After the Fall (Broken Angel #2) by L.G. Castillo Read Free Book Online Page B

to ask Jeremy for a favor. He hadn’t minded before, but now, things were different.
    He knew Jeremy was eager to prove himself as a true friend and brother to him, and he was confident Jeremy would say yes. And that was the problem. He wanted to be the one to give Naomi what she needed to make her happy. Not Jeremy.
    He was about to knock on the cottage door when he heard a whistling in the distance, followed by a loud splash of water. That could only mean one thing—Jeremy was swimming.
    When he approached the stream, he paused and leaned against a tree, watching Jeremy swim. He remembered what Raphael had told him about Jeremy being favored by others. Now he saw him with new eyes.
    Jeremy’s body was tanned golden by the rays of the sun, whereas Lash was pale in comparison. Jeremy’s thick arms moved effortlessly through the water, and Lash gritted his teeth as he noted the size of them. Where Lash was tall and lithe, Jeremy was huge and muscular. All the years he’d known Jeremy, he had never noticed or even cared. So, why now?
    “Lash!” Jeremy cried when he saw him. “What brings you here?”
    Lash’s stomach twisted with envy as he watched Jeremy step out of the stream and head towards him, perfect white teeth flashing him a smile. He was taller, stronger, and loved by all the other angels. Lash could never compete with him, and for a brief moment, he wondered what Naomi had ever seen in him. Were her feelings for Jeremy buried along with her memories? What if she got them back?
    Knock it off! Naomi is not like that. She loves me. He felt her love every time she looked at him. That would never change.
    And Jeremy? He had to believe Jeremy would never do anything to hurt him or Naomi.
    He focused his thoughts on Naomi. Her needs came first. Swallowing his pride and forcing a smile on his face, he said, “I need a favor.”

6
    T here was a light crunching sound when Lash’s feet landed on the dead grass covering Welita’s backyard. The house looked worse than when they saw it from Heaven. It was as if the life that once filled the home, the entire neighborhood, had been sucked out and all that was left was a skeleton.
    He reached out to grab Naomi’s hand, knowing she would be heartbroken.
    He watched Naomi bite down on her lip, her pale blue eyes watering. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, just give me a moment.” Her voice quivered.
    “Don’t you want to go inside? Maybe we can find some clues as to where they are.”
    She nodded. Her face was a mixture of emotions.  “Yes, I do. It’s just, everything is so different. I mean, it’s more than just the empty house. It feels different. I don’t know why. I feel like I’ve lost something, or someone.”
    “Maybe it’s because you’re different.”
    “How? It hasn’t been long...well, at least for me it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.”
    He gathered her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “So much has happened to you in such a short amount of time. It’s not surprising that you’d be confused. Part of you still feels like it belongs in this world.”
    “I don’t know who I’m supposed to be: Welita’s granddaughter or Heaven’s seventh archangel.”
    “You’re young for an angel, and it’s so rare for humans to be placed with us.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’ll help you through this. I promise.”
    “I know you will.”
    “Why don’t we look around the outside and then work our way in, okay?”
    They walked hand in hand toward the front, passing through the weeds and overgrown rosebushes. Naomi bent down to touch the wilting flowers, stifling a sob. “Welita’s roses. Chuy and I worked with her for days planting them around the house. She talked to them, you know.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah. She watered and talked to them all the time. They were gorgeous. And their fragrance...” She let out a breath. “You could smell them from down the street. They smelled so good. And now, she’s gone, and they’re