Read After the Fall (Broken Angel #2) for Free Online Page B

flashes of memory that have resurfaced have always been of Lash, and now I understand why. I love him and nothing, no one , can ever take my love for him away. That’s why we are to be bound as soon as he can make the arrangements.”
    Raphael’s face lit up. “This is wonderful news!”
    “You’re happy about it?” Lash asked.
    “Of course. I am not the same person Lucifer showed you in your memories. It may have taken losing you and Jeremiel to realize how wrong I was back then. Can you forgive me for my past, for my inability to be a good father to you?”
    Lash looked at Raphael’s pleading eyes. In all the time he’d known him, at least the times he could remember, Raphael had always been by his side, guiding him, helping him. Even when he did his best to push Raphael away, he never left. And now he knew why. Raphael was trying his best to make it up to him, to be a better father. “Yes...Father.”
    Raphael’s face lit up. “You make me proud—both of you.”
    He stood and pulled Lash into his arms. Surprised, Lash looked over to Naomi. Tears glistened in her eyes as she watched them.
    “Hug him back,” she mouthed.
    He nodded and placed a hand on Raphael’s back, giving him a gentle squeeze. He felt warmth spread through him, a peace he hadn’t felt for a long time.
    “I shall go with you to visit Michael,” Raphael said when he pulled back. “At long last, I have my family back with me. This is a joyous occasion. Is it not, Jeremiel?”
    Jeremy stood and approached Lash, extending his hand to him. “Congratulations. I wish you both everlasting happiness.”
    Lash looked down at his hand and then back at his face. The only thing he saw was the sincerity in his eyes. He really was happy for him.
    He took Jeremy’s hand, and for a moment, he felt that maybe, just maybe, he had his old friend back.
    And then he watched as Jeremy turned to Naomi. He was barely able to look at her as he mumbled his congratulations and called her sister.

5
    “A re you sure about this?” Naomi scanned the area surrounding the stream to make sure no one was around to see her and Lash stepping onto the bridge. Her heart fluttered with excitement at the thought of seeing Welita and Chuy again, although she wished Lash would let her do this alone. If she were caught disobeying Gabrielle’s orders, they might let it slide for her since she was new. But if Lash were caught, he might get in trouble for helping her.
    “Absolutely.” He took hold of her hand as they went to the center of the bridge. “I’ll keep a look out for you.”
    Naomi bit down on her lip. She was only seconds away from seeing Welita after all these weeks. Why was she suddenly afraid to look?
    “What’s wrong?”
    She gazed into his beautiful hazel eyes. How could she ever be afraid with him by her side? She was being silly. “Nothing. I’ll make this real quick.”
    She went to the spot where she knew she could get the best view of Welita’s house. Her hand brushed over the familiar railing. Again, her heart raced in anticipation.
    Knock it off, she told herself. Stop making a big deal about this. You’ve looked in on Welita lots of times.
    Taking a deep breath, she leaned over the rail. The water was still. It was like looking through smooth glass. For a moment, she saw nothing but the clear water. Then slowly, the familiar small white house emerged.
    Her heart slammed against her chest. Something was wrong. Something was off.
    The once lush green and perfectly manicured lawn was filled with knee-high weeds. The flowerbeds that Welita so meticulously cared for, her pride and joy, were overrun with crab grass and littered with beer cans.
    She slammed her eyes shut. This couldn’t be Welita’s house. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Don’t panic.
    She was obviously looking in the wrong direction. She just had to be more careful.
    When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw the same small white house in the same place. She