“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 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 hadn’t been. 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 who had stood closest to the windows.
“Naomi, we need to go.” Lash picked up the carrier, trying to calm 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. Try to pull 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 people gathered to see what had happened. A siren went off, and there was an announcement made that the airport was going to be locked down. No one was going to be able to get 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 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 had even stopped, Lash threw the back door open and tossed the carrier and bags into the backseat. 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 on to 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 rearview 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 came after her again.” Lash pulled onto the highway, taking the car as fast as it would go.
Chuy turned around to look at Naomi. “Does Welita know anything about this?”
“Yeah, that’s why she wanted me to leave town.”
Chuy looked at her suspiciously. “There’s more that you’re not telling me.”
“Lash came to Houston to protect me. He’s sort of … uh, sort of an angel.”
Chuy looked at Lash and then back at Naomi, his face stern. “Are you being serious with me?”
Naomi nodded.
Chuy faced forward in the car and let out a loud breath. “Welita was right.”