Page 66 of Owen

“He’s funny.”

“Smart.”

“Respectful.”

“Kind.”

“Despite what he’s been through lately, he’s still smiling. He’s not broken.”

“He has great abs.” I knew Arlo would mention those, making me giggle.

“And he has a gigantic cock,” I add. “And you should see what he can do with it.”Kidding, I don’t say that, but I chuckle, imagining what they would all say and do if I did.

I’m a lady after all, prim and proper, cooking and cleaning for my imaginary husband, shoutingtally ho,wavinggoodbye to him as he goes out to make some hard-earned pennies for his family… Yeah, right. Long gone are those days.

Thank goodness.

Bring on the New World where we have women fighting on the front line, running the country, and flying fast jets while we birth more strong women, then get back to business. I am honored to be one of them.

Women empowering women, I’m all for it. Bring it the hell on.

Well, bring it on, but for the love of God, find me someone wonderful to look after Poppy first.

Being only one of the handful of female pilots in the Air Force, I spoke to Cobra about recruiting more women to enroll when I first joined the team. How I would love to give motivational speeches to the high schools, encouraging boys and girls to join the Armed Forces and consider going through our flying school. To travel the world, see and do things no one else ever has. It’s the best job in the world and I’ll tell anyone who will listen.

However, Cobra has pooh-poohed me, every time I have suggested it.

I shiver as I remember the way he touched me at the hospital and push the thoughts about him aside, deciding to stand up to Cobra the same way Owen did.

I make a snap decision.

It’s time to take a stand.

I earned my place here. My skill and talent secured my place on the aerobatic team and I won’t let anyone take that away from me.

I must put a stop to his harassment. As soon as I return to the UK, I will make an appointment with our group captain because he outranks Cobra by a mile, certain he’ll be appalled to learn everything I’ve been taking notes of while under Cobra’s command.

I tune back in to the conversation the guys are having. “You should move him into your quarters and make him your full-time childminder,” Gregor says, referring to Owen. “It would give him something to do until he sorts his life out.”

What then?Will he leave to pursue a new career like I’ve told him to, leaving me and Poppy to piece our hearts back together?

Saddened by that thought, my heart stutters in my chest.

“He would need full security clearance, and I recommendyou have a DBS check done.” Cobra’s steely voice breaks through our lighthearted banter.

I hate that man. He’s the only bad thing about my job. He hasn’t even taken it upon himself to apologize for his dreadful behavior at the hospital, and it’s been two weeks. And that creepy snake tattoo he has branded into the skin of his forearm gives me the heebie-jeebies.

“A DBS check?” Arlo questions him. “What the hell would he need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check for? That’s ridiculous.” Arlo shakes his head. “Sorry, sir, but I disagree.”

“What’s a DBS check?” Looking at Arlo, Gregor hooks one elbow over the back of his chair.

Cobra narrows his eyes, pissed off that Gregor didn’t ask him, but he answers anyway. “To check whether he is safe to work with children.”

“What the hell?” Gregor runs his tongue along the front of his top teeth. “Seriously, Cobra? Do you even know my family at all?”

“Easy, Flight Lieutenant Brodie.” Cobra’s voice stabs like needles. “May I remind you who you are talking to? And you can never be too safe these days. There are all sorts of weirdos out there.”

Yeah, you being one of them.

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