Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(60)

“There, see,” Kylie said. “It’s not as bad as you thought it was.”

Della stepped back. “On second thought.”

The vamp’s oh-shit expression accompanied with Kylie’s empathic stare told Miranda what was up.

“My tattoo’s back, right?”

They nodded, making “sorry” eyes.

“It’s a … little bigger than before,” Kylie said.

“A little,” Della snapped. “Don’t sugarcoat it. She needs to know.” Della glanced back at Miranda. “You’re covered in swirly crap.”

Kylie glared at Della. “But we love you anyway. Group hug.” The chameleon put one arm around Miranda’s shoulder and held out her other to

Della.

Della studied Miranda. “It’s not contagious, is it?”

“Don’t be silly,” Kylie said to the vampire.

They wrapped their arms around Miranda, tattoos and all.

Miranda drew comfort from her two best friends, then she felt bad. “It could be?”

“What?” Kylie asked.

“It could be contagious.”

“Mo fo!” Della shot back so fast she fell on her butt. No sooner had she landed did she let go of a gagging sound. Closing her eyes, she

lifted her hand out. On her left palm clung something dark, hairy, and gooey.

“Tell me it’s not a hair ball! And if it is, I didn’t see it.” Della gagged again.

Kylie and Miranda fell on the sofa from laughing so hard.

“Yuck. Yuck. Yuck!” Della jumped up and ran to the garbage.

*

His dad bought Perry another whiskey. Perry knew better than to drink it. Already he felt a crack in his resolve.

He didn’t want to be here. Didn’t want to see his mom flirt, the men ogle her like a piece of meat. Didn’t want to see his dad’s eyes grow

brighter, his pride smaller.

Reminding himself why he was here, Perry tried to bring up the new job. Caleb slapped a lid on that conversation.

Music, not as loud as the band, piped into the room through speakers. Men moved about the room, on the hunt, preying on women, hoping not to go

home alone.

“Why can’t I dance with him?” his mom ground out to his dad.

“I’ll dance with you.” His father stared at Caleb who’d issued the invitation.

Caleb, appearing content with the trouble he’d started, laughed and moved to the table to their right, where he plopped his butt down next to

a brunette.

She cut her eyes to Perry, and it wasn’t the first time, either. She looked familiar, too. He checked her forehead. Vampire.

“It’s not fun to dance with the same guy,” his mom bitched.

His dad dragged his wife to the dance floor. The wine and whiskey added a different gait to their steps.

His mom’s arguing played like background music.

It wasn’t a matter of if the shit was gonna hit the fan, it was when. And how Perry intended to handle it.

A waitress, a pretty sandy-haired vampire with a nametag that read BELL, swung by to drop off beers. She purposely didn’t get close to Chuckie

or Mark. She’d shown her canines twice when they’d gotten touchy-feely.

Chuckie reached for her again. Perry started to intervene, but Bell swung around so fast she became a blur. “Touch me again and I’m going to

rip your carotid artery open and offer free shots to all my vampire friends here tonight.”

Chuckie and Mark laughed. Bell didn’t. Perry couldn’t say he believed her, but he wouldn’t chance it. And supposedly neither would Chuckie

or Mark.

Once again, Perry realized the favor his mom had done by abandoning him. If raised by them, he might have grown up to be an asswipe.

“Did you need anything?” The waitress moved next to Perry.

“I need something,” Mark said.

“I’m fine.” Perry ignored Mark. “Thanks.”

“You new in town?” Bell picked up a few dirty glasses.

The word “yes” almost slipped out. Then he recalled his dad believed he’d lived here. Which meant Mark and Chuckie probably thought it, too.

His brain sought a diversion. And found one. The button with a picture of her and a baby on it pinned to her apron. “That your baby?” She

looked too young, but …

Pride filled her eyes. “Yeah.” Then she added, “His daddy left us.”

Not knowing how to respond, Perry offered. “He’s cute.”

Bell laughed. “And you just lied. But don’t worry, I know he’s ugly. The doctor promises me he’ll grow out of it.” She hesitated. “You

should come in more often.”

“Yeah.” He was flattered, but he had his girl.

“She wants to dirty up the sheets with you.” Mark’s comment echoed and earned some laughter from neighboring tables.

The girl, rightfully offended, let out her canines again. Perry backed her up with a low growl.

“What the hell,” Chuckie said. “You’re going after this kid when you got two real men here.”

“I only see one man at this table, grandpa.” She sashayed off.

Chuckie stared after her. “Bitch. She ain’t even got big tits.”