“Bear, where are you?” As he turned the corner of the building, he froze at the sight of Luke Prescott clutching Bear close to his chest, his hand over her tiny head.
Luke broke into a sinister smile, and Lash’s stomach dropped. This was a side of the politically savvy businessman the world didn’t see. “I believe this little one belongs to you,” he said as he stroked her fur. “She’s quite lovely—though a bit feisty for my taste.”
Lash schooled his face and assessed the situation. He didn’t hear anyone else around, so that meant Luke was alone. He sized the billionaire up. Jeremy had said that Luke was Lucifer, one of the fallen. It was possible that he wasn’t as powerful as the rumors portrayed him, especially if he had to have someone like Sal around. If Lash could manage to get Bear and Naomi into the car, maybe he could hold Luke off while she drove to the safe house.
“Mr. Prescott. What brings you to this little corner of New Mexico?”
“Ah, so you know who I am. Please call me Luke.”
“Who doesn’t know you? Your involvement with the rising American Federation Party and Senator Jane Sutherland is news on a daily basis,” he said. “There’s even talk that the Senator may be the next president.”
“It would benefit many if she were put into office.” Luke stroked Bear’s head. She whined.
Lash took a step forward. “I’m sure you have business to attend to, so I’ll take the dog out of your hands.”
“Of course.” As Luke placed Bear into his hands, he felt a jolt of pain sear through his head. Bear squealed as she hit the ground. She scrambled to her feet and dashed toward the front of the motel.
Through the fog of agony, he felt Luke grip his shoulder. “Is something wrong, my friend?”
“Get away from me,” he gasped and pushed out his hand blindly. He had to get out of there. The pain intensified; suddenly, he had a vision so vivid that it was as if he was there. He was at a stream, watching a young woman washing her hair. When he drew closer, the woman stood up and flipped back her hair. She looked at him, her eyes twinkling with recognition. Naomi!
“No,” he moaned. He couldn’t understand what was happening. Why was he having visions of Naomi—and why did they feel as if they were memories?
“Don’t fight it, Lash.” Luke pressed a hand to his temple and whispered, “Hizaher.”
A flash of light seared through his mind, and he felt his knees hit the ground. A surge of visions filled his mind, one after the other. It was another time, centuries ago. He walked up a grassy hill, a staff in one hand and Naomi’s hand in the other. They maneuvered their way around a herd of sheep to the top of the hill. They whispered promises of forever, and he kissed her deeply. The vision shifted to what looked like the inside of a small cottage. A woman with hazel-eyes was crying. A golden-haired man threw a clay bowl against the wall and when he turned, familiar blue eyes glared at Lash. Raphael’s eyes!
He shook his head and pushed Luke away. “Stop showing me lies.”
Luke grabbed hold of him and pressed his hand against his head again. “You know what I show you to be true. Hizaher!”
Lash groaned as the vision took over and everything around him disappeared.
He was back in a small room in the cottage. Raphael lifted him up by the shirt and threw him across the room. Lash stood and was about to lunge at him, when someone grabbed him and twisted his arms behind his back.
“Stop it, Jeremiel,” the hazel-eyed woman begged. “You are hurting your brother.”
“Naomi is to be my wife,” Jeremiel said. “It is my right as firstborn.”
Raphael approached the woman and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Rebecca, an agreement has been made with the girl’s father. Jeremiel will be betrothed to her soon. Lahash must be patient. We will find him another.”
“No!” Lash screamed as he fought the vision and shoved Luke away from him. “Get away from me.”
“Search within yourself, Lahash. Memories of the past, of your other life, are still there,” Luke said softly. “I give you nothing but the truth.”
“You lie.”
“Come now. You’ve seen it with your own eyes. You’ve experienced it with your feelings for the woman you’ve been sent to protect.”
“No. I won’t fall for it.” He shook his head as the memories continued to flood his mind. Was it possible that he was with Naomi before? Why didn’t he remember? What happened, and why hadn’t Raphael told him? Was Jeremy his brother? And the mysterious woman, Rebecca, was she the same person that was Welita’s guardian angel?
“I see the questions on your face. And I have the answers for you.” Luke brushed the dust off his suit. “You can have her. I can help you get back what you lost a long time ago. As long as you and Naomi join me, no harm will come to either of you. You can have forever with her. You have my word.”
“None of the fallen has that kind of power.”
“Oh, but I do. Join me. You and Naomi will be quite safe,” Luke said.