Sunday Snippet: Glutton for Punishment

January 24, 2016

Well… Winter Storm Jonah, or whatever its name is, missed my part of Ohio. I'm not complaining in the least. For everyone else dealing with the massive snow dump, I hope you're all safe, warm, and enjoying the blizzard as much as possible. J

One thing though… why are we naming winter storms now? I mean I was alive for the Blizzard of '78 and referring to it the Blizzard of '78 works just fine for me. Is there a reason we have to give names to snowstorms? I get naming hurricanes and tropical storms, typhoons, etc., but eh, giving monikers to snowstorms seems like something a bored Weather Channel employee decided to cook up to brighten their day. Just saying. LOL

Let's see… big X-Files revival premieres tonight. I'm super-excited! One of my all-time favorite shows is coming back and I don't even care if it sucks huge ones. LOL I'm watching a marathon on Chiller right now, so my day is going really great. J

The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow had kick ass episodes. I kind of love Legends, the snarky banter makes me happy. I could watch an hour of nothing but the characters trying to out snark each other. That said, the jury's out on how well this group with mesh together, but I'm all in to see what happens.

Agent Carter's two episode premiere didn't disappoint. I've got some hopes for what happens with the New York contingent. I also loved meeting Jarvis's Mrs. Very cool and awesome character. J

Last, but not least, Teen Wolf's episode entertained, as usual. It might just be me, but the last few episodes have something of a choppy feeling, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, just a little confusing.

That's it for television this week…

Tonight's post is from Glutton for Punishment, a novella that started with a scene prompt of boxing.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Willa and Karl have issues. She acts out to keep him at bay and he finally calls her on the destructive behavior, stepping into the ring so she can work out her aggression. A glutton for punishment, Karl pushes Willa into making a choice between risking her heart or losing him for good.

And a snippety peek…

Willa Troy closed her eyes to the chaos playing out in front of her. The simple extraction went sideways the moment her team arrived on site. Almost like someone leaked the date and time of their planned op.

Snapping her head around, she shouted over the din of gunfire. "Sorrel! What the hell happened?" She trusted her asset, but Sorrel Akbar's people lived on the razor's edge of torture, destruction, and death every day.

The tall, striking man dodged across the space separating them. "Willa, I don't know what's going on or who gave up the intel, but you've got to get as many of these folks out that you can." He motioned for another group to come forward. "At least the kids and as many parents as you can load up." A dozen refugees zigzagged back and forth, making their way to the large transport trucks that would take them to freedom.

Willa shook her head. "We were supposed to get all of you out." No way would a full extraction happen now.

If lucky, her team might leave with a third of the refugees. Which meant Sorrel would stay behind. Unless she could get permission to stick around with half a team and try to get the rest out in a few days.

She waved her comm officer, Brynn Schuler, over. "Get me base." Glancing at Sorrel, she voiced her thoughts. "How long would it take to get everyone else rounded up again? Best guess." Brynn tucked the sat-phone between Willa's chin and shoulder.

Sorrel frowned. "Willa, you can't stick around here. I might be able to get another group together within forty-eight hours, but the rebels are heavily armed and on the prowl now. This attempt only stirred their bloodlust even more."

She rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the tactical assessment, Sorrel. Not like I'm unaware." Hell, she'd taught him how to make those gut-level calls. "Base, this is Granite One."

What followed, the back and forth between the extraction zone and operations, filled Willa with a gut-clenching anger over botched opportunities. She tossed the phone back to Schuler.

Willa met Sorrel's gaze. "New orders. We're scrubbing the op and sanitizing this location." In short, leaving and never coming back.

Sorrel cocked his head to one side. "By sanitizing, you mean—"

She cut him off. "Yeah. Exactly what you think. If you don't come with us now. You're on your own." She wouldn't put voice to the final directive she'd been given.

Blow the place to hell so the incursion forces couldn't gain an advantage.

Damn Karl for making that call.

Sorrel turned, facing her. "So, this is it, then." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a leather pouch.

Willa took a step back. "Uh-uh. No way. You keep those." She referred to the hefty stash of diamonds he'd taken from one of the labor camps he'd liberated.

He shook his head. "No, Willa. You need to take these back to your base so they have the evidence of what's happening out here." Reaching out, he grasped her hand, placing the sack in her palm. "And don't you look back. You didn't fail here. We got people out, not everyone, but enough to make a difference." His free hand cupped her face.

Willa leaned into his touch. "If I can find a way to come again, I will. I made a promise and I want to keep it." He'd asked her to get all the labor refugees to a safe zone.

She didn't mention all the assurances she'd made and broken in the past. She'd tried to put those manipulations to rest and leave them behind. All part of the job and she'd become very good at her work.

I have a feeling this one may end up being longer than novella length, which isn't a bag thing. Willa's got a lot to say. LOL

That's it for this week. Happy reading!

Skylin