Busy day, writing, editing, and whatnot. How’s all y’all’s day going?
May 17th, 2012
From my story, On The High Seas, which is part of an anthology at Parker. Galen and Taryn have a past and because of some pirates, they’re reunited. Have a great Wednesday!
She tried to control the heaves which came nigh unstoppable. God, how had it come to this? Missionary work to watching murder. True, she didn’t know much about John but it didn’t matter. She knew he had a family. A wife and three kids. Everyone had people waiting back in the States for them. Everyone but her.
With strength and determination from somewhere deep inside, she lurched to her feet and screaming herself raw behind the gag tried to make it to John’s side.
A man pulled a gun and pointed it at her head. Taryn paused then moved with dogged determination until she stood positioned between John and the cameraman, holding the cold stare of the unknown pirate with a gun. He backhanded her, the butt of the gun cracking into her jaw and sent her weakened body to the floor while male laughter filled the air. Blood pooled in her mouth and she fought off the approaching darkness. She had no family. Take me, her mind screamed while she bumbled back at least to her knees. Take me and leave them alone!
She caught the glint of the overhead lights as they reflected off the few inches of unstained metal of the machete. Bullet, machete, how it would end was beyond her. The figure gripping the blade stepped closer but all her attention remained on the man holding the gun. The machete may frighten her but not even close to the fear instilled into her by the gun.
Excruciating pain filled her. In her peripheral, she saw the tip of the machete, covered in fresh blood. Her blood. It made her woozy and she had nothing left to rail against them with. Slumping over the last thing she saw was the man who’d held the gun on her sink to the ground as she did. The only difference, a thick trail of liquid trailed down from under his shemagh, or whatever he would have referred to his headscarf as. The reddish line slid down over the bridge of his nose then toward his eye as his head hit the floor. Brown eyes stared sightlessly ahead.
She had a final thought before she succumbed to the darkness. Guess we die together. Wonder if anyone will care he’s gone? She knew no one would care she was.
Day started before the sun came up, but am getting stuff done. Trying to get myself back up to where I’m not behind (or as far behind).
How is y’all’s week progressing so far? Good?
I hope so.
Love comforteth like sunshine after rain.
~William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother’s Day! Spent the day racing the zois with my hubby. It was a great day!
Remember that you are a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech: that your native language is the language of Shakespeare and Milton and The Bible; and don’t sit there crooning like a bilious pigeon.
~George Bernard Shaw, Pygmalion
Swing by and check it out.
http://whispershome.com/authors-blog/if-you-dare-by-aliyah-burke-quiz-and-giveaway/
It is not known precisely where angels dwell — whether in the air, the void, or the planets. It has not been God’s pleasure that we should be informed of their abode.
~Voltaire
Revisit (or meet for the first time) one of the Megalodon Team men, Dimitri Melonakos and his fight to get the woman of his dreams, Landi. Have a wonderful rest of the week!!
The cold air cut through the numerous layers Landi wore as she hurried through the snowy slush to her apartment building. It was late, it was cold, and she was in one hell of a foul mood.
New Year’s Eve and she was bitter. She could admit that. Business was great—not a single complaint in that department. It was her personal life that lacked. Having no one to kiss as the year turned over sucked brass balls. Big shiny ones.
She snorted as she walked in her building. “Like I have a damn personal life!” Shrugging, she forced a smile as another tenant walked by. Instead of continuing on, he stopped and touched her arm.
“Evening, Ilanderae,” he said. “Glad to see you back in town. And just in time for New Year’s Eve.”
“Hello, Hanson. How are you doing? How are your kids?”
He smiled. “We’re all doing great.”
Shifting her weight slightly, Landi nodded. “Wonderful.” All I want is to get to my apartment and close out the outside world for a few hours.
“So what about you? Any special plans for the big night?”
Landi ground her teeth. She wasn’t in the mood for this. If she were a drinking woman, a large bottle would be in her future. As it was, she just wanted to relax and wallow in her pity.
“No, Hanson, no plans.”
“Humph, you need a man, Ilanderae.” He patted her arm. “Don’t worry, one day you’ll realize it’s not all about work.”
Her smile was more of a grimace. “Give my best to your family. Goodnight, Hanson.”
She walked toward the elevator, grateful when the doors closed behind her. Pressing the button for her floor, she thought about Han-son’s words as she took off her wool coat and leather gloves.
It wasn’t like she didn’t want a man. It was more that no man could measure up. Dimitri’s ghost had resurfaced and didn’t seem inclined to give her any peace.
Dimitri’s face reared up in any man who remotely interested her. Those damn golden eyes of his appeared to stare into her soul. Perhaps they dared her to forget him. Or maybe they were searching for something…something she wasn’t quite ready to give to him. Even Kacy had told her to let him explain.
Stepping out the elevator onto her floor, Landi shivered as a chill ran up her back. Not from the cold, from something else. With a strong shake of her head, she walked toward her loft. Putting the key into the lock, she hesitated. I’m freaking losing it. Landi turned the knob and pushed open her door. Then she froze.
The lights were on and there were flowers everywhere. All of them were different shades of pink. And in the middle of it all stood a man she had met in Greece. AJ Melonakos. Dimitri’s cousin.
Kicking the door shut with the heel of her shoe, Landi demand-ed, “What the hell are you doing here?!”
An enchanting grin crossed his face. “Dima,” he said, ignoring her question. “I think you should come out here.”
“I asked you a question!” Landi snapped, dropping her bag and coat. Her eyes refused to let him go.
“Hello, Landi,” AJ spoke in that deep voice he had. “Lovely to see you again.”
She glared. “Are you gonna tell me what the fuck you’re doing in my apartment?”
A shadow moved behind AJ; and to Landi’s shock, it material-ized into Dimitri Melonakos. “Hello, Landi,” he said. The words surrounded her like a warm, velvet blanket.
If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap. If you want happiness for a day — go fishing. If you want happiness for a month — get married. If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.
~Chinese Proverb
