“It won’t happen again.”
Ex sighed. “I know. Come on, let’s eat.”
The diner was warm and clean. The floors were spotless, and the long white counter was decorated with St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks along the edge and scattered with display cases of desserts. There was no one in the front to greet them, but he could hear dishes clanging somewhere in the back. He glanced at the dinner specials posted on the wall amidst an eclectic variety of retro pictures. Figuring it was a seat yourself kind of establishment, Ex took the first table by the door. He unzipped his heavy, black military-style peacoat and settled into the vinyl booth across from Meridian. He hadn’t been sure he’d be able to come inside and face his tough-as-nails partner, until Meridian had spoken up... and apologized. In the eight years he’d known the man, he’d never once heard him utter anything close to resembling an ‘I’m sorry’. They were never sorry... they didn’t give a fuck whose feelings they hurt. But Meridian had said it... for him.
He believed his partner had done it because Ex was feeling too raw and exposed. Driving the car that was supposed to have been a gift to Evan before he went to college had been his breaking point and before he knew it, tears had welled up in his eyes. At first he’d been mortified and ready to beat his own ass for showing such weakness, but then, Meridian spoke, his roughened voice a comfort when Ex had needed it the most.
Ex thought he was dead on the inside. Made to never feel anything again. For many years the unsanctioned black ops program that had recruited him and Meridian had used hypnosis, drug therapy, electrical stimulation, behavioral modification and many other tactics to achieve their agenda, their one goal—to turn good men into killing machines. But lately he’d felt it all. He felt the good, the bad and the ugly. And he couldn’t forget what he’d felt after that steaming hot video of the lieutenants.
Meridian settled his big body across from him, casually plucked two menus from the holder and slid one in front of him. Ex reached out to take it, his fingertips brushing Meridian’s, causing him to adjust in the seat. Meridian narrowed his eyes at him, his nostrils flaring. What the fucking fuck was happening to them? He couldn’t look away from his partner as he held the one-page menu in his hand.
“Leave me alone.” A woman’s fearful voice cut into their vibe and washed over their mood like a bucket of freezing water.
“Get your ass out there. We have customers,” a man snarled low from behind the double doors on the other side of the long counter. Since there was absolutely no one else in the small restaurant, and the television in the corner was muted, there was no mistaking the hostility in the man’s voice.
Ex watched Meridian clench his fist when a slight woman wearing a silver and green striped dress hurried from behind the swinging doors. Though her sparkly St. Patrick’s apron was supposed to be eye-catching, all Ex could see was the fresh slap bruise on her right cheek. She glanced in their direction, her eyes doing a double take, before she grabbed her notepad off the clean counter and walked towards them.
An older man, maybe early fifties, came out of the doors next, wearing a greasy white apron and an irritated scowl. The woman’s wide brown gaze didn’t meet his when she inched around him to get to the counter’s latch door. Ex was able to school his expression but Meridian had leveled his intense eyes on the man and wouldn’t let him go. This wasn’t the first time Meridian had had this kind of response to an abused woman. He always seemed to have to fight a lot harder than Ex to withhold his reaction.
“Hi, hello gentlemen. Eating kinda late tonight, huh?” Her laugh lacked any amusement and her eyes held a haunted look that no woman’s should. She was putting on a smile and pleasant attitude because she was forced to, and Ex understood being a puppet while someone else pulled the strings.
“Guess you could say that. We know it’s about quitting time.” Ex shot another quick peek at Meridian and saw he was still eyeing the man, his right hand easing inside his jacket. Oh shit. “Two waters. And how about a couple of your roast beef specials with extra gravy... make it easy.”
She forced her mouth to curve a little higher. “And to drink? The coffee isn’t fresh but I can start a pot,” she asked, glancing at Meridian.
Ex brushed his leg over his partner’s under the table, his touch quickly drawing his attention. “Mere. Anything else you wanna order?”
Meridian shook his head then put the menu back in its holder. The woman left them to get their drinks and to give their food order to the abusive cook. Ex saw the man snatch the ticket out of her hand, grumble something about her getting it later tonight then disappeared into the kitchen. She dropped off their waters and two straws then told them their dinners would be right out.