Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“We don’t need your kind of help. These men belong in a correctional facility so they can possibly turn their lives around. While you were shooting first and asking questions later, did you know that Jason Stewart had a scholarship to Virginia Tech but had to turn it down when his little brother was forced into a gang? He stayed to watch after him when Marcus was fourteen. So, they’re not as completely selfish as you might think,” Day said.
Ex cocked his head to the side, feeling flabbergasted. He didn’t give a fuck. Those motherfuckers had made a choice to do the wrong thing which hurt a lot of innocent people. The last thing they’d receive was his sympathy... if Ex had it to give.
“Godfrey. In my world you’re either the one being buried in a shallow grave,” Ex glared for a moment before he finished, “or you’re the one holding the shovel.”
God narrowed his green eyes.
“You want to be considered good, don’t you, God? It’s important to you.” Ex steepled his fingers. “But which one of us is better? The one who’s slain the bad guys... or the one who’s trying to protect them?”
“I’m not protecting anyone. I’ll see that justice is served,” God stressed.
“I believe you. I do.” Ex shook his head.
“But time is not on your side,” Meridian finished. “And we have other places to be. Clean this up, or we’ll do it for you.”
Ex moved towards the front door but stopped and turned to face God one more time. He hadn’t gotten what he’d come there for, and if he left without it, he knew it would mess him up for the rest of the night. “You have heart, Godfrey—I’ll give you that. But you’re crippled by your emotions. Whereas I have none.”
“What is it that you really want?” Day asked. “Free can’t help you stop corruption, but you broke into his place before you came to see us. I have a feeling you’re after something bigger than catching a couple dirty city officials.”
Ex had to hand it to God and Day. They were smart and they communicated in a familiar way that made him stand even closer to Meridian. He needed this information desperately, and if Godfrey didn’t give it to him then he knew he’d have to go home with a gaping wound in his soul. He’d avenged his country more times than he could count for strangers. He had to do this for Ev. He trembled as he tried to calm himself. He counted down from three and slowly breathed in through his nose and out of his mouth. He was surprised, but more relieved, when Meridian placed his warm palm in the hollow of his lower back.
“God. Evan’s one and only witness is in danger. Let us help you protect him. We just want to keep the boy safe. Come on, God. You don’t know if you’ve got dirty cops in your precinct too or not. We don’t either, and I don’t have the time to find out.”
Day started to shake his head slowly, but God was still listening.
“You know exactly what I need. What you think you hid but didn’t.” Ex steeled his spine and pushed more into Meridian’s touch. He clenched his teeth when he spoke, knowing he was on the verge of just taking the information he needed. “Trust me. No one wants to see Evan’s shooter brought to justice more than me.”
There was a long pause when no one spoke. Ex held his breath as God mumbled an address.
He turned to leave, hoping God saw the gratitude in his eyes.
It was almost daybreak and once again it’d been a long, tedious night of hunting. Meridian felt as if he’d gone a couple of rounds with a heavyweight contender. He still couldn’t believe the strength of that SWAT captain and the ferocity of his attack. He rubbed at the ache in his chest, when he noticed Ex watching him.
“You okay?” Ex asked, standing close behind him as Meridian came through the front door of the cabin.
“I'm fine. Just tired,” he admitted.
Ex nodded but didn't say anything else. Meridian paused at his bedroom door waiting to see if Ex was going to follow him or go to his own room. When he heard the door open and close quietly across from him he went inside and closed his own behind him. Meridian wasted no time shedding his gear and clothes then tossing them onto the chair next to the fireplace. It wasn't typical of him to throw his clothes around but that was just how exhausted he was. He went into the bathroom and turned on the taps so the shower could heat up.
Meridian stared at himself in the small mirror, wishing he knew how to ask for what he wanted from Ex, but fuck, he didn’t want to be a taker. However, his partner wasn't the only one in need, Meridian was going at this blind as well. He hadn't let himself feel anything for anyone ever in his life, not even his parents. Now he had all these emotions for Xavier bottled up inside and it was eating him alive.