Lisa G. Riley's Blog, page 5
November 7, 2014
For Your Weekend Enjoyment
This is a re-issue, but it’s still awesome! Get your copy for the weekend! Beautiful cover by Mr. Whitney Holcomb!
As a member of Eshu, those who can shift into any animal at will, Jacob Adams is used to knowing and getting what he wants. And when he meets Mary Katherine Day as they work together on the Underground Railroad, he not only knows that she’s going to be his wife, but he expects her to accept her fate willingly. A businesswoman of independent means, Mary Katherine has no interest in marrying, which to her mind is bondage only slightly less vile than the slavery she works so hard to help others escape. Jacob embarks on a campaign to lure her into his bed by awakening her virginal body to the delights to be found there. Though she struggles against her sensual nature, Mary Katherine eventually succumbs to the irresistible lure. Initially she’s convinced that they can maintain their sexual relationship without marriage, but it quickly becomes apparent that their passion is too intense to hide in such a small town and she is risking a horrible scandal that could destroy her life. Shortly after they’re married they are forced to confront ancient enemies and a secret that could ultimately destroy their relationship.
Tagged: bear, black woman black man romance, bwbm romance, eshu, Given, hisorical paranormal, historical, Jacob, Mary Katherine, monoracial romance, paranormal, shifting, underground railroad
October 24, 2014
Take Care of Your Girls
I’m way late with this, but I’m posting it anyway. Knowledge is power. Breast cancer is the most common cancer suffered by women worldwide, and the second leading cause of death among women. Early detection is key to fighting the disease. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, when breast cancer is detected early in its localized stage, the five-year survival rate is 98%. So make your early detection plan, and share this information. Share, share, share!
Also:
Learn the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer
Perform a monthly breast exam
Get a clinical breast exam when visiting your doctor
Get a mammogram
And know that men can get breast cancer too.
Take care of yourselves,
Lisa
Tagged: breast cancer, health, helpful info, national breast cancer awareness month, the girls, women's health
October 19, 2014
Nothing Monumental, but it Felt Good
Like a lot of people, I’ve been furious about what has been happening (and not happening) in federal government. Not as all-consuming as they were in 2012, the anger, frustration and just a maddening sense of helplessness still sometime overtake me whenever I hear or think about some of the buffoonery going on in D.C. right now. Yesterday I stopped feeling so helpless when I sat down with a bunch of other folks and made calls to encourage people to get out and vote in the upcoming midterm elections. I simply signed up (I did it with moveon.org, but there must be other organizations doing the same thing), went in for a couple of hours and met some very nice South Dakotans via telephone. I didn’t try to convince them to vote for any particular candidate; just encouraged them to get out and vote. It wasn’t anything monumental, but it felt good.It felt like I was doing something besides gnashing my teeth, throwing money at the problem and hoping things will improve.
Happy Sunday!
September 26, 2014
Simply Wicked Contest (Dates have Changed)
Simply Wicked comes out on October 1st (ARe, B&N, Smashwords) but is now available for pre-order at amazon.com. Though this is a reissue of a book originally released in 2008, this is a big deal for me because I’ve re-written quite a bit of it. Because I’m so excited about the re-release I’m having a contest befitting such a momentous occasion!
Need to Know:
Simply Wicked comes out October 1st. Pre-orders are available now.
Grand Prize consists of a $100 amazon gift card and a free copy of my e-book, You are Mine valued at $3.99 from my Friends and Lovers Series. One winner will be selected randomly from a group that answers four questions correctly by 5 p.m. CST October 10th 20th.
The second prize consists of a $50 amazon gift card and a free copy of You are Mine valued at $3.99. The single winner here will be chosen randomly from a group that answers the four questions correctly by 5 p.m. CST October 20th 25th.
The four questions:
Who produced and wrote the movie Cassie stars in during the book?
What does Tony do to try to woo his company’s oldest leaders over to his way of thinking?
Who goes on trips at least twice with Cassie so she doesn’t have to be alone?
Who do they discover is the murderer, and what is the nickname the press has given him?
Email your answers to me at lisa@lisagriley.com by 5 p.m. CST October 10th to enter into the random drawing for the Grand Prize (valued at $103.99) and by 5 p.m. CST October 20th to enter into the random drawing for the second prize (valued at $53.99).
You must be 18 years or older to enter this contest. No purchase necessary. Contest only open to citizens of the United States.The number of eligible entries received determine the odds of winning. One winner will be selected for each prize. Both the grand prize and second prize will be awarded on October 25th by 10 a.m. CST. Winners will be notified via email.Gift card will be delivered via email. The e-book You are Mine, will be delivered to the winners via email. Winners will have the choice of mobi, epub and PDF formats. Winners will have three days (by October 28th, 10 a.m. CST) to claim their prizes. If potential prize winners forfeit or do not claim their prizes, prizes will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. This contest is being sponsored by Lisa G. Riley. All questions should be directed to lisa@lisagriley.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Simply Wicked Excerpt
© 2008/2014 by Lisa G. Riley
“Well, I’m in love, truly in love,” Cassidy said this with another sad sigh. She quickly ducked her head when Tony suddenly raised his head to look at her from directly across the dinner table.
“But that’s wonderful,” Lady Carleton said.
“Well, yes, it should be. I feel good about it, but he doesn’t want me to. He’s avoiding me.”
“I’m sorry to say it, darling, but perhaps your young man doesn’t feel as deeply for you as you do for him.”
“I know he’s attracted to me, but he’s fighting it. He feels that I’m too young for him.” She ignored Esme’s stifled snort of laughter and continued, “He’s being stubborn. We have a great rapport, we’re on the same wavelength on so many issues and our attraction burns really strong and fierce. I just know that we’d have a great relationship if he’d only give us a chance. I’ve been here for two months and he’s done nothing to take advantage of that fact.”
“Oh, so you knew him before moving here?”
“Is he English?” This came from Lord Carleton whose face was mottled with embarrassment while his eyes showed helpless curiosity.
“Oh, yes, he’s a very proper Englishman. It’s one of the things I absolutely adore about him, that and his intelligence, witty sense of humor and gorgeous physical appearance.” Again, Cassidy ignored Esme’s snort, which managed to sound both disbelieving and snide. She also ignored Tony’s determined gaze that warned her to knock it off. “What do you think, Lady C.? Should age matter?”
“Oh, no, not really. I’m not one for pedophilia of course, but I do feel that it’s hard enough to find love and when one does, the little things shouldn’t matter all that much.”
“That’s just how I feel,” Cassidy said passionately. “But he won’t listen to reason.”
“Well, just how much older is he than you, child?” Lord Carleton asked.
“A measly fourteen years; that’s all,” Cassidy said and sniffled as if holding back tears. “I didn’t know love could hurt so much.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Lady Carleton said. “Perhaps your young man will come ‘round to your way of thinking.”
“Yes,” Lord Carleton agreed. “If he’s as smart as you say he is, he’ll at least give it a chance. Do we know him? Who is he?”
“Tony,” Cassidy said.
Not yet making the connection, Lady Carleton took a sip of coffee before saying, “What about Tony, dear?”
“I’m in love with him.”
Lady Carleton’s head jerked up to look from Tony to Cassidy, from Cassidy to Tony and back again to repeat the process.
“Surely you’re joking?”
“No,” Cassidy said with a definite shake of her head. “I’m not. I’m in love with Tony.”
Lady Carleton stared at Cassidy in stunned silence for a long moment. “Why, whatever for, dear?”
Into the deafening silence came Esme’s raucous laughter and from Tony in a disgusted voice, “Thanks loads, Mother, for that ringing endorsement,” which only made Esme laugh harder.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Tony,” Lady Carleton began, before snapping, after a particularly loud guffaw from Esme, “Oh do be quiet, Esme!”
Cassidy let the room quiet before saying, “In answer to your question, I’m in love with Tony because he’s a wonderful man. And as I said, the attraction between us is explosive. I have the most wicked thoughts —”
Tony interrupted with a screech of his chair as he pushed it back to stand. “That’s enough!” As she’d spoken, her face had taken on a look of deep passion and her voice had gone soft and husky. Next she’d be blurting out that they’d nearly made love. He walked around to her side of the table and pulled out her chair. “Come on!” Barely giving her time to stand, he grabbed her hand.
“But Tony,” Cassidy protested.
“No buts! Let’s go! Please excuse us,” he said over his shoulder as he dragged her from the room while everyone looked on in astonishment.
***
Tony pulled Cassidy into the library and shut the door behind them. “Sit,” he commanded with a frown and before she could think about it, Cassidy did, quickly sitting on a cream-colored leather sofa in the middle of the room. When she realized that she had, she frowned and began to stand again… until she got a good look at his face.
“Don’t even think about moving from that spot,” he warned in a low dangerous voice as he paced away from her.
Swallowing hard, Cassidy sat back down. She’d never seen him quite so angry.
Tony snorted in disbelief. “I don’t believe it! For once, you’re actually going to listen to me?”
Cassidy frowned. “There’s no need to be such a jerk—”
“I’ll bloody be what I want to be, if you don’t mind!” Tony said. “Settle down and listen to me! That’s better,” he said when she very deliberately clamped her lips together. “Now,” he said as he began to pace back and forth in front of her. “For the past several years you have done nothing but make my life a living hell, especially when you got it into that beautiful head of yours that we were meant to be together. You’ve tortured me endlessly and it’s got to stop. Are we clear?” He demanded.
“Hmmph,” Cassie said with a pout. “Whatever.”
# # #
ARe (available in several formats, including PDF for reading on computers)
Smashwords (available in several formats, including PDF for reading on computers)
Tagged: black woman white man, bwwm, Cassidy, Contest, Release Day, SimplyWicked, SimplyWickedRedux, Tony
Simply Wicked Contest
Simply Wicked comes out on October 1st (ARe, B&N, Smashwords) but is now available for pre-order at amazon.com. Though this is a reissue of a book originally released in 2008, this is a big deal for me because I’ve re-written quite a bit of it. Because I’m so excited about the re-release I’m having a contest befitting such a momentous occasion!
Need to Know:
Simply Wicked comes out October 1st. Pre-orders are available now.
Grand Prize consists of a $100 amazon gift card and a free copy of my e-book, You are Mine valued at $3.99 from my Friends and Lovers Series. One winner will be selected randomly from a group that answers four questions correctly by 5 p.m. CST October 10th.
The second prize consists of a $50 amazon gift card and a free copy of You are Mine valued at $3.99. The single winner here will be chosen randomly from a group that answers the four questions correctly by 5 p.m. CST October 20th.
The four questions:
Who produced and wrote the movie Cassie stars in during the book?
What does Tony do to try to woo his company’s oldest leaders over to his way of thinking?
Who goes on trips at least twice with Cassie so she doesn’t have to be alone?
Who do they discover is the murderer, and what is the nickname the press has given him?
Email your answers to me at lisa@lisagriley.com by 5 p.m. CST October 10th to enter into the random drawing for the Grand Prize (valued at $103.99) and by 5 p.m. CST October 20th to enter into the random drawing for the second prize (valued at $53.99).
You must be 18 years or older to enter this contest. No purchase necessary. Contest only open to citizens of the United States.The number of eligible entries received determine the odds of winning. One winner will be selected for each prize. Both the grand prize and second prize will be awarded on October 25th by 10 a.m. CST. Winners will be notified via email.Gift card will be delivered via email. The e-book You are Mine, will be delivered to the winners via email. Winners will have the choice of mobi, epub and PDF formats. Winners will have three days (by October 28th, 10 a.m. CST) to claim their prizes. If potential prize winners forfeit or do not claim their prizes, prizes will be re-awarded, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. This contest is being sponsored by Lisa G. Riley. All questions should be directed to lisa@lisagriley.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Simply Wicked Excerpt
© 2008/2014 by Lisa G. Riley
“Well, I’m in love, truly in love,” Cassidy said this with another sad sigh. She quickly ducked her head when Tony suddenly raised his head to look at her from directly across the dinner table.
“But that’s wonderful,” Lady Carleton said.
“Well, yes, it should be. I feel good about it, but he doesn’t want me to. He’s avoiding me.”
“I’m sorry to say it, darling, but perhaps your young man doesn’t feel as deeply for you as you do for him.”
“I know he’s attracted to me, but he’s fighting it. He feels that I’m too young for him.” She ignored Esme’s stifled snort of laughter and continued, “He’s being stubborn. We have a great rapport, we’re on the same wavelength on so many issues and our attraction burns really strong and fierce. I just know that we’d have a great relationship if he’d only give us a chance. I’ve been here for two months and he’s done nothing to take advantage of that fact.”
“Oh, so you knew him before moving here?”
“Is he English?” This came from Lord Carleton whose face was mottled with embarrassment while his eyes showed helpless curiosity.
“Oh, yes, he’s a very proper Englishman. It’s one of the things I absolutely adore about him, that and his intelligence, witty sense of humor and gorgeous physical appearance.” Again, Cassidy ignored Esme’s snort, which managed to sound both disbelieving and snide. She also ignored Tony’s determined gaze that warned her to knock it off. “What do you think, Lady C.? Should age matter?”
“Oh, no, not really. I’m not one for pedophilia of course, but I do feel that it’s hard enough to find love and when one does, the little things shouldn’t matter all that much.”
“That’s just how I feel,” Cassidy said passionately. “But he won’t listen to reason.”
“Well, just how much older is he than you, child?” Lord Carleton asked.
“A measly fourteen years; that’s all,” Cassidy said and sniffled as if holding back tears. “I didn’t know love could hurt so much.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Lady Carleton said. “Perhaps your young man will come ‘round to your way of thinking.”
“Yes,” Lord Carleton agreed. “If he’s as smart as you say he is, he’ll at least give it a chance. Do we know him? Who is he?”
“Tony,” Cassidy said.
Not yet making the connection, Lady Carleton took a sip of coffee before saying, “What about Tony, dear?”
“I’m in love with him.”
Lady Carleton’s head jerked up to look from Tony to Cassidy, from Cassidy to Tony and back again to repeat the process.
“Surely you’re joking?”
“No,” Cassidy said with a definite shake of her head. “I’m not. I’m in love with Tony.”
Lady Carleton stared at Cassidy in stunned silence for a long moment. “Why, whatever for, dear?”
Into the deafening silence came Esme’s raucous laughter and from Tony in a disgusted voice, “Thanks loads, Mother, for that ringing endorsement,” which only made Esme laugh harder.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Tony,” Lady Carleton began, before snapping, after a particularly loud guffaw from Esme, “Oh do be quiet, Esme!”
Cassidy let the room quiet before saying, “In answer to your question, I’m in love with Tony because he’s a wonderful man. And as I said, the attraction between us is explosive. I have the most wicked thoughts —”
Tony interrupted with a screech of his chair as he pushed it back to stand. “That’s enough!” As she’d spoken, her face had taken on a look of deep passion and her voice had gone soft and husky. Next she’d be blurting out that they’d nearly made love. He walked around to her side of the table and pulled out her chair. “Come on!” Barely giving her time to stand, he grabbed her hand.
“But Tony,” Cassidy protested.
“No buts! Let’s go! Please excuse us,” he said over his shoulder as he dragged her from the room while everyone looked on in astonishment.
***
Tony pulled Cassidy into the library and shut the door behind them. “Sit,” he commanded with a frown and before she could think about it, Cassidy did, quickly sitting on a cream-colored leather sofa in the middle of the room. When she realized that she had, she frowned and began to stand again… until she got a good look at his face.
“Don’t even think about moving from that spot,” he warned in a low dangerous voice as he paced away from her.
Swallowing hard, Cassidy sat back down. She’d never seen him quite so angry.
Tony snorted in disbelief. “I don’t believe it! For once, you’re actually going to listen to me?”
Cassidy frowned. “There’s no need to be such a jerk—”
“I’ll bloody be what I want to be, if you don’t mind!” Tony said. “Settle down and listen to me! That’s better,” he said when she very deliberately clamped her lips together. “Now,” he said as he began to pace back and forth in front of her. “For the past several years you have done nothing but make my life a living hell, especially when you got it into that beautiful head of yours that we were meant to be together. You’ve tortured me endlessly and it’s got to stop. Are we clear?” He demanded.
“Hmmph,” Cassie said with a pout. “Whatever.”
# # #
Pre-order Simply Wicked at amazon now. The book will also be available at the following retailers October 1st:
ARe (available in several formats, including PDF for reading on computers)
Smashwords (available in several formats, including PDF for reading on computers)
And don’t forget, I have a giveaway going on over at Romance Novels in Color through September 26th.
Tagged: black woman white man, bwwm, Cassidy, Contest, Release Day, SimplyWicked, SimplyWickedRedux, Tony
September 16, 2014
“Simply Wicked” Release and Excerpt
SEPTEMBER 29TH. That’s the magic date, the drop date, the day that I will know that all the months of editing, re-editing, researching, writing, deleting, cursing the craft, (dilly-dallying) will have been worth it. One of my favorite labors of love, Simply Wicked, will be re-released with tons and tons of new material. It’s a full-length romantic suspense that was originally released in 2008. When I got my rights back, I decided to tweak it a little bit. And now, two years later, she is reborn: hotter, suspens(ier) and romantic(er) than ever!
Cassidy is a twenty-two year old aspiring American actress who makes her way across the pond to England after graduating from Yale University. While at Yale, she had the good fortune (in her opinion) to room with Esme, younger sister to the gorgeous, brilliant, British CEO, Tony Carleton. She’s the only child of parents who were murdered when she was a child, and she’s spent most of her life grieving their loss. The murderer has not been caught and when he re-enters her life when she’s an adult, he’s angry, meaner and has definite plans for her. It’s too bad for her that she has absolutely no idea who he is.
Anyway, Cassidy’s a bit spoiled (courtesy of a doting uncle); daring (courtesy of learning about the irreversible finality of death at so young an age); determined and headstrong. She wants two things in life: Tony and her career. Tony’s the oldest son of a British Lord and Lady. He works hard and is trying to prove himself capable of running the company that has been in his family for generations. He’s circumspect (but not a prude); responsible (again, NOT a prude); headstrong and determined – not to get involved with a woman who’s fourteen years his junior. No matter how attractive, stimulating and fascinating he finds her. It just wouldn’t be right. Or would it?
An excerpt of Simply Wicked is below. The contest with a $100 Visa or Amazon gift certificate and a free e-book making up the grand prize will be announced here, Facebook and Twitter on Friday, September 19th.
Simply Wicked Excerpt
© 2008/2014 by Lisa G. Riley
“Well, I’m in love, truly in love,” Cassidy said this with another forlorn sigh. She quickly ducked her head when Tony suddenly raised his head to look at her from directly across the dinner table.
“But that’s wonderful,” Lady Carleton said.
“Well, yes, it should be. I feel good about it, but he doesn’t want me to. He’s avoiding me.”
“I’m sorry to say it, darling, but perhaps your young man doesn’t feel as deeply for you as you do for him.”
“I know he’s attracted to me, but he’s fighting it. He feels that I’m too young for him.” She ignored Esme’s stifled snort of laughter and continued, “He’s being stubborn. We have a great rapport, we’re on the same wavelength on so many issues and our attraction burns really strong and fierce. I just know that we’d have a great relationship if he’d only give us a chance. I’ve been here for two months and he’s done nothing to take advantage of that fact.”
“Oh, so you knew him before moving here?”
“Is he English?” This came from Lord Carleton whose face was mottled with embarrassment while his eyes showed helpless curiosity.
“Oh, yes, he’s a very proper Englishman. It’s one of the things I absolutely adore about him, that and his intelligence, witty sense of humor and gorgeous physical appearance.” Again, Cassidy ignored Esme’s snort, which managed to sound both disbelieving and snide. She also ignored Tony’s determined gaze that warned her to knock it off. “What do you think, Lady C.? Should age matter?”
“Oh, no, not really. I’m not one for pedophilia of course, but I do feel that it’s hard enough to find love and when one does, the little things shouldn’t matter all that much.”
“That’s just how I feel,” Cassidy said passionately. “But he won’t listen to reason.”
“Well, just how much older is he than you, child?” Lord Carleton asked.
“A measly fourteen years; that’s all,” Cassidy said and sniffled as if holding back tears. “I didn’t know love could hurt so much.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Lady Carleton said. “Perhaps your young man will come ‘round to your way of thinking.”
“Yes,” Lord Carleton agreed. “If he’s as smart as you say he is, he’ll at least give it a chance. Do we know him? Who is he?”
“Tony,” Cassidy said.
Not yet making the connection, Lady Carleton took a sip of coffee before saying, “What about Tony, dear?”
“I’m in love with him.”
Lady Carleton’s head jerked up to look from Tony to Cassidy, from Cassidy to Tony and back again to repeat the process. “Surely you’re joking?”
“No,” Cassidy said with a definite shake of her head. “I’m not. I’m in love with Tony.”
Lady Carleton stared at Cassidy in stunned silence for a long moment. She blinked. “Why, whatever for, dear?”
Into the silence after that disloyal question came Esme’s raucous laughter and from Tony in a disgusted voice, “Thanks loads, Mother, for that ringing endorsement,” which only made Esme laugh harder, so hard that she ended up pushing her chair back a bit so she could hold her stomach while tears of hilarity streamed down her face.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Tony,” Lady Carleton began, before snapping, after a particularly loud guffaw from Esme, “Oh do be quiet, Esme!”
Lord Carleton tried hard to control his twitching lips, but a chuckle escaped anyway, which he masked with a cough when Tony shot him a hard look.
Cassidy let the room quiet before saying, “In answer to your question, Lady C., I’m in love with Tony because he’s a wonderful man. He has a strong sense of duty, he’s smart, he makes me laugh, he makes me think and as I said the attraction between us is explosive. I have the most wonderfully wicked thoughts about him and—”
Tony interrupted with a screech of his chair as he pushed it back to stand. “All right, that’s enough!” She was getting carried away and he had to stop her. As she’d spoken, her face had taken on a look of deep passion and her voice had gone soft and husky. He doubted she’d even realized it. Next she’d be entertaining the table with tales of them nearly making love in her old apartment. He walked around to her side of the table and pulled her chair out. “Come on!” Barely giving her time to stand, he grabbed her hand.
“But Tony,” Cassidy protested.
“No buts! Let’s go! Please excuse us,” he said over his shoulder as he dragged her from the room while Lord and Lady Carleton looked on in astonishment.
***
Tony pulled Cassidy into the library and shut the door behind them. “Sit,” he commanded with a frown and before she could think about it, Cassidy did, quickly sitting on a cream-colored leather sofa in the middle of the room. When she realized that she had, she frowned and began to stand again until she got a good look at his face.
“Don’t even think about moving from that spot,” he warned in a low dangerous voice as he paced away from her.
Swallowing hard, Cassidy sat back down. She’d never seen him quite so angry.
Tony snorted in disbelief. “I don’t believe it! For once, you’re actually going to listen to me?”
Cassidy frowned. “There’s no need to be—”
“I’ll bloody be what I want to be, if you don’t mind!” Tony said. “Settle down and listen to me! That’s better,” he said when she very deliberately clamped her lips together. “Now,” he said as he began to pace back and forth in front of her. “For the past several years you have done nothing but make my life a living hell, especially when you got it into that beautiful head of yours that we were meant to be together. You’ve tortured me endlessly and it’s got to stop. Are we clear?” He demanded.
“Hmmph,” Cassidy said before folding her arms and turning her head away. “Whatever.”
Tagged: Cassidy, excerpt, New Material, re-release, Release, SimplyWicked, SimplyWickedRedux, Tony
July 7, 2014
Rumors of Wars — New Book from Roslyn and Me!
Earlier this year Roslyn Hardy Holcomb and I released the first novel, Rumors of Wars, in a planned fantasy trilogy. We released it under the pseudonym, R.L. Craven. Recently we decided it would be best to re-release it under our own names. We’re going to keep the original blog (www.cravenofwars.wordpress.com) for now, and park everything regarding the book there and on our own blogs. Below is an excerpt from the book. Enjoy!
Chapter One
“Look son, it’s colder than a motherfucker out here, so I’m going to make this nice and simple.” Perish Blackburn paused and looked down at the terrified man she was dangling over the balcony thirty floors up. She tightened her grip when it went slack and the sudden quick rough movement against the waist-high stone barrier had chunks of the decrepit building falling off like so much rubble. She shook her head. It was the curse of most buildings in the city. Her victim let out a terrified yelp, and Perish tightened her hold some more. “Not to worry,” she said, making her voice as carefree as a breeze, “I won’t drop you.” She jiggled him a bit. “Yet.”
She took a sip of the vanilla soy chai latte she held in her other hand, and her mouth twisted in disgust. “Fuck. Now my tea’s gone cold. All right. It’s time to wrap this shit up. Post. Haste.” She shook him hard once in warning.
“You’re going to tell me what you did with Connie’s access codes or you’re going to have an unfortunate accident.” The man mumbled something but the late December wind swirling around the balcony made his words indecipherable. Her patience gone, Perish began bouncing him up and down yo-yo fashion. After just a few moments of this treatment, he began screaming at the top of his lungs. Satisfied, Perish placed her now-undrinkable beverage on the ledge and used both hands to pull him back onto the balcony.
He stood before her, literally shaking in his boots, too terrified to even piss his pants. He certainly wouldn’t be the first. God I love my work, she thought.
“You’re that crazy bounty hunter, aren’t you?” the man whined, still shivering more from fear than the cold. “I can’t believe Connie sent you after me.”
“Then clearly you don’t know your former business associate very well. Connie doesn’t tolerate thieves. Unless, of course, you were stealing for him. Now speak up. What the hell did you do with his codes?”
“I’ve got them!” Voice still quivering, the man quickly held his hands up to forestall her when she moved a step closer. “I’ve got them right here.” He hurried into the hotel room through the French doors and ran over to a small overnight case that was sitting on a chair. After opening the case he carefully pulled back the lining. “Here! Here it is,” he said, handing the flash drive to her.
Perish pulled a small tablet computer out of her backpack. With smoothly efficient movements she plugged the drive into the port and quickly pulled up the document. As she’d expected, the document contained a series of numbers that meant nothing to her and she quickly e-mailed it to her client to check its validity. While she waited for a response she continued to eye the man who’d been stupid enough to try to steal from Constantine Drakos. He was pale with dull brown eyes and matching hair. Not particularly large, he was of average height and build and somewhat shorter than her own six feet.
He was studying her as well, a look of incredulity on his face as his eyes roamed her thin frame. His gaze strayed back to her face. “How the hell does some skinny chick like you pick me up like that? What kinda shit is that?”
Perish’s smirk was self-directed. “Must be I got me some super powers, or some shit like that,” she said mockingly. Her good mood suddenly dim, she scowled at the computer screen, wishing Connie would hurry the hell up and get back to her with an answer.
The man spoke up again. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?” he squeaked.
Perish smiled, the fierceness of her expression making his eyes go wide with fear. “Unlike you, I always follow my client’s orders to the letter. As long as you give it up and haven’t tried to access the accounts…” She raised a brow in inquiry. He shook his head rapidly. “Then Connie said to let you go, and that’s what I’ll do.”
“But Connie owes me that money. By rights it should be mine.” The whine was back in his voice, but now there was a look of timid hope as well. “Hey. What’s say you let me go and I cut you in?”
Perish let her smile broaden. Why did they all think she was stupid? “Now why on earth would I want to do that? Connie’s a good client. Pays well and in cash. I never double-cross a client, especially one with such a vengeful streak.” She glanced down at her computer when it beeped to indicate she’d received an e-mail. She checked it to confirm that she had the desired information then slipped the device back into her backpack.
“You got off easy this time. If Connie has to send me after you again I’ll stomp you into a lovely inkblot. I hate do-overs.”
The man nodded his agreement as Perish turned to exit the hotel room. He flinched when she turned back.
Perish’s new smirk was smug and satisfied. “Relax. I just forgot about the message Connie told me to give you. He said for you to say hello to his sister. And don’t forget about his New Year’s Eve party.”
*****
Constantine Drakos looked like a Minoan bull, or at least how the mythological beast would look if someone tailored a five thousand dollar suit to fit him. A stocky man, he nonetheless had a certain elegance about him. If Perish didn’t know he was one of the most notorious arms dealers in the world she would have thought he was a wealthy financier — not that there was all that much difference between the two.
“So how is my esteemed brother-in-law?” he asked, rising from behind his desk as she entered his mahogany-paneled office.
“Still alive when I left him. More’s the pity,” Perish said and slid the flash drive across the massive heavily carved desk.
With reflexes that would have made him a frightening opponent in the boxing ring, Drakos caught the device before it slid off the edge of the desk. Then he laughed. “Oh, Perish. I had quite forgotten how much I enjoy your sense of humor.”
“It’s the only reason people keep me around.” She dropped down uninvited into the plush office chair and unceremoniously propped her jack-booted feet up on his desk.
“Had he used the codes to access my accounts?”
“Would he still be alive if he had? I guarantee satisfaction and your instructions were clear.”
“You know, Perish, you’re a woman after my own heart. Honestly if I had a few more of you—”
“You’d be fucked beyond all recognition. I don’t play well with others, Connie. I’ve told you that before. I’m not part of your crew and never will be.” Connie had been trying to recruit her forever. She’d heard his shtick so many times she could recite it verbatim. Now he’d start complaining about having to hire muscle. Of course, he still had plenty of knee-cappers on his payroll. He only called her in when a situation called for a certain…delicacy. That almost made her laugh out loud, so she focused her gaze on her steel-toed boots. Delicate was hardly an adjective she would normally associate with herself.
Drakos exhaled a heavy sigh then resumed sitting at the desk. “A man can always hope. I don’t understand this generation. In my day a young gun was happy to join an organization like mine. Now, Omerta is a joke. Hell, it might as well not even exist. Everybody talks when they shouldn’t, there’s no loyalty and every swinging Richard wants to be a freelancer. And there’s the damn barter system that seems to be gaining momentum…” He shook his head as if confused by the improbability of it all. “What the fuck? Do you know some guy actually asked for a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner in exchange for a job the other day? Where in the hell am I supposed to get my hands on something like that? And with gas costing almost as much as it does to educate a child, what does he think he’d run it on? What the fuck?” he exclaimed again with a confused look at Perish.
She shrugged tiredly. Connie was getting old and was always talking about the good old days. The time before the Die Off when things still made sense. Perish was too young to remember those days and was starting to think they were a figment of people’s imagination.
“What are you talking about, Connie? Half the people you have working for you are sharecroppers working for nothing but a roof over their heads.” she said.
Connie looked away as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “That’s not the same thing. I take care of my people,” he said indignantly.
Much as she wanted to Perish didn’t roll her eyes. She had to get paid, after all. “It’s not just you. Anyone who has money is fucking over poor and uneducated people. And since pretty much everybody is poor and uneducated, that’s a lot of fucking over.”
“It’s not the same thing. People are happy with what I’m giving them. This bartering shit is a joke.”
“You can say that because you have money. You might want to start getting with the program on that one, Connie. Nobody has cash anymore. You know that saying, ‘my money is funny’? Well, it’s not just a common phrase for people nowadays; money isn’t funny, it’s nonexistent. So they’re trying to take control of the chaos. It’s not rocket science. Hell, I barter myself sometimes.” Perish closed her mouth with a snap. She was starting to sound like Princess Buttercup. Clearly, she was more tired than she realized.
Connie leaned forward and stared at her with a narrow-eyed gaze. “What’s with you, huh? You’re starting to sound like one of those goddamned revolutionaries. You haven’t taken up with those fruitcakes, have you?”
Now she did roll her eyes. “What are you talking about? You’ve known me for ten years. The only thing I revolt against are people who don’t pay me. Otherwise, I’ve got too much shit to do.”
Connie sighed and with a wave of his hand, dismissing the familiar conversation. “Anyway, I’ve made the usual arrangements for your payment. I trust that will be satisfactory. I have another small project for you—”
“I’m taking a break for a minute. I need a vacation. If it’s something that can wait, I’ll be happy to take care of it when I get back. Otherwise I can recommend someone for you.”
Drakos shook his head once. “No. I don’t want anyone else. I think it will wait. How long will you be gone?”
“About a month, but that’s not definite.” She lowered her feet from the desk and stood to leave the office.
“Oh, did my brother-in-law say whether they would be attending my New Year’s Eve party? I’d hate for this recent unpleasantness to put a damper on the holidays.”
Perish snorted softly. Family dynamics: she totally didn’t get them. Made her glad she didn’t have one, unless you counted Princess Buttercup. And she didn’t. Suddenly, her energy was gone and all she could think about was finding her bed. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he’ll be there, but do me a favor, keep your important stuff locked up. Killing stupid people is warm weather work.”
*****
Aaron Hall had known it was going to be a bad day the moment he’d awakened that morning. He hadn’t wanted this particular job, but Gregor had insisted, and when Gregor insisted, you did what you were told, no questions asked. He shook his head. I’m just a simple telepath, he thought. There’s no way I should be on this job. This Perish Blackburn bitch sounded scary as hell. He sighed and looked at the young hothead sitting next to him in the driver’s seat. Gary, a new recruit and a clairvoyant with a bad attitude and an unfounded need to prove himself, had somehow gotten the cockeyed idea that they could bring the girl in themselves.
“I’m big, yes, but that doesn’t mean that I’m superman and willing to take stupid and unnecessary risks,” Aaron said suddenly, and smirked when Gary looked at him in surprise. “Forget I could read your mind?”
Gary scowled, but flushed guiltily. “I just don’t see why we have to sit out here freezing our asses off with no pay-off, that’s all. I mean, you saw her picture just like I did. She’s just some skinny chick who they think might have some talents. It would be easy to handle her.”
Aaron looked across the street at Perish’s house. The old two-story brick structure sat surrounded by at least a half-acre of city land and looked like a loner in the sparse urban landscape. The house and grounds were surrounded by a seven-foot black iron fence safeguarded with a coded lock and intercom. And he’d already counted at least four cameras. To his way of thinking, none of that information boded well for Gary and him.
“Oh, she’s got talents all right,” he murmured, his mind still on the security precautions taken for the house. “You can bet on that.” He shook his head again. “You just don’t get it, do you? It’s what the boss didn’t say that should make you worry. All he told us was to watch her because she could be useful to us.”
“Exactly. She could be.”
“Listen, kid. I’ve been with the Confederacy long enough to know that they aren’t going to send us out to watch a subject unless they already know just how useful that subject will be. It’s a waste of time. Hell, you’re clairvoyant. Can’t you just look and see what’s going to –”
“It only works if I have physical contact.”
Aaron suddenly chuckled. “Yes, I heard what you didn’t say,” he confirmed when Gary frowned at him again. “What? Shit, kid, you’re broadcasting like a radio frequency. I can’t help but hear,” he said and busted a gut laughing when he heard the words son of a bitch without Gary saying a word. “All right, all right, no need to get upset. And you can forget about kicking my ass. I might be older, but better men than you have tried to take me out, and lost the battle.”
“Whatever,” Gary muttered and went back to staring at the house.
After a few minutes of brooding silence, Aaron said, “So the old gift is wonky, huh? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t? Shit, no wonder you’ve got such a big chip on your shoulder.”
“It’s not wonky.”
“Sounds like it is to me. But anyway, you’ll just have to trust me on this. We sit here and we wait and we watch. That’s all we do.”
“Fuck that,” Gary muttered.
“No! Fuck you, asshole!” Aaron said, his patience totally gone because he knew that Gary was planning to try and snatch the girl despite orders to the contrary. “I’m not going to let you screw up this op. I’m too fucking old to be letting some snot-nosed kid get me killed. Gregor has a reason for us being here, so just give me the damned camera and settle the fuck down.”
“Hey, don’t tell me—”
“Shut up.” Aaron’s eyes were on the rearview mirror. He watched as a car slowly approached. “What kind of car did Gregor say she drives? A black GTO, right? This is her. Look at the finish on that thing. It don’t even shine. That’s a bad-ass car,” he said admiringly. “It looks vintage. I’m thinking she’s had it converted to fuel cell. Nobody’s dumb enough to be driving expensive ass gasoline.”
“Be cool,” he warned softly when Gary tensed.
Perish pulled up in front of the house the woman she’d called grandmother had left her. The house, a small trust and a letter that had completely turned her life upside down comprised the entire inheritance Abigail Blackburn had left her when she’d died. And Abigail was the last damn thing she wanted to tax her brain with after such a trying day, so Perish decided to concentrate on the two idiots in the black van. What the hell do they want?
Letting her vehicle idle, she decided to get out and punch in the code instead of speaking into the intercom. As she leisurely strolled to the gate, she kept her ears attuned. She’d noticed the van right away and her suspicions had instantly been raised. No one parked on her street. If they did, they didn’t stay for long. The look of her house, and the rumors about her usually kept them away.
“Back unknown, two in front, male, largest no taller than five eleven, two hundred, two hundred and twenty, both up to no fucking good,” she mumbled to herself. A feral anticipatory smile broke across her face, and suddenly she wasn’t tired anymore. “Come on boys, what d’ya say? Gonna give it a go?”
Head cocked, Aaron watched Perish, a frown of confusion on his face. And then comprehension dawned. Dismayed, he closed his eyes and threw his head back against the seat in resignation. “Shit,” he mumbled forlornly. “Not only is this chick not broadcasting, she’s blocking me from reading her.”
Gary looked at him impatiently. “So?”
“So, if she’s able to block me — and I’m not bragging mind you, but that’s a tough thing to do — then she’s a talent, a damned good one. It doesn’t even feel like she’s trying. I think it’s just automatic for her.”
Unimpressed, Gary just snorted and went back to watching Perish. “I still think I can take her, and now is the perfect time,” he said as he started the van.
“What? No, don’t be an idiot!” But it was too late, and an obedient observer of the Confederacy’s code of always having your partner’s back, Aaron prepared to engage in what he just knew was going to be sheer folly.
Perish heard tires screech and even smelled the rubber burn as the van hurtled across the street towards her. The running feet were no surprise and she was braced when two pairs of heavy hands fell on her shoulders. “Hello, boys,” she said. Quick as a snake, she whipped around, breaking the hold of the larger one, snatching the wrist of the other as in one continuous motion she bent her body into it and flipped him over her shoulder.
And so quickly that the bigger man still standing blinked and missed it, she had a fistful of his shirt, lifting him onto his toes. She pushed her face in his and smiled so that he saw her suddenly elongated canines. When he blinked again and stared at them, she gave him a smug look, pursed her lips and made a kissing sound. “Wanna play?” she purred. Tiger, I think. She concentrated, felt her face contorting and grinned when the man’s eyes went wide with shock as he watched her shifting bones flow underneath and make ripples in her smooth skin.
Her eyes turned yellow with black pinpoints. They began to glow. “Surprise, asshole.”
“Ohhhh, fuck…” Aaron’s heart rate accelerated and he felt slick, scared-shitless sweat roll down his back. He groaned in shock and dismay. Thick tufts of orange and black fur had begun to sprout out all over the woman’s face and his mind went blank with fright. I didn’t sign up for this. He tried to lock his knees, but they began to buckle anyway. He felt her hold tighten and she gave him a fierce shake so that he had no choice but to watch in terror. Her face was completely covered in fur now and whiskers were shooting out on either side of…oh, shit…now she had a muzzle! Fuck you, Gary! Aaron thought as he fought to hold his bladder in check.
Perish growled low in her throat and he heard the satisfaction in the sound. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, but she shook him again, driving them forward once more.
“Jesus,” he breathed just as she gave a mighty roar, the force of it blowing his head full of hair back, forcing him to close his eyes against the power of it and making it difficult for him to breathe. He felt as if he were walking into a windstorm. Tiger drool flew into his face, and finally, Aaron gave up the fight. He fainted.
Pussy. He heard her thought, heavy with disgust, just before he sank gratefully into unconsciousness.
Perish felt the power of the change crash through her and she roared again. Her grip was the only thing keeping the man from crumpling to the ground, so she let him go, tossing him a few feet so that he landed right in front of her car. Before his head hit snow-covered concrete, she was once again fully human. From start to finish, the change had taken less than a minute.
She looked over at the man she’d earlier tossed over her shoulder. The smell of urine and feces wafted from the ball he’d rolled himself into and she chuckled huskily and licked her lips. “Tell whoever sent you that next time I won’t play so nice.” She angrily punched in the code that opened the gates leading to her home. “Get your friend and get off my property.” The words were tossed carelessly over her shoulder as she strode back to her car.
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June 22, 2014
Get this book
I’m in the process of helping my sister choose books for my niece’s summer reading list. Yesterday I read an amazing book that kept me enthralled from the first page to the last. Rita Williams-Garcia’s No Laughter Here is an exquisitely written short novel about the weighty issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The appalling subject matter is handled with delicate, yet honest sensitivity by Ms. Williams-Garcia. She holds no punches about the procedure, nor the consequences of it, yet the writing is not at all gratuitous.
The characters are intelligent, fiercely independent little girls, whose worlds are shaken irrevocably when one of them goes unsuspectingly for a summer visit with relatives in Nigeria and comes back “all cut up and mutilated”. I LOVE the way Akilah, the American from Queens is in immediate solidarity with Victoria, the Nigerian immigrant by way of Britain, when Victoria finally breaks down and tells her why she’s changed…why she’s silent…why there can’t –and shouldn’t– be any laughter. Even at 10, Akilah understands and just viscerally gets it. I’m not ashamed to say that I sobbed during the reading of this book. Yet, I was also able to smile and laugh while reading it as well.
My 13-year old niece might think the book is too young for her because it focuses on two 10-year old girls, Akilah and Victoria, but the book is recommended for fifth through eighth graders, and it’s a perfect range.
This is an amazing book.
Tagged: brilliance, FGM, girl power, middle readers, No Laughter Here, other authors, Rita Williams-Garcia, talent
June 12, 2014
Loving Day Blog Hop
“I only loved one man in my life and I married him,” Mildred Loving.
Consenting, unattached adults should be able to marry, date, sleep with, play footsies with, cuddle with…whomever they want, regardless of ethnicity, color or gender. Any government that writes laws specifically to prevent this is a government operating under a veil of fear, ignorance and quite possibly malice. That is all.
The next book I’ll publish is a re-release with lots of new material, Simply Wicked. Click on the cover (only a draft) to find out more:
Enter the Rafflecopter for this blog hop to try to win prizes — lots and lots of prizes! Two of my books from my Friends & Lovers series are up for offer! Good luck!
Visit the next author, Roxie Rivera on this blog hop!
Find out more about the Lovings and their fight here.
Tagged: BlogHop, Contests, Friends & Lovers, prizes, promotions, Roxie Rivera, Simply Wicked, the Lovings
May 26, 2014
Thank you
The following is a list of soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan this year. I do not know any of them, but I thought I’d honor them in my own small way today. If interested, you can find the complete list of all the soldiers who have died since the war began here at Citizen Journalist. The Washington Post has done a wonderful piece featuring those who have died during both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Called Faces of the Fallen, it can be found here.
May 17, 2014
Spec. Adrian M. Perkins, 19 -Pine Valley, California 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO. Died May 17, 2014 in Amman, Jordan, from a non-combat related injury.
May 13, 2014
Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R Barreras, 49 – Tucson, AZ – 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. Died May 13, 2014 in San Antonio Military Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, from wounds suffered on May 6, 2014 in Harat Province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
May 11, 2014
Chief Warrant Officer Deric M. Rasmussen, 33 – Oceanside, California – Company C, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. Died May 11, 2014 in Mazar E Sharif, Afghanistan, as the result of a non-combat incident.
May 3, 2014
Pfc. Daniela Rojas, 19 – Los Angeles, California-2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. Died May 3, 2014 in Homburg, Germany, due to a non-combat related illness.
April 28, 2014
Pfc. Christian J. Chandler, 20 – Trenton, TX – 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York. One of two soldiers that died April 28, 2014 in Baraki Barak District, Logar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Sgt. Shawn M. Farrell II, 24 – Accord, New York – 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York. One of two soldiers that died April 28, 2014 in Nejrab District, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
April 15, 2014
Spc. Kerry M. G. Danyluk, 27- Cuero, Texas- 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. Died April 15, 2014 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained April 12 when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Pul-e-Alam, Logar province, Afghanistan.
April 1, 2014
Capt. James E. Chaffin III, 27- West Columbia, SC-3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC. Died April 1, 2014 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.
February 28, 2014
Lance Cpl. Caleb L. Erickson, 20-Waseca, MN-1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. Died Feb. 28, 2014 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Master Sgt. David L. Poirier, 52 – North Smithfield, RI-157th Operations Support Squadron, Pease Air National Guard Base, NH. Died Feb. 28, 2014 from a non-combat related incident currently under investigation.
February 15, 2014
Master Sgt. Aaron C. Torian, 36 – Paducah, KY – 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, NC. Died Feb. 15, 2014 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
February 12, 2014
Spc. John A. Pelham, 22 – Portland, OR – 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC. Died Feb. 12, 2014 in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when they were struck by enemy small arms fire.
Sgt. First Class Roberto C. Skelt, 41 – York, FL – 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC. Died Feb. 12, 2014 in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when they were struck by enemy small arms fire.
February 10, 2014
Pfc. Joshua A. Gray, 21 – Van Lear, KY – Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. Died Feb. 10, 2014 in Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident currently under investigation.
Spc. Christopher A. Landis, 27 – Independence, KY – 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC. Died Feb. 10, 2014 on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from wounds received when the enemy attacked his dismounted patrol with a rocket propelled grenade in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan.
January 20, 2014
Chief Warrant Officer Edward Balli – 42 – Monterey, CA. – Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army Europe, Vilseck, Germany. Died Jan. 20,1014 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds from small arms fire when he was attacked by insurgents.
January 17, 2014
Spc. Andrew H. Sipple, 22 – Cary, NC – 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. Died Jan. 17, 2014 in Kandahar City, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident currently under investigation.
January 15, 2014
-Sgt. Daniel T. Lee, 28 – Crossville, TN – 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC. Died Jan. 15, 2014 in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire during combat operations.
January 10, 2014
-Chief Warrant Officer Andrew L. McAdams-27-Cheyenne, WY – Detachment 53, Operational Support Airlift Command, Joint Force Headquarters, Wyoming Army National Guard, Cheyenne, WY. One of two Jan. 10, 2014 at Bagram Airfield, in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when the aircraft they were aboard crashed. The incident is under investigation.
-Sgt. Drew M. Scobie -25 – Kailua, HA. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery, Wahiawa, Hawaii Army National Guard, Oahu, Hawaii. One of two Jan. 10, 2014 at Bagram Airfield, in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when the aircraft they were aboard crashed. The incident is under investigation.
January 4, 2014
-Sgt. First Class William K. Lacey, 38 – Laurel, FL – 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. Died Jan. 4, 2014, in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when the enemy attacked his unit with rocket propelled grenades.
January 1, 2014
- Sgt. Jacob M. Hess, 22 – Spokane, WA – Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC. Died Jan. 1, 2014, while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The incident is currently under investigation.
