Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(119)

She frowned, but nodded.

“Now, let’s talk about good things.” He sat up, looking down at her.

“You know something good?” she asked.

He smiled—a real one. “I’m with you, aren’t I?” He ran a finger from the middle of her forehead to her nose. Then slowly he traced her

lips. “Don’t get any ideas, but I don’t deserve you.”

She gave his finger a playful bite. “You’re the one getting a bad deal. I’m dyslexic…” She stopped, remembering what the armadillo had

told her about it being a gift. If she was so upset with Perry for thinking little of himself, maybe it was time she stop doing it.

“Neither of us are getting a bad deal,” she spit out. “You’re amazing. You’re funny, sensitive, powerful, and you’re so hot you could do

commercials for men’s cologne. And I’m … I’m okay, too.”

“Okay? Now there’s the understatement of the century. You’re freaking amazing.”

“But you’re too sexy for your shirt.” She started unbuttoning it.

“And you’re better than eating ice cream while flying.”

They rolled around on the blanket, laughing, kissing, and tossing out silly compliments. While he didn’t share what was hurting him, Miranda

felt his pain fading. And that wasn’t the trees doing it. That was nothing more than the power of love.

*

Burnett’s text woke Perry up Friday morning at six a.m. Three words: My office now.

Miranda was still sleeping. He’d allowed himself one quick glance back before walking out. She looked like an angel. His angel. What had he

ever done to deserve her? With no time to waste he flew off to meet Burnett.

The vampire waited on the office porch.

“Is it time?” Perry morphed as he landed. Burnett wore his stoic expression. He looked wrinkled and tired as if he’d been up all night.

“Guess who walked into the FRU headquarters about two a.m. this morning?”

“Who?”

“Ricky Raco. He wanted our protection for the exchange of information.”

“Does he know anything about Tabitha?” Perry asked.

“Not where she is. He’s not even sure that Jax knows where they’ve taken her. He said they’re very secretive about that, but…” Burnett

swallowed. “He knows why they wanted her and Miranda.” He frowned. “They need powerful witches to produce heirs.”

The thought made Perry sick.

Burnett continued. “At least that means that they don’t have plans to kill her.” He shook his head as if the thought hurt him. “The drug

house was Jax’s operation. He said they were using the witch as a front and also to draw in potential young witches. But he claims they weren

’t behind the explosion. He also gave details of how many guards and what kind of firepower Jax has at his place.”

“How bad is it?” Perry asked.

“Not good, but at least we’re going in prepared. Considering what Tabitha might be going through, I don’t want to wait any longer.” Burnett

paused as if needing to say something else. “I know you wanted to go, but—”

“No,” Perry bit out. “I’m going!”

Burnett met his gaze and probably didn’t like the determination he saw in Perry’s eyes. The vamp growled. “Only if you agree to stay in the

van.”

“Damn it!” Perry snapped. “Would you please stop treating me like I’m six.”

“Listen to me!” Burnett got in Perry’s face. “There’s only a small chance that Jax will tell us where Tabitha is, but if he sees you, he’

ll know it matters to you. And he won’t give us shit.”

“You just don’t think I can handle it!” Perry’s voice deepened, emotion rattled his chest.

“That’s not true. Do I worry that you could get hurt? Hell yeah. But it’s not because I don’t think you can handle it. It’s ’cause…”

He squeezed the back of his neck. “I taught you to ride a bike. I was the one who taught you how to treat a girl. You are my family. But that

’s not why I’m asking you to stay back. It’s because you could ruin any chance we have of learning something from Jax.”

“But—”

“Say you will stay in the van, and you can go with us. Say it, and swear to it,” Burnett insisted.

“I could morph,” Perry offered. “He would never know it was me.”

“He has the alarm for shifters,” Burnett reminded Perry.

“Then I can’t go in until after you’ve made the first move. And I’ll go in morphed.”

“We’re using gas to prevent any shifts.”

“I’ll shift before I go in,” Perry countered.

Burnett looked prepared to argue, but instead he let out a string of curse words and motioned for Perry to follow him.

*

Miranda, Della, Kylie, and Chase crawled into the school’s silver Toyota Corolla at eight that morning. Chase had been given the duty of

taking Miranda to get her cast off. When Holiday had told her this yesterday, Miranda pleaded with Burnett to let them make one other stop. To