Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(45)

Burnett’s eyes brightened with anger. “You are not robbing another—”

“I’m just meeting the guy.”

“I’ll send someone with you,” Burnett added.

“No.” A pound of frustration resounded in his voice. “They won’t accept anyone. The only reason I’m in is because of my father.”

“And your father could get your ass killed.”

“Have a little faith in me,” Perry said, and like it or not, old insecurities rose. Did Burnett’s protectiveness stem from affection or a

lack of confidence? “I haven’t lost control and shifted in public in a while.”

“It’s not that. I—” His phone rang and he took the call. “What’s wrong?” His biting tone spoke of his anger. “Where?” Pause. “Shit.

Call the men watching Miranda and Tabitha and give them a warning. Tell them if he shows up to hold him. Don’t treat him as a complete

hostile, but do not let him leave! I’ll come help you search. And I’ll have Chase meet us.” He hung up.

“What?” Perry asked.

Burnett answered while he dialed another number. “Anthony must have made the agent I put on him. He got away.”

“Do you want me to go back to the hospital?” Perry asked.

Burnett appeared to consider it.

“Please,” Perry snapped. “Sooner or later you’ve got to cut the apron strings!”

The man growled. “Fine. Go.”

*

Shawn drove to the hospital. Lily sat in the passenger seat giving him the silent treatment. After the bombardment of insults she’d slammed on

Shawn during the interview, he couldn’t say he minded. Or he didn’t for the first half of the ride. The second half it started to get

annoying.

He saw her rubbing her wrist.

He recalled he’d had burns when he’d tried out the cuffs. He also recalled how much it had hurt. Knowing he’d put an innocent through that

sat like a fat frog on his conscience.

“Your wrists okay?” The words slipped out.

She looked out the window. They went under a streetlight, and with her hands stilled he saw the welts on her wrists.

That frog put on a few pounds. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intent to hurt you.”

She never even looked at him. Her silence was really starting to annoy him. Or was that his conscience.

He spotted a drugstore ahead and pulled in. He cut off the engine. “Can you come in with me?” he asked in a patient tone.

She didn’t look at him. Didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

“Come on. I want to get something for the burns.” He opened the door and waited for her to do the same. She didn’t.

Frustrated, he shut his door again. “I said I was sorry, okay. Can we just start over?” Still nothing. “This is silly,” he snapped. “Get

out, please.”

She reached for the door handle and muttered, “I can’t believe I thought I liked you. I’m an idiot.” She scrambled out of the car.

He shot out to catch up. Hoping to find new ground with her, he attempted humor. “You’re not an idiot. I’m actually quite likable.”

“Some people like pains in the asses, I guess.”

“That’s not nice.”

“I don’t have to be nice. I’m teaching you a lesson, remember?” she snapped, reminding him she’d heard Burnett take him down a notch.

“But can you not enjoy it so much,” he snapped back. The muscles in his shoulders knotted. Right then he realized she’d stopped walking.

He turned around. The first thing he noted were her eyes. Vampire bright. Surely she wasn’t going to try to run. Or try to kick him again.

“Come on.”

“He’s here.” Her words came out like a whisper.

“Who’s—” A car shot past and a spray of bullets started bouncing off the concrete parking lot.

Shawn hit the ground, rolled over and grabbed his gun. He got off one shot before the car squealed away. Jumping to his feet, he stared at the

car, trying to get a license number, when it passed under a streetlight.

He got shit. Well, not shit. Two letters. CV and the type and make of the car.

“Let’s go,” he yelled at Lily, and started sprinting toward his car before they decided to come back.

He only got a few feet when he realized she wasn’t following.

He turned back.

She lay stretched out in the parking lot.

“Damn it!” He sprinted over to her. Her eyes were closed. “Lily, look at me!”

She didn’t look. Didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

This silent treatment hurt ten times more than the last.

He saw blood pooling around her body.

He went to pick her up. She flinched. Her eyes, vampire neon green, shot open and were filled with pain.

“I got you.” He scooped her up in his arms and pulled her soft weight against him.

“You…” she said, her voice weak as a newborn kitten. “You sure do know how to show a girl a good time.” She passed out.





Chapter Twelve

Perry was told Miranda had been moved to a new room. As he got off the elevator on the new floor, the hospital scents filled the air, but the