Page 192 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Day hugged him for a long moment, then whispered, “I was scared too.”

Near the door, Meridian cleared his throat.

“All of this is nauseatingly touching,” he said, voice smooth as aged brandy, “but I have a human trafficker in Montenegro I’d like dead before lunch.”

Everyone turned toward him.

The Ravens stood grouped near the entrance, looking out of place and uncomfortable by all the emotion.

God went to Meridian. “Thank you.”

Meridian’s expression didn’t change. “Don’t make a habit of needing my kind of help.”

God’s mouth pulled tight. “Don’t plan to.”

“I heard about your task force. Damn shame.” Meridian paused. “So what now?”

God glanced at Day, then Ruxs and Green, then Cassidy.

“Private security,” God said.

Meridian studied him for a moment. “Honest work.”

Day smiled faintly. “We try.”

Free lifted one hand from where he still leaned against Day. “I can’t stay on the West Coast.”

Everyone stared at him.

“I have to go back to Atlanta. To Hart. I’m not leaving my man behind.”

Tech released a small breath and went to him.

Free looked down at the tablet in his hands, then sighed. “Oh man. I’m gonna end up teaching The Evils of AI 101 at Georgia State while you lot schmooze with Xander Vale and all of Hollywood.”

Tech rubbed Free’s back. “We’ll figure out something, babe.”

Free tried to smile but failed.

“You two ever thought about being Ravens?” Meridian said casually.

Silence fell like a curtain.

Free blinked. “I’m sorry. What?”

Meridian stared at him with the same mild expression he’d worn while shoving a sword through a man’s mouth and into his intestines. “A Raven. It’s far more entertaining than Hollywood. And I can use men of your abilities.”

Steele’s posture changed.

“That is, if you still wanna do some real good in the world.” Ex said.

Free’s mouth opened. “But…”

“You can work remotely,” Meridian added. “Most of the time. But our headquarters is only a forty-five-minute commute on a private jet from Atlanta, if I need you there. And if I call…you come.”

Free was silent and Xander could tell the idea was growing on him.

Meridian nodded at Free. “Think about it.”