Sunday Snippet: Dance in the Underground (First Breed Nation)

Man. What acrazy-busy week. Our weather is still being contrary. Warm and spring-like acouple of days followed by another blast of winter. My sinuses are notthrilled.

I didn't get througha full round of television this week. I had way too many irons in the fire andneeded to focus. My brain doesn't want to cooperate at all. Thankfully, I havethree current projects, which lets me bounce around when I can't concentrate onone specific thing.

I did get a holidayepisode of My Life Is Murder watched and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's interestingto see how the southern hemisphere celebrates the holiday in the middle oftheir summer.

I tried to watch thebehind-the-scenes Agatha Raisin, but it wouldn't play. That's twoseasons now that I can't access the specials. I'm kind of bummed about that.

I started the newseason of Midsomer Murders and loved the episode. I'm excited to diveback into this series. It's fun to see an older Betty.

Silent Witness continues to be very intriguing. I reallywant to know who's behind the curtain pulling the strings.

Caught another Deathin Paradise and remembered some of this one. Mainly the beginning and theend. Not sure what happened to the middle part and why I missed it the firsttime around but it's nice to finally see the whole episode.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. I like the slow progression of trust being built withSherlock and Watson. I have a sneaking suspicion that Sherlock now knows Joanisn't being paid by his father anymore. I'll be interested to see how thatplays out.

That's as far as Imade it for viewing this week and that's it for the life update. Tonight's postis from Dance in the Underground, a follow-up novella in the First Breedseries.

Here's the miniblurb:

The First Breed Nation has to open another file. VinceGrillo is Raven Malone's right-hand man in the underground community, where thefreaks and geeks seek refuge. Raven sends Vince undercover at a strip clubwhere exotic dancers are disappearing then turning up dead a few days later.Evita Viccars, the headlining act, takes one look at Vince and tries to stakeher claim on the shifter. Too bad she's the next victim on the phantomstalker's list.

And a preview snippet…

Vince Grillo enteredthe canteen and made a slow walk to Raven Malone's table. "You really needan office, Rave." He pulled a chair out and spun it around, sitting withhis forearms resting on the back.

She glanced up from astack of notes and some kind of printed report. "If I had an office, I'dnever get to leave." Her gaze scanned semi-full space. "I've beentrying to get out of here for the last three hours. Every time I get up,someone else stops by to unload whatever issue they have on me." Sighing,she raked her fingers through her hair.

Vince's lips twisted."That's why you texted me? To get a break for a few?" He didn't mind,but he'd been knee-deep in renovating one of the empty sections of theirunderground space in the unused subway terminal.

Raven huffed out abreath. "Actually, no. I texted because I've been trying to track youdown." She met his gaze. "I need you to do something for me. Andyou're not gonna like it." Shuffling through the printed paper, she pulleda page out and turned it toward him.

Vince glanced at the sheetin front of him. "Crime scene photos?" Four grisly images along withtyped captions covered the surface.

Raven shook her head."Not officially. Gio's working on a case and thinks one of ours isinvolved." She placed her phone on the table and started a video.

Vince narrowed hiseyes, leaning closer to the screen. The grainy security camera footage leftmuch to the imagination, but Vince's stomach churned regardless. The sceneunfolding could have been the opening to a horror movie with an assailantgiving chase to a woman, entrapping her, and unleashing terror on the lonefemale.

Vince flashed Raven aquick look. "What makes Gio think it's one of ours?" Committing actsof evil didn't require preternatural genes—or altered DNA.

The shit straight-upnormal humans let loose on the world ranked as something vile half the time.

Raven nodded toward herdevice. "Keep watching." She exhaled slowly, a sure sign she held alot back right now.

Vince focused on thevideo again, the beat-down sickening even without sound. Ten seconds later, theassailant hovered over the prone woman then another second later, theydisappeared from the screen.

Vince's head snappedup. "Is there a glitch in this video?"

Raven jerked her headback and forth. "Nope. Whoever delivered that brutality can either makethemselves invisible or they've got a teleportation ability." She shuffledthrough the notes on the table.

Vince let out a lowwhistle. "We don't have much data on first breeds who can teleport or havebuilt-in cloaking devices." He could dig through the archives, which heanticipated Raven wanting him to do. "That's why you wanted to see me? Youwant me to troll through our information and see if anything hits?" She'dhave to handle the geek side of things.

No one had moreknowledge about the genetic splicing trials than Raven.

Raven winced."Yeah, sorry, but that's not what I need you for." She inhaled deeplythen spit everything out. "I want you to go up top and work undercover tofind out whose behind this."

Vince reared back."Fuck that. You know I hate going up top unless it's to shift and run or makeshort excursions for you." The idea of staying up there for an extendedperiod made his hackles rise.

Raven held up a hand."That should tell you how important this is. She's the third victim andthis person is escalating. They're carefully choosing women that work at onelocation. The first two were pretty banged up, but this one? She's barelyhanging on. There's a good chance she won't pull through." Raven pinnedhim with an understanding look. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to. Giocan't go undercover because he's known at the venue. I don't trust anyone elsedown here to handle the situation." She riffled through the pages againand pulled on out. "This is a list of her injuries along with the previoustwo."

Vince read through thelengthy bullet points. Damn. The first two had extensive bruising andcontusions along with some lacerations and abrasions. The third woman hadbroken bones, internal bleeding, and a fractured skull.

The guy—Vince's gutwouldn't accept the assailant as being a female—definitely upped his game.

Heaving a sigh, Vinceclosed his eyes. "What hellhole are you sending me to?" He blinkedwhen Raven didn't respond right away.

Her lips twitched …just a little. "The Twisted Stiletto."

Vince's mouth droppedopen. "The upscale gentleman's club that pulls in five figures everynight?" Probably six digits one the weekend.

Raven lifted her chin."The very one."

Vince huffed out abreath. "Well … shit." He couldn't say being up top would be loads offun.

But it would beinteresting…

I love this series,which has two books in the works so far. If all goes well, I'd like about threemore.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye