Runaway Vampire (Argeneau, #23)(89)

Mary glanced down at the jeans and T-shirt she’d chosen from the storage room. The jeans were a bit snug, and the neckline was a scoop. She tugged at the neckline to cover the bit of bra that was peaking over the top.

“And she’s dating men ten and even twenty years younger than her. The woman’s acting like a hormone riddled teenager instead of the grandmother she is.”

Mary bit her lip, an image of Dante rising in her mind. He didn’t look a day over twenty-five. And hormone riddled was probably a good description of how they had both been acting even before he’d turned her.

“She’s even buying condoms and having sex with these men,” Jane said with disgust. “At sixty! Can you imagine? I mean there comes a time when you just have to hang up your dancing shoes, you know?”

“Hmm.” Mary muttered and wondered when her daughter had become so prudish. People over sixty had every right to have sex, for heaven’s sake. Hell, at least they didn’t have to worry about birth control . . . usually, she added grimly.

“My mom was much too sensible to go in for that nonsense.”

Mary squirmed in her seat.

“Jane? The Dresdens are here for their appointment.”

Mary jerked around in her seat to peer at the speaker, but the woman was already walking away. She stared after her silently, her mind suddenly racing as memories began flooding her thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I forgot about the Dresdens,” Jane said with a frown, glancing at the clock. “We could book an appointment for later. I have an opening in an hour.”

Mary stared at her silently, debating coming back later, but why bother? She couldn’t tell her who she was. Jane wouldn’t believe it. And she couldn’t explain about nanos or immortals, and she couldn’t turn her either. Really, she shouldn’t have come here at all.

“No,” she said finally, getting to her feet. “I think I’ve changed my mind.”

“Oh,” Jane frowned slightly, but stood as well. “If you’re sure?”

“Yes,” Mary said solemnly. “My condolences on your loss.”

“Thank you,” Jane murmured, but an odd look came over her face as she watched her slide out from between the desk and the chair, and Mary turned quickly away, afraid she actually might recognize her after all.

That anxiety plaguing her, Mary walked quickly out of her daughter’s office and slam bang right into a wide chest.

“Sorry,” Mary muttered, glancing up, then froze as she recognized Lucian Argeneau. Staring at him wide-eyed, she swallowed guiltily. “I didn’t—”

“I know,” Lucian said simply, then stepped to the side and gestured for her to lead the way. When she started walking, he immediately fell into step beside her.

“Thank you,” he said as they walked toward the exit.

Mary paused and glanced at him with surprise, and then asked warily, “For what?”

Stepping in front of her, he bowed his head and said softly, “For not making me wipe your daughter’s memory, and crush Dante’s heart by having to kill you.”

Mary stiffened, then pushed past him and strode out onto the sidewalk, aware that he was on her heels. Her mind was suddenly buzzing, first with questions, and then with answers. The Eaton Center was in downtown Toronto. The Enforcer House was outside Toronto. It had been a hell of a drive to get here, and she’d been surprised they’d bothered when there were so many malls closer to the house. Now she thought she understood.

“You picked the mall,” she guessed grimly.

“Yes,” Lucian admitted.

“You somehow knew where my daughter works and picked this mall because it was nearby.”

“Yes.”

“You did it deliberately, to test me,” she said bitterly.

“Yes.”

Mary stopped abruptly and scowled at him. “That was a cheap trick.”

“Yes,” he said again, completely unapologetic.

She glowered at him briefly, and then bowed her head and muttered, “I’m sorry I failed your test.”

“You did not fail. You did not tell her,” he pointed out.

Mary let her breath out on a sigh, and then lifted her head. Eyeing him curiously, she asked, “Would you really have killed me had I told her?”

“Yes.”

Mary nodded slowly and then turned to start walking again, but after several steps she commented, “It must be hard.”

“What?” he asked with mild interest, keeping pace with her.

“Being the * that gets stuck with the shit jobs to protect his people,” she said solemnly and noted that he inclined his head as if to acknowledge that he was that *.

“Someone has to do it,” he said simply.

“And that someone is you.”

“Yes.”

Mary merely nodded. There was really nothing else to do or say.

They entered the Eaton Center through the same doors she’d exited from earlier, and moved at a quick clip toward the food court. They were still a good distance away, though, when Mary heard someone call her name. Slowing, she glanced around, and then paused as she saw Dante rushing toward them.

“Are you all right?” he asked, taking her by the upper arms as he reached them. His gaze slid over her as if looking for gaping wounds.