Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Widow's Web
    Widow's Web
    Widow's Web
    Ebook377 pages5 hours

    Widow's Web

    By Jennifer Estep

    4/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    The seventh book in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Estep—Gin Blanco is back and ready for action.

    I used to murder people for money, but lately it’s become more of a survival technique.

    Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town anyway. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back, she thinks he’s hers for the taking. Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPocket Books
    Release dateAug 21, 2012
    ISBN9781451651799
    Widow's Web
    Author

    Jennifer Estep

    Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Jennifer is the author of the Crown of Shards, Elemental Assassin, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 35 books, along with numerous novellas and stories. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

    Read more from Jennifer Estep

    Related to Widow's Web

    Titles in the series (21)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Fantasy For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Wanders: When home is not a haven.

      Jul 25, 2013

      The job in the North was a good job for what it was. I was not excited about it, but I was satisfied because it would take me away from the city where I had lived with Paul, and where every drugstore and bar and credit center was heavy with the memor

      13 min read

    • Article

      After Australia

      Oct 4, 2020

      The sun is in its place, and in this place the sun is like no other I’ve ever seen. Yesterday, when they brought a man here, when he first felt the sun’s heat, he’d swooned; they had to carry and drag him into the cage. He hasn’t woken yet, I’m told

      10 min read

    • Article

      A Long-Ago Burglary

      Mar 14, 2022

      A Long-Ago Burglary
      4 min read

    • Article

      Who Was That Girl?

      Apr 21, 2021

      Who Was That Girl?
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Man I Should Have Married

      Dec 29, 2019

      The Man I Should Have Married
      11 min read

    • Article

      Confessions Of A Hitman

      Oct 14, 2019

      Confessions Of A Hitman
      3 min read

    • Article

      Klara

      May 21, 2020

      Klara
      28 min read

    • Article

      Four Poems

      Mar 1, 2024

      I was trying to look a little less like myselfand more like other humans, humans who belonged, so I put on a skort.Purchased in another life, when I had a husband and wrote thank-you notes and held dinner parties,the skort even had its own little poc

      6 min read

    • Article

      Cricket League

      Sep 1, 2022

      First prize 10 and under Tang Li, age 9 Palmetto Bay, FL My name is Anisa. I was in Hawaii on vacation. I enjoyed sipping refreshing drinks, overlooking the turquoise ocean, and dancing with others, before I overheard that the priceless Fire Ring wa

      10 min read

    • Article

      Desk Flowers

      May 6, 2021

      Desk Flowers
      11 min read

    • Article

      Averted Vision

      Sep 1, 2022

      Averted Vision
      25 min read

    • Article

      Trial Run

      Mar 15, 2022

      Trial Run
      18 min read

    • Article

      The Silhouette Artist

      Jul 25, 2019

      The Silhouette Artist
      6 min read

    • Article

      Come with Me

      Dec 1, 2022

      Come with Me
      12 min read

    • Article

      Three Poems

      May 1, 2023

      Great One, Maker, Weaver of Things, I want to undress the tree to find you hidden there in the layers of sapwood, as you were hidden in a mango I ate today, its sweet and buttery flesh. A fly entered the house through the front door. Was that you? At

      3 min read

    • Article

      Descent

      Jun 14, 2022

      People got out in strange ways. No stranger, I suppose, than the ways they got in. One year an American military helicopter flew too low over an Italian ski village, killing two families headed up the lift. A woman at Hillcrest had Italian citizenshi

      22 min read

    • Article

      Table Talk

      Sep 1, 2021

      Table Talk
      11 min read

    • Article

      Dark Tales

      Dec 2, 2021

      Dark Tales
      6 min read

    • Article

      Station to Station

      Dec 3, 2020

      Station to Station
      6 min read

    • Article

      All Of Us Here

      Jun 4, 2020

      All Of Us Here
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Night That Changed Me

      May 12, 2021

      The Night That Changed Me
      8 min read

    • Article

      Even My Dreams Are Behind Bars

      Nov 16, 2018

      I’ve always been a dreamer—literally. I sleep straight through the night, every night. And I dream. Some dreams I remember in the morning. Most I don’t. I used to always dream about running from a mob of attackers in slo-mo, while they ran full-speed

      5 min read

    • Article

      Room Service

      Apr 19, 2023

      Room Service
      8 min read

    • Article

      Room Service

      Apr 19, 2023

      Room Service
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Widow's Web

    4/5

    184 ratings18 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Widow's Web
      3.5 Stars

      Despite her retirement from the assassins business, Gin Blanco is still forced to deal with the numerous lowlife thugs gunning for her. But they pale in comparison to the newest threat, Salina DuBois, a powerful water elemental who has her sights set, not only on taking out her underworld competition, but on Gin's lover, Owen Grayson, with whom she shares an intimate past. Can Gin untangle the wicked web woven by this deadly widow?

      ***Warning***: Minor spoilers ahead!

      To sum up in one sentence: Not as terrible as I had expected, lol!

      After a long hiatus (mainly due to the knowledge that Owen's character was about to turn into a dickhead), I have returned to the captivating world of Estep's Elemental Assassin series.

      While not unexpected, Owen's blind devotion and inability to see past Salina sweet southern belle routine even when confronted with the truth of her machinations and manipulations is exceedingly disappointing and not a little annoying. Where is the man whose unequivocal love and acceptance of Gin made him such an awesome character? At least there is no cheating, which would have been a total deal breaker!

      That said, by the end of the book, Estep manages, if not to completely redeem Owen, at least to present his side of events in a more favorable light and his decision to distance himself from Gin until he can come to terms with his feelings is understandable given the circumstances. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to come to his senses and there should be some absolutely fantastic groveling in his and Gin's future.

      With regard to Salina, she is a dangerous and despicable villain yet the contradictions in her characterization are problematic. On the one hand, she is obviously a sociopath with narcissistic tendencies, but there are also indications that the traumas she suffered have turned her into a monster. This creates unnecessary moral ambiguity that undermines Gin's perspective.

      The rest of the plot takes a back seat to the personal angst, but is, nevertheless, action packed and exciting. Estep's imaginative world of elemental powers and underworld conflicts is exceptional, and the introduction of several new characters adds new directions for the books to go in. One character in particular, Philip Kincaid is very appealing and it will be fun seeing what happens next.

      Estep's writing has also improved and there is far less repetition of phrases and recapping of previous events.

      In sum, while not the best book in the series, Widow's Web is a strong installment for its detailed world building, ongoing character development and improved writing. Looking forward to continuing and no more long breaks for me!
    • 5/5
      Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsJennifer Estep definitely has a knack for creating characters; from her phenomenal heroine, to her lovable sidekicks, to her downright devious villains, I can’t help but be impressed every time I step into her world. That and I simply can not put her books down! Widow’s Web was no different except for the fact that I was mildly scared to turn the pages; not because I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy the story but because I feared for Gin and Owen’s relationship. That’s how involved I am in this series. Their struggles actually take an emotional toll on me. If that’s not the definition of a great author then I don’t know what is!I find myself oddly fascinated by Estep’s antagonists; even if some of them are only present for one book, the amount of detail and thought that goes into them is simply remarkable. On the surface, Salina Dubois appears to be merely an ex-girlfriend trying to rekindle an old flame. However, as the story progresses it becomes obvious that there’s so much more to her than meets the eye. By the end I was in awe of her cruelty and cunningness; she definitely gives Gin a run for her money (in more ways than one)! I loved the way that Estep gradually widened this character’s scope until the big picture was revealed. Practically every chapter ends on a cliffhanger which had me constantly saying “I’ll just read one more…” and you all know how that goes. Now I’m stuck waiting until March for Deadly Sting. Ooh, the pain!There’s trouble in paradise between Gin and Owen which honestly, was to be expected. Had their relationship bliss gone on for too many books I would have been disappointed. Yes I love them to death and yes I want them to get their happily ever after but they haven’t been tested nearly enough yet for them to have reached that point. This is Urban Fantasy people, there’s no such thing as easy! Grayson’s attitude was tiresome but understandable; love is blind and this book does a great job of illustrating that. I was impressed with Gin’s level of maturity and patience given the situation, in her shoes I would have turned into a jealous, sniveling mess. I think that Owen will eventually come to his senses and I’m more than willing to wait for that day; I just hope that he doesn’t take too long because he might end up being too little too late.Finn really proved himself to me in this installment. For the past several books he’s been taking on a more active role in the assassin business and he really brought his A-game this time around. His character has morphed into so much more than just the ladies man that he started out as. Gin asked some very difficult things of him in Widow’s Web and he never hesitated. Not once. Like Blanco, he does what needs to be done regardless of who it pisses off and I love him for it. Especially now after everything that went down between Gin and Owen; it helps to lessen the blow knowing that Finn has her back.I skipped over my usual go-to review criteria like the plot, pacing and writing because the awesomeness of these elements are a given seeing how this is an Elemental Assassin book but rest assured, they’re just as good this seventh time around. Be prepared to be put through the emotional ringer with Widow’s Web but take heart, Jennifer Estep will make it up to us. I have faith.
    • 5/5
      I am completely obsessed with this series! I can't stop reading about gin blanco aka the spider !!!
    • 4/5


      A bit repetitive at times


      Gin has memories come to light about assignments she went on with Fletcher
      Gin definitely has some insecurities she has to deal with after she meets Salina
      Salina is pretty damn awful
      I wanted to knock Owen upside his head and tell him to open his freaking eyes
      We get to meet Cooper, the man who trained Owen in metal work
      We also get more information on Philip Kincaid
      There are ties between Philip, Owen and Eva
      Tons of mind games, and little ass-kicking

    • 3/5
      I have mixed feelings about this book. I wasn't feeling the storyline in the end. It didn't feel true to the characters. Since when is Owen so blind? It just seemed hollow to me.

      I still love the series but this book is my least favorite so far. I can only hope the next book gets things back on track.
    • 4/5
      "The past comes a callin'" Gin has been a great character to get to know over the last six books along with her family and friends. So when the past starts to threaten not only her relationship with her lover but threatens the life of her friends and families. Even though Gin tried to take the high road and not want to continue with her assassin ways, some people just need killed and if she can prevent her lover's sister from going out and trying to kill or hire someone else to kill she will just have to do it herself even if Owen doesn't want her to. Thus begins the tale of the someone else's past coming back to bite you in the ass. I enjoyed both the storyline and the easy listening of the narration by Lauren. I will continue to listen to this series as it continues because despite having a general theme of Gin trying to change her ways and Gin getting sucked back into the assassin lifestyle these books are not only entertaining but enjoyable breaks from reality and thus just what the everybody needs now and again.
    • 5/5
      Another Awesome edition to an exceptional series. This one's is less about who's trying to kill Gin this time and more about personal relationships. It runs the gambit on the scale of emotional upheaval, fears and desires. The ending will give pause and have you salivating for the next installment.
    • 4/5
      I feel that I was thrust into an alternative reality of the last book. I think it's strange how the series is still going. Thank the gods that the repetition has stopped and there aren't as many visits to Jojo Devaroe. A few books back it seemed that she lived at the healer's house.
      Donivan wasn't in this book, but a twisted homicidal wench that has daddy issues has taken his place. Whew that's a loaded statement if I haven't written one before. Anyhow I was absolutely convinced that Owen was going to fall for the usual, and we would be stuck with the excuses that most men give when they know they've effed up big time. Pleasantly I was surprised by Ms. Estep yet again. Now though I really don't know where she can take the plot. If there are any future books I can't see them topping this one.
    • 5/5
      My first question is: when is the next one coming out? I love this series and I love this book.

      You jump straight into the action with this book as is normal for a Elemental Assassin book. This book gives more insight into Owen's past and Gin even makes a new friend, of a sort. He's even helpful!

      This book focused a lot on Owen and his life before he met Gin, mostly his teenage years. Owen's parents were also killed by Mab (like Gin's family was). He had to take care of his little sister, Eva, from the time he was 15 (she was 2) on. Salina is part of this past and when she comes back to Ashland, trouble starts: both in Owen and Gin's relationship and in Ashland as a whole.

      Salina is a powerful water elemental who's father was killed by Mab (seeing a pattern, here?). You learn a lot in this book about Eva, as well, but I won't spoil by giving it away.
    • 5/5
      Poor, poor, Gin. She has such rotten luck.

      Full review to come.
    • 5/5
      I just love this series. Gin Blanco is the coolest heroine around and her sidekicks and family and friends are great, too. This one involves also a little jealousy and great drama - loved it.
    • 4/5
      Oh where to begin? Well first if you follow me you know that all the books in this series have been 5 Mac Halo (stars) and favorites for me. Well kiddies, Widow's Web is still a favorite and I still have my Gollum moments (My Precious) but I could only give it 4 stars.

      Why? One word, or rather name...OWEN.

      Owen you broke my heart in this one. I knew you were too perfect. But I have hopes that you pull you head out of your ass in the future.

      But I'll back up a bit and leave Owen where he belongs...bitch slapped and tie up somewhere. For now.

      I love how Widow's Web starts. Gin has been planning an assassination for weeks on her current targets and you won't believe who they are. I found myself confused and then laughing my ass off.

      We get to see the whole case, Finn, Bria, the Deveraux sisters (I knew that I've heard that last name before reading this series and it finally click in my head... The Golden Girls, Blanche Deveraux ok back to the review) Eva, Phillip Kincaid and of course Owen.

      This time around the gang is dealing with a deadly water elemental, Salina who just happens to share a past with Owen, Eva and Phillip. And as the book summary states, she appears to be the perfect Southern Belle but really she's one cold heart, crazy bitch and it's seems every but Owen knows it.

      Anyway Salina is back in town after being gone for years. And she is making a splash (pun intended) in the underworld of Ashland. See Gin and Owen's families were not the only people that Mab Monroe killed. Salina's father was killed by Mab at party years ago when she was younger and it broke her. While she was away she only got crazier and now she has brought her deadly water magic to town in hopes of getting revenge.

      That's where Gin comes in to take the bitch down. But Salina wrecks all kinds of havoc before the Gin finally takes her out. And we will feel the effects of the havoc for few books yet, I'm sure.

      Also to sum up Widow's Web - action packed, another crazy bitch dead by Gin's knives, and the once loved Owen is now on my shit list as well as others that have read the book. Fans of the series will no doubt read this one and have strong feelings, especially if they are an Owen fan.
    • 3/5
      Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars

      “For a moment, I almost felt sorry for her. Then the bitch blasted me with her water magic, and I got over it.”

      Haha Gin. I liked how we see Gin as a person who has to make decisions and like everybody, she commits mistakes.

      Oh my freaking cow. Owen. Ugh. Sorry. I don't know what to say. He's such a fool. (Sorry Owen for kicking you when you're already down.) Ugh :( no. I've read spoilers about this but to read it for myself, so disappointing.

      Aw. Bria and Roslyn. They're like Gin's girl friends. I liked the book club idea of comfort. I myself will surely be lifted up by that. I should try that out with my friends.

      Hmm. Enough said.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Gin Blanco versus a water elemental intent on stealing her lover and her life.Opening Sentence: Breaking into the building was easy.The Review:Gin Blanco, the notorious assassin Spider, has basically been ousted. Now every two-bit-wannabe-bad-guy out there that wants to make a name for himself thinks that makes Gin ripe for the picking. Whatever. All of that, however, takes a back seat in Widow’s Web. Owen’s ex is in town and causing trouble for Gin, both in her love life and outside of it, and it’s pissing her off. So what do you say to an old fashioned girl fight between a Water Elemental and Ice/Stone one? Who is going to end up swimming with the fishes?Salina Dubois is every woman’s nightmare. She is beautiful and charismatic and can manipulate others with the greatest of ease. That being said, she’s crazier than a fruitcake but is really good at hiding it. It takes most of the book to figure out Salina’s master plan and even then, I felt sorry for her. The horrors and suffering that she endured I wouldn’t wish on an enemy. While I may feel bad about her past, it does not excuse her present actions. Salina’s character chose to let hate rule her emotions and she will live with the consequences.Owen is definitely in the spot light this time around. His past involving the known crime lord, Phillip Kincaid, is revealed as well as his once betrothal to Salina. Wow. Owen is a great character that seems to balance out Gin’s more reckless nature. I am happy to learn more about her sexy lover and his time on the streets. All the qualities that attract Gin are the same that complicate their reactions to Salina entering back into Ashland. Will his protective nature and kind heart be his undoing?Gin gets put in a tough spot in this book. She loves Owen and trusts him, but doesn’t trust his ex-fiancé. Gin would just kill her and be done with it, but not without serious repercussions with Owen. How far will Gin let Salina play her games before she’s willing to intervene?Phillip Kincaid is also given a greater presence in Widow’s Web. His past dealings with Salina are, shall we say, complicated. His personal feelings about her have prompted him to take a more proactive approach to her return. He clues Gin in to all the things that Owen wasn’t aware of, then turns around and manipulates her into doing what he wants. While I dislike the way he goes about it, his heart seems to be in the right place. I like that Phillip is a bad guy with good qualities. It will make him a much more interesting character in books to come. Plus, I’ve always had a thing for bad boys!I must say that I approve of the direction Elemental Assassins is going in. While I may hope for a happily ever after and quiet retirement for Gin, I don’t think that would be a life she’d be content to lead. Gin is not the kind of character that is alright with living on the side lines. Her future seems to be painted in pain, but it will be one in which she remains true to herself and her ideals. Good luck, Gin. No matter what, I will be rooting for you.Notable Scene:“But my car,” Finn muttered. “Why do we always have to wreck my car?”“It’s not like you don’t have another Escalade in your fleet. You’ll barely notice the scratches on this one,” I said, attempting to soothe his ruffled feathers.“Hmph,” he harrumphed in my ear. “Believe, I’ll notice. I just think that you like destroying my cars on purpose. First, you get my Aston Martin all scratched up and beat to hell, and now you want me to ram my Escalade through an iron gate. It’s unseemly, I tell you. Unseemly.”I rolled my eyes. “Oh, yes. You caught me. I confess. My sole purpose in life is to gleefully, willfully, manically destroy all of your precious chrome babies.”“I knew it!”FTC Advisory: Simon & Schuster/Pocket After Dark Books graciously provided me with a copy of Widow’s Web. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment received came in the form of hugs and kisses from my little boys.
    • 5/5
      This is the 7th book in the Elemental Assassin series; the 8th book (Deadly Sting) is scheduled for an April 2013 release. This was an excellent continuation of the series and starts up a new story thread featuring a wonderful new elemental baddie.Owen’s old flame, Salina, shows up in town to cause problems and people in the underworld are mysteriously turning up missing. Could the two be linked? Gin has to find out because her own life is at risk. But will taking on Owen’s old girlfriend and forcing him to confront her cruelty tear Gin and Owen apart?Excellent addition to this series. Gin has matured so much as a character. She deals with things in a much more emotionally mature way than in earlier books in the series and you can see she’s really grown a lot as a character. Gin is getting to the point where her and Bria are coming to an understanding as well and it is so great to see Gin getting some stability in her life.Owen does some things in this book that are frustrating, but at the same time I can understand how tough the situation is for him as well. There are points in this book where you will want to smack Owen for his stubbornness. Gin handles things nicely and it’s great to see that she has so much support from her sister Bria as well. We do get to learn a lot more about Owen’s past and that was excellent.Salina makes for a wonderfully evil baddie. She is a bit too close to being a copy of Mab for me, but she differs in enough ways that it kept the story interesting. I loved that she used Elemental water magic; it is something different than we’ve seen in previous books.The action scenes were spectacular, like normal. The book had just the right amount of recapping (previous books have been too heavy on recapping) and also had great pacing. The book was a fun read and the writing style was easy to read.The storyline for this book was pretty contained. There are hints of a bigger storyline coming in future books. I am curious to see if Estep starts another big over-arcing story (like the Mab one) or sticks with more contained mysteries like this one.Overall a really great addition to this series. I love where Gin is going as a character and how much she has matured. The action scenes are spectacular and the pacing is great; the story is incredibly engaging. There are times where I wanted to smack Owen for being so dense, but it was wonderful to get to learn more about his past. This whole series is highly recommended to those who love action-packed urban fantasy.
    • 5/5
      The great story lines and characters of the Elemental Assassin series keeps me entertained and on the edge of my seat for more. I practically stalk Jennifer's websites checking in on her progress of not only the Elemental Assassin series but also her YA series Mythos Academy. Im hoping they both go on for a long time to come.Even though Gin has retired from the assassin business her and her friends enemies still keep her busy, Just when she gets rid of one another jumps up in their place. WIDOW'S WEB revolves heavily on Owen's past. There have been many hints about his past on how he became the rich man he is now but Owen's past involves a lot more then I would have ever expected and it definitely comes back to bite him in the rear. Gin's relationship with her sister is doing great and gets better with each situation that comes up. Gin is slowly letting others help her in dangerous situations but she still needs to work on that as she unfortunately learns by the end of book 7. Kincaid is a big part of Owen's past and I really enjoyed getting to know him. I have a feeling we will see a lot of him in the future. ** SPOILER ALERT**Read at your own risk or after you have finished reading the book*Some heavy emotions happen between Gin and Owen in WIDOW'S WEB. I feel that the situation plays out in a way that makes complete sense so even though my heart hurts I have no doubt it wont last long. I am kinda shocked that Gin isn't more upset with Owen though, the way he acted really ticked me off and I wanted to smack him upside the head a few times. She was very understanding of his feelings and I hope he gets his head out of his butt quickly. **SPOILER OVER**Jennifer has a fantastic way of bringing each and every emotion to the front of your mind and you cant help but fall into them right along with the characters. Jennifer does not hold back in WIDOW'S WEB and you will be emotionally drained by the end. Bring on DEADLY STING I'm dying for more.
    • 5/5
      Since I read the e-arc version, I'm including the excerpt from Ms Estep's website below.**I used to murder people for money, but these days it's more of a survival technique.Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don't need another problem, but a new one has come to town. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she's really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she's back in town, she thinks he's hers for the taking. Salina's playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I'm going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread*When I saw the title of this book I thought oh no, something happens to Owen, Gin's boyfriend.Well I was kind of right, and kind of wrong. Owen is alive at the end While Gin is the main character in this book, you learn more about Owen's past, what's helped meld him into who and what he is now.When a woman from his past shows up, Gin doesn't know at first what to expect, other than she (Gin)doesnt like her. Well that and Owen seems to have a blind spot where that woman is concerned, to him she can do no wrong, yet Owen's sister seems scared of her, and others don't like her. And when an assassin doesn't like you that could be a problem.This book is full of emotions, as you see just how much Owen and others have come to mean to Gin, and just what she'll do to keep them all as safe as possible. My heart went out to Gin on this one more than I expected.To stop from giving away more spoilers I'll just say I'd recommend this book and give it my highest rating 5 stars.
    • 5/5
      After book six in the Elemental Assassins series, By a Thread, I started to wonder where the series would go now that Gin's nemeis, Mab Monroe, was dead but wonder no more. Estep just shook things up in a surprising way. Once again Gin is kicking ass and taking names but this time we learn that the bad guy isn't always what he seems and Gin makes a new friend however that tenuous friendship causes all sorts of trouble for Gin and someone close to her.Estep is one of my all time favorite authors. She's published in 3 different genres and I've read all her books and short stories and absolutely love her characters and story lines. With that being said there have been a couple of books that didn't meet my expectation and I even almost gave up on her Mythos Academy YA series but her writing is just so great that she always comes back with another awesome book that brings me back into the fanatic realm. I recommend everything Estep writes and highly recommend this series starting at book one, Spider's Bite, so you don't miss a bloody detail.

    Book preview

    Widow's Web - Jennifer Estep

    1

    Breaking into the building was easy.

    Too easy for an assassin like me.

    Hell, I didn’t even really have to break in—I could have walked right through the front door, waved at the guard stationed behind the reception desk in the lobby, and taken the elevator up to the appropriate floor. Stroll into an office building holding a vase of flowers, an oversize teddy bear, or a couple of pizza boxes smelling of grease, pepperoni, and melted mozzarella, and no one looks too closely at you. Except to wish they were the ones who’d thought to order pizza.

    The delivery ruse was one I’d used countless times before, and I would have done it again today—except my target knew that I was coming for him. He was on his guard, and everyone entering the building was being checked and double-checked for weapons and to see if they even had the right to be there in the first place.

    Besides, I preferred to be subtle about these things—to creep around in the shadows, leap out, take down my target when he least expected it, and then vanish back into the darkness once more. As the assassin the Spider, I had a reputation to uphold—that I could get to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

    Something I planned on proving once again this evening—no matter how tight the security was.

    It had taken me the better part of a week to scout out locations where the hit might go down. Home, office, the route in between, restaurants he liked to frequent, even Northern Aggression, Ashland’s most decadent nightclub, where he spent some time after hours. I’d eventually decided to do the job in his office, which was housed in one of the city’s downtown skyscrapers. He probably thought he was safe there, but he was going to learn exactly how wrong he was.

    It had taken another week, and been a bit more difficult than I’d expected, getting my hands on the building’s blueprints and figuring out a way to get close to him, but I’d managed. I always managed. I wouldn’t have been the Spider otherwise. Besides, I always enjoyed a challenge.

    Now I was into the third week of the operation, and it was finally time to put my plan into action, since the job had to be done before the end of the month. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but the target knew about the looming deadline and that I was gunning for him. Every day that passed meant that security got that much tighter and my job that much more difficult.

    I strolled into a downtown parking garage, wearing a black pantsuit and matching heels. I’d pulled my dark, chocolate-brown hair up into a high, sleek ponytail, while black glasses with clear lenses covered my cold gray eyes. I looked like just another corporate office drone, right down to the enormous black handbag I carried.

    This particular garage lay on the opposite side of the block from the front entrance to the skyscraper I wanted, but thanks to the blueprints I’d looked at, I’d discovered the two were connected by a series of maintenance corridors, which meant I didn’t have to go anywhere near the skyscraper lobby to actually get inside the building.

    Always take the most unexpected route. That was something my late mentor, Fletcher Lane, had told me more than once, and I expected it to work just as well this evening as it had so many other times.

    Still, I’d thought that my target might have a few guards stationed in the garage, hence my business attire, but I didn’t see anyone as I walked down the ramp from the street to the basement level. A few security cameras swiveled around in slow loops on the walls, their red lights blinking like malevolent eyes, but it was easy enough for me to walk through their blind spots. Sloppy, sloppy of him not to make sure the entire garage was covered, even if it was on the other side of the block. This was Ashland, after all, the city that showcased greed, violence, corruption, and depravity in all their deep-fried, Southern glory.

    My heels cracked against the concrete as I headed toward the elevator, the harsh sound bouncing around like a Ping-Pong ball someone had tossed into the garage. Despite the fact I was in the business district, muggings weren’t unheard of here, and my eyes scanned the shadows, just in case there was anyone lurking around who shouldn’t be. Assassin or not, I had no desire to get blood on my clothes before I’d gotten close to my target. I was the only one getting away with any violence tonight.

    As a final precaution, I reached out with my magic and listened to the stone around me.

    People leave behind emotional vibrations in their surroundings, in the places where they spend their time, in the houses, apartments, and offices where they live, love, laugh, work, and die. All those feelings, all those emotions, especially, sink into stone, whether it’s a concrete foundation of a house, the gravel that constantly crunches under the tires of a convertible, or even an expensive marble sculpture prettily perched in a living room.

    As a Stone elemental, I can pick up on those vibrations as clearly as if the person who had put them there was standing beside me, telling me all about how he’d used that marble sculpture to bash in his wife’s brains for the life insurance payout.

    I reached out with my magic, and the usual sharp, worried murmurs echoed back to me. Nobody much cares for parking garages, and the low mutters told me just how many folks had fearfully clutched their bags and briefcases to their chests as they hurried to unlock their cars—and how many hadn’t made it before they’d been beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Par for the course in this garage and so many others like it.

    Still, there were no recent disturbances in the stone, and no indication that someone had set his sights on me. Satisfied, I shut the murmurs out of my mind, rounded the corner, and reached the elevator that led from the garage up into the office building on this side of the block.

    A man wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase waited in front of the elevator, watching the numbers light up as it descended to our level. I gave him a polite nod, then pulled my cell phone out of my bag and started tapping the buttons on it, sending a message to no one.

    The elevator arrived, and the man stepped inside, holding the door open for me.

    Going up? he asked.

    I waved him off. I need to finish this text first. My reception always gets cut off in there.

    He nodded and let the doors slide shut. I hit a few more buttons on my phone, just in case there was anyone else behind me heading toward the elevator, but no one appeared. When I was certain I was alone, I put the phone away and headed to the far end of the corridor and a door marked Maintenance Only.

    I looped my bag across my shoulder so my hands would be free, held my palm up, and again reached for my magic. Most elementals are only gifted in one area—Air, Fire, Ice, or Stone—but I had the rare ability to tap into two areas. So now, instead of using my Stone magic, I grabbed hold of my Ice power and used it to form a specific, familiar shape—one that would help me get through this locked door.

    A cold, silver light flickered in my palm, centered on the scar there, one that was shaped like a small circle surrounded by eight thin rays. A matching scar was embedded in my other palm. Spider runes—symbols for patience. My assassin name, and so many other things to me.

    A second later, the light faded, and I clutched two slender Ice picks in my fingers. Still keeping an eye and ear out for anyone else in the garage, I went to work on the door. I wasn’t as good at jimmying locks as my sometimes partner, Finn, was, but I got the job done in under a minute. I threw the Ice picks down on the concrete, where they would soon melt away. Then I slid through the opening and let the door close behind me.

    In the long, narrow hallway, flickering bulbs gave everything an ugly, sallow tint. I paused, listening for the footsteps of the maintenance workers who used these corridors. But I didn’t hear any scuffles or whispers of movement, so I started walking. Even if I ran into someone, I’d just claim to be a lost worker bee, desperately trying to find my way back to the hive.

    For once, my luck held, and I didn’t see anyone as I hurried through the hallways. Eventually, I wound up in the basement of the skyscraper housing my target’s office. After that, it was just a matter of picking another door lock and taking the service elevator up to the second floor, above the guards in the lobby. Then I leisurely walked the rest of the way up the emergency stairs until I reached the top floor.

    Cracking open the stairway door, I looked out over a sea of cubicles divided by clear, plastic walls. I’d gotten here right at quitting time, and everyone was trying to wrap up their work for the day so they could be out the door by five sharp, get their kids, get dinner, and get home. Everyone was hunched over their phones and computers, sending out a few last messages, so no one noticed me slip out of the stairway, softly pull the door shut behind me, and stroll into their midst.

    I kept to the edge of the cubicle area and walked down a hallway until I came to a corner office that, thanks to a scouting trip I’d made here earlier this week, I knew was being used to store supplies. The door was open, and I stepped inside like I had every right to be there. I looked over my shoulder through the inner window, but no one so much as glanced in my direction, so I went into the attached private bathroom and closed the door behind me.

    I stood behind the door, counted off the seconds in my head, and waited, just waited, to see if anyone had spotted me and alerted security. Ten . . . twenty . . . thirty . . . forty-five . . . After the three-minute mark, I felt safe enough to move on to the next part of my plan. Now that I was on the appropriate floor, all that was left to do was get to my target’s office.

    I removed a small, electric screwdriver from my bag, climbed up onto the bathroom counter, and used the tool to open one of the grates on an air duct high up on the wall. Of course, I could have gotten into the air ducts down in the maintenance corridor. The only problem was that those grates were all wired into the security system. The second I popped one open, an alarm would have sounded, and lobby guards would have come running with their guns drawn and plugged me full of bullets.

    But my target hadn’t bothered with alarms on the grates up here in the rarefied corporate air. Few people thought to properly secure the doors, windows, and air ducts on the upper levels of their homes or offices, figuring that preventing someone from getting inside on the ground floor was good enough.

    Not when it came to the Spider.

    Once the grate was open, I climbed back down, stripped off my suit and glasses, reached into my bag, and put on my real clothes for the evening—cargo pants, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a vest, and boots. All in black, of course. Yeah, wearing head-to-toe black might be a little cliché for an assassin, but you went with what worked—and best hid the bloodstains.

    I put the suit, glasses, and heels into the bag, looped it around my chest, climbed onto the counter, and hoisted myself up and into the air duct, making sure to reach back and close up the grate behind me. Like many buildings in Ashland, the ducts here were made slightly oversize, just in case a giant maintenance worker ever had to squeeze inside, so I didn’t have any problems moving through them. I slowly, carefully, quietly, crawled through the air ducts until I reached the office I wanted. Then I eased up to the grate there and peered down through the slats.

    My target certainly had an impressive office. A large desk made out of polished ebony stood in the back of the room. Pens, papers, a monitor, two phones. The usual office detritus covered the surface, while two black leather chairs crouched in front of the desk. Matching furniture in varying shades of black and gray filled the rest of the room, along with metal sculptures, while a fully stocked wet bar took up the better part of one wall. Behind the desk, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sweeping view of downtown Ashland and the green-gray smudges of the Appalachian Mountains that ringed the city.

    The office was empty, just like I’d anticipated, so I didn’t have to be quite so quiet as I used my screwdriver to undo the grate on this duct and put the loose screws into a pocket on my vest. I practiced removing the grate from its frame until I was sure I could do it without making any noise, then I slid it back into place. I also reached into my bag and drew out my weapon for the evening—a small gun made out of plastic.

    Normally, I carried five silverstone knives on me—one up either sleeve, one against the small of my back, and two tucked into the sides of my boots. I liked my knives, and they were the weapons I used on the majority of my jobs. But my target had an elemental talent for metal, which meant he could sense whenever the element was near, just like I could the stone around me. In fact, metal was an offshoot of Stone.

    Since I didn’t want to give my target advance notice that I was here, I’d decided to leave my knives at home tonight. I wasn’t as good with a gun as I was with a blade, but the one I’d brought along would get the job done in the office’s confined space.

    As a final touch, I reached into my bag and pulled on a pair of black gloves, making sure the thin leather covered the spider rune scars embedded in my palms. The scars were really silverstone that had been melted into my skin years ago by a particularly vicious Fire elemental. I didn’t think my target would be able to sense the metal in my palms—not through the ductwork—but the gloves offered another small bit of protection, and I wasn’t going to take any chances.

    With the grate and my gun in position, all that was left to do was settle down and wait.

    I’d been inside the air duct for almost an hour when the office door opened and two men carrying briefcases stepped inside. Both wore expensive tailored suits and shiny wing tips, marking them as the movers and shakers they were. My target was having an after-hours meeting with his moneyman to go over company financials and other sundry things.

    Too bad it was a meeting neither one of them would live through.

    Through the grate, I watched a third man step into the office—a giant who was almost seven feet tall. He wore a uniform marking him as one of the building’s security guards. The two businessmen hung back while the giant did a sweep of the office, peering behind the desk and the wet bar, then going into the private bathroom and repeating the process with a glance into the shower. The nightly sweep was another reason I’d chosen to make my approach through the air duct, rather than just hiding in a dark corner somewhere.

    A moment later, the giant stepped back out into the office. All clear, sir, he said. The rest of the floor has been checked and is empty as well.

    My target nodded his thanks, and the giant left the room, closing the door behind him.

    The second man immediately moved over to the bar, grabbed a bottle of Scotch, and poured himself a healthy amount in a tumbler. He swallowed the amber-colored liquor and nodded his head in approval. Then he turned his attention to his friend.

    Any sign of her today? the drinker asked.

    The target shook his head. Nothing so far.

    The drinker grinned. Well, since the Spider hasn’t come to call yet and it looks like you get to live another day, let’s get down to business. I happen to have someone waiting up for me tonight. I’m sure you know what I mean.

    My target smiled at that, and the two men opened their briefcases. They spread the papers inside over a table in front of the bar, then sat in the chairs on either side and got to work.

    Now, the drinker began, as you can see from these latest tax and earnings figures . . .

    I waited until the two men were thoroughly engrossed in their conversation before I slowly, carefully, quietly, removed the grate from the air duct opening. I paused, waiting to see if they’d noticed the slight, furtive movement above their heads, but of course they didn’t. Few people bothered to look up—even those knowingly being hunted by a notorious assassin like me.

    I put the grate to one side of the duct and made sure the gun was within easy reach in its slot on the front of my vest. Then I slowly wiggled forward until I was at the edge of the opening. I drew in a breath, let it out, and slid forward.

    I let my weight and gravity pull me down before grabbing the edge of the duct, flipping over, letting go, and landing on my feet facing the two men. They’d barely had time to blink, much less get to their feet, before the gun was in my hand and trained on my target.

    Puff-puff.

    I double-tapped my target in the chest, and he dropped to the carpet without a sound. I trained my gun on the second man, who leaped to his feet, put up his hands in a placating gesture, and started backing away.

    Hello, Finn, I said in a mocking voice to the drinker. Weren’t expecting to see me here, were you?

    Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, looked at me, a clear plea in his eyes. You don’t have to do this. You’ve proven your point by icing Owen there already. This whole thing was your lover’s brilliant idea, not mine. Don’t blame me for his mistakes.

    I gestured with the gun at Owen’s prone form. "That’s not how I remember things. In fact, I distinctly recall you being the mouthpiece behind this whole situation. You were the one who kept pushing and pushing me. Well, tonight, I finally push back."

    When he realized I couldn’t be reasoned with, Finn decided to try another tactic—bribery. I’ll pay you whatever you want to put the gun down and walk away, you know that.

    I do know that. A cold, cruel smile curved my lips. But walking away is not nearly as much fun as this is. You know that as well as I do.

    No, please, don’t—

    I pulled the trigger twice, cutting off his protests, and Finn joined my lover on the floor.

    2

    Silence.

    Then Finn let out a loud, unhappy sigh and climbed to his feet.

    Really, Gin, did you have to ruin my suit? he said. This was a Fiona Fine original.

    He stared down at the bright red paint splattered across the black fabric of his suit jacket and gray shirt. Then Finn raised his head and glared at me, his green eyes bright in his ruddy face. I didn’t bother pointing out that the paint had also splashed onto his face and up into his walnut-colored locks. He was just as obsessive about his hair as he was about his suits, and it just wouldn’t do for Finnegan Lane to ever look anything less than perfect.

    I agree with Finn, Owen rumbled and sat up. I didn’t think our little experiment would get quite so messy.

    Owen Grayson got to his feet, his chest covered in just as much red paint as Finn’s was. Still, despite his ruined suit, my eyes traced over him, from his blue-black hair to his intense violet eyes to his strong, muscled body. No amount of paint could dampen Owen’s rugged appeal or the way he had of making me feel like I was one of the most important people in the world to him.

    I walked over, leaned against the desk, and pointed my paintball gun at Owen. You should have known better than to let Finn talk you into drinking so much at Northern Aggression. Drunken challenges issued to assassins rarely end well for the challenger. Or challengers, in this case.

    Finn stopped trying to scrub the paint off his shirt long enough to glare at me again.

    As I recall, I wasn’t drinking alone, and you and I had quite a bit of fun later on that night, Owen said in a husky voice.

    Maybe. I agreed with a grin. But Finn was the one who bet me dinner at Underwood’s that I couldn’t kill you both by the end of the month. So you only have yourselves to blame.

    Finn sniffed his displeasure. You still didn’t have to ruin my suit.

    No, I agreed. "I didn’t have to ruin it. That was just an added bonus."

    He narrowed his eyes, but I just gave him my most innocent, gracious, beatific Southern smile.

    Well, it’s getting late, and I’m supposed to head over to Bria’s, Finn said. "And I obviously can’t go looking like this."

    I rolled my eyes at his put-upon tone, but Owen just laughed.

    Go, Owen said. Get cleaned up. We can finish our business tomorrow.

    Say hi to Bria for me, I added in a sugary-sweet voice.

    Finn grumbled something under his breath about what I could do with certain parts of my anatomy before packing up his papers and briefcase and leaving.

    Well, Owen said after Finn had shut the office door a little harder than necessary. You got us both, just like you said you would.

    I grinned again. That’s what people pay me for. Or used to pay me for.

    He raised an eyebrow. Good to know retirement hasn’t lessened your skills any.

    I shrugged. We both knew I couldn’t afford to let myself get rusty. Not now, when so many folks in Ashland and beyond would love nothing more than to see me dead. Back in the winter, I’d finally killed Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who’d run the Ashland underworld for years. Pro-fucking-bono, as it were. Mab had murdered my mother and sister when I was thirteen, and her death had been about revenge to me more than anything else. But the Fire elemental’s demise had left a power vacuum in the city, and now every lowlife and not-so-lowlife was clawing for that power, position, and prestige. Some of them thought the best way to get all that was by killing me, Gin Blanco, the semiretired assassin known as the Spider.

    So far, I’d put all the challengers in the ground along with Mab, but they just kept on coming. A few weeks ago, I’d brought up the idea of testing and updating the security at all the places I frequented, including Owen’s home and office. There was no point in making things easy for my would-be murderers. Then Finn had piped up and suggested we make it into a contest—with him and Owen trying to outwit me. Of course, that hadn’t turned out exactly like Finn had planned, but I was happy with the outcome. I always liked to win, no matter the game.

    So give me the rundown, Owen said. Exactly how did you get into that air duct?

    I recapped my wanderings through the parking garage, maintenance halls, stairwell, office, and air ducts.

    Overall, your security’s sound, I said. All we have to do is fix a few holes here and there, and no one will be able to get to you, me, or anyone else in here without bringing down the whole building.

    His eyes were fixed on mine, but there was a blank look on his face, as though he were only listening to my words with half an ear. I know it wasn’t the most romantic talk, detailing how I’d just paintballed my lover, but this wasn’t the first time he’d spaced out on me in the last few days. Something was on Owen’s mind, and I didn’t know what it was. That concerned me more than I would have liked, especially since I’d given him plenty of openings to tell me what was bothering him—openings he hadn’t taken.

    Owen?

    Something flashed in his eyes then, something that almost looked like worry, but it was gone too quickly for me to pinpoint exactly what it was. He shook his head and focused on me once more.

    Sorry, he said. What were you saying?

    Owen shrugged out of his suit jacket, the muscles in his arms and chest bulging with the motion. Suddenly, I was interested in playing something besides a war game. Something that would be far more entertaining and pleasurable—for both of us. Not to mention keep him firmly in the here and now with me. I didn’t like playing second fiddle any more than the next woman did, especially when I didn’t know exactly what was going on with my lover.

    Owen started to loosen his tie, but I put the paintball gun down on the desk and strolled over to him. He stopped what he was doing to watch me, and I put an extra shimmy into my hips. Heat sparked in Owen’s gaze—heat that matched the warmth that was flaring up inside me as well.

    Allow me, I said.

    Owen watched with dark, hooded eyes as I unknotted his tie and let it fall to the floor. Then I ran my hands across his chest, marveling at the warm muscles there, before reaching up and undoing the top two buttons of his shirt. I pushed the fabric aside, leaned forward, and pressed a soft kiss to the hollow of his throat. Owen’s arms snaked around me, pulling me close, and his fingers began pressing into my back, urging me on. I definitely had his full attention now.

    Why don’t I help you get out of that ruined suit? I murmured. In addition to killing people, this assassin also happens to be exceptionally good at cleanup.

    A sexy grin spread across Owen’s rugged face, softening the scar that slashed underneath his chin. Really? That’s something I’d be very interested in seeing.

    I led him into the bathroom. The door didn’t even shut behind us before my lips were on his and I forgot about everything but the pleasure we could give each other. There would be time enough to figure out what had Owen so worried—later.

    Much, much later.

    3

    Our war games finished, it was time for me to collect my prize—dinner at Underwood’s.

    The next night, Owen and I took his car over to the restaurant, which was located in a classy, older building in the city’s financial district. Owen pulled up to the sidewalk where a crimson awning bore the restaurant’s name, and we got out of the car. While he handed the keys off to a valet, I stood on the sidewalk and reached out with my Stone magic, curious about what I might hear. The brick of the building whispered of money, power, and plots, mixed with lighter notes of dishes and silverware tinkling together. Not unpleasant sounds, but ones that told me just how many dark, deadly schemes had been hatched here over dinner, dessert, and a nice bottle of wine.

    Owen took my arm, and we went inside and rode the elevator up to the third and top floor, where the maître d’ escorted us to a corner table. Crimson linens covered the table, which had been set with fine white china, delicate wineglasses, and silverware that had a more highly polished luster than some diamond rings. Three crimson tapers shaped like forks burned in a crystal candelabra in the center of the table. The fork was the restaurant’s rune, representing all the good meals that could be had there, and the symbol was etched into the plates and silverware, as well as being stitched into the linens in gold thread.

    Underwood’s prided itself on its excellent food, service, and luxurious trappings, but what I appreciated most was the view. The brick had been stripped from the walls and replaced with floor-to-ceiling windows, letting diners look out over the Aneirin River, which wound through this part of downtown. The shops and lights along the river made the surface of the water glimmer like a silver ribbon unspooling into the black velvet embrace of the night. In the distance, I could just make out the white gleam of the Delta Queen riverboat casino. From this angle, the riverboat looked lovely, pristine even, but, as with so many things in Ashland, what lurked beneath

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1