Wow, March is being
its typical mercurial self. Warm up and then plunge back into the teens and
single digits. The back-and-forth weather is normal but not fun.
Crazy-busy week
with work projects. I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up and excited to
start some new manuscripts. Also getting more details sorted out for Tip Jar
Shorts. I need to find a full day I can dedicate to getting everything where it
needs to be.
Very limited
viewing this week. My brain decided it needed quiet to focus on the reading I
needed to finish up for one of my work projects. I probably needed the break.
I did get more of
the One Lane Bridge episode watched. I might take a brief vacation from
this one. There's a lot going on in this show and focus is going to be
important so I don't miss anything.
Finished up season
three of London Kills with the behind-the-scenes bonus episode. I always
enjoy getting a deeper look at how everything comes together in a series.
Started another
episode of Death in Paradise. I'm about halfway through and I like the
tension in this one. Also enjoyed Neville and Commissioner Patterson being on
the same page for once.
That's pretty much
it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Loss, a novella
that explores how the main characters deal with a devastating blow.
Here's the
miniblurb:
Welsh Hollingsworth is the golden child of Clan
Grimstone, but when he's expected to fill the void left when his dad is killed,
he can't quite figure out how and he hopes Cagney Gaines can help him find some
insight. Cagney can't deal with the loss of her mentor, the one constant in her
chaotic world and she leaves when Welsh needs her the most. One year later, she
returns to find a very different Welsh—one who doesn't welcome her with open
arms.
And a preview snippet…
Cagney surveyed the group gathered
on the tracks and lining the subway platform. "I've gotta hand it to
Welsh. He mobilized the clan in a hurry.'' She met Jacko's gaze. "He's not
happy about staying behind." She wouldn't be either if she'd been in his
place.
Jacko rolled a shoulder. "Someone
needs to call the shots and, like it or not, that's him." He shook his
head. "And he needs to be protected. This is a coordinated attack. Taking
the old man out? Bold move to get the ball rolling."
Cagney nodded. "Bold but
stupid." The one thing Clan Grimstone didn't lack?
Loyalty.
Word of Wallace's death at the
hands of Bainbridge spread quickly, and members all but poured out of the
woodwork at Hollingsworth House. With communication lines blown, the telepaths
were working in a chain to get logistics and movement down and relay orders on.
Cagney had met Jacko at the subway terminal and, along with twenty women and
thirty men, had a trap set for the Stoneworth clansmen.
The sound of screeching wheels on
metal echoed through the tunnel.
Jacko nudged her shoulder.
"This should be them. The train is dark." He readied his pouch to
give the signal.
The man's bag of tricks never
failed to amaze Cagney. Damn good thing he'd arrived at the house in one piece
to get the details of Wallace's death. Cagney didn't know if she could have led
this battle on her own. Not with—
Guh. She couldn't even think about
Wallace not being around when she got back. No way.
Jacko clasped her shoulder with a
gnarled hand. "Easy, Cag. I need you here with me." With a gentle
squeeze, he let go and readied to launch the counterattack.
Cagney gave him another nod.
"On your mark." Shoving aside her grief, she let the anger take
control.
When Jacko gave the go, Cagney
unleashed her rage and rained hellfire down on the darkened car. Men spilled
out on both sides, and Jacko directed the other clansmen in a strategic
skirmish that quickly cut the Stoneworth numbers to half. Now, with a fair
fight, both groups pulled back on their magick and entered into physical battle
mode.
Cagney jumped into the middle of
the fray, each blow, kick, punch, and strike chipping away at the tenuous hold
on her pain. By the time the Grimstone side had the advantage, rounding up the
stragglers of Clan Stoneworth, and she threw her final fist, the tears blurred
her vision.
Connecting with her adversary's
jaw, she growled. "For Wallace." She let the opponent hit the tracks
in a heap of battered flesh.
Jacko made his way to her side.
"The old man would be proud of you." He flung an arm around her
shoulders. "Let's go see how our new leader fared." He limped
forward, a little worse for the skirmish.
Cagney didn't argue, and she
appreciated Jacko ignoring the grief overflowing from her eyes. His gaze held a
sheen of moisture too. Exhausted and overwhelmed, Cagney didn't stop the stream
of tears, letting them run freely. But she'd be dry-eyed when they briefed
Welsh—because he would need her to be strong and unbreakable when they got
back.
And she would be both even if it
killed her.
This one is coming
together in so many ways I didn't expect, and I'm excited to see what else
unfolds.
That's it for this
week.
Cheers!
Skye
