Sunday Snippet: Guarded Chance

September is off to an okay start. Still feeling a little off … not really frustrated more like being stuck in limbo yet feeling like there's something that needs to be done. It's weird.

Had several thunderstorms roll through, which did a lot of back and forth with the temperatures. Today is cool and sunny, but midweek was steamy hot. Pretty sure it'll get to boiling again in the near future.

Not a bad work week. Finished up the proofread and started a new copy edit. I had a great call with a new author, and I'll be starting on a manuscript evaluation this week. Really excited about this book. Also had some breakthroughs on several of my WIPs, which is always a bonus!

Had a decent viewing week. I made it through my usual slate of shows and binged some Death in Paradise again. This show has kind of nudged Midsomer Murders out of the top spot of my go-to shows.

Started the week off with Marple and, again, I really enjoyed the mystery. Kind of fun to see Tommy and Tuppence in their later years.

Watched another episode of Britain's Most Scenic Counties. I enjoy seeing all the green areas in Kent. Also loved seeing the different types of boating available.

Caught another Beyond Paradise. Loved that Kelby's girl actually made it to Shipton Abbot. Kind of hated the awkwardness of the dinner party Anne threw with Mister Smith. But I loved the vague ending when Humphrey went to confront Smith with his decision. Methinks Smith let something very important slip during the dinner. Can't wait to see if I'm right.

The Halloween themed episode of Poirot ended up being such a fun ride. Well, as fun as murder can be anyway. So many twists and turns.

Elementary ended up being pretty interesting. I'm kind of holding my breath with the small clues and hints about the possible serial killer luring Sherlock into a dangerous situation. Also kind of interested in Joan's situation with becoming a mom.

Watched another episode of Young Justice. Thoroughly enjoyed the fallout from the training exercise and also loved seeing Connor interact with the New Genesis team.

Caught another episode of Star Trek Lower Decks and once again loved it. This show is so good.

That's it for the life update this week. Tonight's post is from Guarded Chance, a novella about how a couple navigates their way back to each other after a terrible situation.

Here's the miniblurb:

Echo Dart, a brilliant soldier but hot mess of a woman, becomes a captive of the enemy who try to recondition her for their purposes. During the process she realizes there's only one person who has ever touched her soul, Race Markinton. But she's already burned the relationship bridge with Race and once she's free, she has to figure out how to make amends or lose him for good.

And a sneaky peek…

Wilson Prewitt hated the position he'd been put in. Echo gone, the base commander breathing down his neck, and the man Echo couldn't let go of looking like he'd happily shove his fist down Wilson's throat if he didn't start talking in the next three seconds.

Wilson figured he'd better just spit it all out. "It's my fault. I thought—" He stopped and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I was fed a bunch of lies."

Race looked toward his father. "Is he going to start making sense any time soon, Dad?"

The elder Markinton nodded. "He'd better. I warned him you wouldn't be patient." Rick shot Wilson a stern glower.

Wilson blurted, "I handed Echo over to the enemy." He cowered back into the seat, expecting two hands around his throat at any moment.

Race blinked and his head jerked to the side. "You did what?"

The quiet tone did nothing to ease Wilson's fear.

"I don't think I heard it right. You handed Echo over to the enemy?" Race snorted. "No one hands Echo anywhere. She'd fight or die trying."

Markinton didn't have all the pieces yet. But he would.

"She didn't have a choice. I used a neurotoxin to immobilize her."

Wilson shrank back further when Race leaned forward, his face an unreadable mask.

The other man studied Wilson for a moment. "You better explain yourself, quickly, if you want to live."

Wilson complied. As if he had any other option. The Markinton men didn't make idle threats.

Wilson dropped his gaze, looking at the floor. "I wanted Echo to love me." He finally glanced up and managed not to flinch when he continued. "The enemy raiders have had Echo on their radar since the rebels altered their tactics and started gaining ground. Since it happened after we moved to the camp, they assumed it was based on her instruction." And they weren't wrong. "At first, they left us alone. Echo never talked about serving in the military and neither of us missed our shifts at the power plant. We were making a life and building friendships, the stuff typical couples do." He didn't miss the clenched fist of Echo's former lover.

Wilson wanted to take a measure of satisfaction from the action, but reality reared its ugly head. If any of them wanted to see Echo again, Race had to get on board with trying to find her. The elder Markinton made it clear Wilson didn't stand a chance on his own.

He cleared his throat. "Anyway, that's when the trouble started. Things were fine until the enemy started launching attacks—"

Race cut in. "Look, spare us the sob story and get to the part where you handed Echo over to said enemy because I'm not seeing a reason to get involved here." He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest.

Wilson closed his eyes for a moment. "The short answer is the writing's been on the wall for a while now with Echo. She's not exactly subtle when she's not happy about something." Not even their shared experience broke the steely-eyed countenance of the man across from him. "That's when two men approached me one night after I got off work. They knew about her helping the rebels, knew about the problems in our civil union, and made an offer I couldn't refuse." He stopped; corrected. "Thought I couldn't refuse. They wanted to try a new technique on someone who used to be military but not currently serving for obvious reasons." Namely anyone on an active roster would be listed as missing. "If I gave them Echo, they'd return her with a whole new outlook on life, me, our union. They pretty much guaranteed she'd be mine for life." What an idiot he'd been.

And nothing he said seemed to shake the chilled rage coming from Race. Wilson wanted to bolt; he freaked out a little by the level of coldness that crept into Race's gaze. With each new revelation, more icy shards filled in the blue irises until Wilson would swear the temperature in the room dropped a couple of degrees. Unable to deal with the frigid vibes, he shifted his attention to the elder Markinton.

Rick shook his head. "They're going to break her." He pinned Wilson with a hard stare. "And you knew, somewhere in the deep crevices of your mind, you knew." He got up and stalked back and forth. "If they succeed with Echo, turning her against us with drugs or programming protocols—" He broke off, his fists clenched at his sides.

Race finished the thought. "We're fucked." He met his dad's gaze. "And they'll use both. Don't doubt that for a moment." He swung his attention back to Wilson. "If you have any hope of staying alive, you'll find somewhere to start over. Because the men you gave Echo to … won't need you if they succeed. And if they fail, they'll clean house by killing her and you." He barely kept the disgust out of his tone. "But first, you're going to get the hell out of my quarters and give me time to come to terms with how badly you betrayed her." He got up and crossed over to the hatch.

Wilson followed, shrinking an inch with each step he took. Not physically, obviously, but internally where all the wrong he'd done heavily weighed.

He paused at the threshold. "How long do you—"

Race pointed. "I'll let you know. The old man will show you where you can park your ass—well away from me—until I'm ready." He turned away and addressed his dad. "That a problem for you?"

Rick lifted his chin a notch. "I'll find a place for him. Contact me when you're ready." He crossed the space and nudged Wilson out of room.

Without another word, Wilson fell into step beside the elder Markinton. What else could he do? He didn't dare ask whether Race would actually go after Echo.

Even if Wilson would give his left nut to know the answer.

I loved writing this scene. Sometimes inserting a point of view that isn't the main character(s) can add a lot of weight to the story.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye