Lash Broken Angel

14





With a cup of espresso in hand, Jane looked out the bay window as rays of orange peeked out of the horizon, meeting the dark sky of the early dawn. It was much too early to be up, but the nightmares kept her tossing. It was the same nightmare she’d had since the plane crash: the trembling of the plane, the screams, the heat, the smoke, the feeling of suffocation. As time passed, she had the dreams less often. Strange that, over the last few weeks, the dreams had increased in frequency.

“What are you doing up this early? Our flight to Washington doesn’t leave for another few hours.”

Jane turned in her chair. “Since I couldn’t sleep, I thought I might as well get up and start my day early.” She eyed Luke as he placed a couple of files on the desk and crossed the room to the kitchenette. “In all the years I’ve known you, you hardly sleep either.”

“It’s the secret to my success,” he said as he lifted the silver carafe and poured coffee. “While most people are still sleeping, I’m busy with business.”

“Tell me your secret. How do you keep yourself looking so young?” Jane noted his twinkling eyes and unlined face. “If man can go to the moon, why can’t they invent something for the bags I get under my eyes after a sleepless night?”

Luke laughed. “Perhaps I should invest in cosmetics.”

Jane took a sip of her coffee. “In addition to the fracking your company is doing in the state? Sounds like a lot to manage.” Prescott Oil was the leader in hydraulic fracturing. The process of extracting petroleum by widening rock fractures using chemicals and liquids at a high pressure was a controversial method. Despite that, Luke was able to expand his business across the state—with the help of her senate connections, of course.

“It’s all too easy when you have an army of workers at your disposal.”

“Mr. Prescott?” Sal stood at the entrance to the room, his face stern.

“Speaking of which, come in, Sal.”

Jane watched as Sal headed straight to Luke and whispered something to him that made his smile fade. She was used to Sal and Luke discussing business in her presence, and Luke often asked her opinion on a number of things—especially on his latest venture in taking Prescott Oil’s hydrofracturing business to an international level. Lately, however, their conversations were conducted in hushed whispers or held in private.

“Get IT on it, and trace their movements. He can’t get far fl—” Luke glanced at Jane and cleared his throat. “Their travel methods are limited. Call our contacts at the Houston airport and keep me posted.”

She hoped nothing was wrong at the airport. It was bad enough that she had to fly out of the same place where her nightmares originated.

Sal nodded and left the room.

“Problems?” She placed her cup on the coffee table.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Luke put down his cup. “Well, my dear, it’s fortunate that you are up early after all. There’s been a change of plans. We’ll need to cancel the flight out of the Houston airport and drive to Dallas.”

“We’re flying out of the Dallas?” Jane felt a surge of panic as the memory of a fireball sweeping down the plane aisle crossed her mind. Did Luke find out about someone trying to tamper with the plane they were planning to take? She’d been told to expect this now that she was an official candidate for the next presidential race. She took a deep breath, dabbed the sides of her lips, and placed the napkin next to the cup. “Is there something I should know?”

Luke held out his hands, and she placed her hands into his. “Everything is taken care of. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll never let anything happen to you.” He kissed her hands and smiled. “You are much too precious to me.”

Jane exhaled a long breath. She knew she could count on Luke. In all the years she’d known him, he had never let her down. Although she wanted to know more, she trusted him. “That’s all I need to know. I’ll go pack.”

***

“Lash,” Naomi knelt to his side. She should’ve been freaking out. It was the second time she’d been shot at this week. He needed her help, but she couldn’t give it to him if she gave in to the panic that was just beneath the thin layer of calm. She placed her hands over his, trying to pry his fingers off abdomen. “Let me see.” His hands wouldn’t budge.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s not ‘nothing’. I see the blood seeping in between your fingers.”

He turned to his side in attempts to keep her hands away from him. “It’s just a scratch.”

“You’re as pale as a ghost, and there’s blood everywhere.” Naomi searched the back of the trunk and found her cell phone.

“Put that away.”

“Are you crazy? You’re hurt and need help. And what if the shooter comes back? We need to call the cops,” she said as she placed the phone to her ear.

Lash grimaced as he stood up. “I don’t need it. Don’t you listen?” He swatted the phone out of her hand, and it hit the cement.

“What is wrong with you?” She picked it up and tapped on the screen. “You broke my phone.”

“I told you. I’m fine.”

“No you’re not. Get in the car, and stop being so stubborn. I’m driving you to the hospital.”

“I’m stubborn? I’m stubborn?” He laughed and then moaned as he clutched his stomach tighter.

She almost lost it watching him suffer. What if he lost too much blood? He could be dying right in front of her. She took a deep breath. “Lash, I need you to get in the car.”

“The pain will go away soon.”

She marched to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. “Get in.”

Lash scowled. “I’ll prove to you that I’m fine. Do you have something that I could use to wipe off this blood?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Please.” His eyes widened.

Maybe if she played along with him, he’d give in. She went back to the trunk, pulled out a roll of paper towels, and tossed it to him. “I’d feel a lot better if we went to the hospital,” she said as she brushed off dirt from the phone. “It still works, only the screen is broke. You can pay me back to replace the screen you broke, and…”

She lost her train of thought as Lash lifted his shirt, exposing streaks of blood lining his chiseled stomach. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as long fingers glided over the muscles lining his abdomen, the movement stirred something inside of her.

“Are you okay? You’re awfully quiet.” Lash gave her a lopsided grin.

“Uh, phone screen…broken…hospital.” Her cheeks grew a bright pink and she ducked her head.

“Look at me.” His fingers lifted her chin. “I’ll show you why I don’t need a hospital.”

Naomi willed herself to come to her senses and to focus on the seriousness of the situation. She should be figuring out a way to stop the bleeding rather than gawking at him.

Her eyes locked with his and his cocky expression disappeared. “Don’t freak out.”

He lifted the paper towel and showed her what should have been a bullet hole.

But it wasn’t.

This can’t be real. She blinked trying to adjust her eyes. Something was wrong with her eyesight. She leaned in closer, astonished as the mutilated skin smoothed over as she watched. She rubbed her eyes again and blinked when all she saw was flawless skin. Without thinking, she reached over, her fingers tracing over the spot.

Lash moaned at her touch.

She pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

“No,” he let out a rush of air.

“There’s nothing there. Not even a scratch. That’s impossible.” She took a step back, her eyes wide.

“I want you to listen carefully,” Lash said, pulling down his shirt. “I know you might find it hard to believe, but hear me out. I’m an angel. I was sent to you for a reason. My mission is to get you to New Mexico.”

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. There was no way this was real. Maybe she inhaled too many fumes from the car exhaust. Maybe this was his way of getting her alone. Ever since she met him, he was always in the same vicinity. What are the chances they were at the same grocery store at the same time? Who goes grocery shopping that early in the morning? What if he was in with the shooter? She bit down on her lip confused. If he wanted to hurt her, then why bother protecting her and getting shot in the process. Naomi’s survival instincts warred with her attraction to him. She needed to leave, get some distance from him.

There was a brief pause as Naomi’s eyes locked with his.

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on here with this pseudo Criss Angel thing you’re doing, but something is not right.” Naomi slammed the trunk shut and headed toward the driver’s side walking backwards as she kept an eye on him. “I’ll send you some help.”

“I’m not trying to trick you into anything.” He took a step forward.

“Stay back.”

His face fell. “Don’t you trust me? I’m telling you the truth.”

Naomi felt a stab of pain. Her heart was telling her he was being honest with her. The hurt in his face was obvious. But her head was saying there was something totally wrong with this picture. Maybe he was delusional. She heard trauma did that to people sometimes.

“I want to believe you.”

“Then do.”

“It’s not possible.” She continued to walk backwards and tripped over a bottle.

Lash quickly grabbed her. “Listen to me. You’re in danger. Last week was not a random drive-by shooting. The person who shot the Taylors was aiming at you, they just got caught in the crossfire.”

Naomi looked into his frantic eyes. “I know you really want to believe that you’re an angel, but you’re not. It’s not possible. Let go of me, and I’ll get us some help.”

“Have faith, Naomi.” Lash’s fingers traced her neck and the crucifix.”You trust in God.”

Her breath hitched as his fingers glided along the necklace. She closed her eyes and willed herself to not think how her body was responding to his touch. “The necklace was my mother’s. She was the one with faith.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.” Lash loosened his hold on her, and stepped back.

An awkward silence passed between them. Then she looked at him sadly and said, “I don’t know what happened during the shooting. Maybe you banged your head. Maybe I banged mine. Either way, whatever is happening right now can’t be real.”

“Damn it! I’m not crazy. You’re not crazy.” Lash kicked a soda can, sending it soaring into the darkness. Running his hands through his hair, he paced the lot, deep in thought. After a moment, he turned to her, his face determined. “I am an angel, and I’ll prove it.” He tore off his t-shirt and threw it to the ground.

Naomi balked. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. Keep your clothes on.”

He charged at her and she screamed as he lifted her off the ground. This was it. He went off the deep end. Then she noticed something odd. The ground was getting further away.

A rush of wind blew her hair into her mouth, and she gagged. She brushed the hair out of her face and noticed that she could see the top of the surrounding trees. “Oh my God! What’s happening?”

He chuckled as she clawed his back trying to get a better grip. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

“You’ve got me? How?”

Lash smiled and gestured behind him. Her mouth dropped at the pair of wings lined with downy white feathers.

“Holy shit—uh, I mean, you’re an angel.”

He grinned. “I told you.”

His grin was contagious and she laughed. He chuckled and looked at her and then his smile faded. He was so close she could feel his warm breath on her lips. She found her hand reaching out to stroke the dark stubble that lined his chiseled jaw. It was surprisingly soft.

“Naomi,” his voice was deep and his eyes gazed intently into hers. “I’m an angel.”

“I know.” Her fingers brushed his lips.

He quivered and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were alight with pain. “I’m an angel,” he said again.

Her face crumpled as the words sank in. He was an angel. He was only there to watch over her and keep her safe, like Rebecca was Welita’s guardian angel. He couldn’t be anything more than that to her.

“Hey,” he gave her a nudge and a forced smile. “Want to see how many birds we can freak out?”

Before she could answer, he climbed higher into the sky. She tensed as the city lights grew smaller and everything began to spin.

“You’re not going to fall.” He tightened his hold, and his eyes darkened as her face neared his. “I won’t let go. I promise.”