I’ve come to realize it’s the captain’s sole strategy for distracting me from whatever’s at hand. His only card trick when his opponent has the upper hand.

I think I might enjoy having the upper hand.

“So the sooner we get that Mark off your hand, the sooner you’ll take me back to Neverland,” I say. “You kept trying to bargain for more time, in case the search took you ages. But as it is, we only have six months. One would think you’d want to make the best use of your time.”

The captain snorts. “And you think you’re the best use of my time? That’s assuming you’re even trainable.”

“I think I can help convince the Carlisles that you’re Cortland Rivers,” I volley back.

Maddox shrugs. “She is an aristocrat’s daughter. She’ll know how to play the part of a nobleman’s wife.”

I huff. “Believe me, if there’s anything I’ve been trained for, it’s just that. And I’d be willing to be trained further.”

Maddox opens his hands, palms facing the ceiling. He’s angled himself toward the captain now, so that his body is aligned with mine. It almost feels like having an ally.

“What do you say, Captain?” says Maddox. “It could work.”

Captain Astor looks over the two of us for a moment, shooting daggers at Maddox with his green eyes.

Then he strolls away.

I let out an exasperated huff. “Well, what does that mean?”

Maddox nudges me in the shoulder. “I’ll let you in on a little secret about the captain.”

I arch my brow, and Maddox offers me a full set of perfect teeth, as well as a set of dimples for good measure. “Render the captain speechless, and you’ve as good as wrestled a yes out of him.”

“And how often do you manage to do that?” I ask.

Maddox peers down at me, notching his chin between his fingers and scratching his sun-touched beard as he contemplates. “Considering the brief time you’ve been here, I’mafraid your average is more impressive than mine. And that’s saying something.”

“Because you and Captain Astor are friends?” I pose the question as innocent, knotting my fingers behind my back in a posture my mother used to encourage because she thought looking girlish would make me more endearing to suitors. I’m not looking to attract Maddox, but it’s in my best interest if he feels at ease talking to me. Maybe I can coax out some information about why the captain hated my parents so much.

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