“Hey, no harm no foul. I’m taking it back as soon as I—”
A little brown fur ball launched toward them, and Jeremy looked at Bear, surprised. She yapped and growled, running around in circles.
Jeremy looked down at Bear. “What’s wrong with your dog?”
“She doesn’t like you.” Naomi bent down and patted her head. “Good dog.”
Then Lash heard it. This time he recognized the sound. It was the same engine that he heard at the grocery store parking lot. His eyes met Jeremy’s for a moment.
“Leave. Now,” Jeremy said. “I’ll try to slow him down.”
“Come on.” In one smooth motion, Lash took the tire iron out of her hands, tossed it into the field, and pulled her back to the car. “We need to go.”
“He’s not the boss of you.” She looked back at Jeremy as she stumbled back to the car. “Is he?”
“It’s Sal. He’s coming.”
Naomi pulled away from. “I’m getting the tire iron.”
“That’s not going to stop him.”
“If he’s driving then that means he’s in his human body. I can do some damage.”
“Get her out of here!” Jeremy yelled. “And get off the main road as soon as you can.”
“I don’t trust him,” she said.
“Do you trust me?” Lash looked deep into her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Well, I trust Jeremy.” He tossed her belongings back into the car.
Without another word, Naomi climbed into the car. He took one last look at Jeremy through the rearview mirror. He trusted Jeremy. The only problem was, it didn’t seem like Jeremy trusted him.
***
Jeremy pushed the motorcycle to the center of the highway and stood waiting for Sal. The black truck came to a screeching halt an inch from him. Leaning against the bike with arms folded across his chest, he tried to appear unfazed by the hulking figure that climbed out of the truck.
“Saleos,” he said as if greeting a long-lost friend.
“Jeremiel,” Sal sneered as he looked down at him. “I see they’re still putting you on babysitting duty. Although I think the job is perfect for you, Lucifer wanted me to assure you that his offer to you still stands.”
“As I’ve said a dozen times before, I’m not interested. Although I am interested in those boots. Are those crocodile?”
“It won’t work.”
“What do you mean?” Jeremy cocked his head.
“Your attempt at diversion. Eventually, we’ll get the girl.”
“I don’t think you will.” He took out a wallet from his back pocket. “Care to make it interesting? It’s only human money, but it’ll do.”
Sal looked at him for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed. “You’re one of a kind, Jeremiel. I like that. So I’m going to do you a favor.”
Sal lunged and wrapped a hulking arm around his neck. Jeremy struggled, twisted and turned, clawing at his arm. His face turned red, and Sal squeezed tighter. He then placed his other hand next to Jeremy’s temple and whispered in his ear, “Hizaher.”
An image of a woman with long dark hair flashed in front of his eyes. Soft hazel eyes crinkled when she smiled at him. Then the image shifted, and he saw the same woman arguing with a blond-haired man. The man slammed his hand on the table and Jeremy gasped when he saw a dark-haired boy push at the man and then speed past him. The man turned and shouted, “Lahash!”
“Enough.” Jeremy shook the vision from his head and ripped Sal’s arm from his head.
Sal chuckled. “That’s a side of Raphael you haven’t seen before, have you?”
“I’m not falling for your lies.”
Sal laughed and turned back toward the truck. “Tell yourself what you want. But it’s only a matter of time before we get her. And once we do, all that is meant to be will fall into place.”
“Don’t underestimate us,” Jeremy growled.
“It is you who shouldn’t underestimate Lucifer’s powers—
or his allies.” Sal opened the door and paused. Turning back to Jeremy, he said, “Search deep within yourself, Jeremiel. What I’ve shown you is true. Join us and you’ll have what was meant to have been yours all along.”
“I know who I am,” Jeremy said defiantly.
Sal opened the door and climbed into the truck. “Do you?”
Chapter 20
Naomi tugged a faded t-shirt over her damp skin. There was only one towel in the bathroom, and it was so thin she could see through it. At least she had washed the awful fish smell off her. She sighed as she wiped the fogged mirror. “You’re an idiot,” she said to the reflection.
“What was that?”
Crap! The walls were as thin as the towels.