Chapter 11
Kristine and her mother were at a nearby laundromat, taking care of the few clothes they had brought with them. Kristine cleared her throat and launched into the conversation she knew they needed to have alone.
“I have to go home, Mom. Lieutenant Mahoney called and said there was a huge high-rise fire. Two guys were injured. They need me.”
“Oh no, you don’t. It’s not safe to return yet. Is it?”
“If Donkey Pizzle and company are looking for us, they probably know that we’re not in New York anymore.” Kristine tossed her thong onto the pile of granny panties she usually wore.
Amy eyed the thong, and her eyebrows shot up. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Not a word.”
Amy chuckled. Soon she became serious. “I hope you’ll take a while to think about this. They’re bound to be furious that I got away, and I’m sure they’ll be looking for me.”
“Well, they’re not going to find you because you’re staying here in Boston.”
“But what about you? They could go after you next.”
Kristine stuck her hand on her hip. “Let them try. I’m a freakin’ dragon.”
“You aren’t thinking of doing anything stupid, like breathing fire in public, are you?” Amy folded her arms and stared at her daughter. “We don’t have the power to erase minds.”
Kristine was determined. Her fellow firefighters needed her. She was the only one who was fireproof, not that they knew that. But she was always able to pull them out of danger, and if worst came to worst, she could fly out of any situation and shift back in the smoke before anyone saw her. At least that’s how it had turned out so far.
Amy sighed. “You have that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“The one that says ‘Don’t bother…I know what I’m doing, and nothing you say will stop me.’”
Kristine chuckled. “Yup. You know me well.”
Amy shook her head and went back to folding socks. “I don’t suppose Jayce can go with you? Can he?”
“I doubt it. He’s needed here in Boston. He just took a vacation, so I imagine he can’t get away again for a while.”
“I wish you’d reconsider… I know you can protect yourself but not without using your supernatural powers, and you know why we can’t do that.”
Kristine rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know. People will see us as a threat. Then capture and study us or just outright kill us. People are stupid.”
“No, people are human. They fear what they don’t understand, and trying to understand that dragons are real is beyond most modern thinkers. There’s really no point in arguing this,” Amy said. “It’s the only hard-and-fast rule I’ve ever demanded of you. That hasn’t changed.”
Kristine dropped the T-shirt she had been about to fold. “Seriously? I’m an adult now. You really can’t tell me what to do or what not to do anymore.”
“Oh yeah?”
Kristine ignored the comment and returned to folding her FDNY T-shirt. When she couldn’t afford to finish college, the only saving grace was that she could become a firefighter. It was a noble calling, and it fulfilled her in a way she hadn’t expected.
Still, a college degree would help her rise up the ladder. Not that she’d want to go so high she didn’t see any action at all. But becoming a lieutenant would be nice. As it was, she would have to start all over in Boston, but she really thought she could make a difference if she had a little more clout.
Kristine had taken a few brave chances and demonstrated how valuable she was to her fellow FDNY firefighters. They had stopped questioning her abilities as a woman long ago, and she had proven herself many times over. She felt regretful for the high-rise getting so out of control. Had she been there, she might have been able to help. “I’m sorry, Mom, I have to go back.”
Amy shook her head and remained silent.
“On the plus side, while I’m there, I can search for a new apartment for us.”
Amy bit her lip but still didn’t respond.
