Title: Nothing Special VI: Ex Meridian
Series: Nothing Special
Author: A.E. Via
M/M Action Romance
Edited by: Sue Laybourn
Cover Artist – Jay Aheer
PAGE COUNT – 302
Official Release Date: February 24, 2020
Blurb:
Police Lieutenants, God
and Day are under intense pressure from the chief to take back control of
Atlanta’s streets. The last thing their task force needs is a pair of trained
killers in town with a personal score to settle.
Take a man and strip him
of his ability to feel compassion, empathy, remorse, or any of the emotions
that make him human, but leave the ones that ignite rage and aggression and you
have the perfect killing machine—now imagine two of them.
Code names Ex and
Meridian are synonymous for ‘guaranteed death’ to international
terrorists. Two broken men from the same crooked streets, recruited into an
unsanctioned government program that few know about. Trained to operate most
efficiently—lethally—together.
When Ex returns from an
op in Bolivia to learn his little brother has been accidentally killed in a
feud between drug gangs, he’s stateside before he can consider the rules he’ll
be breaking, and of course Meridian is right beside him. There’s mayhem on the
streets of Atlanta and the police are losing control. If Godfrey and his elite
team of detectives can’t get the job done then they’d be happy to lighten their
caseloads for them. And Ex nor Meridian care about doing it quietly.
“I know who you are.” The man grunted when Ex
turned to leave. “You’re the fucking devil.”
Meridian walked past, glaring one final time.
“Say that loud enough… maybe God will save you.”
But after their first
run-in with the big lieutenant and his protective husband, Day, Ex and Meridian
start to reevaluate their own relationship. Wondering if they could be even
deadlier if they let loose the feelings for each other that they’ve been forced
to suppress for years.
Meridian’s dark eyes stayed locked on his, “A
man who can fight beside the one he loves doesn’t make him weaker, Ex—it makes
him more dangerous.”
No multiple pairings.
No cliffhangers. Ends with a HEA.
Note: This is a partners-to-lovers, out-for-you, action romance.
Note: This is a partners-to-lovers, out-for-you, action romance.
Excerpt
“Melinda. Why don’t you sit down and eat a little something? I’m
sure you’ll feel much better than running yourself ragged,” one of them said,
trying but failing to pull her friend away from the stove.
Why do other people think they know what’s best for someone else? Meridian didn’t shake his head as he stood inconspicuously in
front of an eight-by-ten table beside the patio doors. He perused the ten to
twelve different kinds of cakes and pies on offer. He picked up a small plate
and put a piece of lemon cake on it and something that resembled a crumbly
coffee cake.
“My kitchen does relax me,” Ex’s mother huffed. “Can you ladies
just give me a second. Please.”
They stared at her for a long moment as she gazed down at the
bubbling dish she was stirring, then warily eyed one another. With resigned
sighs, both women retreated into the living room, whispering to each other as
if Ex’s mom had gone deaf suddenly.
Meridian moved up close behind her. He reached around and set his
plate on the counter in front of her. She tensed for a moment then spun around
to meet his glare. He had no reaction to her fright or her gasp. Ex’s mother
swallowed thickly, gripping the silver cross hanging around her neck.
“I’m sorry for the loss of your son,” Meridian spoke, his voice as
low a timbre as he could get it, however Melinda still flinched.
“You knew Evan?” she asked, a slight frown creasing her smooth
forehead. The only wrinkles on her face were the ones in the corners of her
eyes and mouth.
“No. I’ve only heard stories of him.”
She tried to take a step back but she was as close as she could
get to the stove without getting burned. “From who?”
“From his brother.”
Her lips immediately began to tremble and the other hand—not
gripping the cross—flew to her mouth. She appeared to fight to take in air as
she panted quick, short breaths. Watery, pale gray eyes stared at him, and he
saw the second the realization settled in. Meridian knew that Evan had told his
mother that her other son wasn’t dead but actually working deep undercover for
the government, but she’d still likely never see him again. Meridian knew of
the few clues and trinkets that Ex had sent his family over the years to let
them know he hadn’t forgotten about them. He never told anyone that his partner
was breaking one of their most important rules. But something about Ex and his
family, something about what they’d gone through, was the reason he couldn’t
sever all ties with his mom and baby brother. He simply wouldn’t, and that was
something that intrigued him most about his partner—a piece of defiance that
gave his extremely calculated existence some excitement.
“You knew Xavier?” she said, around a quiet sob.
Meridian shook his head. “No. I know Xavier.”
Her cries got a bit louder and Meridian started to get agitated.
One, because he thought the dueling duo would flock back inside and stall him,
but he also didn’t like to be around so much emotion.
“Where is he?” she asked in a harsh whisper as she reached out to
clutch his arm but instinct had him sidestepping her touch before she could
make contact. “My god.”
“Come with me. I’ll take you to him.”
She didn’t budge and neither did he. Melinda looked as if she felt
something might not be right, and narrowed her eyes. Meridian appreciated that
she wasn’t an idiot, an easy target.
“Bring the lemon cake. It’s still his favorite.”
Melinda’s eyes widened—as though Meridian had passed her test—and
she choked back more sobs as she scurried through a side door that Meridian
realized was the pantry and grabbed her purse off a hook. She didn’t bother
with cake, moving as if she was on a mission. He stood at the patio door
waiting for her after she slung a black and gray shawl over her shoulders.
Meridian slid the door to the side and eased them outside into the dreary, cold
evening with no one else the wiser.
“Your keys,” Meridian mumbled.
About the Author
A.E. Via has been a
best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for six years now, but
she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of gay literature for over
twenty years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this
genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having
published a couple great, new up and coming MM authors.
A.E. has a Bachelor of
Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start
her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years
preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers
who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying
career… but another path called to her.
Writing.
A.E.’s novels embodies
everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories
often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new,
thought-provoking depths.
She’s recently
celebrated her 20th book anniversary, and is well-known for her hardcore, love hard,
bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her
comfort zone, exploring different tropes. She’s head over heels for gay romance
and she has tons of more hot stories to tell.
Be sure to visit
Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never
miss another release date! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow
her, or a sneak peek at upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where
she’ll appear next.
