“Answer my questions!” God barked, drawing a reaction from the stoic man in black. He saw the tic in his jaw as he took a half step closer to his partner.
Ex’s voice quickly returned to that frigid tone. “I’m not your enemy, God. I suggest you keep it that way.”
“With all due respect, you’re in my city,” God growled.
Ex didn’t blink. “Fuck your respect. You’re in my country.”
Ex had tried to keep things civil, but Godfrey was one arrogant sonofabitch. He needed the powerful lieutenant to trust him, and hopefully let them assist in protecting Evan’s witness. He wouldn’t mention how he intended to use the information the witness had for his own purposes—that wasn’t any of Godfrey’s business. All Ex wanted was to ensure justice was served, and if he could give the police department a little assistance with clearing out their corruption while he did, then he figured it’d be a fair exchange—a win-win.
“You have a big problem, Godfrey. And deep down you already know it.” Ex stood beside Meridian.
His partner pulled open one side of his coat, and God and Day both took a large step backwards, reaching for their sidearms. Ex smirked. “Relax. He’s just pulling out some documents.”
“Oh, my mistake. I thought he was going for the fucking sword he has in his coat.” Day wiped his brow sarcastically, then mumbled, “Never mind. Everything’s cool then.”
Meridian ignored Day and laid the thin stack of papers on the table then went and stood in front of God. The man was older, a couple of inches taller and looked to be in amazing shape. He had a jaw that could cut stone and was covered in dark blond stubble. God’s thick hair was loose tonight, the ends dragging the tops of his big shoulders. He was an impressive man at first sight, but after speaking with him for five minutes, Ex was able to couple the man’s abilities with his alpha attitude and he realized... he liked him. Most men trembled at the sight of them. Not only did God not fear them, he’d even tried his own intimidation tactics, which would’ve worked on lesser men.
Meridian pulled out his twenty-inch dagger and flipped it around and presented it to God, onyx handle first. God stared at Meridian for a moment before he finally took the exemplary weapon in his hand to examine it.
“Carbon steel,” God murmured.
“Sakimaru, stiletto, double-edged dagger,” Meridian said.
Ex withheld his body’s reaction anytime his partner spoke about Whisper.
God handed it back with only one word. “Impressive.”
“And illegal,” Day blurted, annihilating the heaviness between them. “You got a permit for that?”
Meridian didn’t respond or react as he sheathed his blade that had been made to fit into a compartment in his coat.
“That weapon was specifically made for killing... quietly.” God folded his big arms over his chest. “I don’t know who you are, but you both need to leave Atlanta—immediately.”
“We will. As soon as you have Evan Martin’s killer behind bars,” Ex said.
“What’s your connection to this case?” Day asked next. “And how did you know the Stewart brothers had any involvement?”
Ex released a loud sigh. “You detectives and your questions.”
“Questions you need to start answering before I start to lean towards obstruction,” God warned.
“Look at those images, Godfrey, before you square off with me.” Ex nodded to Meridian. “These phones belonged to the Stewart brothers. There’s more than enough evidence here for you to at least start to build a case or get a warrant.”
“You do know having these phones and documents implicates you two in a string of unsolved cases that’ve recently popped up,” Day said, while he began to look over each photo Slade had printed of the district attorney and his son meeting with two known drug dealers. “The DDA’s panicking because somehow he got word of your witness,” Ex said.
“That’s not possible.” God’s tough façade began to fall as he started to think out loud. “I got a special prosecutor and Marcus Stewart is on a communications lockdown.”
“But what about his brother?” Day asked.
God’s hand flew to his ear. “Free. Tell Steele and Tech that I want them on the safe house with Ruxs and Green now.”
“Calm down. There’s still a heavy rotation of uniformed officers in that area,” Day said, hurrying to his husband’s side and placing a strong arm at the center of his back.
Ex felt a stirring in his chest and before he knew it, he’d turned to Meridian. His partner gazed down at him as if he knew where Ex’s head had gone.
“Son of bitch,” God growled when he was handed the image of the young deputy attorney who was constantly giving them a hard time about proper evidence, receiving a small brown envelope from Jason Stewart.
“This is a big mess you don’t need, Godfrey, and we can help you,” Meridian said.