SUSAN TIPPETT BRAITHWAITE

Welcome to the Friday Fiction Writing Challenge! Here’s a complete list of all the posts so far. Feel free to join in.

It’s been a busy week or so (read: super busy) and I’ve had little-to-no time for writing. Hopefully, things will calm down before next week and I can get back to word herding. Before we get into the post, I’d like to say a quick thanks to those who posted their responses to last week’s prompt—I’ll catch up with your posts this weekend.

This week’s random word is: Tennis

Jade gripped the brim of her floppy hat and “adjusted” it in the mirror. Gustov was ordering yet another cognac in the reflection. Drink up, buddy.

“Still chasing trinkets?”

How had she not seen him? The sudden drop in temperature should have alerted her to Simon’s arrival. She glanced at him in the mirror. They looked like they were together, his tie matching her clutch. Hell no. “I can get twenty thousand for that trinket.” With a better fence, she could get twenty-five for the tennis bracelet in Gustov’s safe.

Simon gave her a wolfish smile and turned to her. “You’re aware of the four-man team working the room?”

Jade swept the reflected bar looking for the fourth man. The drunk she’d dismissed earlier touched a finger to his ear. She’d been sloppy. “Of course, I’m a professional.”

Simon gripped her arm and tugged her to face him. Hard green eyes pinned her. “Those aren’t good ol’ Gus’s goons.” He seemed to wait for a reaction from her, but in not getting it scowled at her. “Those are Consortium agents.”

“This again?”

Simon’s grip tightened. “They won’t stop until they have you.” He tugged her with him. “We’re leaving.”

“No, you’re leaving. I’m staying here.”

That wolf’s smile made another appearance. Simon pulled Jade flush against his hard body, his hot breath skimming her ear. “We’re out of time, Sweetheart. Do or die.”

Drunk-Agent wove his way through the crowd at the bar; the other three were heading toward her. Jade grit her teeth. “Fine,” she looped her arm in Simon’s, “if you ever get that close to me again, I’ll cut your balls off. Okay, Sweetie?”

The wolf chuckled.

How To Join In:

• Using the prompt, write a maximum of 250-ish words of fiction. (This can be a scene, flash fiction, some dialogue, a description, etc.)
• Link to this post in your post.
• Add the tags ffwc, genre scribes, and the genre your post is in.
• The deadline is 6 PM the following Friday.

Full information is on the Genre Scribes: Friday Fiction Writing Challenge page.