Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(98)

Today she wore red and really looked like Mrs. Claus.

He obliged her with a hug, even though his heart wasn’t in it.

“You should see the spoon you gave me now hanging on the wall. As a matter of fact, I insist you come see it. Wednesday you are coming to my

house for dinner. I’m cooking meatballs and spaghetti. Mr. Conner’s been asking about you.”

Perry shrugged. “I’d love to, but my schedule is up in the air.”

“Nonsense. You can and you will.” She shook her chubby finger at him. “Now, go see Burnett, before he yells at me. He’s in one of his

moods.”

And I’m about to make it worse.

Burnett was on the phone when Perry walked into his office. The vampire motioned to the chair. “Well, keep looking. We don’t know he’s dead.

You’re jumping the gun.”

The words sank into Perry like nails. How’d Burnett do this? Deal with scum, people who didn’t value life. Deal with death. Perry felt dirty,

tainted, just from being in the room with Jax.

His father didn’t give the order, but he worked for Jax and looked the other way. That made him just as bad, didn’t it?

Burnett set his phone down. “You met Jax?”

“Yeah.” Perry stiffened his backbone. If Burnett knew how Perry felt right now, he’d insist he pull out. Insist that Perry wasn’t ready.

Emotionally, especially after today, Perry would have to agree, but he’d be damned if he walked away now.

“What was the phone call about? Who might be dead?”

Burnett raked a hand over his face. “Anthony Bastin’s cousin. We’ve been trying to find him. And now his father is, too. He’s missing.”

Perry exhaled. “Do you think he’s with Anthony?”

“Maybe.” Burnett leaned forward. “Good news is that Miranda got a text from Tabitha. Or at least she believes it’s from her.”

“You know where she is?” Perry asked. Damn his life would be easier if Jax wasn’t involved with her. But his gut said that those warlocks at

Jax’s house might somehow be behind this. And considering what he now knew about Jax’s operation …

“No. It was a burner phone. We got nothing. But if it was her, and Miranda believes it was, then she’s alive.” Burnett hesitated. “What do

you have for me?”

“It’s bad. Jax isn’t just running a gang. It’s the mafia. And my brother is the damn Godfather.”

“What do you mean?” Burnett asked.

“He has his thumb on all the different supernatural underground gangs. Not just the typical rogue gangs, either. These are organized-crime

kind of gangs. They pay him a percentage of what they pull in. If they want something, get in a jam, they come to him. He gets them what they

want for a price. He’s making money from them and his own operations. He mentioned prostitution and it sounded like human trafficking. If his

own men don’t meet his standards, he puts a price on their head, and it’s a contest to see who kills them.”

Perry told Burnett about Ricky Raco and how he’d been put on the hit list. Burnett said he’d look into it. A few minutes later, after soaking

up every word that Perry said, he leaned back in his chair. “Shit.”

“And,” Perry added, “when I first got to his house, there were warlocks there. He’s doing something for a warlock gang. It could—”

“It could be behind Tabitha’s disappearance.” Burnett scowled.

Perry nodded. “We don’t have proof, but it’s likely.” He paused. “They have the meters to check for other shape-shifters. I don’t know if

they have it to meter other supernaturals or not. It wasn’t hooked up to a security system, but the house is new so maybe they don’t have it

all set up yet.”

“You got the address where you met him?” Burnett asked.

Perry nodded. “I’m not finished,” Perry said. “I’m worried I haven’t been as careful as I should have been on all my trips back to Shadow

Falls. If Caleb’s shifting midflight, I may have missed him.”

Burnett frowned. “I’ve already got everyone on guard at the camp.” He leaned back in his chair. “We’ll get a team together now and pick up

Jax.”

“He’s not there.” Perry ran a hand down his thigh. “The house we met in was empty. He said he was staying at another house until he gets it

furnished. Following him wasn’t an option. But he’s bringing me into his organization. He said he’s setting up a meeting to introduce me to

all the leaders of the various groups. But right now he’s worried about Bell’s murder—and his ties to her leading you guys to him. And he’s

trying to come up with a plan that will throw you off his scent.”

“By using you,” Burnett said figuring it out. “I got his mug shot. You two could be twins.”

Perry nodded.

Burnett leaned back in his chair. His posture so rock hard, he appeared chiseled out of stone. “And knowing all this, you still think you can

handle it?”

“I’m your best chance of stopping this bastard. You know that.”