After the Fall (Broken Angel #2) Read Free Page A

bit.
    “Explain it to me again: why do we have to use pinto beans?” Lash said as he grabbed a handful.
    He was obviously trying to change the subject. She sighed. Maybe it was better to stick to playing Mexican bingo.
    “We don’t have to use beans. Bingo chips would work just as well. Welita...Welita liked to use beans.” A familiar pang rung through her chest, the same one she felt whenever she thought of her grandmother and her cousin, Chuy.
    When Naomi had first arrived in Heaven, she had checked in on them during breaks from her training. But each time she had, it had become harder and harder for her to tear herself away from the bridge over the stream, the only window she had to their world. Gabrielle had picked up on her inability to concentrate after each of her visits and ordered her to avoid the bridge until after her training was complete.
    At first, she was appalled that Gabrielle was basically asking her to forget about her family. Lash, of course, was outraged and offered to bring it up to Michael, claiming she was working hard and checking in on her family helped to ease the transition to Heaven. After she had calmed down, she realized Gabrielle was right. Her new life and family were here with him, and the best way she could adjust was to delve into her new role as archangel.
    “Naomi,” Lash gently touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I was just thinking about Welita. I miss her and Chuy.”
    “I miss them too...and Bear,” Lash said about her grandmother’s Chihuahua. “Crazy little fur ball.”
    Naomi wondered what they were doing at that moment. She wondered if it was late in the evening there like it was up in Heaven. What time zone was Heaven in?
    Chuy and his best friend, Lalo, were probably sitting around the dinner table right now, just having gotten off work. Chuy would be on his second helping and Lalo on his third. Lalo was like a member of the family, and even he called her grandmother “Welita” rather than her given name Anita.
    Naomi could actually see, in her mind, Lalo sneaking pieces of Welita’s chicken mole to Bear, while Welita was busy cleaning the kitchen.
    Rachel gave a loud yawn as she stood up, scraping the chair across the floor. “I’m pooped. Come on, Uri. Let’s go home. Why don’t we play at our place tomorrow?”
    “You don’t have to leave,” Naomi said.
    Rachel went to her and gave her a hug. “I know that. You and Lash should have some alone time together. You’ve been working so hard lately. Besides, Uri says he has a special treat for me tonight.”
    “Every night is special with you.” Uri swept her into his arms and flicked out his wings.
    “Uri!” Rachel squealed. “What are you doing? I have wings too, you know.”
    Uri walked around the table, headed to the living room, where a wall of windows overlooked the valley. All the windows were open, letting in a cool breeze.
    “Lash, you’re smart moving out of the commune and into your own home.” He stepped to the edge of the center window and looked down. “The view from up here is magnificent. But why so far away from everybody?”
    As much as Naomi loved living with Lash, it had been crowded in his small room. Lash had immediately rectified the situation by building a small cottage on the ridge of a mountain that overlooked the angels’ living quarters. More importantly, she could see the bridge from their home, a reminder that Welita was only minutes away. She loved it. But, in the back of her mind, she wondered if there was another reason why he wanted to live away from the others—or maybe one person in particular.
    Lash wrapped his arms around Naomi and kissed her neck. “Oh, let’s just say we wanted a little privacy.” His hot breath hit against her ear as he whispered, “And space for extracurricular activities.”

2
    J eremy leaned against the railing of the bridge, sapphire eyes gazing in the direction of the mountain. In the distance, he could see the