Lash Broken Angel

15





Daylight found Lash and Naomi sitting in the car in front of Welita’s house. Lash replayed the experience of having Naomi’s body pressed against his bare chest over and over again—how her body fit into his, the feel of her heart beat, her soft hair as it brushed against him. He closed his eyes and cherished the last few minutes they had with each other before they had to face reality. One, Sal, the shooter, wanted her dead. Two, their time together was almost over. He pushed the thought aside needing to focus on her safety first. He had to get her to New Mexico and the fastest way to do it was to catch the next flight out. “We need to get your things packed. There’s a safe house in New Mexico. You’ll be safe there.”

Her eyes were raw with an emotion that made him want to forget his assignment, forget about going back home, and stay with her, whether or not it was forbidden. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“You probably would’ve reacted the same way you did just now, and you definitely wouldn’t have given me a chance to explain.”

“So, you’re here to watch over me? Like a guardian angel?”

“You could say that.”

Naomi groaned. “Welita was right. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Lash chuckled. He stepped out of the car, went to her side and opened the door. “Come on. We need to get moving. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get you to safety.”

“What happens after that?”

“I’m not sure.” It wasn’t a lie. He didn’t know what would happen to her. He hated that he was given such limited information. What he did know was that once he was done with his assignment, he would have fulfilled his obligation. That would mean he was free to go back home. Going home should have made him feel excited, but instead he felt empty—worse than he had during the last thirty-five years.

“I can’t leave. I don’t want to worry Welita.”

“Worry me about what?” Welita walked to the front yard with a water hose in her hand, Bear bouncing behind her. When she saw Lash, she sped to him, jumping up and down and running circles around his feet.

Naomi glanced down at Bear, then back up at him. “Now I get it.”

“Angel or not,” he whispered. “I had to bribe her to make her like me.”

“What is it, Naomi?” Welita shut off the water and wiped her hands on an apron.

“There’s something we have to tell you,” she said escorting Welita back into the house.

They sat on the living room sofa while Lash went to the kitchen to grab a chair. He sat down and Bear hopped onto his lap.

“Why are you so serious? Did something happen?”

“A few days ago a couple of Chuy’s students were shot in a drive-by shooting outside of the community center, and”—her eye’s darted to Lash and he nodded—”and I was almost shot too.”

Welita pulled Naomi into her arms. “Thank God you’re safe. The lord is watching over us.”

Lash winked.

“Wait a minute. Is that what happened to your head?” Welita touched the bandage, and Naomi winced. “You told me you scratched your head at the community center.”

“Well, the bullet just grazed it. So, it’s kind of a scratch.”

“Dios mío.” Welita squeezed tighter. “Don’t ever lie to me again.”

“I won’t. Um, there’s more.”

Welita pulled back. “More?”

“The person who shot Chuy’s students was not really after them. This morning at the grocery store the same person tried to shoot me again.”

Welita gasped. “Are you hurt? Maybe we should take you to the hospital.”

“No. Lash was there and he pushed me into the trunk.”

Welita turned to Lash confused. “The trunk of the car?”

“It’s a long story,” he said. “Needless to say, it worked.”

“Thank you so much for watching over her.”

“Where are you going?” Naomi asked as Welita crossed the room.

“To call the police. There’s someone after you and we need to make sure we get you some protection.”

Lash placed Bear on the floor and stood in front of Welita. “There’s more we need to tell you. Please sit down.”

Welita looked confused. “You two are acting very strange. What’s going on?”

“First, I want to apologize for not sharing this information with you earlier. In my position, revealing this is not standard protocol.”

“Reveal what?”

He pulled a chair close to Welita. “Uh, you may want to sit for this.”

She eyed him suspiciously as she sat down. He knelt at her side.

“I know you’re a spiritual woman and you believe in angels.”

“Yes, I have Rebecca. Although she didn’t mention that anyone was going to hurt Naomi.”

“That’s because we are limited in what we are allowed to share with others.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because…” Lash glanced over at Naomi then back to Welita and took a deep breath. “Because I am one.”

The room was silent for a moment. “But I can see you,” Welita said.

“You said that you could see Rebecca too,” Naomi pointed out.

“I can, but I’m the only one that can see her.” Welita leaned over and touched him. “You are body and flesh. I can touch and feel you.”

“Rebecca doesn’t appear to you like Lash does?” Naomi looked to him for an explanation.

“I’m not exactly a guardian angel,” he said.

“You said you were an angel.”

He stood up and sat across from them, uncomfortable. He squirmed under their questioning gaze. “On rare occasions, some angels are allowed to have a human form while working on assignment.”

“And why is that?” Naomi asked.

“Because an angel’s powers are limited in a human body, and when you’re on assignment it’s more efficient if you have all your powers.”

“So why are you in a human body?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” he muttered his eyes gazed down at the worn floor.

“Why is that?”

“Because I was kicked out of Heaven.”

“You were what?” Naomi jolted upright from the sofa, eyes wide open.

“Remember, when I said that my family kicked me out of the house? Well…”

“It’s not the same thing.” Naomi jumped up and paced the floor. Bear watched her curiously.

“To me it is.”

“But, but, you have white wings. I saw them.”

“Only fallen angels that join Lucifer have black wings. I’m not one of them.”

“Good,” she sighed and sat back down. “How long ago did this happen?”

“It was a long time ago. Thirty-five years.”

“So, looking after me is some type of punishment?” Hurt flashed over her face.

“No, it’s not like that,” Lash said.

Naomi bit down on her quivering lip. Her face tinged with pink and her eyes grew moist.

She thinks she’s just an assignment to me. How could he tell her that she was more than that? The problem was she shouldn’t be more to him than that.

He went to her side and tucked her hand in his. “I don’t know why I was assigned to you, but if I hadn’t, I would’ve never gotten to know you or your family. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Please believe me.”

“I believe you,” she croaked.

“I was given a chance to return home after I do one last assignment to watch over you and keep you safe from danger. So, as soon as I was given the assignment, I came here.”

Welita leaned in. “When was this?”

“I was here the day of your son’s funeral.”

Welita looked up. “Thank you. My prayers were answered.” She then turned to Naomi. “I prayed for God to send someone to look over you.”

“I’m sorry they sent you a broken angel like me,” Lash said. “You deserve better.”

“Stop that.” Naomi squeezed his hand. “You are not broken.”

“Naomi’s right. You’re a blessing,” Welita said. “I prayed for someone who could fill the empty space inside of her, to bring joy back into her life. You did that, Lash.”

“Welita, I don’t think it works that way.” Naomi let go of his hand.

“Why not?” Welita turned to him. “Lash isn’t that part of your job?”

Lash looked at Naomi and his heart saddened with the thought that he wouldn’t be the one to be by her side. It was impossible, unless he did the unthinkable. It happened before. The Archangel Rachel, who was a kind soul and the complete opposite of Gabrielle, once told him that thousands of years ago, angels did come down and took humans as their wives. It wreaked havoc on Earth and Michael and Gabrielle were sent to straighten it out. Many refused to return to Heaven and were stripped of their powers. Some of them chose to go with Lucifer, who was able to restore their powers. He wanted Rachel to tell him more about it, but Raphael intervened and told her that he had enough information. Was this something he was willing to do? Could he stand to look down from Heaven and see Naomi in the arms of someone else?

“I’m not sure what my job is exactly, except to watch over her. Last night, I was told of a safe place to take her.”

“Where does she need to go?” Welita asked.

“New Mexico.”

“Then that’s where you need to go, Mijita.” Welita stood up. “Go get packed. I’ll have Chuy drop you off at the airport.”

“What about you? What if something happens?” Naomi jumped up.

“Don’t worry about me. I have Rebecca. And Chuy is here.” Welita cupped her face. “I know you’re scared. Have faith, Naomi. Lash was sent to you for a reason.”

Naomi nodded and kissed her hands.

“You can take Bear with you. She’ll watch over the both of you,” she said.

Bear barked.

Naomi laughed. “I don’t know.”

“She’s small but she can sense trouble coming.”

Lash bent down and rubbed behind Bear’s ear. She had a special way of keeping both of them calm. He had a feeling they’ll need all the help they can get. “That might not be a bad idea.”

“Well, okay. I guess I’ll get the carrier then.”

Welita turned to him when Naomi disappeared down the hall to pack. “I know you’ll take good care of her, and I know it’s not because she’s an assignment to you.”

Lash swallowed. “I will. I promise.”

Welita placed a hand on his cheek. “I see it in your eyes as I see it in hers. Remember, there is always light where there is love and if that is what is meant to happen between the two of you, then it was destined.”