Page 2 of Ex Meridian

Heat sizzled between them and adrenaline spiked in Meridian’s blood at their forbidden love. They were on a mission, for fuck’s sake, but Meridian’s soul screamed for his partner’s touch.

He was the most ruthless killer in the world. Stripped of all morals, conscience, and any ability to love.

All the things that made a person human.

Except…Meridian’s heart had resurrected. And it beatonlyfor Ex. So there he was…doing everything within his infinite power to please him.

“Meridian.” Ex narrowed his eyes.

Shit, he’s catching on.

He was far too disciplined to be this carefree in the field, and Ex knew he’d never distract him with this kind of energy.

“I need you focused. Do not shift my attention, not now,” Ex snarled. “I’ve hunted this son of a bitch for months. He dies by my hand tonight.”

A low growl rumbled from Meridian’s chest before he pulled his .44 Magnum and fired three rapid shots into the door’s hinges.

Meridian moved so fast he didn’t give Ex a chance to react.

In the same breath, Meridian slammed his boot into the center of the steel door, sending it crashing to the concrete with an ear-deafening boom.

“The fucking flash-bang, Mere…goddammit,” Ex growled, then rushed inside the warehouse, darting to the left.

Meridian would’ve disappeared to the right, but their battle dance wasn’t needed. He pulled down the garage hangar door and encased them in darkness.

Meridian watched his partner slow his steps in confusion. His weapon was still raised, but there were no hostiles.

Meridian had already seen to that.

The Grey Jade Somalian crime family was a massive-scale human-trafficking organization that had evaded authorities for years before he and Ex had come to make it right.

His partner took these particular cases harder than the others. Ex had a ferocious appetite for justice—in the form of brutal deaths—and a soft spot for the weak and innocent.

He and Ex slowly pulled back their hoods. His gaze stayed on his partner while he took in his surroundings.

“What have you done, Meridian?”

He didn’t speak. Oftentimes, he liked to observe the emotions he could elicit from a man who had none.

Ex lowered his weapon when he saw the dead guards at every entrance.

“And the rest of the Jade clan?” he asked.

Meridian hummed a satisfied groan. “Buried in shallow graves…alive.”

Ex stood beside the small table Meridian had positioned in the center of the floor. His partner gave him a side-eye at the two silver dome-covered plates and the already lit long-stemmed candles.

Ex ran his gloved hand over the white linen tablecloth before throwing Meridian a look that said,What the actual fuck?

Meridian stalked toward his vicious lover until he was almost on top of him. He gripped Ex’s throat and stared in amazement at the deadly perfection, his sole reason for living.

Ex leaned into him, drifting closer until their foreheads kissed and he was breathing life into him. His partner’s touch was strong enough to move his mind from death to desire.

The deserted warehouse smelled of decades of mold and recent carnage. It was dark and picturesque, with the moonlight and candles casting frightening shadows along the walls.

Meridian couldn’t wait for Ex to see what awaited him beneath the covered plates.

“Meridian, how the fuck did you do this?”

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