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“He’ll live. But I don’t think he’ll be fit for office any longer. We did you a favor, detective,” Meridian stated in that deep, righteous voice that was grating on God’s last nerve. “A simple thank you will suffice.”
He bolted from his seat, not caring about causing a scene as the Fulton County DA being loaded onto a stretcher by paramedics had taken care of that. God stood face to face, almost nose-to-nose with this man who’d been deemed the perfect killing weapon; the country’s greatest asset, and stared him in his eyes.
God leaned in and murmured only for him to hear. “You and I are going to have an important conversation one night, Meridian.”
“Understood. But tonight, is not that night, lieutenant.” Meridian patted him on his side then moved past him with Ex following closely.
When God sat back down, he noticed ten crisp hundred-dollar bills had been left on the table where Ex had been sitting. He stared at his husband, who seemed to be just as stunned as he was. Did that really just happen? God flinched when he felt something vibrate in his jacket pocket. He reached inside and pulled out a small black, no-name flip phone. He frowned, turning it over in his palm before he flipped the screen up. He squeezed the phone as he read the short text
You’re welcome.
“Meridian dropped that in your pocket when he walked past you, didn’t he?” Day shook his head. “You didn’t notice?”
“I guess not,” God mumbled, still staring at the phone. Damn that motherfucker is slick.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing. Just, you’re welcome.” God stuck the phone back into his pocket.
“They just gave you a way to contact them.”
“I know.”
“Maybe it is better to have them as friends instead of enemies.” Day shrugged.
God was beginning to agree. The DDA was in jail and the current DA was being rushed to the hospital with issues that would most likely send him into early retirement. Neither man would be a problem for them anymore.
He and Day drank more of the delicious wine, ignoring the chaos the Black Ravens had left in their wake.
“The grouper does sound pretty good.” Day winked.
“We’re already packed. Our train leaves at five, but there’s a stop I need to make before we go,” Ex told Slade.
“No problem. I’ll be here in time.”
“For your services.” Meridian said and handed Slade an envelope with the balance of his contract inside.
He shoved it into his inside pocket and gave them a one hundred-thousand-dollar megawatt smile. “Anytime you boys are in the ATL and need a driver, look me up.”
Meridian waited until Slade’s taillights disappeared before he wrapped his arms around Ex from behind. His partner leaned against him, sighing heavily as if he was disappointed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Time to get back to the real world,” Ex confessed.
“We still have one more night.” Meridian kissed the back of his neck. “Come on, it’s cold out here. Let’s go in.”
Ex unlocked the door and let them inside. He didn’t bother to turn any lights on or go to the kitchen for a drink, he just grabbed Meridian’s hand and began to pull him towards the bedroom. Meridian reversed their holds and clamped down on Ex’s wrist, stopping him. When Ex looked back at him with an evil scowl, he couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching with amusement. All of that fight and ferocity inside Ex pleased him greatly, but he also knew when he needed to tame that intensity. And he wouldn’t be using sex to do it.
“Let’s watch a movie,” Meridian said.
Ex stood there staring as if he’d misheard him. “A movie? Now?”
“Yes. We’ve gotten dressed up. We went out and had dinner and drinks... now... let’s watch a movie.” Meridian pulled Ex to his chest. “Like people do on dates.”
Ex rolled his gray eyes playfully and Meridian loved that he’d never seen him do that before either. “If you insist,” he mumbled.
Meridian took off his coat and suit jacket and draped them over one of the breakfast bar stools. Ex removed his parka and blazer, his cloudy gaze lingering on Meridian as he kicked off his boots.
“What do you wanna watch? The TV is satellite, so we’ve got plenty of options.” Ex sat on the sofa with one of the remotes in his hand. He powered the set on as Meridian came and sat close beside him. It was weird to consider they were on a date, but none of what they were doing felt awkward, or wrong.
“I’m flexible,” Meridian said, unable to take his eyes off the man next to him as he flipped though the premium movie stations.
Ex’s jaw was clean-shaven, making him appear even younger than his twenty-six years... that was until he spoke. His buzzed, dark blond hair looked soft to touch as Meridian remembered running his palm over it that morning.
