“Oh Lash, I love you,” she said in between kisses. “I have always loved you. I’m so sorry I left like I did.”
“Naomi, I was so scared. I thought you’d stop loving me.”
“Never...no matter what.”
He paused and pulled back. Gazing at her tenderly, he brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy.”
He chuckled and placed his forehead on hers. “I’m happy too.”
There was a sudden movement coming from behind Lash that caught her eye. Her heart flew to her throat at the sight of Jeremy’s face. Red with fury, it grew closer as he charged at them.
“Lash, look out!”
Before he could turn, a pair of arms lifted him off the ground. She screamed as iron claws also cut into her shoulders and jerked her up.
Jeremy dove and crashed into whatever it was that had grabbed her. The entity let out a grunt and released her, sending her slamming to the ground.
As she scrambled to get on her feet, Jeremy crouched in front of her. “Get behind me!”
“Impressive, Jeremiel. I see domestic bliss hasn’t softened you. You managed to put down one of my best fighters.”
Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach at the sound of the familiar voice. A hulking shadow moved out from behind the trees, and she clutched Jeremy’s arm when she saw who it was.
“You’re not touching her, Saleos,” Jeremy growled as the dark angel he’d taken down got up and took his place beside Sal.
“Oh, I’m not interested in touching her...yet.” Sal smirked, waving over to someone behind him. A second dark angel emerged from the shadows, an exact replica of the one who had attacked Naomi. They both had the same beady black eyes and shaved heads. They looked exactly like the demons in a child’s nightmare.
The dark angel dragged something behind him, pulling it from the shadow. He let out a frustrated roar as he jerked forward, throwing Lash in front of him. A massive arm quickly wrapped around Lash’s throat, and another clinched him by the waist.
“No!” Naomi screamed as she charged toward them. “Let him go!”
“Don’t.” Jeremy grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
“I see you’re the one who wants to do the touching, Jeremiel,” Sal said. “You’ve been at it for quite some time. How long was it, ten, fifteen minutes?”
Lash growled at his words and attempted to lunge after Sal. When he managed to get one arm loose, the dark angel’s twin grabbed it and twisted it behind his back. Lash howled in pain.
“Please, don’t hurt him,” Naomi sobbed. “Let him go. I’ll go with you.”
“Aw, so sweet. She wants to sacrifice herself for you, Lahash. It must be love.” Sal sneered the word. “I wonder if she would still be willing to after spending a night with Jeremiel. Hmm?”
Lash turned red and kicked his feet up, struggling against the dark angel’s grip. The dark angel yanked him back, laughing.
“Don’t listen to him, Lash,” Jeremy pleaded.
Lash stopped struggling and glared at Jeremy. “I saw you. I know what you were doing. You lied to me!”
“It’s not like that,” Jeremy said. “She loves you.”
“And you love her! Admit it!” he spat.
“Tell him, Jeremy,” Naomi said, touching his arm. “Tell him you’re just confused. It’s not what he thinks.”
Sapphire eyes looked down at her, and raw emotion filled his handsome face.
“I can’t,” he croaked.
“No,” she whispered. She didn’t want it to be this way. Lash needed his big brother. “Please...just tell him.”
Jeremy bowed his head and turned. It was as if he couldn’t bear to face Lash. “You’re right. I love her.”
Lash let out a stream of curses. His fury was so intense, it took both evil twins to hold him down.
A loud clapping pierced the night air as Sal took a step toward Jeremy. “Well played, my friend. You can’t remember the past, and yet centuries later, you’ve still managed to keep Naomi by your side. You even got her assigned to work with you.”
“He’s lying. I never wanted to hurt you,” Jeremy said to Lash before turning to Sal. “And I am not your friend.”
“Oh, I’m hurt,” Sal said. “Really, I am. Well, this family drama has been entertaining, but I fear we must leave now. Say your good-byes, Lahash.”
The evil twins started to drag Lash away.
“No! Not him!” It didn’t make any sense. She was the one they were after. They’d bought out her entire neighborhood and gotten Welita and Chuy to leave and be placed under Lucifer’s watchful eye. They were here for her. “Take me. You’re here for me.”
Jeremy pulled her to his chest, restraining her. The dark twins ignored her pleas as they let out their black wings, ready to take flight.
They can’t be leaving. They can’t. Naomi struggled against Jeremy’s strong grip, trying to get to the man she loved.
“Lash, I love you!”
“Naomi, stop,” Lash said with an eerie calm.
Her eyes locked with his, and a cold swept through her at the expression on his face. It was the same way he’d looked at her when she was dying. It was as if he was saying good-bye to her. “You’ll always be in my heart,” he whispered.
He squeezed his eyes shut and muttered something to himself. He then took a deep breath, as if he’d made a decision. Opening his eyes, he turned to Jeremy, looking at him intently.
“Jeremy, listen to me,” he said in a low rumble. “I’m depending on your love for her. Do not let Sal or Lucifer get their hands on her. Promise me.”
“You have my word. I’ll watch over her as I would a sister.”
With those words, the dark angels flapped their wings, sending a strong gust through the trees, and flew away up into the sky. In an instant, they disappeared.
Lash was gone.
“No!” Naomi shrieked. She elbowed Jeremy hard in his stomach, making him drop to his knees, groaning. Flicking out her wings, she instantly went after them.
Where are they? Where did they go? Tears streamed down her face as she circled the night sky. They were nowhere in sight.
She was about to climb higher when Jeremy tackled her and they fell, slamming onto the ground.
“Let go of me.” She clawed and punched at him. “I need to go after them. Let. Me. Go!”
She punched him in the face with a loud crack.
“She is a wild one.” Sal cackled in the background.
She dove at Sal, but before she reached him, Jeremy threw himself on top of her. “Damn it, Jeremy!”
He helped her to her feet and stood behind her, his strong arms holding her in a tight grip. “I’m not letting you place yourself in danger.”
Ignoring Jeremy, she growled at Sal. “Take me, Asshole! You know Lucifer wants me. I’ll give you anything you want.”
Sal arched an eyebrow. “Anything?”
She froze. An icy chill went through her as Sal’s eyes traveled up and down her body.
She gulped. “Yes, anything.”
“I won’t let you,” Jeremy hissed. “She’s not for the taking, Saleos.”
He smirked. “You offer is...interesting, but I’m afraid I can’t take it at this time...although I think you would’ve enjoyed yourself.”
With a loud cracking sound, he spread his wings out to their full length and elevated up into the sky. Circling them, he said, “After all, I have body parts that are more impressive than the size of my wings.”
“Wait! Lucifer wants me. You know he does.”
Sal threw his head back and laughed. “He never wanted you. You were just bait.”
When Sal disappeared, Naomi’s legs gave out and she sank to the ground. She was so confused. While she was human, she’d been running to get away from Lucifer. Sal had hunted her down. He’d shot at her...twice! It even got Deborah and Nathan killed. Why had they put so much effort into trying to kill her, get rid of her, and now changed their minds?