Golden Angel: (Broken Angel #5) (7 page)

J
eremy couldn’t stop thinking
about Leilani.

She’s a girl. She’s a girl. She’s a girl.

He slapped his hand against the car’s steering wheel, repeating the phrase like a mantra. Flying hadn’t helped to clear his mind. It was so bad, even Bob had noticed something was wrong, probably because he’d broken more tiles than he’d actually placed on the floor. In a not-so-subtle way, Bob had told him about a local bar a few blocks away. To save his sanity, and the cottage’s floor, he’d driven off, hoping to clear his mind.

Nope. So far it wasn’t working. The image of Leilani in the world’s smallest red bikini would not go away.

He was disgusted with himself. She’d almost died, and all he could think about was how stunning she had looked. The image played in his mind in a continuous loop. He pictured her dark, wet hair molded along her slender neck like black velvet, and water droplets rolling down high cheekbones and across full red lips, lips that were so soft he wondered what it would feel like for them to kiss him back.

She’s a girl.

Soulful dark eyes gazed at him through wet lashes. Her heavy breathing made her chest rise and fall.

Stop it!
He groaned, pressing his palms harder into his eye sockets.

Where was the Leilani with the short, spiky hair and bubble gum? That girl he could handle.

Pulling into the parking lot, the car sputtered as he turned it off. He headed into the bar. He needed a drink.

The dimly lit bar was crammed full of locals and tourists. Music blared through the speakers. It was so loud he could feel the bass pumping in his chest.

Spotting an empty table, he made his way through the rows. A voluptuous woman with auburn hair gave him the once-over and whispered to her friend. The redhead held his gaze as she fingered the tip of her beer bottle suggestively.

Normally he would’ve just kept walking. They weren’t his type at all, but he needed the distraction. At least they were age appropriate.

He took a step toward their table and stopped. His heart just wasn’t in it.

Man, what was wrong with him? They were waiting. And what was with the nagging guilt? There was nothing to feel guilty about. He did what he had said he was going to do—make sure the Leilani was okay. He had even turned back into his angel form and made sure that man-child, Kai, had taken her to the clinic. Leilani had complained every single minute they were in there and hadn’t shut up until Kai dropped her and Sammy off at their home. Jeremy had even stayed outside their house the entire night.

The redhead flashed a welcoming smile. He sighed. He wasn’t interested. This wasn’t going to work. He should just keep to himself and his drinks—lots of drinks.

As he headed to an empty table, a strange feeling suddenly hit him. He paused, searching the bar. From the corner of his eye, a red spider flashed in his vision.

No. It can’t be them.

He turned to get a better look when a group of guys wearing leis carried in a man with a buzz cut on their shoulders and blocked his view.

“Let’s get this bachelor party started!” one of the guys yelled!

“Drinks are on me!” yelled another.

The bar went into a roar as another group filtered into the already crowded room.

“Hey, trying to get through here,” Jeremy said, pushing them out of the way.

“Watch it, bruh!” The guy glared.

“Sorry.” Jeremy wanted so badly to use his angelic strength. With a flick of his fingers, he could part the crowd.

“Ooh, you’re yummy. Dance with me.” The auburn-haired woman laughed as she stumbled forward. She latched on to his arm, catching herself. “Oh, my. I like it hard.”

Jeremy shook his head, frustrated. He couldn’t believe he’d thought he could come here for a distraction. He couldn’t believe that, not too long ago, he would’ve loved her invitation and would’ve eagerly joined her.

“Sorry. There’s someone I need to see.”

“Aww, come on. Don’t be an ass—”

“If you’ll excuse me.” Gently, he peeled her fingers off him and made his way through the crowd, ignoring the curses in between her hiccups.

He searched frantically, hoping that what he’d seen was just some ordinary dude who happened to have a redback spider tattoo like Joab’s.

Across the room, he saw it again. Peeking from the far corner was a pair of bald heads, one of them with a spider tattoo. Standing with them was the man-child, who was smiling and nodding at whatever Joab was saying.

Jeremy pushed his way through the crowd, not caring who he pissed off. As he made his way, he listened carefully past the sound of the crowd and music. He waited for Joab’s voice to come into focus.

And waited.

There was nothing.

What the hell?

He focused harder, still nothing.

He growled. It had to be Saleos’s doing. Somehow he’d figured out a way to mask their voices from him. Joab and Jether didn’t have the skill to perform powerful black magic like their brother.

He searched for Saleos. He was in here somewhere.

Guys from the bachelor party whistled and hollered as buzz cut guy buried his face into the auburn-haired woman’s chest, using his mouth to grab the shot glass sitting between her breasts.

A wisp of white feathers and blond hair floated quickly past the group and disappeared.

Gabrielle?

What was happening to him? He couldn’t hear a damn thing. Every sound around him was becoming more muffled. He blinked, trying to get his vision to focus.

Damn it! Not only was he having hallucinations, but everything was blurry.

It had to be an illusion. Gabrielle wouldn’t just show up like that without making her presence known. And if she were here to stop the demon twins, she wouldn’t do it alone.

“What devilry is this? I know you’re here, Saleos,” Jeremy mumbled under his breath, knowing Saleos would be able to hear him. “Stop toying with the boy and show yourself.”

Kai was not his favorite person at the moment, but he didn’t want him hurt, either.

He looked back at Kai and the demon twins. Joab’s eyes flicked up, locking with his. His thin lips curled into a chilling smile.

“No.” Jeremy took a step forward. The room swayed. Quickly, he clutched the nearest chair to steady himself. White noise rushed over his ears. His heart pounded like it was about to explode. And his legs, something was wrong with his legs. He could barely lift them.

Through the whooshing noise, he heard someone calling him. It was so subtle, he almost missed it.

“Jeremiel, I’m sorry.”

“Gabrielle?”

He rubbed his eyes. The blurry vision was worse. He couldn’t see!

“Who’s Gabrielle? New girlfriend?”

Jeremy jumped at the sound of Leilani’s voice. He blinked, trying to make out her fuzzy shape.

Leilani stood in front of him, holding a drink and twirling the paper umbrella as she smiled.

“You shouldn’t be here.” He could barely get the words out as nausea swept through him.

“I shouldn’t be here? You look like you’re gonna puke.”

“This is a bar.”

“Really? I didn’t know. I thought it was the library.”

Her grin came in and out of focus. And she was swaying too. Or maybe he was the one doing all the swaying.

“You know what I mean. You’re too young to be drinking. How did you get in, anyway?”

“I know people.”

“Did Kai bring you here?”

“Maybe.”

“Well, he shouldn’t—”

He stopped as a jolt of electricity went through his body. Blood rushed from his face.

“Jeremy! What’s wrong?”

He could barely hear Leilani’s cries as black dots swam across his vision. Each part of his body felt like lead, starting from his legs, slowly crawling up his stomach, chest, and finally his head.

I can’t breathe!

“Kai, come quick! Something’s wrong with Jeremy.”

It was like something was eating up his insides, leaving him with molten lava, thick and heavy, burning him from the inside out. He couldn’t hear. He couldn’t see. He couldn’t think. When he thought he couldn’t take any more, there was a final jolt so powerful, he fell to his knees.

“Oh my god. Kai, hurry!”

And then it all stopped. The room wasn’t spinning anymore, and he could breathe again. Jeremy kept his head down, waiting for his heart to slow down. Slowly, the feeling in his hands and feet returned.

“Dude, what’s wrong with you?” Kai asked.

“Don’t just stand there staring at him,” Leilani said. “Help me pick him up.”

Jeremy was so relieved he could hear again, he barely felt Leilani’s hand tugging on his arm. Whatever Saleos was trying to do, Gabrielle had stopped it. He was sure it was her. Gabrielle had warned him that something like this would happen. He wasn’t going to let that happen again. Jeremy was ready for whatever Saleos and his brothers threw at him—as soon as he got his strength back. It was strange how he felt so drained.

“Some friends you have, Leilani,” Kai said, placing himself under Jeremy’s arm. “Don’t expect me to drive his drunk ass home. Call him a taxi. His rich ass can afford it.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need your help,” Jeremy growled.

“Shit, fine by me.” Kai dropped his hands.

“Damn it, Kai, stop acting like a jerk. He is not okay.” Leilani kept her hold on him. For someone so tiny, she was pretty strong.

“Why did you bring her here?” Jeremy glared at Kai, who glared back. “You should be taking care of her.”

“Are you kidding me?” Leilani dropped his arm, stepping away. “I’m not a child, and you’re not my father. If I want to relax and have a drink, I can do so anywhere I want to.”

Ignoring Leilani’s protest, Kai took a threatening step. “It’s none of your business, haole, where I take my dates. Come on, Leilani.”

Jeremy could smell the alcohol on his breath and grabbed his arm. “You’ve been drinking. You’re not taking her home.”

“That’s it!” Kai jerked his arm out of his Jeremy’s grasp and shoved him. Jeremy stumbled onto a nearby table, sending shot glasses crashing to the floor.

“Cut it out, Kai!”

He knocked me over!
Jeremy looked up at Kai, shocked. The man-child had actually knocked him down.

“Excuse me while I leave with MY date.” In one swoop, Kai pulled Leilani to him and kissed her.

Rage surged through Jeremy as Leilani whacked against Kai’s chest, struggling to break free from his grasp.

Without thinking, Jeremy jumped to his feet and jerked Kai away from her. His fist swung through the air aimed directly at Kai’s chin.

Kai shouldn’t have been able to see his fist coming. He shouldn’t have been able to duck. And an archangel should’ve never taken a swing only to hit empty air.

The moment Kai’s fist connected to his cheek and he fell back from the velocity, Jeremy knew something was wrong.

And when everything grew black and Leilani’s muffled cries called to him, he knew he’d lost everything.

“
H
ey
, Jeremy, wanna take out the bodyboard? I’ll teach you how to do the forward spin,” Sammy said.

“Not now, buddy.”

“How about snorkeling? I brought an extra mask and fins for you.”

Wiping her surfboard, Leilani shook her head. Sammy was doing everything he could to snap Jeremy out of whatever was eating at him. She was surprised Sammy had been able to drag him out from the cottage he’d rented and to the beach. They’d had to bang on the door for ten minutes before he’d bothered opening it. When he had come out, he had squinted, holding a hand to cover his eyes as if he hadn’t seen light in days.

Something had happened at the bar that night, and it was more than Kai knocking him out in one punch. All morning Jeremy had stared out into the horizon, pretending to watch Sammy doing his bodyboard tricks.

“That’s okay,” Jeremy said, keeping his eyes on the horizon. “Why don’t you show me that dropknee trick you said Kai taught you?”

“You bet! Then afterwards, maybe you can try it,” Sammy yelled as he ran into the water.”

“We’ll see,” Jeremy mumbled.

Her heart sank. She wished she knew what was wrong. Maybe it had something to do with that girl, Naomi. He had been all sad and mopey over her when she’d first met him years ago.

This time it was worse. He looked awful. He was pale, unshaven, and his eyes were dull. He’d lost that special spark that never failed to draw her to him.

“Way to go, buddy!” Jeremy gave a half-hearted yell.

She smiled softly as she gazed at him. Even when he was down, he wanted to be a friend to Sammy.

If Naomi had anything to do with Jeremy looking out of it, the chick was an idiot.

How could anyone want to hurt him?

Yeah, she’d been pissed that he kept thinking of her as some pimply teenaged girl, but when Kai had knocked him out, there was something about watching him lying there so helpless. It had made her so mad, she’d chewed Kai out and chased him out of the bar.

After she’d helped Jeremy up and called a taxi, she’d thought Jeremy would at least be little mad about the situation. He hadn’t said a word to her. He had just mumbled his address to the driver and stared out of the cab’s window.

She’d tried teasing him by telling him that she’d have to give extra hula lessons to pay for the cab ride. There had been nothing, not even a smile. And when they’d pulled up to his place, he’d tossed a couple of fifty-dollar bills to the driver and instructed him to take her straight home.

She sighed. She wished he would talk to her. They used to talk all the time before he had left. She couldn’t help him if he wouldn’t tell her what was going on.

“All right, that’s it.” She plopped her board on the sand and marched to him. Standing in front of him with hands on hips, she let him have it. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Uh-uh, I’m not buying that ‘nothing’ business. Come on.” She reached for his hand, tugging it.

“What are you doing?”

“Ugh, you’re so heavy. Help a woman here and get on your feet.”

To her surprise, he obeyed. He slowly unfolded his legs and stood, keeping his eyes on the horizon.

“Look at me.”

“Why?”

“God, you’re stubborn. Sammy, we’ll be right back!”

When Sammy waved to acknowledge he’d heard them, she poked his arm.

“Walk.”

“Walk where?”

“It doesn’t matter, just walk with me.”

They walked for a few moments in silence. She waited, hoping that he would start talking. They were nearly at the end of the beach when she decided that she was going to have to prod whatever was wrong out of him.

“Spill it.”

“Spill what?”

“Are you going to question everything I say? Seriously, you’re worse than Sammy. You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been acting strange ever since that night at the bar. Tell me what’s going on with you.”

“Nothing.”

“Ugh! Don’t give me that ‘nothing’ crap. Look, we’re friends, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me. Besides, you owe me.”

“I owe you?”

She smiled when he stopped and looked down at her curiously.

“Yeah, you owe me a secret because you made me tell you about my dad.”

“I didn’t! You—why are you laughing?”

“Because that’s the most emotion I’ve seen coming out of you all day.”

“I’ve been that bad, huh?”

“Yeah, but I know what it’s like. I may be only nineteen, but I know heartbreak when I see it.” She gazed into his handsome face.

Boy, do I know it.

“Well, it’s a little hard to explain. I’m not sure where to start.”

“From the beginning. I’m pretty smart, you know. I even got a full ride to California University.”

“Really?” He beamed, pride shining in his eyes.

“Yeah, really.”

“Then why are you still here?”

“I couldn’t leave Sammy and Auntie Anela. Besides, even with the scholarship, I couldn’t cover the cost of living expenses, and I would have to earn enough to send back for Sammy.”

He shook his head and stared out back into the horizon again. His voice was so soft she couldn’t hear what he was muttering. It sounded like he was saying it was his fault.

“Anyway, I can keep up with whatever it is. So go ahead and tell—good grief! Check out those morons.”

Two hang gliders soared overhead. They were so close, one false move and they would crash into each other.

What was up with people? One lesson and they thought they were pros.

“That looks amazing. How are they doing that?” Jeremy’s eyes lit up for a moment as he watched them flying through the air. Then slowly his handsome face twisted into a wistful expression. It gave her an idea.

“They’re tourists. They jump off from over there,” she said, pointing to a cliff down the beach. “I know another place that’s way more private and with a lot less crazy tourists. Would you like to try it?”

He looked back down at her with surprise. “You know how to do that?”

“When are you going to learn how totally awesome I am? I know lots of things.”

She should’ve been angry at him for always doubting her, but the deep laughter coming out of him was music to her ears.

“I’m bowing to your awesomeness,” he said as he dramatically threw up his arm and bowed so low his head nearly touched the sand.

“Knock it off, Golden Boy.” She chuckled. It felt good to laugh with him again. “So what do you say? Let me take you hang gliding.”

“Now don’t get mad. I do think you are awesome, but jumping off a cliff is dangerous.”

“Oh my god, you’re so stubborn. I just told you I know what I’m doing. It’s like the surfing and the freediving. I’ve had training.”

“You almost drowned when you went freediving.”

“Yeah, well, I got a little carried away with that.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Damn it! Okay. So, I shouldn’t have gone alone. Next time, I’ll have—”

“Next time? No. There won’t be a next time.”

Well, look who suddenly decided to come back to the land of the living. His face was animated. A spark came to life in his eyes. Depressed friend or not, she wasn’t going to let that stop her from training for the surfing competition. She needed the cash.

“Yes, there will be a next time. I have only a few months to train. In fact, I’m meeting up with Kai tomorrow.”

She was still mad at Kai, but she needed the cash and he was willing to help her, especially since Sammy had pestered him into it.

“Cancel it,” he snapped.

“No.”

“Cancel it!”

“No!”

He let out a frustrated growl. Then his scowl smoothed, and his lips slowly curled into a dimpled, lopsided smile.

Gah! He was playing dirty.

“I thought you wanted to take me hang gliding.”

Oh, he was evil. Only he could make the phrase ‘hang gliding’ sound so sexy.

“I, uh, yeah, I do.”

“So take me. Tomorrow.” He leaned, inching closer to her.

Lord, help me.
He was putting on the charm full blast now.

“Please.”

Hold your ground, woman.
Ignore the heat coming from that rock-hard body of his.

“I don’t know.”

He was so close now that she could feel his sweet breath against her cheek. She was not going to cancel her training session—no matter what he said.

“I’ll pick you up.”

Tell me he did not just flex his biceps.
Damn it!

“Fine. But come early. That’s when the view is best. And you’re buying breakfast.”