Free Once You Go Demon (Pure Souls) by Killian McRae Page B

best protected here, if Hell ever broke loose.”
    Rolling her eyes, Riona dropped the pen and pushed the book back toward the administrator behind the welcome desk. The scrub-entombed woman checked the signature against her files, then handed Riona two guest badges.
    Riona turned to pin a badge on Jerry, keeping her voice low. “Watch it on the w-thing in public, okay? And like hell. This was the one that kept her close enough for me to come to quickly if she got sick, far away enough for me not to worry about her showing up at my place, and in my price range. Don’t give me airs. I love my mom—on some primal level, I’m sure—but if I spent more than a few hours with her without an escape, I’d kill her. And now with all my new, dope skills ...”
    But Jerry kept his voice at full volume. “And to think, I put so much time setting you up with your meat locker of destiny, when there was a matricide bomb already wired and ready to blow just a short drive away.”
    The nurse at the front shot daggers at Jerry. The ex-demon threw his hands up in exasperation.
    “I’m just joking, sheesh. But do you hear the stuff she’s saying about her own mother? Aren’t you appalled?” He pointed at Riona.
    The nurse coughed a laugh. “Unlike you, I’ve met Ms. Dade. Please keep your badges on while you’re in the facility. You’ll probably find Molly in the back garden. She’s usually outside this time of day.”
    Riona led Jerry through the corridor, past the nurse’s station and cafeteria, toward the backside of the house. He opened the white-washed door when they reached the end of the hall. Cool air rushed in, giving both a shiver. Riona felt Jerry move closer, felt his arms start to rise to embrace her. Felt herself start to lean in to him. Old habits, they die hard. Luckily, she caught herself in time and bolted out the door.
    From the back porch, a garden fallen to winter rot looked like Mother Nature was experiencing a terrible hangover. Brown, wilted, crisp in some parts, soggy in others, the flora appeared used up and left for dead. At first, the garden proved empty. Then, across the yard, in the far corner where a fountain should have allowed a quaint, twinkling noise if not for a collection of leaves, a single, twisting column of cigarette smoke spiraled into the air. A smallish woman with painfully artificial red hair sat, using a shaky hand to maneuver a cancer stick.
    “I see your guilt has finally reached irrepressible levels. Or did your shrink cut off your prescriptions again?” Molly Dade chewed on insults and spit them out the way old southern men did with snuff. “Come to tell me more silly ghost stories, or you here to take me away and put me in some place more befitting my status?”
    “No, the city zoo says they’re fully stocked on the New England Crazy Loon.”
    Molly went on unfazed. “Is that right? Must be here to ask about the money, then.”
    “No need, Momma,” Riona returned as she walked in the harpy’s direction. “The IRS already found all that and carted it away. Good news, too; there was enough left over to pay off the state.”
    Molly smashed the butt of her cigarette against the side of her oxygen tank. “Fine, fine. No money then. Who’s the guy? Latest boyfriend?”
    Jerry nodded. “Yes.”
    And in a more pleasing reality, would have doubled over dead if the daggers she shot him with her eyes could manifest.
    A knowing look overcame Molly’s features. “Ah, so it’s finally happened. You’re knocked up. Well, he’s a handsome devil, I guess you could have put out for worse.”
    “No, I’m not knocked up!” Riona quickly leapt in before turning to Jerry to give him a smack in the shoulder. “Don’t encourage her.”
    “Oh, I’ve not even begun to encourage.” Her stomach turned as Jerry rushed forward and took a knee, grabbing up her mother’s hand and pressing it to his lips. “ Enchante , Ms. Dade. I’m Jerry Romani, Riona’s ex- boyfriend. It’s a