Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(110)

“Can’t say I blame you. I am the better-looking brother.”

Perry forced himself to smile. “I don’t agree, but you do have a hell of a lot more money.”

“Whoever said money doesn’t buy happiness was a poor man,” Jax said. “So you’ve decided to work for me?”

“I think you knew I’d say yes. But first I was hoping you’d tell me a little more about how all this works.”

“I told you. I run a few operations myself, like what you and your dad were doing. Then the different gangs pay me protection fees. When they

need something, they come to me. I’m not cheap.”

“Exactly what do you do for them?”

“Anything,” Jax said. “Anything they want.”

Perry folded his arms over his chest. “Exactly what would I be doing for you?”

“Anything and everything I want.”

Before Perry could toss out another question, Jax got one in. “You have restrictions? You worried you don’t have the stomach for it?”

“Depends,” Perry said. “If you’re asking me to put a damn napkin in your lap, then you’re right, I don’t have the stomach for that.”

Jax laughed, but sobered quickly. “You ever kill anyone, brother?”

He thought of Jax’s guard. “It’s possible. But for sure, I’ve come close several times.”

“Would you have a problem doing it?”

Perry let the rage he felt for his brother simmer in his empty stomach. “Honestly, I might even enjoy it.”

“We’re more alike than I thought.”

Perry still wasn’t getting anything useful. “I’m not getting a clear picture about the job. Take that warlock who was here yesterday trying

to get out of paying you. What did he want from you?”

Jax chuckled. “He wasn’t trying to get out of paying me. He’d be dead, if he did. I was only able to get him half of what he wanted.”

Perry’s stomach cramped. “You going to finish the job?”

“When it’s right, I’ll do it.” He got up and poured himself another drink. “Like I said, some of my men are dropping like flies. I don’t

take chances.”

Perry stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. “Then why don’t you let me take the chances for you? Tell me what they want,

where to hand over the goods, and I’ll do it.”

Jax swirled the whiskey in his glass then stared right at Perry.

Had Perry pushed too hard, showed too much interest?

“I like that you’re eager. But you need to prove yourself before I give you my big cases.”

“How do I prove myself?”

*

Miranda had eaten pizza with Holiday and Burnett. When she asked about Anthony, Burnett gave her the good news. Anthony appeared to be coming

out of his coma. He wasn’t lucid, but close.

It was after seven when Burnett walked Miranda to her cabin. It was still light outside, hazy, but not dark. The trees did their crazy stirring

in the non-stirring air. She almost asked Burnett about it, but felt stupid. So they didn’t talk. Instead she worked on convincing herself

that the plan she’d conjured up over dinner was a good one.

When she walked in, Della and Kylie were at the table, their noses in books. They’d gone to the FRU library and checked out books looking for

information on tattooed powerful witches. Kylie must’ve been in vampire mode, not that Miranda checked, but both of them had glasses of blood.

“Anything?” Miranda asked.

“Zilch.” Della frowned.

“We haven’t gone through them all,” Kylie said, always the optimist. “How did things go?”

“Bat-shit crazy, but good.” She told them about her mom.

“About time,” Della said.

Miranda waited to make sure Burnett had gotten far enough away before getting down to business. “I need a favor.”

“What?” Kylie asked.

“Go to the falls with me.”

“I knew it. You were called, right?” Della asked.

“Should we tell Holiday?” Kylie stood up.

“She’s caring for Hannah and the baby. Can’t we just go?”

“We can,” Della said.

Ten minutes later, facing the falls, Miranda, flip-flops off, took her first step into the water.

She looked back at Kylie and Della. The two of them were exchanging curious glances. “Come on.”

“We can’t,” Della said.

“They don’t want us to go in.” Puzzlement filled Kylie’s tone.

If it didn’t feel so peaceful here—Miranda might have been afraid. But this place was like a paradise, flowers of all different kinds, aromas

of sweet herbs. The tree limbs hung low as if embracing this little bit of heaven. She’d never known places could have auras, but this one

did. And it was amazing.

“Will you wait here?” she asked.

They nodded.

Moving through the water was like walking through liquid glass. It didn’t move. She did. The rush of water rang loud. But a pleasant kind of

loud. Like church bells in a small southern town.