“If I were you, I’d be more mindful of the slick shit that comes out of my mouth,” Ex warned.
Blood mixed with spit and tears as Graham clutched his mouth, trying to hold his lip together.
“Transport ETA, two minutes,” Corvo informed.
The women had been gone six minutes. They could’ve contacted the authorities by now. They had to wrap this up.
“What’s the code to the safe?”
Graham hesitated, looking more afraid than he had during the interrogation, which meant the truth to the rest of the lies was inside it.
“Say the numbers, and I’ll make it fast,” Meridian gritted. “Drag this out…”
Graham spilled the code.
Ex keyed in the numbers and slid the door open.
Inside were bundles of cash wrapped in elastic bands, multiple passports, vacuum-sealed blocks of white powder, and bingo—a neat row of thumb drives and an armored laptop.
He and Ex would leave with more than they came for. They always did.
“I was only an investor,” Graham said weakly. “It was just business.”
“No, it’s always more than that…until I arrive,” Meridian said. “And then it’s just business.”
He removed his hood and waited for the man to meet his eyes. When he finally did, Meridian let him see the ledger that lived within his glare—every life taken, every debt repaid.
It was time for Graham Graves to settle his own account.
His tears rained faster as he fell to his knees at Meridian’s feet, hands steepled together as if it were God judging him and not the devil.
“I’ll leave the country immediately. Tonight, I swear. I won’t tell anyone you were here.”
Meridian cocked his head as if he were confused. “I know you won’t. Dead men can’t talk.”
He left Graham flat on his back, eyes wide, the shock barely registering before he’d drawn his last breath.
He’d kept his word. The death had been swift.
He and Ex rushed to the helipad where their black stealth helicopter waited, blades still spinning.
As the aircraft lifted from the villa’s rooftop, climbing toward the clouds, the mansion exploded from the charges they’d set around the perimeter. It detonated in perfect sequence until it looked as if the night had been set on fire.
Ex stood in front of him, hood pushed back, face streaked with sweat and blood.
He’d never looked more beautiful.
“Mere,” Ex whispered.
Meridian studied him—the only person who could reach the part of him not overtaken by evil.
The helicopter banked sharply, Ex’s shoulder hit his, and Meridian caught him, steadying him before he pulled him into his chest. Ex leaned into the touch, gazing up at him as if he were his entire world.
He removed his glove and brushed his thumb along Ex’s jaw, wiping away a streak of crimson.
“You’re bleeding,” he murmured.
Ex’s mouth twitched in a near-smile. “It’s not mine.”
