After the Fall (Broken Angel #2)

by Castillo, L. G.

  She ran down the hall and out of the building. Her heart slammed against her chest a hundred miles a minute as she plucked a set of car keys from out of her purse. She needed to leave, to get far away from there. Far away from the memories that fluttered through her mind: the presence of someone near her during the plane crash, protecting her; the same presence protecting her during the auto accident; Luke rising to the top of the corporate world in unprecedented speed, never aging, always the same. If she believed in God, how could she not believe in evil?

  No. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be possible. Luke was not Lucifer. He wasn’t the devil.

  Her hands shook, and the keys slipped out of her hand, falling onto the pavement. When she bent down to pick them up, a cold chill swept through her. She could feel someone watching her every move.

  She glanced up and froze when she saw a pair of crocodile boots.

  She blinked, and they were gone.

  ***

  After the senator left, Naomi reluctantly gave Welita a kiss good-bye, promising to watch over her and Chuy whenever she could. When she arrived back in Emma’s hospital room, Megan was asleep and Jeremy was nowhere to be found.

  Looking out the window, she saw him in a grove of trees across the hospital parking lot, sitting on one of the tree branches. He must’ve seen her because he waved and gestured for her to join him.

  After crossing the lot, Naomi glided through a field of wildflowers that were dispersed in small patches near the trees. Craning her neck, she watched Jeremy swing his legs like a little boy. He wore a silly grin that lit up his face. He almost looked like the Jeremy she’d first met in New Mexico.

  He jumped out of the tree and gracefully landed in front of her. For the first time, she really looked at him and realized that he looked different from when they had first met.

  Gone were his usual black suit and crisp white shirt. He wore a simple of pair of jeans that hugged his hips. A soft-looking black leather jacket was thrown over a simple white cotton T-shirt.

  She eyed him carefully. It was something she could imagine Lash wearing.

  “Why don’t you wear your suits anymore?”

  His smile froze, and after a moment, he gave a forced laugh. “I gotta keep up with the latest trends. Besides, I had a feeling this assignment would require more wash-n-wear clothing.”

  His eyes locked with hers briefly before he quickly diverted them. He walked a few steps away from her and plopped himself on the grass. “So guess what Chuy and Lalo are up to.”

  She sank down beside him, crossing her legs Indian style. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “They were able to get some evidence that Prescott Oil is illegally dumping the chemicals they’re using. Lalo somehow even managed to get proof that they’re not lining the wells according to Federal regulations. I don’t know how he got it, but he did. Chuy is going to sneak Megan into the press conference. She’s going to try to make a scene to attract media attention and then give them the evidence.”

  She shook her head. “I hope it works. It didn’t work for me.”

  He gave her a questioning look.

  “Long story.” She sighed, remembering how she’d crashed the senator’s fundraising banquet only to be immediately tossed out. “I guess that means I’ll be there too.”

  “Yeah, the both of us.”

  “Don’t you need to stay with Emma?”

  He cursed under his breath and turned his head away from her.

  She studied his profile, watching his square jaw tense. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. So, how did it go?”

  Great. He was changing the subject. It was no use pressing him to tell her.

  “She’s not the same,” she said. “It was hard seeing her like that.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, I guess. I mean, she seems to be doing well, but she looked so fragile. The year has really taken a toll on her. And...”

  She hesitated to tell him what she had done, appearing to Welita. Would he get mad?

  “And what?” he prodded with sapphire eyes that glowed with openness. He was on her side. She could trust him.

  “And she saw me.”

  He grinned, dimples flashing. “Did she freak?”

  She laughed. “Of course not. She already knew I was there. My grandmother has always believed in angels. Didn’t Lash tell you that your mother was her guardian angel?”

  There was a tense silence. Hurt passed over his face, and she bit down on her lip. How could she forget that Lash was barely on speaking terms with him?

  “I’m sorry. I forgot about you and....well, what about Raphael? Didn’t he tell you about Rebecca and my grandmother?”

  “I haven’t been talking that much to Raphael lately, either. I had to leave soon after you were reunited with Lash. I was sent on assignment, remember? Raphael mentioned it.”

  “Oh, right. Why were you sent on a job so soon? I thought Gabrielle would cut you some slack. She likes you.”

  He studied her face for a moment, and she felt that pull again, as if he was silently urging her to him. After a moment, he let out a breath and looked away. “I wasn’t really on an assignment. I had some...things I had to do.”

  “Oh. I didn’t mean to pry.”

  He groaned and fell back into the grass, gazing at the stars in the cloudless sky. “It’s not easy being the angel of death.”

  She furrowed her brow, wondering what he was talking about. “I can imagine.”

  When he turned his head toward her, long spears of grass brushed against his flawless face. “I wasn’t happy being a seraph. I wanted to be an archangel. I even tried to convince Lash to be one too. He didn’t want it. I thought he was holding himself back and being his rebellious self. Now I know it was because being an archangel would’ve stifled him, taken the best out of him.”

  She knew exactly what he meant. She felt the burden of being an archangel, and she hadn’t even completed her training yet. Oh, Lash. Welita is right—we are a perfect match.

  He chuckled as he continued to reminisce. “You should’ve seen the things he did to rile up Gabrielle. I miss him.”

  She felt an ache in her chest. She missed Lash too. What she wouldn’t do to have him there at this moment. She desperately wanted to see him and tell him she was sorry: sorry for staying mad at him, for hurting him, and that she understood now why he’d done what he did.

  “There’s one thing about being the archangel of death that amazes me though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “People can be so strong in the face of death.” He sat up, bracing himself on his elbows. “Almost everyone I’ve had to take over to the other side finds a way to put themselves at peace with it. They ask forgiveness from loved ones or mutter a prayer. But the ones that amaze me the most are those who take danger head on, knowing they’ll more than likely die, and yet they face that danger anyway. And the psalm they mutter. It’s so beautiful.”

  She thought back to her catechism classes, remembering that a psalm is like a song or prayer. There were so many. “Which one?”

  “You know the one that starts off with ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death’?”

  “Yeah. You like that one?”

  He nodded. “There’s something about it when a person mutters it under his breath, you can feel a sense of peace. Like they’re resolved to face their death. Sometimes, I wonder if I would be able to do something like that.”

  “What do you mean? Face your own death?”

  “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do it.” He barked a laugh. “Imagine that. The angel of death afraid of dying.”

  “Why would you even think it?” Her mind flashed to Uri and Rachel.

  He pulled himself up and walked a few feet away from her. “Because, I guess, deep inside, I know I’m a coward.”

  “No, you’re not.” She went to him and turned him around to face her. “You and Lash are the bravest peopl
e I know. You had to make sure I got to the top of Shiprock. And you had to do it without telling your best friend. I know he’s still mad at you, but he’ll come around. And you had to know that he’d get mad even though you were doing what was best for him.”

  Jeremy dropped his head. “You think too much of me. I didn’t know you were going to join us. I was just doing my duty.”

  “I wasn’t talking about me. You knew that he’d go back home after you...uh, after your job was done.”

  “Say it, Naomi. After I killed you.”

  “Jeremy, look at me.” Her hand reached out to him, and when it touched his strong jaw, his breath hitched. He tried to pull away from her, but she firmly lifted his head to make his eyes meet hers.

  “Naomi, please don’t.” His voice was raw.

  “Don’t what? Don’t tell you ‘You’re a wonderful brother’? Don’t tell you ‘You’ve been a great friend to me’?”

  “If you knew what I was feeling, you wouldn’t be saying those things.”

  “I know you may be...confused about your feelings for me, but—”

  “I’m not confused,” he said, his sapphire eyes gazed deeply into hers.

  “Jeremy. You may think that right now, but with time, as you get to know me, you’ll see things...you’ll see us more clearly. There’s one thing I know for certain.” She placed a hand on his chest. “This heart loves his family deeply and will do anything for them.”

  His eyes smoldered at her touch, and she swallowed at their intensity. He reached out, and his fingers ghosted over her face as if memorizing every single inch. When they reached her lips, she gasped as his thumb gently stroked her bottom lip. Slowly, he leaned in toward her, lips parting. She was about to pull away from him when something crashed into his body, sending him twenty feet into the air.

  A blur whirled past her, straight to where Jeremy lay groaning. She was about to run to him when the shadow stopped and turned to face her.

  Lash!

  16

  Naomi’s heart skipped a beat at the glorious sight of Lash. His hazel eyes blazed with fury as he stared down at Jeremy. His fist clenched tightly against his side, muscles straining, tensing, ready to fight. The sides of his jaw jutted out, and he gritted his teeth, emphasizing his handsome chiseled face.

  “Lash,” she breathed.

  He turned, and his face softened when his eyes met hers. “Naomi. I’m sorry about...everything.”

  She heard a groan, and her eyes darted to Jeremy as he lifted himself from the ground. Whirling, Lash took a threatening step towards him.

  Naomi rushed to Lash and grasped his arm. “Don’t. He’s your brother.”

  Hurt flashed across his eyes as he studied her face. “You”—he swallowed thickly—“care for him?”

  “Of course I do.”

  He sucked in a breath as if he’d been punched.

  “He’s my brother too,” she explained. “At least, he will be soon.”

  He blinked and looked at her as if he couldn’t believe what she was saying. “You still want to be bound to me? You forgive me?”

  “Yes! Yes!”

  Before she could say another word, fevered lips pressed down on hers with such passion, she felt like she would float away at any minute. Tears streamed down her face, thinking of how stupid she’d been to hurt him the way she did. She kissed him back deeply. Her arms clung to his neck as she drowned herself in his kiss. This was where she belonged, in his arms.

  “Oh Lash, I love you,” she said in between kisses. “I have always loved you. I’m so sorry I left like I did.”

  “Naomi, I was so scared. I thought you’d stop loving me.”

  “Never...no matter what.”

  He paused and pulled back. Gazing at her tenderly, he brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Why are you crying?”

  “Because I’m so happy.”

  He chuckled and placed his forehead on hers. “I’m happy too.”

  There was a sudden movement coming from behind Lash that caught her eye. Her heart flew to her throat at the sight of Jeremy’s face. Red with fury, it grew closer as he charged at them.

  “Lash, look out!”

  Before he could turn, a pair of arms lifted him off the ground. She screamed as iron claws also cut into her shoulders and jerked her up.

  Jeremy dove and crashed into whatever it was that had grabbed her. The entity let out a grunt and released her, sending her slamming to the ground.

  As she scrambled to get on her feet, Jeremy crouched in front of her. “Get behind me!”

  “Impressive, Jeremiel. I see domestic bliss hasn’t softened you. You managed to put down one of my best fighters.”

  Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach at the sound of the familiar voice. A hulking shadow moved out from behind the trees, and she clutched Jeremy’s arm when she saw who it was.

  “You’re not touching her, Saleos,” Jeremy growled as the dark angel he’d taken down got up and took his place beside Sal.

  “Oh, I’m not interested in touching her...yet.” Sal smirked, waving over to someone behind him. A second dark angel emerged from the shadows, an exact replica of the one who had attacked Naomi. They both had the same beady black eyes and shaved heads. They looked exactly like the demons in a child’s nightmare.

  The dark angel dragged something behind him, pulling it from the shadow. He let out a frustrated roar as he jerked forward, throwing Lash in front of him. A massive arm quickly wrapped around Lash’s throat, and another clinched him by the waist.

  “No!” Naomi screamed as she charged toward them. “Let him go!”

  “Don’t.” Jeremy grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

  “I see you’re the one who wants to do the touching, Jeremiel,” Sal said. “You’ve been at it for quite some time. How long was it, ten, fifteen minutes?”

  Lash growled at his words and attempted to lunge after Sal. When he managed to get one arm loose, the dark angel’s twin grabbed it and twisted it behind his back. Lash howled in pain.

  “Please, don’t hurt him,” Naomi sobbed. “Let him go. I’ll go with you.”

  “Aw, so sweet. She wants to sacrifice herself for you, Lahash. It must be love.” Sal sneered the word. “I wonder if she would still be willing to after spending a night with Jeremiel. Hmm?”

  Lash turned red and kicked his feet up, struggling against the dark angel’s grip. The dark angel yanked him back, laughing.

  “Don’t listen to him, Lash,” Jeremy pleaded.

  Lash stopped struggling and glared at Jeremy. “I saw you. I know what you were doing. You lied to me!”

  “It’s not like that,” Jeremy said. “She loves you.”

  “And you love her! Admit it!” he spat.

  “Tell him, Jeremy,” Naomi said, touching his arm. “Tell him you’re just confused. It’s not what he thinks.”

  Sapphire eyes looked down at her, and raw emotion filled his handsome face.

  “I can’t,” he croaked.

  “No,” she whispered. She didn’t want it to be this way. Lash needed his big brother. “Please...just tell him.”

  Jeremy bowed his head and turned. It was as if he couldn’t bear to face Lash. “You’re right. I love her.”

  Lash let out a stream of curses. His fury was so intense, it took both evil twins to hold him down.

  A loud clapping pierced the night air as Sal took a step toward Jeremy. “Well played, my friend. You can’t remember the past, and yet centuries later, you’ve still managed to keep Naomi by your side. You even got her assigned to work with you.”

  “He’s lying. I never wanted to hurt you,” Jeremy said to Lash before turning to Sal. “And I am not your friend.”

  “Oh, I’m hurt,” Sal said. “Really, I am. Well, this family drama has been entertaining, but I fear we must leave now. Say your good-byes, Lahash.”

  The evil twins started to drag Lash away.

  “No! Not him!” It didn’t make any sense. She was the one they were aft
er. They’d bought out her entire neighborhood and gotten Welita and Chuy to leave and be placed under Lucifer’s watchful eye. They were here for her. “Take me. You’re here for me.”

  Jeremy pulled her to his chest, restraining her. The dark twins ignored her pleas as they let out their black wings, ready to take flight.

  They can’t be leaving. They can’t. Naomi struggled against Jeremy’s strong grip, trying to get to the man she loved.

  “Lash, I love you!”

  “Naomi, stop,” Lash said with an eerie calm.

  Her eyes locked with his, and a cold swept through her at the expression on his face. It was the same way he’d looked at her when she was dying. It was as if he was saying good-bye to her. “You’ll always be in my heart,” he whispered.

  He squeezed his eyes shut and muttered something to himself. He then took a deep breath, as if he’d made a decision. Opening his eyes, he turned to Jeremy, looking at him intently.

  “Jeremy, listen to me,” he said in a low rumble. “I’m depending on your love for her. Do not let Sal or Lucifer get their hands on her. Promise me.”

  “You have my word. I’ll watch over her as I would a sister.”

  With those words, the dark angels flapped their wings, sending a strong gust through the trees, and flew away up into the sky. In an instant, they disappeared.

  Lash was gone.

  “No!” Naomi shrieked. She elbowed Jeremy hard in his stomach, making him drop to his knees, groaning. Flicking out her wings, she instantly went after them.

  Where are they? Where did they go? Tears streamed down her face as she circled the night sky. They were nowhere in sight.

  She was about to climb higher when Jeremy tackled her and they fell, slamming onto the ground.

  “Let go of me.” She clawed and punched at him. “I need to go after them. Let. Me. Go!”

  She punched him in the face with a loud crack.

  “She is a wild one.” Sal cackled in the background.

  She dove at Sal, but before she reached him, Jeremy threw himself on top of her. “Damn it, Jeremy!”

  He helped her to her feet and stood behind her, his strong arms holding her in a tight grip. “I’m not letting you place yourself in danger.”