An Angel's Crusade (An Angel's Wings Sequel)

Chapter Sixteen: Worrying Can Get You Killed

Iris

By the time Aiden and I caught up, Payton's suburb is in view.

Suburb is a strong word. When you think of a suburb, you see middle-aged parents with children wearing pastel colored polos under sweater vests. You think of clean-cut, perfectly watered lawns.

Payton's neighborhood is none of those things. Most of their residents are single parents or loners. Overall: Nobody leaves their doors unlocked in Helen's Haven.

"I'm surprised the Dark Angels risked coming during the day," Aiden says.

I glance back at Payton and when we meet eyes, we burst out laughing.

"What?"

"Do you see this neighborhood? Nobody is getting into anything that doesn't concern them."

He frowns. "That's reassuring."

"Let's land," Alex says from the front.

As most towns and suburbs in Washington, Helen's Haven is surrounded by large pine trees, which made it easy for me to land without being noticed when I would visit Payton.

We use the cover of the wilderness now as we land in the trees behind the house.

Gabriel, who is carrying Payton in his arms, gently lets her down and as soon as her feet touch the earth, I can see that she's struggling not to kiss the dirt.

Alex turns to us. "Okay, Asher, Bailey and Gabriel will come with me in the house. Charlie, you, Payton and Iris will cover the perimeter."

I'm watching Asher, hoping that he will say he'd rather stay with me. If something happened to Nancy, I don't want to put him in the position of having to tell me.

Instead, he grabs Alex by the arm and pulls him away from the rest of the group.

I try to read their lips since they're too far away to hear, but they're talking too fast for me to catch words.

I do notice Alex's eyes land on Aiden, who is having a conversation with Payton, and Asher's going worryingly to me.

It's obviously about leaving Aiden alone with me.

I give an exasperated sigh and march up to the two boys. They are both making dramatic gestures, but as I get closer, they clam up and stand straighter.

Alex opens his mouth, but I cut him off before he can start. "Look, I get it that you two don't trust him, I don't either, but trust me. I can handle Aiden if I have to. If you aren't going to let me help with finding Payton's mom, then trust me to protect my friends. And I won't even be alone with him. Charlie and Payton will have my back."

Alex and Asher exchange a look that only two boys who were just scowled at could give.

Finally, Alex turns back to me. "We know you can handle yourself, Iris. We're just trying to be cautious, but you're right. If something should happen, you, Charlie and Payton can handle it." He smiles and gives a respectable nod.

Asher, however, doesn't look so confident.

"Asher." My voice is soft as if I don't want to scare him off. Alex takes it as a cue to leave and now it's just me and Asher. I take his hands in mine and meet his eyes. "Asher, we've been through so much. Have I ever given you a reason to think I can't take care of myself."

He shakes his head and lets go of my hands, taking a step back. "That's not what this is about. I know you can protect yourself and Payton. I know Charlie would die before ye'd let something happen to you. But that White Angel," he practically spits at the mention of him, "has an entire army behind him. An army that—to me—is pretty sketchy. The idea of leaving you with him, even with Charlie and Payton—it puts a bad feeling in my stomach."

I feel anger rise in my throat, but I shove it back down. "If you don't like the plan, have Charlie go in for you. Stay out here with me. That way, you can keep an eye on him yourself."

He shakes his head. "Alex needs me with i'm. I don't think he fully trusts Charlie yet. He's better with me with him."

I almost laugh, but instead, I lower my voice. "You're making this harder than it has to be, so I'm going to choose for you. You're going in with Alex. There is more of a chance that the treat is inside the house. I'm going to keep an eye on Aiden, make sure he doesn't suddenly try to stab us in the back. And most importantly, you're going to stop worrying about me, because if you're distracted by worry, you're going to get yourself killed and I wouldn't be able to survive that." I meet his eyes. "Got it? Don't even think of me while you're in there. Cover Alex. Neither of us are defenseless, Asher. We're both stronger than we realize."

He searches my eyes and gives a small smile. "I got it."

I grab his hands again and look at his chest, unable to connect with his eyes anymore. "Just, be careful."

He squeezes my hands. "I will. Everything will be fine. Payton's mom will be inside and we're going to find her." She might be inside, they might find her, but she might not be okay. "Alive," he adds as if reading my mind, or maybe he just read my face. "She's going to be alive, Iris."

I nod. Not as an agreement, but a hope.

"Guys," Bailey shouts. "Time to go."

Asher grabs my chin gently and raises my eyes to his. "I trust you."

I smile. "Thank you."

He smiles. "Let's go find Nancy Slayter."