The next thrilling book in Jennifer Estep’s New York Times and
USA TODAY bestselling Elemental Assassin series—“an
extraordinary series.…One of the most intriguing heroines in the genre”
(Romantic Times Book Reviews).
Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance.
One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be
the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s
underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my
way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the
underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me
survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally
settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld
meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant
seems to be.
My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m
embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the
greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and
laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs
of death…
Exclusive Excerpt
One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be
the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s
underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my
way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the
underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me
survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally
settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld
meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant
seems to be.
My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m
embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the
greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and
laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs
of death…
The guards staggered to their feet, shuffled over to the railing, threw down a
couple of ropes and life rings, and fished their waterlogged bosses out of the
river.
Silvio took hold of one end of the conference table and scooted it back where
it had been before I’d kicked it into Dimitri’s stomach.
“What are you doing?”
The lean vampire pulled a silk handkerchief out of the pocket of his gray suit
jacket and wiped off some of the blood that had spattered onto the table. “The
meeting’s not over yet. You haven’t decided who gets the coin laundries.”
“Seriously?”
Silvio wiped up another patch of blood. “We can always reschedule it for
another day …”
“Oh, no. Uh-uh. No way am I wasting any more time on these two schmucks.”
He gave me a pointed look. “Now or later. Your choice.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Let’s get this over with.”
“There’s no need to be all hasty,” Phillip drawled, still leaning against the
railing. “After all, Dimitri and Luiz need some time to dry off.”
I looked over at the two gangsters, who were now sprawled face-up on the deck,
panting and shivering from their forced swim, with water seeping out of their
clothes and shoes and sluicing all over the wood. A few feet away, Dimitri’s
black toupee lay in a puddle all by itself.
Silvio grabbed an overturned chair, righted it, and slid it back up under the
table in its previous spot, then repeated the process on all the other seats.
Except, of course, for the one I’d used to wail on all the guards. That
demolished chair was a lost cause, just like this sham of a meeting.
“Besides,” Phillip continued. “No underworld get-together is complete without
violence and refreshments. We’ve already had one, so we might as well enjoy
the other. So sit, relax, admire the view, have a drink. Trust me, alcohol
always makes these shindigs much more tolerable.”
“Sometimes, I think that you and Finn were twins separated at birth.”
Finnegan Lane was Fletcher’s son and my foster brother. He’d wanted to come to
the meeting to witness the fireworks between Dimitri and Luiz but had to wine
and dine some rich new client instead, since he was an investment banker. Just
like Phillip, Finn thought that a stiff drink, a slick suit, and a smarmy
smile could solve almost all of the world’s problems and was determined to
prove himself right.
Phillip sniffed and ran his hand over his golden hair, which was pulled back
into its usual ponytail. “Nonsense. We could not possibly be twins, since I’m
much more handsome than Lane could ever dream of being.”
“Which is exactly what Finn would say, if he were talking about you.”
Phillip grinned, then waved his hand and signaled one of his own guards.
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her
next fantasy idea.
SPIDER'S TRAP, the 13th book in her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy
series, will be released on July 28.
Jennifer is also the author of the Black Blade and Mythos
Academy young adult urban fantasy series and the Bigtime paranormal
romance series.
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1 comment posted.
I have to admit that I haven't read any of the books in the series, but your latest book sounds interesting, and I'll have to have a look at it. I've put it on my TBR list, and will be looking at the books prior to this one as well. Congratulations on your latest book, and I'm sure it's going to do well. The central theme of the series is very intriguing!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:43am July 30, 2015)