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 gotta go.”
Ex growled and took a couple determined steps forward that had Lennox shuffling backwards to get away. He cut his eyes to his laptop that he’d just opened.
“I know what you want.” Lennox kept his slim arms out to his sides. “You’re not gonna get it. You can try.”
Meridian wasn’t shocked very often but he was stunned to see that God’s tech geek was just as fearless as his team. Shit. Under no circumstances were they to hurt this man, and he’d successfully just called their bluff. Meridian moved to the small window at the front of the trailer and just barely parted the blinds, peeking to make sure they were still in the clear. Lennox had signaled for someone and he was pretty sure who that was.
Ex took out his USB which had been encrypted to obliterate firewalls and retrieve data within seconds. He shoved it into one of the ports of Freeman’s laptop and glared at the screen, his hands clenching at his sides. Three seconds went by before the screen flickered to a black brick background that flashed the scary image of a skull and crossbones. Meridian breathed through his nose as anxiety tried to creep up his spine. They needed to leave.
Ex growled then pulled out the USB and shoved it back in again. The monitor flickered then the same screen of bricks appeared, only this time steel bars slammed down over top of them and the skull popped up again, bigger and scarier. Ex stood, staring at the laptop as if it was the greatest anomaly in existence. And perhaps it was, because there was no way that any electronic device should’ve been able to hold up against the viruses encoded in the disk.
“You’ll never get into my computer. Do you think it’s fucking protected by McAfee?” Lennox scoffed at them. “I built the firewalls myself. They’re impenetrable.”
“Computer trade school my ass,” Ex snarled. He removed the disk and shoved it back into his coat pocket. He faced Lennox with a look of rage and hatred. “Give me the case information on Evan Martin. Now.”
“Over my dead body,” Lennox snarled right back as he met Ex’s deadly gaze.
Meridian didn’t gape, he showed no reaction, but he could’ve been knocked over with a light shove. Lennox knew they were lethal, but he still stood his ground against them. He was willing to die to protect Evan’s case. He was an honorable man, and his partner recognized it as well because Ex’s demeanor changed as he lost some of the hostility.
“We’re not the bad guys. But I need those files,” Ex said in a measured tone. “Don’t be a hero. What would your SWAT captain tell you to do?”
Lennox shrugged. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him yourself? He’s right behind you.”
Motherfucker. Everything happened so fast, Ex was amazed he didn’t get dizzy. He’d been so charged up by Lennox’s downright defiance and his urgency to protect his brother’s only eyewitness that he’d let someone get the drop on them. And not just anyone—a formidable opponent.
The big captain didn’t breathe until his presence was made known. Meridian spun around first, simultaneously reaching behind his back for his retractable baton, but Captain Hart was on him by the time Meridian snapped it open and brought it up. Ex could almost feel the punch Meridian took to his sternum that sent him slamming into one of the metal desks lining the trailer. Small parts and gadgets went flying to the floor as Meridian recovered quickly.
All Ex saw was a big bald head, a long glistening beard, and hands the size of bear claws coming towards him, but Meridian caught Hart around his midsection before he could reach him. Meridian attempted to throw Hart against the wall but he must’ve been too slippery for his partner to hold on to. Hart used his massive bulk and pushed forward, hooking arms with Meridian, both of them glowering in each other’s face. No words were exchanged as the two beasts locked horns.
Hart landed another blow and his partner had no choice but to take the hit because they were not going to hurt Godfrey’s team. Otherwise, Meridian would’ve pulled his knife and gutted Hart by now if they’d been in another country and fighting an enemy... not an ally.
The captain was weaponless as he fought Meridian in nothing but a pair of loose sweatpants. He was still dripping wet from his shower as if he hadn’t had time to worry about drying himself off, or putting on shoes, as if he’d been summoned.
Ex dropped and spun his leg out, sweeping the captain’s legs from under him. It wasn’t easy to take him down but he fell hard to the floor, dragging Meridian with him. Ex leapt off one of the tables and got on the other side of the big men tussling for control in the tight confines of the single-wide trailer. He kicked the door to the trailer open when he heard the sound of a large truck engine roaring up the driveway. Ex’s eyes widened when he saw who it was.