“Gabrielle made a mistake. She must have overlooked that another young one was on the plane, so I figured, what would be the harm in saving both of them?”
“There was no mistake,” Raphael said.
“The girl deserved to live.”
“It’s not for you to decide. You know that.”
“Yeah, yeah, the Boss makes the decisions.” Lash waved him off and sat down on one of the leather couches in the center of the room. He tried to follow through on his assignments, but lately it had become more difficult to accept them—even though he knew Michael and Gabrielle received their instructions from God.
Raphael sat across from him and leaned forward. “Lahash, you care deeply for humans, and that’s what makes you a great seraph. But you must learn control. You cannot make decisions without thinking them through.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Lash sank into the white leather and leaned back, lacing his hands behind his head. “I don’t agree with some of the decisions made around here.”
“You are young. You will grow to learn that the decisions we make are based on much more than what is set before us.” Raphael’s voice grew stern. “Every action has consequences that must be taken into account.”
“Come on. She’s a little girl.” Lash threw his hands up. “I gave her a chance to grow up and live out her life. What could be the harm in that?”
“More than you know.”
Lash’s face turned serious. “You should have seen her, Raphael. There was a goodness in her I hadn’t seen in anyone for a long time.”
“I’m sure there was. But you have no knowledge of what she is to become.” Raphael sat back, a faraway look passing over his eyes. “There was a time when I followed my heart. I dared to defy Michael and the others.” His eyes drifted down, a sad expression crossing his face. “I did so at great cost.”
Lash had seen that expression from time to time and wondered what had happened to Raphael to cause him such obvious heartache. He wished he could remember the first time he had met him. For some reason, there was a gap in his memory. All he could remember was waking one morning with Raphael sitting by his side.
As Raphael stood and walked to the door, Lash followed and playfully punched his shoulder. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll get a slap on the wrist like last time.”
Raphael shook his head. “Someday your rebelliousness will catch up with you.”
He grinned. “Not today. I’m sure of it.”
As they walked down the corridor, a tall, slender angel approached them. Waves of flaxen hair framed a scowling face. “Michael is ready to see you.”
Lash smirked. “Well, good morning to you too, Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle narrowed her green cat-like eyes. “Do you not understand the ramifications of what you’ve done? Or is it that you just don’t care?”
He was about to answer when Raphael stepped in front of him. “Don’t answer that. Gabrielle, I believe it’s best to take this conversation to Michael. Shall we?”
Her eyes softened when she looked at Raphael and then turned cold. “You can’t protect him this time.” She turned to Lash, and her eyes looked him over with loathing. “Why do you even bother?” Turning on her heel, she walked toward the Hall of Judgment.
At the door, she stepped aside and stood beside Raphael. As Lash walked in, he winked at him, trying to hide his growing anxiety. Strange. In all the times he’d gotten in trouble before, he’d never been anxious. Something was different.
“Don’t sweat it, Raphael. I’ve got this covered,” Lash said. What was the worst they could do to him?
Chapter 2
Present
Naomi Duran turned off her motorcycle and sat for a moment, watching the neighborhood kids play basketball. Three boys ran down the street while a couple of girls stood on the sidewalk, warning them of passing cars. She unbuckled the helmet strap and chuckled.
She couldn’t believe she’d finally graduated from college.
She’d come a long way from the scrawny girl who’d stood on her cousin Chuy’s shoulders and nailed the basketball hoop to the telephone pole. The scar on her knee and the smack on her bottom from her father had been totally worth it, though. She’d won the bet against Lalo Cruz, Chuy’s best friend and spent the ten dollars stocking up on Big Red soda. She couldn’t believe the hoop still hung in the same place.