Jeremy (Broken Angel #4) (11 page)

“
J
eremy
.” A soft voice echoed in the darkness.

Naomi? She shouldn’t be here. Lash promised to keep her away.

Struggling to open his eyes, he attempted to lift his head. Nothing moved. His entire body felt weightless, like it was floating and he had no control over it. He listened out for Saleos and his brothers’ voices. He couldn’t hear anything but white noise and Naomi’s voice repeating his name.

A strange calm washed over his body. It was like he was being rocked into a gentle sleep. The heartache he’d carried with him over the past few weeks was gone.

Slowly, he felt something cold under his feet. A prickling sensation spread from his legs through his body, as if he were waking up from a deep slumber.

“Jeremy.”

A hand rested on his bare chest. His heart hammered against his chest at Naomi’s touch. He knew it was her. She was the only one who could make his body react that way.

Fingers glided down his biceps until they reached his hand. She held his hand, gently pulling him forward.

Slowly, the heavy weight on his eyes lifted, and he was able to open them. They were in Naomi’s mountain cottage. White mist rolled down the hall, filling the rooms.

“Naomi?”

She turned, and pale blue eyes twinkled as she held onto his hand, leading him to the bedroom.

“Naomi, where’s—?”

“Shh,” she whispered as she stepped through the bedroom’s entrance, the thick fog swallowing her.

“Naomi, where are you?”

“I’m here . . . right where you wanted me.”

The fog slowly lifted as she neared him. The sheer pink gown fluttered as she moved to him. His eyes drank in every inch of her beautiful body.

“Am I dreaming?”

She pressed her body against his and kissed him. His body lit on fire. He felt the cool material against his skin, her nipples hardening against his chest, her soft lips moving on his.

“You tell me,” she murmured as she moved forward.

He fell back onto the bed. As Naomi straddled his hips, a dull ache throbbed against his temples. There was something he had to remember. What was it?

He moaned as Naomi’s taut nipples brushed teasingly against him. She kissed his neck, nibbling the tendon at his shoulder, and then traced her tongue down his chest.

He weaved his fingers into her hair, lost in her touch, her kisses, and her sweet scent. As she worked her way down his chest, the ache in his head stopped and all he felt was bliss.

“Naomi,” he moaned when her tongue slid down each of his cut abs, outlining each of the muscles there. The delicious pressure in the pit of his stomach grew as she went lower.

Lower she went, her lips worshipping his body, until she took him in. He cried out. His body ready to explode.

His hips rocked against her as she latched on to him. Faster. Faster. Suddenly, his body went into spasms. There was a jolt and a rush of cold slammed into him.

Seconds passed before he was able to open his eyes again. Blue skies stared back at him.

Saleos’s face hovered over him, smirking.

“Well, that was interesting.”

Jeremy ignored the offered hand and stood up. He swayed and latched on to the mailbox to steady himself. Pain thrashed against his skull like he had a major hangover.

So this was their little trick? A stupid wet dream. He already did that on his own—not that he wanted any more of it.

He rubbed a hand over his face. Something was off. He blinked, looking at the sky again. The sun was low and in the opposite direction. And he swore he could smell barbecue.

He turned to Welita’s house. She was on the porch swing, picking at a plate of food. Sitting next to her was Megan. A toddler with black pigtails sat on Megan’s lap. He smiled at Naomi’s namesake. Naomi had talked nonstop about how her niece had been named after her.

“Orale, Lalo, that hamburger patty is too big. You’re eating all my paycheck right there,” Chuy said, looking into the barbecue grill.

“It’s not for me,” Lalo replied. “It’s for Emma.”

“Is my monster burger ready, Uncle Lalo?” Emma jumped off the tree swing and ran to him.

“Almost,” Lalo said, rubbing the top of her red hair.

Jeremy frowned. He’d only been out for what felt like a couple of minutes. The Durans were eating dinner. He spun around to Saleos.

“What did you do?” he growled.

“See for yourself.”

Jeremy stared at the smartphone Saleos held out to him. A small voice inside of him told him not to look at it. Walk away and focus on his job. He was sure Saleos would leave the Durans alone.

“Scared?” Saleos arched his eyebrow, amused.

He scowled and snatched the phone. Tapping the screen, he started the video. His jaw dropped at what he saw.

After Joab whispered in his ear, his head dropped to his chest. He had expected to see himself fall to the ground. Instead, within one second, he saw himself lift his head with a huge grin on his face. He looked at Saleos and his brothers as if they were old friends.

They took to the sky, joking with each other and chatting about growing up in Ai as they flew. He looked at the time on the video, shocked that they flew for hours. Then a familiar building popped onto the screen. It was the Stratosphere Tower. They’d flown to Vegas!

He heard Joab and Jether laughing behind him when the video showed him making a bet with Jether that he could touch the top of the Luxor Pyramid with his finger without stopping. The video shook with Joab’s laughter in the background as he recorded Jether and Jeremy racing. The laughing turned to cursing when Jether crashed into Joab and Jether was suddenly hurling downward, landing with a big splash at the Bellagio Fountain. People around the fountain clapped and snapped pictures thinking it was part a show. The strip disappeared as the screen went black for a couple of seconds. Then the video showed them landing in front of a casino that appeared to be out in the middle of nowhere. After they’d turned into their human form, Saleos explained he owned the business and that it catered to a special clientele.

Jeremy’s face reddened when he realized the type of clientele Saleos catered to and the services offered. He fast-forwarded the video, horrified how he couldn’t remember the hours he’d spent with one girl after another. They took turns sitting on his lap, rubbing their hands against his chest, and nibbling on his ears while he played poker with Saleos and his brothers.

He paused the video when a dark-haired girl with pale blue eyes pulled him away from the table. The video followed them into another room, closing in on them when the girl nibbled on his neck and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Then she kneeled and slid down his zipper, saying his name. And he whispered, “Naomi.”

“No! That’s a lie!” Jeremy smashed the phone to the ground, shattering it.

“Jeremiel, Jeremiel.” Saleos clicked his tongue. “You can’t even believe what your eyes see.”

“You put this together. You found someone who looks like me.”

“It was all you, my friend. I know you sense it.”

Jeremy closed his eyes. He did do it. He felt it.

“It’s not possible. I would remember doing such things . . . unless . . . ”

“Unless we helped you to forget. Does that sound familiar? Have no doubt; it was you there. All we did was numb your inhibitions a little. We didn’t force you to do anything you didn’t want to do. They were
your
thoughts,
your
desires. What you did was of your own free will.”

He shook his head. Saleos was making too much sense.

“We’ve tested this out with other angels,” Saleos continued. “It only lasted an hour or so with them, especially if they fought against it. We thought for sure it would only last a few minutes with you. As you saw”—his eyes flicked to the screen—“it was much longer. Hours. I almost ran out of space on the phone. It’s as if you wanted to forget.”

“No, you did something else to me. Some new black spell you’ve discovered.”

“When will you stop denying your true self, Jeremiel? Admit it, for these few hours you were happy. You were the real you.
I
can give you more of that.
I
can give you your heart’s desire. I’m the only one who can.”

Jeremy opened his mouth to say no once again when he paused. The sense of relief, the release from the dull ache that sat in his chest, was slowly returning. He wanted to escape it. He didn’t want to feel it anymore.

Maybe . . .

A loud clap of thunder reverberated through the darkening sky. He jolted back when he saw Gabrielle hovering over them, her powerful wings flapping. Her face was hard.

Jeremy bowed his head, ashamed to look at her. Never in all his time as archangel had he ever had anyone come for him while he was on the job. She didn’t trust him.

I don’t trust me either.

Her green eyes glittered as she landed beside him.

“Ah, Gabrielle. We meet again,” Saleos said.

“Leave to your duty, Jeremiel,” she said before turning to Saleos. “And you, take leave to the hellhole you crawled out of.”

“You grow more stunning each time I see you . . . and strong.” Saleos eyed her wings. “Much stronger than many of the archangels—even Raphael.”

Saleos lifted his hand to her cheek. “He doesn’t deserve your affection.”

“Leave her alone,” Jeremy growled. Before he could tackle Saleos to the ground, Jether and Joab took his arms, dragging him away from their brother.

“Gabrielle doesn’t need help from you or anyone else, isn’t that right, my dear?”

Slapping his hand away, her chest rose and fell as she glared at Saleos.

“Don’t you dare touch me again.”

“Do you know Raphael’s problem? He’s a weakling. He couldn’t possibly begin to know how to satisfy you. Pity that you waited so long for him.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll hear no more of it,” she snapped.

“We have a long history together. Of course I know all about you and your desires.” His dark eyes drifted down to her lips. “Those lips have never been kissed, have they?”

Jeremy struggled against the dark twins’ hold as he tried to get to Gabrielle. “You stay away from—”

Gabrielle lifted her hand, silencing him. He froze, shocked when she moved closer to Saleos.

“I have no fear of you,” she said.

“I can see that. Lucifer always did say you were the most stunning of all angels. And he was right. Beautiful. Powerful. Raphael is a fool.”

“You will not speak of him. Leave this place or I’ll—”

Saleos jerked Gabrielle to him and kissed her. The demon twins grunted in approval as their brother ravaged her lips. His arm molded into the arch of her back, bringing her closer to him as he deepened the kiss.

Jeremy yanked his arms, trying to release himself from the twins’ iron grip. He watched as Gabrielle’s hands beat against Saleos’s chest for a moment. And then, she stopped. Her body went slack and she melted in his arms.

What the hell?
What black power did he possess to make one of the most powerful and loyal archangels fall under his demon’s spell?

Saleos pulled away, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.

“That’s what I thought.”

Gabrielle paused, her reddened lips parted and breathing frantic. Emerald eyes gazed up at Saleos, confused.

“Gabrielle, are you okay?” Jeremy asked.

She slowly turned to Jeremy with a bewildered expression lingering on her face. When their eyes met, she blinked. She sucked in a breath as if realizing what had happened. Lifting her hand, she whirled around and slapped Saleos.

“I see you like it very much.” He laughed, rubbing his cheek. “I’d love to give you more, but I have other business to attend to. Think about what I said, Jeremiel. And the invitation stands for you, too, Gabrielle. You won’t be taken for granted when you’re with me.”

Jeremy rushed to Gabrielle the moment he was released.

“Are you okay?”

Gabrielle stood silent next to him, watching Saleos and his brothers disappear into the sky. Her fingers lightly touched her lips.

“Gabrielle?”

She shook her head then turned to him. Her face twisted into a scowl.

“You’ll not speak of this. Is that clear?”

“Of course not. None of this ever happened.” Not the kiss. Not the video. Not the moment’s hesitation when he thought of Saleos’s offer.

“They’ve become more powerful. I saw you struggling. I meant no offence by checking in on you.”

“None taken. I’m glad you did.”

“I’ll leave you to your duty.” She looked at Welita, and her eyes softened for a moment as she watched her playing with Naomi’s niece. “He’s tempting you. Evil will always find a way to tempt us. You have to fight it. Don’t let the darkness in, Jeremiel.”

“
U
ncle Lalo
! Uncle Lalo! There’s one over there,” Emma squealed.

Jeremy pushed thoughts of Saleos and his brothers away as he watched Emma, her red hair flying, chasing after a blinking dot of light. Her high-pitched giggles warmed his heart. He didn’t want to think of the entire day he’d wasted with those assholes. His plan to spend the day with the Durans had been stolen from him. He wanted to focus on the family’s laughter, smiles, and the love shining in their eyes as they talked and ate. These were the memories people held on to when grief took over. People found solace through those memories, and he hoped he would too.

“Ooh, look, there’s more.” Emma ran past him to a group of fireflies flittering near the tree swing.

She couldn’t see him anymore. It was bittersweet. On the one hand, it meant she was growing up, but on the other, she wouldn’t see him until it was time for her to go to the other side. He remembered the first time he’d seen Emma sitting on Megan’s lap in a field of wildflowers and holding on to a teddy bear. The adorable girl hadn’t been afraid when she’d seen him in his angel form. She’d flashed a smile, asking if he wanted to take a picture with her.

He was so relieved that Emma’s burn scars were barely noticeable. Smiling, he thought of the gift his father had given him. Only the archangel of healing had enough power to make those scars disappear. After Lash’s binding ceremony, Lash had pulled him aside and told him of Raphael’s visit with Emma. Raphael had done it to honor a son he thought he’d lost in the Lake of Fire, knowing it would’ve been what he would’ve wanted.

The night her mother’s house exploded due to a gas leak had been one of the hardest for him. He’d known he shouldn’t have rushed into the house to help them. Naomi’s cries for her brave cousin, who’d rushed into the burning house to save Emma, had torn at his heart. He’d convinced himself that he wasn’t there for Chuy. It hadn’t been Chuy’s time just yet.

When he’d found Chuy passed out on the floor with his body thrown over Emma’s, it had taken all of his willpower to stop from changing to his human form and carrying them both out. His chest had raged with anguish when he’d seen burns all over her chubby little hands and arms.

Lalo ran across the yard, waving what looked like a homemade net tied to a stick.

“I almost got it. I got—” He swished the net down, then smiled triumphantly. “Aha!”

The firefly flittered away.

“No way!” Lalo cried.

“Hurry, Uncle Lalo! It’s getting away!” Emma squealed again.

Jeremy chuckled as he watched Lalo chase after the bug, swinging the homemade net wildly.

“Gotcha,” Lalo said as he made one final swing.

“Let me see.” Emma peered into the net. “We did it! We got one, Aunt Megan.”

She skipped to the porch, her face beaming.

“I’ll get a jar for you. You can put the firefly in there,” Megan said. “Chuy, finish cleaning Little Naomi, she’s a mess.”

Megan placed the toddler on Chuy’s lap along with a box of baby wipes.

“No problem. Lalo, bring me the hose.” He tugged on Little Naomi’s shirt.

“Ay, no! Que loco.” Welita leaned over and whacked him on the head.

“Don’t you dare.” Megan whacked him on the other side of his head.

“Ow! Okay, okay. I won’t. But hosing her off is faster. Look at her. She looks like she swam in the barbecue sauce.” He held the toddler at arm’s length. Sauce covered her face, arms, and there was even some in her hair. “Besides, she liked it last time.”

Megan scowled. “That’s the problem. She liked it too much. Now she strips every time Welita and I water the plants.”

“Oops.” Chuy chuckled.

Megan rolled her eyes.

“I love you,” he said as she walked into the house.

“Look at my firefly, Welita.” Emma took the net from Chuy and held it out for her to see.

Welita’s brown eyes peered through her glasses. “How pretty, mijita. Your aunt Naomi used to love to catch—what is this?”

She reached out and felt the material of the homemade net in her hand. Her eyes darted to Lalo.

“It’s, uh . . .” Lalo took a few steps back, slowly making his way off the porch. “It’s pantyhose.”

“Where did you get them?”

Lalo looked to Chuy, who was suddenly very busy cleaning Little Naomi.

“Your room,” Emma chirped.

“Chuy told me take them!” Lalo cried.

“It’s for the kids, Welita. They wanted to catch fireflies and we needed a net.”

Calmly, Welita leaned over and covered Emma’s ears. She glared at Chuy.

Chuy’s eyes widened. He gulped and covered the squirming toddler’s ears.

There was a beat of silence. Then Spanish flew out of Welita’s mouth. Jeremy wished he’d taken up more of the language. He had no clue what she was saying. But by the expression on Chuy’s face, it was probably good that he didn’t understand.

Chuy apologized profusely. He elbowed Lalo, and Lalo apologized too. When Megan came back outside with an empty jar and saw the net was made from Welita’s pantyhose, they both apologized again.

Jeremy laughed the entire time. Their faces were just so funny. He couldn’t remember when he’d last laughed so hard.

It was then Little Naomi turned and looked in his direction. Bright blue eyes framed by curly lashes peered out into the darkness. She tilted her head as she stared at him curiously.

She can see me.

Her sauce-stained lips curled into a smile.

“Come on, messy girl. You need a bath.” Megan scooped her up.

Little Naomi waved her hand as Megan carried her back into her house.

Pain ripped through Jeremy’s chest at the simple gesture. Slowly, he waved back at the toddler. In a matter of hours, everything was going to change for this happy and loving family. He would be the one to shatter them. He wished he could warn them what was to come, to give them a chance to say goodbye.

He looked at Welita. She studied Little Naomi as she waved. Her body stiffened for a moment as she peered into the dark yard in his direction. Relaxing, she nodded and let out a breath. Slowly, she closed her eyes and muttered a prayer.

She couldn’t see him, yet she sensed his presence. She knew the end was near.

Jeremy remembered the words he’d told Naomi so long ago. How brave people were the moment before their death. He didn’t think he could be brave like that. When the time had come to face his own death as he’d pulled Lucifer into the Lake of Fire, he hadn’t thought about himself. All he could think about was keeping his brother safe.

In Welita’s muttered prayers, he heard her asking to keep her family safe, praying that her family would not be lost to grief and would be happy.

And as she continued her prayers, he quietly asked for strength to do what he needed to do.

T
he ticking made
Jeremy want to scream.

An old-fashioned alarm clock sat on Welita’s nightstand, clicking off the last seconds of her life. Dread built up inside of him with each tick until he felt like he was going to explode.

He wanted to leave.

He couldn’t.

He wanted to cry out.

He couldn’t.

Caged in by duty, he stood at the foot of Welita’s bed for hours, watching her sleep. Moonlight streamed onto the bed from the window. Our Lady of Guadalupe candles next to the clock flickered. She looked so peaceful, white hair laid loose across the pillow, thin brown arms folded over her stomach. Her tiny chest rose and fell steadily. He stared at the crucifix necklace around her neck. She’d pulled it out of her pocket and put it on before she’d settled into her bed.

Everything around her was a reminder of what was important in her life. Photos of her loved ones lined the walls: school photos of Naomi and Chuy from first grade all the way to Naomi’s college graduation; photos of Megan and Chuy’s wedding; a tear-streaked Chuy wearing hospital scrubs, holding baby Naomi; Emma dressed up in an angel costume . . .

Angel.

His fists tightened as he fought the urge to scream. The weight of his duty was crushing him.

He closed his eyes, shutting out reminders of the life she’d lived and focusing on her steady breathing. Welita had so much life in her. She could’ve easily lived another ten or even twenty years. He’d seen many live into their hundreds. She was so good and faithful. Surely, she could have been blessed with many more years with her family.

Why now? Of all the people in the world, why her? Why—?

Jeremy’s eyes flashed open. Welita had stopped breathing.

He watched her chest, willing it to move as the clock marked the seconds.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Welita sucked in a strangled breath.

Tears filled his eyes as her breathing slowed, her chest barely moving.

She had only minutes.

He went to her side and sank onto the edge of the bed beside her. Hovering his hands over hers, he whispered, “I wish we could’ve met under different circumstances. I wish I could take you to live with Naomi. I wish you could say goodbye.”

Leaning over her frail body, he kissed the air above her forehead.

He choked back a sob when her breathing became ragged.

It’s time.

Ever so slowly, he stood as if he could hold on to the time rushing past him. His wings unfolded from his body as he lifted his hands. Feather by feather, his wings emerged. He raised his arms, palms facing upward. Inch by inch, he lifted them, spreading them outward until they extended out with his wings.

He sucked in a breath at the winged shadow on the wall. The shadow wings could have belonged to an angel or demon, there was no way to distinguish them. And in that moment, as he watched Welita’s life force fade away, he wasn’t sure which one he was.

He jerked back when another pair of shadow wings suddenly appeared next to his. A hand latched onto his shoulder. His feet disappeared from under him as he was shoved him away from the bed. He stumbled backward onto the floor.

“Jeremy, stop!”

He gazed up at Naomi. Wild eyes locked with his as she placed herself between him and her grandmother.

“If you ever loved me, you’ll leave. Now.”