Sunday Snippet: Mr and Mrs Black

Kind of a busy, frustrating week. We dug out of eleven inches of snow, which is actually a lot more than we've seen in several years. I had a lot of work stuff hit sideways and struggled to get some insurance stuff sorted out for my middle kidlet.

Had a decent week of television viewing, mainly due to hold times on the phone. I started with Seduction and Snacks, a PassionFlix movie and have about half of it completed. I had to pause because the distractions were too many and I want to take my time and enjoy this one.

Got two more episodes of Snoopy in Space watched and kind of enjoyed both. It's fun to have something quick and easy to view.

Caught some behind-the-scenes stuff for The Madame Blanc Mysteries. So much fun to watch the cast interviews and get some insight on how they shot the series. I really hope they do a second one.

Finished up one and began a new Silent Witness two-parter. Good stuff this season. I'm looking forward to more.

Watched two more episodes of Classic Who. The Master is gone again—for now. Can't say I'm sorry to see him go. Six is kind of growing on me and it's fun to have two wandering around again. I'll see how that arc ends this week.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Alaska Triangle. Shipwrecks and underwater UFOs and ghost ships were the focus. Always love watching what might have happened to downed ships.

Started The Muppets and, meh, it's okay. Really lacks the charm of the original but it's kind of fun to see the muppets in a docu-style series.

Caught another two episodes of Fosse Verdon. I'm so intrigued by the ins and outs of Bob and Gwen's personal and professional lives. Can't wait to finish this one.

Watched two more episodes of Peak Practice. I'm almost finished with season six and should be starting seven this week. I've enjoyed not having weird manipulating characters for the past few episodes.

Got two more MasterClass lessons with Bill Nye. I love how much fun he has educating people.

Ended up getting in two more episodes of Classic Rugrats—two of my favorites. I love reminiscing while watching.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med and enjoyed it a lot. Really looking forward for more next week.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I'm kind of sad because a favorite character ended up saying good-bye. I'm hoping some light will be shed in the behind-the-scenes interviews.

Enjoyed a seriously great episode of Star Trek: Discovery. This show … never fails to suck me into the action and emotion.

Last but not least, I finished the second season of The Witcher. I'm so intrigued by the ending and can't wait for more episodes. I ended up being very satisfied with how things played out for the main trio and the side characters. I love this show.

That's it for the weekly television update. Tonight's post is from Mr and Mrs Black, a novella where a very-much-in-love couple discovers how many secrets they're keeping from each other.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Ember Frost and Winter Smoak, assassins for opposing factions, are ordered by their respective employers to kill each other, which would be so much easier if they weren't happily married but hiding some big secrets—like their occupations—from each other.

And a preview snippet…

"Do you understand the objective, Mr. Smoak?"

Fuck, yes, I do.

Winter stared at his screen then gave a nod. "Not much to misunderstand, is there?" He refused to let the icy rage take over or show in his tone. "I'll report no later than midnight."

After cutting the call, he closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. A deep, frigid chill settled over him, keeping the swirling tendrils of anger and fear at bay. He prided himself on never taking his work home or letting it get personal.

That ended now.

Because his job just took a turn into personal territory and parked right out front.

He swiped his finger over the image. "How could you do this to me?" Damn her to hell.

Hello, pot. You've got no room to talk.

Maybe not, but obviously he needed to have a conversation. And maybe a long internal discussion about missing the forest for the trees. And probably about being gullible enough to believe her cover, which okay, didn't look all that different from his.

The ice cracked a little but froze over again. No. He had to maintain a separation of fact and fiction.

She'd lied to him. "What a betrayal." Working for the other side, not as a consultant as he'd believed, but as a fixer. Assassin. All-around pain in the ass.

"Whose time has apparently run out."

Because his objective didn't leave any kind of wiggle room. And right now … being pissed off she'd kept something so utterly important from him would make his job easy. Find her then add another check to his achieved agenda.

A ping for an incoming text drew his attention.

He glanced at his phone. "Geez. Wouldn't you know?" His target made contact.

Ember kept the message short and sweet. "We need to meet. 524 Windsor Ave. ASAP."

He didn't think twice, firing off an immediate reply. "On my way."

Checking his weapon, he didn't know whether to thank the universe or curse it for Ember setting the meet away from their home. His personal stash of weaponry would come in handy, but she, no doubt, had a full cache hidden around also. She wouldn't be the number one most wanted if she didn't.

Exiting out into the chilly night air, he put his game face on. The mask slipped a little when he slid behind the wheel of his vehicle. For the first time in his long career, doubt about his profession crept in.

"Damn, this sucks big hairy ones."

Because he'd been tasked with taking Ember Black—no, Frost—out of commission. Permanently. The woman he happily married and loved more than anything.

I love writing this one. I have no idea exactly where it's going to go but it's fun making the discovery as I happily type away.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye