Sunday Snippet: Loss

Wow, March is beingits typical mercurial self. Warm up and then plunge back into the teens andsingle digits. The back-and-forth weather is normal but not fun.

Crazy-busy weekwith work projects. I'm thrilled to have my calendar filling up and excited tostart some new manuscripts. Also getting more details sorted out for Tip JarShorts. I need to find a full day I can dedicate to getting everything where itneeds to be.

Very limitedviewing this week. My brain decided it needed quiet to focus on the reading Ineeded to finish up for one of my work projects. I probably needed the break.

I did get more ofthe One Lane Bridge episode watched. I might take a brief vacation fromthis one. There's a lot going on in this show and focus is going to beimportant so I don't miss anything.

Finished up seasonthree of London Kills with the behind-the-scenes bonus episode. I alwaysenjoy getting a deeper look at how everything comes together in a series.

Started anotherepisode of Death in Paradise. I'm about halfway through and I like thetension in this one. Also enjoyed Neville and Commissioner Patterson being onthe same page for once.

That's pretty muchit for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Loss, a novellathat explores how the main characters deal with a devastating blow.

Here's theminiblurb:

Welsh Hollingsworth is the golden child of ClanGrimstone, 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 someinsight. Cagney can't deal with the loss of her mentor, the one constant in herchaotic world and she leaves when Welsh needs her the most. One year later, shereturns to find a very different Welsh—one who doesn't welcome her with openarms.

And a preview snippet…

Cagney surveyed the group gatheredon the tracks and lining the subway platform. "I've gotta hand it toWelsh. He mobilized the clan in a hurry.'' She met Jacko's gaze. "He's nothappy about staying behind." She wouldn't be either if she'd been in hisplace.Jacko rolled a shoulder. "Someoneneeds to call the shots and, like it or not, that's him." He shook hishead. "And he needs to be protected. This is a coordinated attack. Takingthe old man out? Bold move to get the ball rolling."Cagney nodded. "Bold butstupid." The one thing Clan Grimstone didn't lack?Loyalty.Word of Wallace's death at thehands of Bainbridge spread quickly, and members all but poured out of thewoodwork at Hollingsworth House. With communication lines blown, the telepathswere 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 andthirty men, had a trap set for the Stoneworth clansmen.The sound of screeching wheels onmetal echoed through the tunnel.Jacko nudged her shoulder."This should be them. The train is dark." He readied his pouch togive the signal.The man's bag of tricks neverfailed to amaze Cagney. Damn good thing he'd arrived at the house in one pieceto get the details of Wallace's death. Cagney didn't know if she could have ledthis battle on her own. Not with—Guh. She couldn't even think aboutWallace not being around when she got back. No way.Jacko clasped her shoulder with agnarled hand. "Easy, Cag. I need you here with me." With a gentlesqueeze, 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 takecontrol.When Jacko gave the go, Cagneyunleashed her rage and rained hellfire down on the darkened car. Men spilledout on both sides, and Jacko directed the other clansmen in a strategicskirmish that quickly cut the Stoneworth numbers to half. Now, with a fairfight, both groups pulled back on their magick and entered into physical battlemode.Cagney jumped into the middle ofthe fray, each blow, kick, punch, and strike chipping away at the tenuous holdon her pain. By the time the Grimstone side had the advantage, rounding up thestragglers of Clan Stoneworth, and she threw her final fist, the tears blurredher vision.Connecting with her adversary'sjaw, she growled. "For Wallace." She let the opponent hit the tracksin 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 hershoulders. "Let's go see how our new leader fared." He limpedforward, a little worse for the skirmish.Cagney didn't argue, and sheappreciated Jacko ignoring the grief overflowing from her eyes. His gaze held asheen of moisture too. Exhausted and overwhelmed, Cagney didn't stop the streamof tears, letting them run freely. But she'd be dry-eyed when they briefedWelsh—because he would need her to be strong and unbreakable when they gotback.And she would be both even if itkilled her.

This one is comingtogether in so many ways I didn't expect, and I'm excited to see what elseunfolds.

 

That's it for thisweek.

Cheers!

Skye