“Keller,” she returns. “Still barking on behalf of bigger dogs?”
Ah. No wonder Keller’s pissing his pants. Maybe we all should be.
“What do you say?” Hit asks me conversationally. “Should I end him?”
Not so smug now, are you, asshole?
“Yeah, I want a guarantee of safe passage for me and my crew,” I add.
“Is your friend sick?” the goon beside Vel asks.
I shake my head quickly. “No. It’s just a skin condition.”
“You have my word,” Keller growls.
One of the goons says, “Can I—”
Both his boys mutter, “Yes, boss,” as they head back up the ramp.
“Everyone on board before this Mary-sucking storm grounds us,” Keller adds.
Well, since he put it that way, we collect Dina and follow as fast as we can.
Dina drops down and puts her head back. “I’ll wait here for jump.”
Keller clears his throat. “Let me show you the rest.”
Come away, Jax. There’s a new life waiting for you.
“How far are we traveling?” I ask.
“One jump and an eighteen-hour haul,” he answers.
I fumble. Hell, how does this even work? I haven’t been a passenger since I was thirteen years old.
“You look funny, Jax.” Jael takes the seat next to me. “You all right?”
“Not in a really long time.” Twenty years, to be exact.
Dina cracks, “Your big mouth covers that, Jax.”
“I get it,” Jael says, after thinking it over. “But you’re still you.”
“It helps to hang on to something.” The bounty hunter offers his hand.