Lash glanced over at Chuy with a surprised look. “You believe us?”
Chuy wiped a hand over his brow. “Of course. It explains a lot of what’s been going on in the house. The times that she swore she lost something and I helped her look for it, only to find it in a spot I know for a fact that I had already looked. And the times when I felt a presence in the house that made me feel calm, especially after Uncle Javier died. I didn’t really start to believe it until I found Naomi.”
“What do you mean, found me?” She leaned over the seats.
“After I locked up your bike in the garage, I was planning on going with Lalo to the Lake Charles Casino again. I felt a strange chill on the back of my neck. And then, I swear I heard someone whisper your name. I thought it was Lalo playing a trick on me until he called and told me he was waiting for me to pick him up at work. After he hung up, I had the sudden urge to go check up on you. The closer I got to your apartment, the more I felt that something was wrong.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think anyone, other than Welita, would believe me.” Chuy looked over to Lash. “So, you’re an angel. Why don’t you just fly Naomi away from here?”
Lash growled.
“He can’t,” Naomi said. “He’s limited in his powers.”
“What kind of angel are you?”
“That doesn’t matter, Chuy,” Naomi said before Lash could answer. “We’re going to have to take the car. We can leave you off some place. Maybe Lalo can pick you up?” She gave him a pleading look, hoping that he would not antagonize Lash. She knew that his angel status was a sore spot for him.
Chuy looked to Naomi and then back at Lash, recognition crossed his face. “I see.” He grinned. “That would be like you to go after the impossible.”
Naomi scowled.
“Okay, okay, don’t get so pissy.” He pulled out a cell phone from his pocket. “Orale, Lalo. I need a ride, man. What do you mean, ‘who is this?’ It’s me, pendejo. Who do you think? Who else calls you? Pick me up at el campo. And bring the cash … No, the shipment hasn’t come in. Something’s come up and I need it … Yes, I know it took a long time for us to build it up … It’s for Naomi. She’s in trouble.”
“I don’t need any money. I have a credit card,” Naomi said when he got off the phone.
“If someone is after you, you’re going to have to lay low. Cash only. Don’t leave a trail.”
“How do you know so much about this? Are you dealing drugs? Welita would skin you alive if she found out.”
Chuy rolled his eyes. “It’s not that. I’ll tell you when we get there. Take the next exit, Lash.”
“Where are we headed?” he asked.
“It’s a few miles outside of the city. No one knows about this place except for me and Lalo. We’ll be safe.”
Naomi rubbed behind Bear’s ear. She had no idea where the road ahead was going to take her. All she knew was that she trusted Lash, and as long as the danger followed her and not her family, that was all she could hope for.
Chapter 17
Lash paced the expanse of a wraparound porch that had seen better days. They had driven for miles down an unpaved country road and then turned off onto a worn path that he wouldn’t have noticed if Chuy hadn’t directed him to it. They finally came to a stop at a two-story house. The house was a mix of white and grey where the paint had peeled off. Rust carpeted the metal roof, and the glass from every window was broken. Knee-high grass covered the ground as far as the eye could see, and there was not another house in sight. It was obviously abandoned. As isolated from prying eyes as it was, he couldn’t get rid of the anxious feeling that he needed to get Naomi out of Texas as soon as possible.
He glanced at his watch. “It’s been an hour.”
“He’s coming.” Chuy stretched out his legs from the steps where he sat. “Lalo may be slow sometimes, but if he says he’ll be here, he’ll be here.”
Lash leaned against a porch post and grumbled. He should leave now. Actually, he should have dropped Chuy and left immediately. A soft hand touched his bare arm. “Five more minutes.”
He looked into Naomi’s eyes and a wave of calm washed over him. He nodded in understanding. She wanted to be sure that Chuy had a way back. She wouldn’t leave without making sure he was taken care of.
It was hard for him to focus on anything else but her safety. It was all he could think about. He couldn’t get his mind off how close she had been to being killed—again. If they had been on that plane, he wouldn’t have been able to shield her with his human body. The explosion would have left him alive but severely injured. Naomi, on the other hand, she would be … he shuddered, not even wanting to think the word. He was at the point where he felt entirely worthless and wondered if she’d be better off without him.
Naomi giggled.
“What’s funny?”
“I was just thinking. You’re ticklish.”