Page 183 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Meridian watched for less than twenty seconds.

He turned back to God.

“You sure you want me to handle this?” he asked. “I’ll get your guys out. But I’m not a negotiator. There’ll be no survivors for you to arrest, Lieutenant.”

God glanced at his husband, then at the rest of the men, and his brother. Even Fox.

Day gave the first nod, slow and grim. Ruxs followed, then Green, Steele, Cassidy, Gen, and Fox. Each man agreeing to the same silent oath. That they’d each take this moment, this choice, straight to their graves.

God faced Meridian. “Do it.”

“Scar, Saint, Grace, Mirage,” Meridian said. “You’re with me and Ex. Greens, you can go do what you requested.”

One of the Whites, he’d called Scar, frowned. “How come they get to go have fun?”

Meridian rounded on him so fast the tail of his jacket flared.

“I said…you’re with me.” His glare sliced like a blade through silk. “You’ll have time to go to Disneyland tomorrow.”

God blinked.

Ruxs looked at Green and mouthed, “Disneyland?”

Scar muttered something under his breath that sounded like ‘unfair meanness’.

Meridian ignored him. “Saint.”

The soft man in white had moved toward the breakfast bar while Meridian was talking. His cane had disappeared…somewhere.

He was feeling his way around the counter until his palm landed on the fruit bowl. He picked up an apple, turned it once in his hand, and bit into it.

Meridian said, “You protect his family while we do the rest.”

Saint chewed, unconcerned.

Day leaned slightly toward God, his expression caught between disbelief and confusion. “I’m sorry. Is he blind?”

Meridian pulled a wicked blade from inside his jacket and hurled it at Saint’s back.

Saint dipped a fraction, turning just enough for the blade to hiss past him and punch into the wall inches from his head. He didn’t drop the apple. Didn’t even turn right away.

He took another bite, then reached up, gripped the handle, and yanked the blade free from the wall.

Only then did he turn around.

“I’m not a fuckin’ circus trick, Mere.”

He used the blade to cut a neat slice from the apple.

“You’re not getting this back either. It’s mine now.”

No one spoke.

What in the hell were the Ravens producing?

Meridian shifted back toward the main display. “I need the layout.”

Fox already had it. “Sending now.”