Almost Midnight (Shadow Falls: After Dark #3.5)(75)

“Is your dad coming?” Perry asked.

She shook her head. “He never was into the competitions.” That’s when she realized the reasons for that. “I wonder if this is why? Did he know Tabitha was going to be competing in the same competitions as me?”

Perry stood there as if in thought. “I’m gonna say something and I’m not sure it’s going to help, but it might.” He frowned. “As bad as your situation is, at least he was in both of your lives. Both my mom and dad left me, Miranda. And while I tell myself that it doesn’t matter, at times … like these past four weeks, missing you and feeling so lonely, it felt like it matters. So I don’t care how imperfect your parents are, it could be worse. You father, or even both your parents could have chosen not to be there at all.”

He inched close again and put his arms around her. She leaned her head to his chest and they just stood there. His arms around her. Her chest against his chest.

They didn’t move, or they didn’t until the front door to the apartment shot open. Perry swung her behind him to face the intruder. A deep protective growl rang out.





Chapter Thirteen


Miranda felt the tingling current of concern surge through Perry’s back as he turned to the door. An electrical buzz radiated from him, telling her he was preparing to shift into something fierce. She wasn’t however, ready to let him do all the work to protect them. She lifted her hand, pinky ready.

“When did you get back?” the deep voice asked and tension shattered.

Miranda recognized Burnett’s voice and lowered her pinky.

“This evening,” Perry answered, frustration sounding in his tone and his eyes brightened. “I would have been here sooner had I known you all were here.”

Burnett nodded. “I called and spoke with your instructor, Mr. DeLeon. We decided it could wait until you were back from your assignment.”

“I would have liked to have been included in that decision.” Perry’s shoulders tensed.

“You are here now, that’s what matters,” Burnett replied. He moved closer and pressed a hand on Perry’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you. I’ve missed your presence at Shadow Falls.”

She sensed some of Perry’s tension lessen. The relationship between Burnett and Perry had always been close. Not everyone knew it, but when Perry had gone into his first home, Burnett, already a teen, had been there as well. So in a way, Burnett was like an older brother to Perry. It had been because of Burnett that Perry had come to Shadow Falls.

“I’ve missed being there,” Perry said as he shuffled his feet slightly. “Did Mr. DeLeon tell you my news?”

Burnett smiled. “Of course he did. I’m proud of your progress.”

Miranda suddenly felt bad that she hadn’t had more interest in his accomplishments. But maybe she’d have been more invested if he hadn’t used those accomplishments as a meter to decide if they would stay together.

Miranda suddenly remembered where Burnett had gone this evening. “Did you speak with the twins?”

He nodded. Footsteps echoed down the hall. Kylie and Della walked into the room. Kylie walked right up to Perry and gave him a tight hug. “I’ve missed you.”

“Same here,” Perry said and embraced her back.

Suddenly, Shawn showed up—with his shirt on this time. His gaze shifted to Miranda, and she spotted the disappointment in his eyes again. She glanced away, unsure why she felt guilt, but she did. Just a touch.

As soon as Perry spotted Shawn, he dropped his arms from around Kylie. His smile turned upside down and he shifted closer to Miranda.

“Who are the twins?” Perry questioned.

“Fellow contestants in the competition,” Burnett offered. “They claimed to have been at the hotel during the last attack, but Miranda spotted them on the scene.”

“And?” Miranda asked.

“They admitted to being there. Said they initially lied because they were afraid of going against my advice not to leave the hotel.”

“And were they lying again?” Della asked.

“No,” Burnett said, “they were speaking the truth. That or their hearts can lie.”

“So you are looking at one of the contestants for doing this?” Perry asked.

“Or someone who has something to gain from a person’s win.”

“So it could be friends or family of a contestant,” Perry said and Burnett nodded. “Are you considering it could be one of the contestants from another country?”

“There have been no threats to any of the contestants other than those from the U.S.,” Burnett said. “Tomorrow morning I plan to call a meeting with the parents of our competitors. Hopefully, that will give us some insight.”

“I don’t think my mom will be here yet,” Miranda added.

Burnett glanced at her. “She’s already here. She arrived a few hours after we did yesterday.”

“No, I spoke with her and…” Miranda recalled how her mom had talked around the question of when she was arriving. Why would she lie to her? What the hell was she hiding?

“And what?” Burnett asked.

Instantly realizing this might give Burnett the wrong impression—as if her mom might be connected to the murders—she had to kick her brain into high gear to find an answer.