Sunday Snippet: Price Paid

Final day of November and it's cold and windy outside. We're due for some snow in the next day or so. I'm kind of not prepared. It's been a long week.

Had to prep for the colonoscopy on Monday and I can now commiserate with anyone who's gone through the process. It's not fun. Seriously not fun. By the time I got to the surgery center, I was completely spaced out, which maybe didn't hurt. I have a major phobia of being put under and I was in full freak-out mode. Thankfully, everything went well and even though it was a holiday weekend, I got the test results back and all looks okay. Whew!

Had a full slate of work projects also. I'm a little behind because, honestly, while I should have bounced right back from the procedure, I ended up being out of it until Thursday. I have a copy edit I have to finish up today then I'll have a little breathing room.

I literally watched one of my normal slate of shows this week. I'm hoping to get back on track, but even with breathing room, I've got a busy week ahead. We'll see how it goes.

I did get an episode of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in. It was a fun episode that I enjoyed the first time around.

I started an episode of Foyle's War but haven't made it all the way through yet. I'll probably pick up with it this week and finish out the round of my usual shows.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Price Paid, a novella featuring a couple trying to overcome a betrayal to take down a foe.

Here's the miniblurb:

Reva Bane's actions lead Mitch Vanderman to a lot of harm, but seeking atonement shouldn't cause so much pain. Then again, betrayal sometimes demands a price paid in blood, and Reva is willing to shed some if he'll finally forgive her.

And a preview snippet…

Reva dropped down through the skylight in the council house's residency wing. It's showdown time. More like a sneak attack. She didn't want an audience or a registered visit.

Making her way through the dimly lit hallways, she paused outside Barax's door. According to Alonzo, their leader would be there … waiting on a companion that would not be showing up.

Without preamble, she flung the door open and marched to his room.

Naked and sprawled on the bed, he glanced up when she entered his space. "What the hell are you doing here? I've got someone coming. Unless you want an x-rated show, you'll turn around and leave the way you came in." He grabbed the edge of the sheet and yanked it over his midsection.

Reva snorted. "Yeah … about that. You're date for the evening found something better to do." Shrugging the backpack from her shoulders, Reva unzipped it and dumped the contents at the foot of the mattress.

The color drained from his face, but he tried to salvage his fuck up. "What's that?"

She gave him a hard glare. "Your spy gear. And before you try to deny you planted them, I have the checkout sheet with your signature signing the equipment out." Warming up to her victory, she gave him a sweet smile. "But don't worry. I won't use the information." Waiting a single beat, she pinned him with her gaze. "Yet."

His shoulders slumped with relief. Too bad it wouldn't last long.

She snarled. "But … here are my new ground rules. First, back the fuck off. I'll take on my share of the shit assignments you're going to give me because, frankly, I don't give a damn about anything anymore." Pacing back and forth, she laid out the rest of her terms. "If you even think about trying to fuck with my personal space or my life, I'll use my brand-new trump card." She stopped waved her hand over the equipment. "And possibly a blade on things you'd like to keep." She'd love to slice him to pieces.

He sputtered. "You did not just threaten my life." His eyes narrowed.

She snorted. "Yeah, I did. All you have to do to stay safe is don't be a dick." She gathered her backpack and slipped it back over her shoulders. "I'll give you wide berth, you give me the same, and we'll be copacetic." She turned to leave.

Barax scrambled forward. "I want you to be my queen, Reva."

She whirled around. "We're not fucking royalty, you dumbass. We're hunters." Her jaw clenched. "We have a code. And you broke it. Multiple times. All because I'm not interested in being your bedwarmer." And she never would be.

Barax made a garbled choking sound. "Don't talk to me about breaking code. You shacked up with a rival."

Reva stilled. "And I paid your required recompense even if I didn't owe it." And the thought clawed its way through her on a daily basis.

Barax's mouth dropped open and he roared. "Didn't owe it? How do you figure that?"

Reva counted off, lifting one finger. "Because I never pulled punches out there, regardless of who I slept with." She added a second. "I never talked about ongoing missions." Raised a third. "I never compromised our team." Her hand curled into a fist. "In essence … I. Did. Nothing. Wrong." Her voice dropped to a snarl. "Unlike you, who invaded my space. Who revealed information to the council without following the standard procedure of presenting your evidence to me first." Because he'd have to admit how he got his proof. "And why did you do all this? Because you couldn't blackmail me into your bed." She leaned closer to him. "Your days are numbered, Barax. Let that thought keep you warm at night." Turning, she walked toward the door without a backward glance.

Too bad the brilliant victory over Barax did nothing to ease the guilt of betraying Mitch.

This one is slightly dark, but I love writing the characters. Coming back from betraying someone is a hard challenge.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye