“I want you to listen carefully,” Lash said, pulling down his shirt. “I know you might find it hard to believe, but hear me out. I’m an angel. I was sent to you for a reason. My mission is to get you to New Mexico.”
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. There was no way this was real. Maybe she’d inhaled too many fumes from the car exhaust. Maybe this was his way of getting her alone. Ever since she’d met him, he was always in the same vicinity. What were the chances they’d just happened to be at the same grocery store at the same time? Who went grocery shopping that early in the morning? What if he was in with the shooter?
She bit down on her lip, confused. If he wanted to hurt her, then why bother protecting her and getting shot in the process? Naomi’s survival instincts warred with her attraction to him. She needed to leave, get some distance from him.
There was a brief pause as Naomi’s eyes locked with his.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on here with this pseudo Criss Angel thing you’re doing, but something is not right.” Naomi slammed the trunk shut and headed toward the driver’s side, walking backwards as she kept an eye on him. “I’ll send you some help.”
“I’m not trying to trick you into anything.” He took a step forward.
“Stay back.”
His face fell. “Don’t you trust me? I’m telling you the truth.”
Naomi felt a stab of pain. Her heart was telling her he was being honest with her. The hurt in his face was obvious. But her head was saying there was something totally wrong with this picture. Maybe he was delusional. She heard trauma did that to people sometimes.
“I want to believe you.”
“Then do.”
“It’s not possible.” She continued to walk backwards and tripped over a bottle.
Lash quickly grabbed her. “Listen to me. You’re in danger. Last week was not a random drive-by shooting. The person who shot the Taylors was aiming at you, they just got caught in the crossfire.”
Naomi looked into his frantic eyes. “I know you really want to believe that you’re an angel, but you’re not. It’s not possible. Let go of me, and I’ll get us some help.”
“Have faith, Naomi.” Lash’s fingers traced her neck and the cross pendant. “You trust in God.”
Her breath hitched as his fingers glided along the necklace. She closed her eyes and willed herself not to think how her body was responding to his touch. “The necklace was my mother’s. She was the one with faith.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.” Lash loosened his hold on her, and stepped back.
An awkward silence passed between them. Then she looked at him sadly and said, “I don’t know what happened during the shooting. Maybe you banged your head. Maybe I banged mine. Either way, whatever is happening right now can’t be real.”
“Damn it! I’m not crazy. You’re not crazy.” Lash kicked a soda can, sending it soaring into the darkness. Running his hands through his hair, he paced the lot, deep in thought. After a moment, he turned to her, his face determined. “I am an angel, and I’ll prove it.” He tore off his t-shirt and threw it to the ground.
Naomi balked. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. Keep your clothes on.”
He charged at her and she screamed as he lifted her off the ground. This was it. He’d gone off the deep end. Then she noticed something odd. The ground was getting further away.
A gust of wind blew her hair into her mouth, and she gagged. She brushed the hair out of her face and noticed that she could see the top of the surrounding trees. “Oh my God! What’s happening?”
He chuckled as she clawed his back trying to get a better grip. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
“You’ve got me? How?”
Lash smiled and gestured behind him. Her mouth dropped at the pair of wings lined with downy white feathers.
“Holy shit—uh, I mean, you’re an angel.”
He grinned. “I told you.”
His grin was contagious, and she laughed. He chuckled and looked at her, and then his smile faded. He was so close she could feel his warm breath on her lips. She found her hand reaching out to stroke the dark stubble that lined his chiseled jaw. It was surprisingly soft.
“Naomi.” His voice was deep and his eyes gazed intently into hers. “I’m an angel.”
“I know.” Her fingers brushed his lips.
He quivered and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were alight with pain. “I’m an angel,” he said again.
Her face crumpled as the words sank in. He was an angel. He was only there to watch over her and keep her safe, like Rebecca was Welita’s guardian angel. He couldn’t be anything more than that to her.
“Hey.” He gave her a nudge and a forced smile. “Want to see how many birds we can freak out?”
Before she could answer, he climbed higher into the sky. She tensed as the city lights grew smaller and everything began to spin.
“You’re not going to fall.” He tightened his hold, and his eyes darkened as her face neared his. “I won’t let go. I promise.”
Chapter 15