by C. C. Hunter
Even when they were right.
She pulled her up big-girl panties. “We need to talk—”
“I brought her flowers because I felt bad,” he blurted out. “I was in charge of protecting her. She got shot. It was meant to be a nice gesture, not a romantic one.”
Miranda looked at her flip-flops hanging from her feet. “You liked her, too. Della told me. She said that Chase and Lucas had smelled it earlier.”
He exhaled with a whoosh. Frustration laced the tense sound. “She’s pretty. I was attracted to her, but I wasn’t acting on it. And it’s not fair for you to blame me for just thinking … Guys can’t control that especially when…” He pulled his lips into his mouth.
“When what?” she asked.
“When you haven’t been willing to take things to the next level.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I … You have all the right in the world to take as much time as you need. What’s important here is that … I didn’t do anything.”
She looked right into his soft blue eyes. And she saw it.
“Then why do you feel guilty?”
He glanced off into the woods. “Maybe because I knew Della was going to blow this out of proportion.”
“Or maybe…,” Miranda said, “you really like the girl. More than you like me.”
He ran a hand over his face. “I’ve been crazy about you for years.”
She scrunched her toes, feeling her flip-flop falling off. “I was crazy about you, too. But that’s not enough, is it?”
He frowned and then looked … angry. “This isn’t about me, is it? It’s about Perry?”
Suddenly the flip-flop was on the other foot. She had the guilt now. “No.” The word tasted like a lie. “Not completely.”
“Define ‘not completely,’” he said in a judgmental voice.
She searched for the right words.
He didn’t give her enough time. “You guys are back together, aren’t you?”
“Not officially.”
“Define ‘officially.’”
It was the first time she’d heard Shawn sound so angry. She felt terrible. Her chest felt weighty. But he deserved an answer. “I needed … to tell you that I didn’t think—”
His frown deepened. “How dare you make me feel bad when you’re already with…”
“I’m not with him.” She wished she could say they hadn’t even kissed. She couldn’t. He stared at her as if it was her fault. She didn’t feel at fault. But she did feel guilty. She was hurting him. She hated hurting people.
Hated.
Hated.
Hated it.
She reached deep and found the one defense she had. “When you asked me out the first time, I told you I wasn’t ready. Or that I wasn’t over … everything.”
He jumped up, as if to leave. He didn’t. Stopping at the other end of the porch, he stood there staring out.
After several birdcalls and a few cricket songs, he faced her. “You’re right. I rushed you. I just thought … we were perfect for each other.”
He came and dropped back down beside her. Just not as close. That little half of an inch between them said a lot. He’d accepted it.
“We’re both Wiccan,” he said. “Share the same moral principles. Your parents like me, and mine…”
His pause confirmed what she’d always known. “And your parents don’t like me. Your mom doesn’t.”
Guilt filled his eyes again.
“Why doesn’t she like me?” Were Miranda’s fumbled spells common knowledge to everyone?
He finally spoke up. “She found out your parents weren’t married.”
“Wow,” Miranda said. “I thought it was because … I’m a screwball. I didn’t even consider that.” She chuckled. “That makes me feel better.”
He looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, and considering the stress she was under, it was a possibility.
Before she could stop herself, she said, “Can you imagine what your mom is going to think about you dating the Lily girl who’s part human and vampire?”
He frowned. “I told you, I’m not interested in her.”
Miranda looked at him and saw the truth again. “I’m not trying to be ugly. But I think you are interested. You might not have acted on it, but now that we’re not … together, I’d like you to be happy.” And she meant it, too. Angry Miranda had completely left the building.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.
“For what?” he asked.
“For being upset about the flowers thing. I didn’t have that right.”
He focused on the woods again. “I was attracted to her more than I should have been.”
“Then why not … try to make it work with her?”
He laughed. “We just broke up and already you’re trying to fix me up with someone? That’s just wrong.”
“You’re a great guy, Shawn. You deserve to be happy. Della said it wasn’t just your pheromones polluting the air.”
He seemed to consider that. Then he shook his head. “It wouldn’t work.”
“Why? Because she isn’t all Wiccan?”
“No. Well … maybe.”
Miranda studied him. “I didn’t think you were prejudiced?”
“I’m not. I just think it would be easier to be with someone of my own kind.”
“Easier isn’t always the best choice.” Perry wasn’t easy. And he was right for her.
“My mom wouldn’t…” He bit down on his lip again.
“I didn’t see you as a mama’s boy, either.”
He made a scratchy disapproving sound that came from the back of his throat. “I’m not.”
“Then decide what you want. Don’t let your mother’s opinions override what you feel.”
* * *
While waiting for the bus to arrive to take the unconscious gang members to the Houston FRU headquarters, Perry had gotten a text from his dad informing him that tomorrow’s meeting with Jax wasn’t happening until four.
Why? Was Jax busy moving? He texted his dad back: Meet you at three.
But damn it, Perry had really hoped it would have been finished tonight. Burnett hoped to get something from the prisoners, but Perry’s gut said it was a wash.
The Houston FRU headquarters wasn’t that different from the one in Fallen. Except the rules. The only one allowed to watch the interviews was Agent Tobler. Hayden had left.
The rest of them were directed to the waiting room. Perry hadn’t been in the mood to sit. Instead he informed them he was going to fly around to blow off steam. His gut hadn’t unknotted from the whole takedown. Or maybe it wasn’t just that.
Maybe it was everything.
He had a brother who excelled at murder. His mom was an evil bitch. His father … that’s the one that hurt. He almost seemed to care.
And Perry was about to get all their asses tossed in prison.
They deserved it.
He had to do it.
Yet he still wasn’t even sure what it was supposed to prove. Or was it even about proving anything? Was Burnett right? Perry sought revenge?
He found a spot in back of the building, shifted, and took flight.
The moon hung heavy in the sky. He flew high, low, darted through trees. He flew hard. He flew until he didn’t think about anything but how good it felt to soar. Flew, until the weight he carried in his heart felt as light as the feathers on his back.
Landing in the same place, he shifted back, ran a hand through his windblown hair, and went to find everyone.
He walked in, nodded at Kylie, Della, and Chase, and plopped down in a chair.
“You heard anything?” he asked.
Della chuckled. “Yeah, there’s been sightings of a pink polka dotted elephant in the area.”
“Seriously?” Had someone besides the three perps seen him? Burnett was going to be pissed. Perry had messed up again.
“No,” Della laughed. “I just think it’s funnier than hell.”
He sat back in the ch
air. “It’s not funny.”
“Why shift into that?” Chase asked, a smile in his voice, even when it wasn’t on his face.
“Why do you care? I saved your asses, didn’t I? I took the bullets instead of you or Burnett.”
Chase sobered quickly. “Yeah you did. We’re fast, but I’m not sure we’re as fast as three AK-47s. I didn’t mean to piss you off.”
Silence filled the room, an uncomfortable silence that Perry had caused. He’d sounded like a jerk.
“I almost went with the purple hippo,” he said in a dead serious voice. “But the elephant felt much classier.” Everyone laughed. Even himself. And just like that, the chip slid off his shoulder.
He was good at that, making people laugh so he could laugh.
He recalled Miranda accusing him of joking about things to hide how he really felt. It wasn’t altogether true. He didn’t joke to hide the hurt. He joked so he could deal with it. Otherwise it would eat a hole through him.
“Why not a lion?” Kylie asked. “I’ve seen you as a lion and that was scary.”
“Just following orders,” Perry said.
“Orders?” Della asked. “You had orders to turn yourself into a pink elephant?”
“Burnett told me if I ever had to morph around humans to make it something no one would believe.”
“Then you did a damn good job,” Chase said. “I can’t imagine one of those dudes telling some cell mate, ‘And then a pink polka dotted elephant busted through the fence.’”
Burnett walked out right then. “That’s pretty much what they said.” His gaze found Perry. “Good job.”
“We got anything to go on?” Perry asked.
“I’ll update everyone on the ride back.”
“So I got my ass shot for nothing?” Freaking hell!
“Not exactly.” Burnett motioned to the door.
When they got outside, the big sky beckoned Perry. The last thing he wanted to do was crawl back into that van. He almost told Burnett he wouldn’t be making the trip. Then he remembered he didn’t have to meet his parents until three. Going back now, he might see Miranda again.
So yeah, he’d be climbing his ass back into the van. Time with Miranda would do him better than a week of flying.
Burnett got behind the wheel; Perry crawled in the front, the others in the back. Burnett pulled out of the parking lot and started talking. “The gang’s called the Dragons. They’ve been a thorn in HPD’s paw for a year. They hadn’t been able to collar them. Now they have.”
“So it was the wrong house?” Perry asked.
“Right house. A day late.”
“What?” Della asked.
Burnett looked in the rearview mirror. “There’s a Web site where people sell things under-the-table. The former owner put the house up for auction to the highest bidder. Furniture and all. Around eleven last night, the gang dropped a couple hundred thousand dollars for a house worth close to a million. All seven of the members told the same story. So it’s credible.”
“Why would Jax sell the house for less than it’s worth?” Perry asked.
Burnett cut his eyes to Perry. “It makes sense if he’s on to you and knows we were about to hit.”
“No,” Perry said. “I haven’t even met him yet.”
Burnett stopped at a light. “You said that Caleb Davidson suspected you.”
“You got his full name?” Perry asked.
“I was able to run him down,” Agent Tobler said from the back. “His record is almost as long as your brother’s.”
“You find him?” Perry asked her.
“Not yet,” Burnett answered. “But let’s not change the subject. If Jax knows—”
“Jax sent Caleb packing,” Perry said. “Why would he do that if he bought what the guy said about me?” Perry pulled data together trying to understand. “Jax might have left because of Caleb. He wouldn’t want a pissed-off ex-employee knowing his location. Or…”
“Or what?” Burnett asked.
“My dad said he was pissed at Caleb because the FRU was investigating Bell’s murder. Maybe he’s afraid that investigation could’ve lead you to his old address.”
“Maybe,” Burnett said. “The Houston FRU is investigating that angle. But I still don’t think—”
“Then stop thinking.” Perry inhaled. “I’m finishing this.” He let the tension ease a fraction before continuing. “The meeting with Jax has been rescheduled for tomorrow at four. I’ll be there.”
Burnett looked at the road. The neon green eyes reflected back in the windshield said how he felt. It didn’t surprise Perry that the three in back didn’t speak. No one messed with a pissed-off Burnett.
Twenty minutes later, Perry muttered, “So tonight was a complete waste.”
“No,” Burnett answered, sounding less angry. “Catching that gang gave us some brownie points with both the Houston FRU and the police force. Both are going to assist us in the case. And we got the name of the banker who signed over the title to the house. I’m looking into it tomorrow.”
“What if we can’t tie Jax to this house?” Perry said. “Are we going to lack evidence?”
“There’s enough evidence to convict Jaxon for ten different cases,” Burnett said. “Getting info on the other underground gangs would be nice. Getting Tabitha back is our main goal.”
The wheels of the van hummed against the pavement taking them back to Fallen. Back to Miranda. And yet … “We’ve got nothing to offer Miranda about her sister,” Perry said.
“No news might be good news.” Doubt resonated from Burnett’s tone. Perry felt it echo inside his chest. If something happened to Tabitha it would break Miranda’s heart.
Before he rebounded from that thought, another hit. What if they couldn’t save Tabitha. His own brother might be responsible for it. Perry’s gut twisted in knots, threads of fear tangled with his hopes for him and the girl he loved. Miranda hadn’t completely forgiven him for his last screwups. She’d never forgive him for this.
And he couldn’t blame her.
The question was, could he stop it? Or was he already too late?
Chapter Twenty-six
They arrived back at the school at eleven. Was Miranda still awake?
Burnett had given him a key to one of the empty cabins to sleep in, but Kylie and Della stopped him and asked if he wanted to stay at their cabin, because Kylie wanted to go run in the full moon with Lucas, and Della wanted to see Chase.
Perry’s gut said they were playing cupid. He wanted to hug them.
He let himself into the cabin, hoping she’d be on the sofa or would come running out of her bedroom.
Neither. The kitchen light was on as if she’d been scared of the dark.
He shut the front door, not all that quietly. Then he glanced at her bedroom door. Would it be totally inappropriate to wake her up? To walk in there and climb in bed with her?
Not for sex. Not that he didn’t want that. It would be heaven. But holding her while she slept would be heaven enough. For now.
He focused on the kitchen again. The light shone on the table, highlighting a bouquet of flowers.
He moved in. A plastic fork held a small scripted card: Here’s to us and our future. Shawn.
Emotion filled Perry’s chest.
Their future? They didn’t have a future! Miranda was … his?
Or was she?
Every insecurity he’d ever had about deserving her rose to the surface.
How was Miranda going to feel if they couldn’t save her sister? What would she feel when she learned his own flesh and blood had caused it?
Perry knew she cared about him, but could she overlook that?
“Perry?” her soft voice echoed behind him.
He turned. She stood just outside her door.
She wore a pair of Little Mermaid pajamas. A tight tank top hugged her breasts and was paired with a loose-fitting pair of boxer-type shorts. He wanted to touch her so badly his fingers ached.
Bu
t his heart fisted. He looked back at the flowers.
“They’re breakup flowers.” Her bare feet padded on the wood floor as she came closer. He heard each step.
“That’s not what the card says.”
“He wrote that before I broke up with him. I told him he should take the flowers, but he said to keep them as … breakup flowers.”
He swallowed. “I didn’t know you were supposed to give breakup flowers.” Unable to look at her, he stared at the sofa. He remembered them there—tangled in each other’s arms, tasting and touching each other almost to the point of no return.
“Me, either,” she said.
The lightest chuckle in her tone had him focusing on her again. “You broke up with him?”
She walked closer. Was it his imagination that he could already smell her?
“I … I care about someone else.”
“You do?” he asked.
She stopped as if she just realized something else. “What happened tonight? Did you find Tabitha?”
The thrill, the anticipation of where her steps were leading, vanished.
“No. But we got a few more leads. And I’m supposed to meet with Jax tomorrow.”
She frowned. “You keep getting leads but none of them pan out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” Then she bolted into his arms. All that softness. All that sweetness. Against him. Heaven.
He wrapped his arms around her. She looked up, resting her chin on his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me that Jax was your half brother?”
She knew? “I…” The question, the one gnawing at his sanity, spilled out. “What if he’s behind this? What if it’s him trying to hurt your sister?”
She pressed a hand to his chest. “Then you’ll stop him.”
He exhaled. “I will.”
They stood in the middle of the room, holding on to each other. Both victims of different shipwrecks.
She eventually moved him over to the sofa and dropped down on the cushions. A soft sigh filled the room.
He sat down beside her. She pulled her knees up, curled up in a tight ball, and cuddled up next to his side. “Where are Kylie and Della?”
“Kylie went to run with Lucas, and Della’s at Chase’s. But I think they were playing cupid.”