She sighed. “I still wanted to become an actress. I took a stage name and began my career as Amy. By that time we had moved to Hell’s Kitchen. It wasn’t the nicest neighborhood, but it was all I could afford, and it was right in the heart of the off-Broadway theater district. And being stronger than humans, I wasn’t really worried about our safety the way a normal woman might be.
“I got a waitressing job that paid under the counter. I did some acting in small productions. Meanwhile Kristine grew up to be the most incredibly levelheaded, well-rounded, intelligent girl a mother could ask for. I wish I’d had the money to send her to college. If I had stayed with her father, she could have gone to an Ivy League school.”
“Or not,” Jayce said. “Did he even want her?”
“No. He didn’t want any kids. I always wondered if he’d have gotten past that. I guess I’ll never know.”
“So, is he the one who took you? Did he finally find out where you were?”
“No. He’s dead now. It was his goons. They just picked up where he left off. I guess one of them caught my last show and discovered a lot about my current life—including my pride and joy. My dear daughter, the incredibly brave firefighter.”
“And he knew she had to be a dragon.”
“Yes. My ex made no secret of it among his men. It was one way he ensured their loyalty. One long blast of fire was all the threat he needed.”
At last Kristine’s rented convertible roared up to the house where they were camped out.
Jayce rose. “I’m glad we had the chance to talk alone. Whatever has gone on between you and Kristine, I’m not a part of that…but it’s good to know the background. I’ll wait outside your apartment while you talk. You’ll each need to pack a few things and get out of there as soon as possible. I’ll make sure you get to safety.”
Amy took a deep breath. “Wish me luck, Jayce. I think we’re both going to need it.”
* * *
Amy was relieved when they arrived back at the apartment. She and Kristine sat on their couch. They faced each other, and Amy took her daughter’s hands. “Thank you for everything you did for me, darling.”
“Of course. What choice did I have? I would never leave you in danger.”
Amy glanced up at Jayce, who was standing in the doorway. He smiled, waved, and quietly slipped out the door, closing it behind him.
“So, Mom, you said you were going to tell me everything. Did you mean it?”
Amy took a deep breath. Her thoughts were jumbled, but she had to somehow find the right words to explain to her daughter where she came from and to whom she was related.Through a dragon hookup that turned into a highly dysfunctional relationship, I inadvertently created a daughter with…Oh God, how do I tell her about this? Will she understand the circumstances?
“Mom, you know you can tell me anything. I won’t think less of you. I love you no matter what.”
Amy heaved a sigh. “I know, honey. But this is going to come as a shock either way.” She just had to launch into it and let the chips fall where they may. “Your father was a gangster. I didn’t know this when I met him, and that’s not all I didn’t know—”
“It’s okay, Mom. That’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Tell me everything.”
“Oh, honey. I’ve barely scratched the surface. First of all, he’s dead now—and I’m not sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, he had minions, and they took over his businesses when he died…most of it was illegal and lucrative. I don’t know if staying with him would’ve been better for you or not. I just know I couldn’t live with myself if I did. I could barely look at him anymore by the time I left.”
“When did you leave? Before or after I was born?”
“Before, darling. I couldn’t raise you in that atmosphere. There’s so much I have to tell you, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
Kristine nodded, probably to encourage her.
“As you know, dragons are supposed to be extinct, and in order to maintain that impression, out of necessity, we’re pretty sheltered. I thought that meeting a handsome single dragon was the most incredible thing that could’ve happened to me. A dragon can only have children with another dragon, and I wanted children badly. But I also wanted a career onstage.
“Your father encouraged my acting career. He paid for my coaching. I only did a little acting in summer theater before I left Long Island. After that, the most acting I could do was to act like I hadn’t a care in the world.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Mom. But I sense there’s more.”
“I’m afraid so. Okay, here’s the worst part. Your father was my half-brother.”
Kristine’s eyes flew open wide. Then she purposefully schooled her expression, and Amy heard an audible gulp from her daughter.
“I shocked you.”
