“I can’t leave. I don’t want to worry Welita.”
“Worry me about what?” Welita walked to the front yard with a water hose in her hand, Bear bouncing behind her. When she saw Lash, she sped to him, jumping up and down and running circles around his feet.
Naomi glanced down at Bear, then back up at him. “Now I get it.”
“Angel or not,” he whispered. “I had to bribe her to make her like me.”
“What is it, Naomi?” Welita shut off the water and wiped her hands on an apron.
“There’s something we have to tell you,” she said escorting Welita back into the house.
They sat on the living room sofa while Lash went to the kitchen to grab a chair. He sat down and Bear hopped onto his lap.
“Why are you so serious? Did something happen?”
“A few days ago a couple of Chuy’s students were shot in a drive-by shooting outside of the community center, and”—her eye’s darted to Lash and he nodded—”and I was almost shot too.”
Welita pulled Naomi into her arms. “Thank God you’re safe. The lord is watching over us.”
Lash winked.
“Wait a minute. Is that what happened to your head?” Welita touched the bandage, and Naomi winced. “You told me you scratched your head at the community center.”
“Well, the bullet just grazed it. So, it’s kind of a scratch.”
“Dios mío.” Welita squeezed tighter. “Don’t ever lie to me again.”
“I won’t. Um, there’s more.”
Welita pulled back. “More?”
“The person who shot Chuy’s students was not really after them. This morning at the grocery store the same person tried to shoot me again.”
Welita gasped. “Are you hurt? Maybe we should take you to the hospital.”
“No. Lash was there and he pushed me into the trunk.”
Welita turned to Lash confused. “The trunk of the car?”
“It’s a long story,” he said. “Needless to say, it worked.”
“Thank you so much for watching over her.”
“Where are you going?” Naomi asked as Welita crossed the room.
“To call the police. There’s someone after you and we need to make sure we get you some protection.”
Lash placed Bear on the floor and stood in front of Welita. “There’s more we need to tell you. Please sit down.”
Welita looked confused. “You two are acting very strange. What’s going on?”
“First, I want to apologize for not sharing this information with you earlier. In my position, revealing this is not standard protocol.”
“Reveal what?”
He pulled a chair close to Welita. “Uh, you may want to sit for this.”
She eyed him suspiciously as she sat down. He knelt at her side.
“I know you’re a spiritual woman and you believe in angels.”
“Yes, I have Rebecca. Although she didn’t mention that anyone was going to hurt Naomi.”
“That’s because we are limited in what we are allowed to share with others.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because…” Lash glanced over at Naomi then back to Welita and took a deep breath. “Because I am one.”
The room was silent for a moment. “But I can see you,” Welita said.
“You said that you could see Rebecca too,” Naomi pointed out.
“I can, but I’m the only one that can see her.” Welita leaned over and touched him. “You are body and flesh. I can touch and feel you.”
“Rebecca doesn’t appear to you like Lash does?” Naomi looked to him for an explanation.
“I’m not exactly a guardian angel,” he said.
“You said you were an angel.”
He stood up and sat across from them, uncomfortable. He squirmed under their questioning gaze. “On rare occasions, some angels are allowed to have a human form while working on assignment.”
“And why is that?” Naomi asked.
“Because an angel’s powers are limited in a human body, and when you’re on assignment it’s more efficient if you have all your powers.”
“So why are you in a human body?”
“I didn’t have a choice,” he muttered his eyes gazed down at the worn floor.
“Why is that?”
“Because I was kicked out of Heaven.”
“You were what?” Naomi jolted upright from the sofa, eyes wide open.
“Remember, when I said that my family kicked me out of the house? Well…”
“It’s not the same thing.” Naomi jumped up and paced the floor. Bear watched her curiously.
“To me it is.”
“But, but, you have white wings. I saw them.”
“Only fallen angels that join Lucifer have black wings. I’m not one of them.”
“Good,” she sighed and sat back down. “How long ago did this happen?”
“It was a long time ago. Thirty-five years.”
“So, looking after me is some type of punishment?” Hurt flashed over her face.
“No, it’s not like that,” Lash said.
Naomi bit down on her quivering lip. Her face tinged with pink and her eyes grew moist.
She thinks she’s just an assignment to me. How could he tell her that she was more than that? The problem was she shouldn’t be more to him than that.
He went to her side and tucked her hand in his. “I don’t know why I was assigned to you, but if I hadn’t, I would’ve never gotten to know you or your family. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Please believe me.”
“I believe you,” she croaked.
“I was given a chance to return home after I do one last assignment to watch over you and keep you safe from danger. So, as soon as I was given the assignment, I came here.”
Welita leaned in. “When was this?”
“I was here the day of your son’s funeral.”
Welita looked up. “Thank you. My prayers were answered.” She then turned to Naomi. “I prayed for God to send someone to look over you.”
“I’m sorry they sent you a broken angel like me,” Lash said. “You deserve better.”
“Stop that.” Naomi squeezed his hand. “You are not broken.”
“Naomi’s right. You’re a blessing,” Welita said. “I prayed for someone who could fill the empty space inside of her, to bring joy back into her life. You did that, Lash.”
“Welita, I don’t think it works that way.” Naomi let go of his hand.
“Why not?” Welita turned to him. “Lash isn’t that part of your job?”
Lash looked at Naomi and his heart saddened with the thought that he wouldn’t be the one to be by her side. It was impossible, unless he did the unthinkable. It happened before. The Archangel Rachel, who was a kind soul and the complete opposite of Gabrielle, once told him that thousands of years ago, angels did come down and took humans as their wives. It wreaked havoc on Earth and Michael and Gabrielle were sent to straighten it out. Many refused to return to Heaven and were stripped of their powers. Some of them chose to go with Lucifer, who was able to restore their powers. He wanted Rachel to tell him more about it, but Raphael intervened and told her that he had enough information. Was this something he was willing to do? Could he stand to look down from Heaven and see Naomi in the arms of someone else?
“I’m not sure what my job is exactly, except to watch over her. Last night, I was told of a safe place to take her.”
“Where does she need to go?” Welita asked.
“New Mexico.”
“Then that’s where you need to go, Mijita.” Welita stood up. “Go get packed. I’ll have Chuy drop you off at the airport.”
“What about you? What if something happens?” Naomi jumped up.
“Don’t worry about me. I have Rebecca. And Chuy is here.” Welita cupped her face. “I know you’re scared. Have faith, Naomi. Lash was sent to you for a reason.”
Naomi nodded and kissed her hands.
“You can take Bear with you. She’ll watch over the both of you,” she said.
Bear barked.
Naomi laughed. “I don’t know.”
“She’s small but she can sense trouble coming.”
Lash bent down and rubbed behind Bear’s ear. She had a special way of keeping both of them calm. He had a feeling they’ll need all the help they can get. “That might not be a bad idea.”
“Well, okay. I guess I’ll get the carrier then.”
Welita turned to him when Naomi disappeared down the hall to pack. “I know you’ll take good care of her, and I know it’s not because she’s an assignment to you.”
Lash swallowed. “I will. I promise.”
Welita placed a hand on his cheek. “I see it in your eyes as I see it in hers. Remember, there is always light where there is love and if that is what is meant to happen between the two of you, then it was destined.”
16
“Driver’s license and boarding pass please,” the agent droned.
Naomi grabbed Lash’s arm. “Tell me that you have a driver’s license.”
“Of course, I do.” Lash pulled out his wallet. “I’ve been known to drive from time to time. You were introduced to my mad driving skills early this morning. Besides, it’s hard to do anything financially without one these days.”
“Ma’am, driver’s license and boarding pass please,” the agent called to Naomi.
The agent gave a glance at her license and then looked into the dog carrier with a flashlight. “You’ll need to take the animal out of the carrier and put the carrier through the scanner. Carry the dog with you through the metal detector.”
“Okay, thanks.” Naomi walked through the checkpoint.
“Good morning,”—Lash read off the agent’s name tag—“Mr. Daryll Williams. Busy day?” He flashed a smile.
The agent eyed him suspiciously. “License and boarding pass.”
He’s in a bad mood. Lash held a breath as the agent looked over his license wishing he had taken the time to make himself look older. He didn’t have time to update the birthdate to fit the youthful look he maintained. He rubbed his hand over his chin, feeling the stubble. At least he didn’t shave, that may help.
The agent looked at the license then back up at Lash. He clicked on a pen light and brushed it over the license carefully. He then looked back up at Lash with a raised eyebrow.
“Plastic surgery. Houston has the best, you know.”
“Um, hmm.” The agent scribbled on the boarding pass and handed it back to him.
“Thank you.” Lash smiled and stepped through.
“Hurry up, Lash,” Naomi called out to him as she and Bear went through the metal detector. “The plane’s already started boarding. If we run we might make it.”
“I’m right behind you.” Lash placed his bag on the conveyor belt and then stepped toward the metal detector.
“Hold on there.” A woman with a TSA badge motioned to him. “You need to take off your shoes and send it through the x-ray.”
“My shoes?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Do it, Lash.” Naomi said. “And hurry up.”
After a couple of minutes with struggling to take off his hiking boots, Lash placed them on the conveyor belt and walked through the metal detector, setting it off.
Naomi groaned.
“Step to the side, sir. I’ll need to pat you down,” the woman said.
Lash looked at Naomi confused. He didn’t know what they expected to find on him.
He followed the woman’s instructions and stretched out his arm as she patted him down. When she trailed down his sides he laughed.
The agent stopped and gave him a look.
“Sorry. I’m ticklish.”
The woman shook her head and continued.
He was telling her the truth. He didn’t understand why the agent had to be so cold.
Then he felt hands between his legs. He jumped.
“Whoa there.” What the hell was all that about?
“Sir, you’re going to have to be still during the procedure.”
“Sorry. I just wasn’t expecting it.” People were strange. He definitely didn’t know what she expected to find down there that could possibly take down a plane. He had heard one account, a while back, in which a man supposedly carried explosives in his underwear. There was no way that could have caused any damage. Leave it to people to be more worried about exploding underwear than the obvious signs set before them.
“Finally,” Naomi said as Lash approached her.
“How much time do we have?”
Naomi looked at the airport board and then back at her watch. “Crap, we have two minutes. Run.”
Lash took the carrier from Naomi and ran in the direction of their gate. Even if they didn’t make it on time, they could try to get another flight out. He had to admit that he was anxious to get her out of the city. He had no idea where Sal was at the moment.
They arrived their gate, breathless and Naomi made a beeline to the woman at the counter.
“Flight 5256?”
“I’m sorry, just you missed it.” The woman pointed to the window behind her.
Naomi dropped her bag, exhausted, as she watched the plane moving away from the gate bridge.
“Would you like for me to rebook you on another flight?”
“Yes, please.” She handed her the boarding pass.
Lash looked at her apologetically and then handed the woman his boarding pass. “I didn’t know they were going to be so thorough.”
“You didn’t know to take off your shoes?”
“Now how was I supposed to know that? This is my first time flying…commercial that is.”
“And what’s with the laughing and the jumping? You know you could have gotten in trouble for that. Ever since 9/11 airport security has been really tight and—”
Behind Naomi, there was a flash of light, and Lash tackled her to the ground just as the wave of explosion hit the window sending shards of glass through the air.
There was a beat of silence, and in that moment, he knew. The plane that had just departed had exploded and they were meant to be on that plane. It was only a matter of time before it was discovered that they were not on there. They had to leave. Now.
Screams surrounded him as he pulled Naomi from the floor. She turned in the direction of the window, her eyes widened and a hand went over her mouth as she watched the plane being eaten by flames. She looked at the people around her that had stood closest to the windows.
“Naomi, we need to go.” Lash picked up the carrier, trying to calm down Bear who was barking fiercely at the direction of the flames.
Anita was right. Bear can sense them, and they’re near.
“Naomi.”
“Her eyes are bleeding.” Naomi’s eyes were glazed as she pointed at a woman wandering around the area, her hands reaching out blindly. “We need to help her.”
“No, we have to go.”
“They’re hurt.” She took a step and stumbled.
“Naomi, look at me.” He lifted her head and stared into her eyes. “They’re near and they’re coming after us. You’re in shock and you need to try to get yourself together.”
“What?” Her eyes were unfocused.
“I’m sorry. I have to do this.” Lash slapped her.
Naomi looked at him, stunned, and then she scowled. “You asshole. Why did you do that?”
“Because you were losing it and we have to go.” He picked up Bear’s carrier, grabbed her hand, and ran. “Call Chuy. Have him pick us up where he left us off.”
Lash and Naomi pushed through the crowds as the people gathered to see what happened. A siren went off and there was announcement made that the airport was going to be locked down. No one was going to be able to go in or out.
He groaned as he tugged on Naomi trying to get her to run faster. He wished he could pick her up and run her out of
there. But if he did, they would definitely be caught. It wasn’t the humans he was worried about—it was Sal.
“Tell Chuy to hurry. We might not have a chance to get out. They’re closing it down,” Lash yelled to her.
“I don’t care if you have to run the red lights, do it Chuy. I mean it,” Naomi yelled in into the phone.
“He’s not that far. He should be here in a couple of minutes.”
At the doors, there were security agents directing people back inside. He scanned the entrances and found one where a woman with three children and a wailing baby in her arms was arguing with an agent.
“This way.” Lash directed and charged through the door right in front of the woman.
“Hey! You can’t leave,” the man called out. He went after them and tripped over one of the kids.
The boy cried, and the mother yelled at the agent.
Lash peered through the rows of cars that lined the drop-off lanes in front of the airport. He let out a breath when he spotted the beat up car. “Over there.”
Before the car stopped, Lash threw the back door open and tossed the carrier and bags into the back seat. Then he flew to the driver’s side. “Move over. I’m driving.”
***
Naomi’s heart pounded against her chest as she tried to catch her breath. As Lash swerved in and out of traffic, she looked out the back window to see if anyone was following them.
Bear barked and scratched at the walls inside the carrier. With shaking hands, Naomi unzipped the flap and held onto Bear.
The car jerked to the right barely missing the back of a white SUV.
“What’s going on?” Chuy asked his voice unusually calm for someone who was riding in a car dodging in and out of traffic.
“We need to get out of the city,” Lash said.
Naomi looked at his reflection in the rear view mirror. His eyes were tense as he focused on the road. “Was it them?”
“Yes.”
“Who? Tell me what’s going on,” Chuy demanded.
“Someone is after Naomi. The shooting at the community center was meant for her. This morning, the same gunman was after her again.” Lash pulled onto the highway, taking the car as fast as it would go.
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