Lash Broken Angel

12





As Lash talked, Naomi fingered her necklace and kept her eyes trained on Dantan’s phone at the center of the table. Don’t do it. Don’t look at Lash.

She looked and found herself being drawn to him again. Over the last few days, she couldn’t get him out of her head. She kept replaying the feel of his strong hands on her shoulders; the way his chest moved when he was out of breath after he and Chuy pushed the car; the way his eyes sparkled whenever he teased her. But what really got to her, what drew her to him like an ocean to the moon, was when he talked about his family. He tried the brush off the hurt by being cocky, but Dantan used his magic on him and pulled strong emotions out of him whether he wanted to or not.

It was Ellen’s turn to speak in the group this week, but since she was still sick, Lash volunteered. Dantan had him talking about his past relationships with women. At first, she was both annoyed and relieved by his cavalier remarks. He claimed to be at no loss for female companionship—when he wanted it. It was easier for her to keep her distance from him when he acted that way. The problem was it wasn’t real—it wasn’t who he really was.

“I still remember the look on her face.” Lash, sitting cross-legged with ankle on knee, twirled and untwirled the lace of his hiking boot, avoiding eye contact.

“You mean, your aunt”—Dantan glanced down at his notes—“Gabie? The look on her face?”

Lash nodded. “It was like she enjoyed seeing me get kicked out of the house. We aren’t always on the best of terms, but I didn’t think she hated me that much.”

Dantan stared intently at Lash. “You previously mentioned that you thought she manipulated your uncle Ralph by telling him things that were untrue about you, hoping that he would see you as a bad seed.”

“Yeah, she did that. A lot.”

“Then tell me, why would you care what someone like that thinks about you?”

Lash’s head jerked up. An emotion Naomi couldn’t identify flashed across his eyes before he placed that signature smirk on his face and crossed his arms. “I don’t care what she thinks.”

“So, remembering the look on her face for—how many years has it been?”

“Three.”

“For three years, is not considered caring?” Dantan held on to Lash’s gaze.

The energy in the room shifted. She glanced at the others, wondering if they noticed. Dantan had everyone transfixed: Andrew’s mouth hung slightly open, eyes wide with curiosity; Tori stopped chipping off the black nail polish from her fingers and tilted her head toward Dantan; And Lash’s light eyes darkened as he struggled to keep an appearance of indifference.

Dantan’s voice was hypnotic. “What do you want from her?”

“Respect,” he said softly.

“And as you wait for something that may never happen, you’ll continue to hide behind a wall of your own making. You’re afraid that if you show a woman who you really are, she won’t love you. So, you choose to hide your true self behind a mask of arrogance.”

Lash jolted his head up and looked at Dantan wide-eyed. His eyes flicked to Naomi and locked with hers for a second. One second was all she needed. One look at the raw emotion on his face, and she melted.

Dantan leaned forward. “Tell me Lash. Who are you really?”

The alarm went off and everyone jumped.

Dantan tensed his jaws and then grabbed the phone. “And that is time,” he said as he turned off the alarm.

“Well, that was intense.” Lash picked up Naomi’s backpack and handed it to her. “I could use a good work out. Do you think Chuy will mind if I crash his class again?”

“I, uh, no, I think he’d be alright with it.” Chuy was covering how to escape when the victim is penned to the ground. She felt her face grow warm as she thought of Lash’s body pressed against hers.

“Oh brother,” Tori said as she and Andrew passed them on their way out the door.

Why did Tori also seem to catch her gawking at Lash? She berated herself for having such thoughts. Self-defense was serious business and should be treated with respect.

“Lash, I need to speak with you for a few minutes,” Dantan interrupted.

“Next week, doc. I’m going with Naomi to her self-defense class.” Her stomach started doing flip-flops as Lash placed a hand on the small of her back and directed her to the door.

“I’m afraid I must insist you stay a moment. My assistant needs to submit all my financial information to my tax accountant soon and there appears to be a problem with your insurance.”

“I don’t use insurance. I pay cash.”

Dantan looked puzzled and flicked on his smartphone. “Hmm, that’s not what the email from my assistant says.”

“That’s okay, Lash. I’ll tell Chuy that you’ll be a few minutes late,” Naomi said as she opened the door.

Lash had a torn look on his face as he looked at her and glared at Dantan. “Let’s make this quick, doc,” he snapped. Turning to Naomi, he said, “I’ll be right behind you.”

For the first time in weeks, Naomi felt more like her normal self and happy. Being with Lash did have something to do with it and she debated whether or not it would be wise to take their relationship further than the growing friendship. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to even if he wanted. If Dantan was right, Lash wasn’t capable of being close to someone.

Who am I kidding? She couldn’t be in a relationship. She had Welita to watch over and needed to get a better paying job to help Chuy with the bills. Her stint in the hospital had only grown their debt.

Half a block from the community center, Naomi saw Deborah and Nathan outside the entrance.

“Tie your shoelaces, dear. We don’t want you tripping over them again.”

Nathan looked down. “Dad-burned laces. These suckers keep getting undone.”

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor,” Naomi said as she neared them.

“Hey, there Naomi. Where’s your boyfriend?” Nathan grunted as he kneeled down.

“Here’s not my boyfriend.”

Deborah patted her arm. “Give it some time, dear.”

“I don’t know about that,” Naomi mumbled.

Nathan looked up and flashed a smile. “If Deborah says it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen.”

In that moment, everything moved in slow motion. Naomi turned at the sound of a loud engine. A black pickup rounded the corner and rolled down the street. She caught a glimpse of a shadow shaped like a cowboy hat, and she blinked curiously. Black metal edged out of dark tinted windows, and she froze as the gun drew closer to them.

Gunshots broke through the still air, one after another, after another.

The first and second bullet hit Deborah in the chest. Nathan leaped up in his attempt to block her from the gunfire. He was a second too late and the third bullet flew through his head.

Naomi screamed and another bullet whistled beside her forehead. A sharp sting followed by warm liquid slid down the side of her face, and she crumpled to the ground.

***

Lash looked at the clock on the wall. He couldn’t believe he was still in Dantan’s office. He spent the last five minutes watching Dantan click through excel files in his computer. Then he heard it—a series of cracks in the direction of the community center.

“That sounded quite near.” Dantan looked up from his computer at Lash. “I hope no one was injured.”

Lash’s heart fell to the pit of his stomach. There was no way Dantan could hear that unless…He cursed at his stupidity when the pieces to the puzzle finally connected. He tore out of the building at full speed, not caring who saw him. Please don’t let it be her.

From a block away, he saw Chuy yelling into his cell phone. People were lined up and down the street, talking to each other and pointing at the circle of people huddled around three bodies.

No, no, no! Lash felt as if someone punched him in the gut, and he struggled to breath. He ran as fast as he could to the scene trying not to draw attention. Please don’t let it be her.

As he neared the scene, Lash began to push people out of the way. He had to get to her.

“Hold it right there.”

Jeremy appeared in the center of the crowd dressed in a black suit. The light from the streetlight danced on his golden hair forming a glow behind his head. He seemed out of place among the montage of bodies that swarmed around him, pushing and shoving, trying to get a look. No one noticed him. Instead, everyone had their phones pointed to the ground.

Then Lash noticed he could see through Jeremy. He was not in his earthly body, and Lash understood what that meant.

“Don’t do it, Jeremy. Please.” Lash took a step forward and in an instant Jeremy appeared by his side.

“Stay back, Lash. I’m here to do my job.”

“No, you can’t. You can’t take her. You can’t take her from me.” His eyes were wild.

“You have feelings for her,” Jeremy said, surprised.

He glanced at the growing crowd. It took every ounce of his strength to keep from plowing through them to get to her.

“Yes,” he croaked. Jeremy still had use of his gifts maybe he could heal her injuries. He would do anything Jeremy asked in return. Jeremy would help her. This couldn’t be the end for Naomi. He couldn’t have been sent here to watch over her, just to have her be killed on the street. “Please help her.”

Then he heard Naomi calling out Deborah’s name. “Wait, she’s alive? Naomi’s alive?” For a brief moment, he was filled with relief. Then he felt a stab of guilt that he was glad it was someone else, anyone but her.

Lash looked at Jeremy confused. “Why are you here?”

A squad car pulled and two uniformed officers pushed their way through the crowd. As the people moved out of the way, Lash caught a glimpse of Naomi with Deborah in her arms. Nathan lay motionless next to them.

“No,” Lash sobbed, taking a step forward.

“There’s nothing you can do, Lash. I know you want to go to them, but you need to stay with your assignment,” Jeremy said. “Wait here for a moment and then go to her.”

Lash nodded. He stepped off to the side and leaned against the building. He watched Jeremy carefully for any signs that he might change his mind and go after Naomi.

Jeremy held his hands in front of him, palms facing upward, and slowly raised them up. A translucent replica of Nathan’s body floated through the crowd and settled down outside the circle. Jeremy walked through the crowd and people shivered as he passed through them. With a wave of his hand, a bright sphere of light appeared in the middle of the street.

“Time to wake up, Nathan,” Jeremy said, his voice low and soft.

Nathan’s eyes fluttered open. He shot up and glanced around, bewildered. “Wh-what happened? Where’s Deborah?”

“Everything will be fine, Nathan. You’ll find the answers to all your questions over there.” Jeremy pointed the light.

Nathan looked to the crowd and then back at Jeremy confused. His eyes widened when he realized what happened. “Deborah was shot! We were shot. Deborah!” he screamed. He ran toward the crowd and stopped abruptly. “Deborah! Deborah!” He banged his fists in the air as if hitting an invisible barrier.

He turned to Jeremy. “What’s happening? Why can’t I get to her?”

Jeremy’s face with filled with empathy. “You’re on the other side.”

“I”—he swallowed—”died?”

“Yes.”

“What about Deborah?”

“She’ll be fine. I promise.”

“How do you know? Who are you?”

“I am Jeremiel.” Jeremy answered, giving his heavenly name. “I’m one of His”—he pointed to the sky— “workers. My job is to help guide you to your destination.”

“You’re an angel?”

“Yes. I am.”

Jeremy’s lips thinned at the sound of blaring ambulance sirens. “Nathan, I need to help Deborah now. You need to walk through that light and all will be well, okay?”

“She’ll be behind me, right?”

“She will be fine. I promise.”

“Okay. I’ll walk through the light. You go help her.” Nathan swallowed as he walked to the middle of the street. He hesitated at the entrance of the light and an ambulance rolled through him and came to a stop near the crowd. He looked back at Jeremy, shocked.

“Whoa, that was strange. I actually felt that.”

Jeremy smiled. “Go on, Nathan.”

He nodded and turned to the light. Taking a deep breath, he took a step forward. For a moment, the light flickered and he vanished.

“Deborah, hang on. The paramedics are here,” Naomi said as the paramedics pushed themselves through the crowd.

“He’s so…beautiful,” Deborah gasped. “Who are you?”

“It’s the paramedics. They’re here to help you.”

“No. The man in the suit behind you.” Deborah stared up past Naomi’s shoulder.

Naomi turned. “There’s no one behind me.”

“He’s right there. He’s so beauti—” Her eyes glazed over.

“Deborah?” Naomi shook her gently. “Deborah!”

One of the paramedics helped Naomi up as the other began CPR on Deborah.

Jeremy stopped abruptly when he caught sight of Naomi. Lash saw the look on his face, and a low growl rumbled deep in his chest. Lash took a step forward, elbowing his way through the crowd. “Naomi.”

Naomi took one look at Lash and burst into tears. Lash drew her to him. It felt so good to have her safe in his arms.

“She’s wounded,” Jeremy said.

Lash nodded at him then said to Naomi, “You’re hurt. Let the paramedics look at you.”

“Deborah? They need to help Deborah.” She sobbed into his chest.

“They are looking after her.” Lash motioned to one of the paramedics. “Sir, would you take a look at Naomi?”

“Ma’am? Let me take a look at your forehead.”

Lash stood to the side as the paramedic examined Naomi. When the paramedic explained that it was a grazing injury and not life threatening, he relaxed and turned to watch Jeremy work on Deborah just as he had with Nathan.

“You’re Jeremiel,” Deborah said when she woke. She furrowed her brow. “How do I know that?”

“Because you’re one of the chosen. You’ve been given special knowledge in order to serve Him,” Jeremy said. “That includes knowing who I am.”

Deborah looked thoughtful for a moment. Her eyes darted to Nathan’s body. “He won’t be with me.”

“No, he won’t.”

She winced and closed her eyes. After a moment, she took a deep breath and opened them. She watched as the paramedic worked on Naomi. “Will she be okay?”

“Yes. She’s in good hands” Jeremy glanced at Lash with a sly smile.

Deborah turned to look at Lash. “I had a feeling he was special,” she said, keeping her eye on him. “Can he see me?”

Lash nodded.

“Take care of her,” she said. “She loves you, you know.”

“It’s time for you to go,” Jeremy said.

“I’m ready,” she turned to face him.

Jeremy placed his hands on her head. The streetlight brightened and a breeze blew through the air. And then, she was gone.

Jeremy walked toward him smiling and a surge of fear went through Lash. He missed his best friend, but he didn’t want him anywhere near Naomi. One day, when it was her time to die, she would have to see him. A sudden thought entered his mind. Deborah had seen him before she died.

“Jeremy, I thought humans couldn’t see you in your heavenly form until after they passed. How was Deborah able to see you?”

“You caught that didn’t you?” Jeremy glanced down at the ground. “Well, she’s not the norm.”

“She’s not going with her companion to the other side?”

“No.” Jeremy brushed a hand through his hair. “She’s going somewhere else.”

Lash raised his brows. He didn’t know Deborah very well, but she didn’t exactly look like the type to lead a life that would warrant Hell.

“No, no. She’s not joining Lucifer.” Jeremy laughed. “Michael has a special job for her. Look, I can’t say anymore, and I really need to be going.” He turned to look at Naomi who appeared to be finishing up with the paramedic. “I think you have a job to do too. We’ll see each other soon, my friend.”

When the ambulence left and the last of the gawkers finally went away, Chuy went down to the parking lot for the car and left Naomi with Lash.

She stared at the spot where Deborah and Nathan died, clutching her mother’s crucifix between her fingers. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s wait around the corner.”

“Why would anyone want to hurt them? They were good people.”

“I don’t know.” What could he tell her? Fallen angels were, for some reason, after her and her shrink was one of them? He hated that he couldn’t tell her the truth. She would be devastated, thinking she was the cause of their deaths even though something bigger was at work. He just didn’t know what it was.

“I wish there was more we could do,” she said as she started to look back in the direction of the center.

Lash placed a hand on her cheek and turned her to him. “Sometimes, all you can do is take care of yourself and your family—be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.” He wished he could give her more than just words. Without all his powers, or knowledge about what was really going on, he felt totally helpless. He did the only thing he could think of—he pulled her to his chest, holding her tight as if by doing so he could squeeze away her fears.

“I’m sorry, Naomi. I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” he said softly.

“I’m not. You-You could have gotten shot too, and I…I can’t…” She bit down on her lip, and a fresh set of tears spilled down her face.

She cried into his chest, and his heart ached for her at the sound of her sobs. After a moment, she collected herself and looked up at him. His breath hitched as wet blue eyes met his. He took in her pale face, red runny nose, and swollen lips. She looked so vulnerable, her eyes begging him to take the pain away. Without thought, he pressed his lips to her forehead and a blaze of fire rippled through him.

When he lifted his head, their eyes locked and, for that moment, it was only them. No Dantan, no Sal, no fallen angels.

A thousand thoughts went through his mind. He wanted to tell her who he was. He wanted to keep her in his arms and never let her go. He wanted to brush away the anguish from her eyes and promise her that everything would be okay just so he could see her smile.

Her eyes darkened and lips parted as she angled her head. He swallowed, overwhelmed with all the emotions running through him.

“Lash,” she breathed.

The chugging of an engine startled him and he pulled away just as Chuy drove up. She blinked as if waking up from a daydream. The moment was gone, and he exhaled. He had done it again. He didn’t think about what it would mean for him to get involved with Naomi. It couldn’t happen. He would have to leave her one day, and he didn’t want to hurt her when he did.

“Get in, Lash. We’ll give you a ride home.” Chuy said as Naomi slipped into the car.

Sitting in the back seat of the car, Lash gazed at Naomi. Her head leaned against the window, eyes closed. The only sound was Chuy telling her they shouldn’t worry Welita with what had happened. She nodded. Lash tore his eyes away from her and gazed out the window at the city lights. He almost lost her tonight, and it was more than messing up a job. She was more than that. He only hoped that when the time came and his assignment was over, he could let her go.