After the Fall ba-2 Page 5

  Jeremy did his job like he led his life. Everything had its place and purpose. Although lately, he didn’t seem to be his usual self.

  Lash tried to shake the memory of the way Jeremy acted around Naomi last night. Deep down, he knew Jeremy was truly happy for him and his announcement that he would be bound to Naomi soon. Then why did he feel like he couldn’t trust Jeremy near her?

  It didn’t help that he had to ask Jeremy for a favor. He hadn’t minded before, but now, things were different.

  He knew Jeremy was eager to prove himself as a true friend and brother to him, and he was confident Jeremy would say yes. And that was the problem. He wanted to be the one to give Naomi what she needed to make her happy. Not Jeremy.

  He was about to knock on the cottage door when he heard a whistling in the distance, followed by a loud splash of water. That could only mean one thing—Jeremy was swimming.

  When he approached the stream, he paused and leaned against a tree, watching Jeremy swim. He remembered what Raphael had told him about Jeremy being favored by others. Now he saw him with new eyes.

  Jeremy’s body was tanned golden by the rays of the sun, whereas Lash was pale in comparison. Jeremy’s thick arms moved effortlessly through the water, and Lash gritted his teeth as he noted the size of them. Where Lash was tall and lithe, Jeremy was huge and muscular. All the years he’d known Jeremy, he had never noticed or even cared. So, why now?

  “Lash!” Jeremy cried when he saw him. “What brings you here?”

  Lash’s stomach twisted with envy as he watched Jeremy step out of the stream and head towards him, perfect white teeth flashing him a smile. He was taller, stronger, and loved by all the other angels. Lash could never compete with him, and for a brief moment, he wondered what Naomi had ever seen in him. Were her feelings for Jeremy buried along with her memories? What if she got them back?

  Knock it off! Naomi is not like that. She loves me. He felt her love every time she looked at him. That would never change.

  And Jeremy? He had to believe Jeremy would never do anything to hurt him or Naomi.

  He focused his thoughts on Naomi. Her needs came first. Swallowing his pride and forcing a smile on his face, he said, “I need a favor.”

  6

  There was a light crunching sound when Lash’s feet landed on the dead grass covering Welita’s backyard. The house looked worse than when they saw it from Heaven. It was as if the life that once filled the home, the entire neighborhood, had been sucked out and all that was left was a skeleton.

  He reached out to grab Naomi’s hand, knowing she would be heartbroken.

  He watched Naomi bite down on her lip, her pale blue eyes watering. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just give me a moment.” Her voice quivered.

  “Don’t you want to go inside? Maybe we can find some clues as to where they are.”

  She nodded. Her face was a mixture of emotions. “Yes, I do. It’s just, everything is so different. I mean, it’s more than just the empty house. It feels different. I don’t know why. I feel like I’ve lost something, or someone.”

  “Maybe it’s because you’re different.”

  “How? It hasn’t been long...well, at least for me it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.”

  He gathered her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “So much has happened to you in such a short amount of time. It’s not surprising that you’d be confused. Part of you still feels like it belongs in this world.”

  “I don’t know who I’m supposed to be: Welita’s granddaughter or Heaven’s seventh archangel.”

  “You’re young for an angel, and it’s so rare for humans to be placed with us.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’ll help you through this. I promise.”

  “I know you will.”

  “Why don’t we look around the outside and then work our way in, okay?”

  They walked hand in hand toward the front, passing through the weeds and overgrown rosebushes. Naomi bent down to touch the wilting flowers, stifling a sob. “Welita’s roses. Chuy and I worked with her for days planting them around the house. She talked to them, you know.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. She watered and talked to them all the time. They were gorgeous. And their fragrance...” She let out a breath. “You could smell them from down the street. They smelled so good. And now, she’s gone, and they’re gone.”

  Her fingers glided over the browning stems. “She said flowers had feelings too. I think she was right.”

  He squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her. As they continued walking through the tall grass, his foot hit a small plastic object. He bent down and smiled sadly as he picked up a dog dish.

  He stared at the red dish, surprised when his eyes pricked with the threat of tears. He recalled how he’d hide behind the bushes and Bear would dash to him like a little furry jet. Ignoring the dog food in the bowl, she’d run around his feet until he gave her the little sausages he’d bought just for her. He’d grumble at her as he took the smelly dish and disposed the contents with not even a lick of thank you.

  Ungrateful dog, he thought as a lump formed in his throat.

  He swallowed thickly. “Let’s see what we can find in the front.”

  The front yard didn’t look any different from the back. Trash littered the steps of the house. Beer cans, bottles, an old sock. Graffiti was written on the front walls.

  “Don’t do that,” he said when Naomi bent down and picked up a flattened basketball.

  “Why? I want to clean up.”

  “You’re in your angel form. No one can see you. If someone passes by, they’ll only see the objects in your hand and not you.”

  “Oh, right.” She dropped the deflated ball. “I forgot about that. Can we change into human form?”

  He looked around the neighborhood. It didn’t seem like anyone was nearby. But if one of her old neighbors just happened to be around or if they ran into someone who knew her, it could be trouble for them, especially since they thought she was dead. “I don’t want to take a chance on someone seeing you.”

  “Okay.” She glanced over his shoulder and furrowed her brow. “Is that a sign over there? I don’t remember seeing it before.”

  They headed toward a large sign on the corner of the street. Lash scanned the area as they walked over, studying each of the houses as they passed. Other than a few stray cats that scrambled underneath a house porch when they passed, it was obvious no one had lived in any of the homes for quite some time. He listened carefully for any sounds of life in the surrounding area. There was nothing.

  The entire neighborhood for blocks around was empty.

  His hand dropped from Naomi’s grasp as she placed it over her mouth. His heart slammed into full gear when her face grew shockingly white.

  “What is it?”

  She shook her head, and tears streamed down her face as she pointed to the sign.

  A numbing cold washed over him as he read it.

  Future site of Prescott Park.

  Houston luxury living at its finest.

  * * *

  Lash held Naomi as they sat on the porch steps of Welita’s abandoned home. He should have known that Lucifer, known to people on Earth as the billionaire Luke Prescott, was behind this. How could he have been so stupid to think he’d stop? Naomi was in Heaven. She was an archangel now or at least in training. Lucifer was up to something—he just didn’t know what.

  “It’s my fault. I did this to Welita, to Chuy, to the entire neighborhood!” Naomi bawled, dropping her head into her hands.

  “It’s not your fault.” His voice was gentle as he stroked her back. “The battle between the angels and Lucifer has been going on for centuries.”

  “Yes, but he’s after me. He wants me dead because I’m the seventh archangel.” She popped up her head and looked at him with a glint in her eyes. “I can fix this. Maybe if I go to him and work out a deal—”

  “No! Absolutely not.”

  �
�But, I—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her, and she scowled.

  Kissing her lightly, he said, “It wouldn’t make any difference if you did. Think about it. The purpose of killing you when you were human was to prevent you from becoming an archangel, which you will be, once your training is complete.”

  “Then why is he after my family?”

  “I don’t know. We need to talk to Raphael. Maybe he’ll know what Lucifer is up to.”

  “Oh, my God!” She gripped his arm, her eyes bulging with terror. “What if he killed them? What if he killed them all?”

  “He wouldn’t do that. That would be a lot of people to kill, and it would get way too much media attention,” he said calmly. “He has to maintain his position here on Earth.”

  “He wouldn’t have to do it himself. He could’ve gotten Sal to do it or his other followers.”

  He shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense why he would.”

  A muffled sound came from inside the house.

  He stiffened. “What was that?”

  Naomi stood and headed toward to door.

  “Wait!” He jumped, grabbing her arm. “It could be one of them.”

  “Let go.” She tugged at her arm. “They might know where Welita and Chuy are.”

  He tightened his grip. There was no way he was letting her go in there. If there were more than one of them, he didn’t know if they could fight them off. “Even if they do know, they won’t tell you.”

  “Lash,” she warned, her eyes blazing with determination. “I’m going in.”

  He let out a breath. There was no stopping her when she had her mind made up. He loved that about her—except when it placed her in the line of possible danger.

  “Okay, but let me go in first. Stay behind me, and if anything happens, leave. Go to Raphael and let him know.”

  She hesitated a moment before finally giving in with a grumble and moving aside to let him pass.

  “Stubborn woman,” he said as he kissed her forehead.

  As he went in, he heard the muffled sounds coming from the hall to the right of him.

  “I think it’s coming from Welita’s room,” Naomi whispered.

  He nodded and moved slowly down the hall. Just as he reached the entrance to the bedroom, a woman’s silhouette appeared in the doorway.

  He moved back and placed his arm up, holding Naomi away from the stranger.

  The silhouette moved slowly toward them. Lash was about to attack when the shadow stepped into the sunlit hall, and hazel eyes locked with his.

  “Lahash.”

  Lash froze with shock at the petite angel who gazed lovingly at him. Dark waves of hair cascaded onto her shoulders. She wore a pink dress that flowed down to her ankles. The delicate dress, with tiny billowy sleeves and lace trim, flowed around her with each step she took.

  Something inside of him stirred as he watched her. Something he hadn’t felt since the first time he heard that same voice calling out his name. It was a feeling of unconditional love. He saw it in her eyes. The only other person who looked at him like that, other than Naomi, was Raphael.

  “Rebecca?” Naomi stepped around Lash. “Are you Rebecca?”

  A tender smile lit her face. “Yes, how did you know?”

  “You look just like Lash—so beautiful.” Naomi nudged him. “Are you all right? You’re so quiet.”

  “I-I-I...” He gulped, overwhelmed with emotion. “I don’t know what to say.”

  It felt like only yesterday he had found out about his parents. When Raphael told him that his punishment was to never see her again, Lash had thought he’d never have a chance to meet her. And now, here she was, standing in Welita’s house.

  “It’s been a long time, Lahash,” Rebecca said. “Has Raphael explained to you who I am?”

  “Yes. You’re”—he took a deep breath—“you’re my mother.”

  “I am.” She stopped a few inches from him, and her eyes took him in with wonder.

  “May I?”

  He tensed as she wrapped her arms around him and placed her head on his chest. His shirt grew moist from the tears that fell. Slowly, he relaxed and placed his hands around her. She was so small, delicate. His hands touched her velvety hair, and a memory stirred deep within him, fighting to get out.

  He squeezed his eyes shut, wanting desperately to have his memories of her resurface. All he could see were bits and pieces, images of her holding him, playing with him as a small child.

  And then a feeling slowly spread through his body, a feeling like none he’d ever had before. It was as if there had been an empty place in his chest, a place he didn’t even know was missing, and it was slowly being filled up with motherly love.

  He held her tighter.

  Cradling him in her arms, she crooned, “Lahash, my son. I have missed you so.”

  “Mother,” he croaked. His memories of her may have been suppressed, but this, the warmth, the love he felt was there with him.

  She pulled back, tears staining her cheeks. “I don’t have much time with you, and there is much I need to tell you.”

  “Wait.” There was something he had to do before anything else. Something he’d always wanted to do but didn’t think he’d ever have the chance.

  He turned and took Naomi’s hand, pulling her next to him. “This is my Naomi—the love of my life. We are to be bound.”

  Hazel eyes lit up, and she placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, Lahash, you don’t know what great joy it brings me to have you two together again, after all these centuries. When I found out you were assigned to her, I knew—well, I hoped—that you two would find love again.”

  Rebecca turned to Naomi and, reaching over with her small hand, cupped her cheek. “You do your grandmother proud, Naomi. She is the reason why I am here.”

  “Where is she? Is she all right?”

  “She’s doing well now, and she’s with your cousin, Chuy.”

  “Now? What do you mean, now?”

  Rebecca took her hand, and her face grew serious. “Don’t be alarmed when I tell you this. She had a heart attack soon after you left.”

  “She had a heart attack?” Naomi’s voice grew frantic. “We need to find her. I need to go to her now. Please tell me where she is.”

  “Your grandmother is not in any immediate danger,” Rebecca said calmly. “Chuy saw to her every need, and she was given the best medical care. She was given a pacemaker, and it helps her tremendously, but...” She looked at Naomi with worry. “They struggled with the finances.”

  “Oh, Chuy,” Naomi sobbed. “I should’ve been here.”

  Rebecca shook her head. “It was the first time I heard him pray.”

  “Chuy prayed?”

  She nodded. “It broke my heart. In all the time I’ve watched over your grandmother, it was the only time he’d asked for help, other than the time when you were in the hospital.”

  Lash wrapped a hand around Naomi’s shoulder. He felt so helpless watching the guilt eat her up from the inside. He had to find Welita and Chuy for her. “Where are they? Why did they leave?”

  Rebecca sighed. “They held out as long as they could. Chuy took on a second job to pay off the bills, even his friend tried to help him out.”

  “Who? Lalo?” Naomi asked.

  “Yes, Lalo. What a fine young man. He was devastated when his father decided to sell off his moving business.”

  “Mr. Cruz sold his business!” Naomi cried in disbelief.

  “He wanted to retire, and when representatives from Prescott Oil came into the neighborhood, they bought up the surrounding local businesses first. Mr. Cruz was the first to take their offer. But it wasn’t too long before the others followed.”

  “No.” Naomi paled.

  “I’m afraid so. Then after that, they made offers to the property owners, for the homes in the neighborhood. As you know, many of your neighbors rented their homes and had no choice.”

  “But Welita owned her house.”<
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  “She was the last to hold out. But with the mounting medical bills and Chuy needing a job, they had to move. So, Welita finally agreed.” Rebecca placed a hand on her shoulder. “It wasn’t easy for them. Welita wanted to stay.”

  Naomi sank to the floor. She tucked her knees up to her chest and dropped her head. “I knew it was my fault. They drove them out because of me.”

  Rebecca glanced at Lash with a sad, knowing look on her face before sitting down next to Naomi.

  “Naomi, none of this is your doing. They’re safe. They live in North Texas now. Chuy placed her in an assisted-living facility so there would be someone looking after her while he and Lalo work. They live just outside of Gardenville.”

  We’re new to the city. Just moved here from Gardenville. Lash recalled Nathan’s teasing voice when he teased his wife, Deborah, about having to be careful living in a big city like Houston.

  He felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It seemed like Welita and Chuy had been intentionally directed to North Texas. But why?

  “I don’t get it,” he said. “Why go all the way to North Texas to work? Why not get a job here in Houston?”

  “He was offered a very well-paying job there.”

  “Where?” He asked.

  She glanced at Naomi and then back at him. “Prescott Oil.”

  “Prescott Oil? Prescott Oil!” Naomi slammed her hand against the floor. “You mean the same Prescott Oil that bought them out? The same Prescott Oil owned by Lucifer?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, Chuy,” she moaned and banged the back of her head on the wall. “If he knew who Luke Prescott was, he’d have never taken the job. Wait!” Naomi jumped up, her face looking hopeful. “You can tell them. You’re Welita’s guardian angel. Can’t you do that? Can’t you warn them?”

  “It doesn’t work that way, Naomi.” Her voice was gentle. “We’re not allowed to interfere with human will.”

  “But we’re not interfering. We’re just providing them with information.” Naomi’s face scrunched in frustration.

  “Please believe me.” She stood and went to Naomi. “If it were in my power to do so, I would tell them. And I’m not her guardian angel anymore. My work with her is done. I’m only here because I knew you would worry, and I wanted to let you know what happened.”