Ex Meridian (Prequel to the Black Ravens)

Meridian

170mi from Istanbul

pulled his black hood lower on his forehead. He couldn’t see where his partner, Ex, was on the compound, but he could feel him. felt him in his mind, in his soul, and in his heart.

They were supposed to rendezvous at the south entrance of the gutted warehouse, but he had a surprise for his partner.

Ex knew ’s every move, sometimes before he made it, so he’d been forced to request the assistance of the Brown Ravens.

Grace and Mirage had arrived in their colors, keeping their identities concealed behind their chestnut hoods and leather clothing.

’s instructions had been followed to the letter, and the three had made quick work of the remaining Grey Jade crime family.

He’d called on the Browns, and without hesitation, they’d answered. Because he was who he was. He was the . The original. The only Raven who wore black colors.

Fitting for his dark soul.

It’d been the first time had seen them in action, and he hadn’t been disappointed.

Six ravens existed in the world—the deadliest, unfeeling, genetically engineered men—eliminating threats even the SEALS and SAS forces couldn’t reach.

Grace, the taller of the Brown Ravens, came around the side of the building, moving with the silent stealth of a pit viper. His partner, Mirage, was a few inches shorter and stayed concealed in Grace’s shadow. He’d revealed himself long enough to kill, then vanished just as fast.

remained still, silent, waiting.

“A debt is owed,” Grace rumbled in a fractured voice that sounded as if it was rarely used.

’s temple throbbed before he gave a stiff nod. He hoped this debt didn’t come back to bite him in the ass.

Grace spun into a turn that resulted in his partner tucked in front of him. never got a chance to see Mirage, but he did see his arms and the glimmering steel of his twenty-inch fighting knives.

’s heart sped up. Not because of the deadly men behind him, but because of the one approaching.

He turned and looked toward the sky in time to see Ex rappelling down the five-story structure with the ease of a spider, landing inches from ’s side.

He didn’t have to check behind him to know Grace and Mirage were gone.

“Intel is solid. North side clear.” Ex’s hood was too low for to see his partner’s eyes, so he kept his gaze on his soft lips.

“South entrance clear,” answered, shifting closer.

“We breach on your—” Ex paused and tilted his head, listening for a second before he eased his suppressed-fire .22 from behind his back.

“Ex—”

“Shhh. Someone’s here.” His partner pointed the business end of his weapon over ’s right shoulder. “I can smell him…no…them.”

Fuck.

wrapped his hand around Ex’s wrist and lowered his arm, dragging the tip of his silencer down the center of his chest.

Ex’s head was bowed, and could feel his partner’s fiery gaze following the movement from beneath his cover.

“Mere…what are you…?” Ex released an impatient exhale.

leaned into Ex’s ear and whispered against the soft cotton of his hood. “On my mark.”

Ex’s voice was hushed and controlled. “Goddamn you.”

Heat sizzled between them and adrenaline spiked in ’s blood at their forbidden love. They were on a mission, for fuck’s sake, but ’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…’s heart had resurrected. And it beat only for Ex. So there he was…doing everything within his infinite power to please him.

“.” 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 ’s chest before he pulled his .44 Magnum and fired three rapid shots into the door’s hinges.

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

In the same breath, 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.

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.

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

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, ?”

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.

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

Ex stood beside the small table 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 a look that said, What the actual fuck?

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.

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

“, how the fuck did you do this?”

’s voice was tortured with yearning he wasn’t supposed to possess. “Do not ask questions that require no answer, Xavier.”