Page 45 of Avenging Angel

Answering my unasked question, Uri says, “They can’t see or hear me.”

Roger’s eyes briefly move to the spot I’m looking at when a small smile forms on his face. He might not see or hear Uri, but I get the feeling he knows there’s a divine presence in our midst. To his credit, he says nothing, just walks over to me and pulls me into an embrace. “We prayed for a miracle and got one.”

The moment is shattered when Bennett says, “There hasn’t been any seismic activity in the area.” Shining his light into the cavern and seeing the other entrances blocked, he adds, “Why wouldn’t we have felt it? Why are the other tunnels still blocked as though nothing happened?”

Jeremy shrugs. “Maybe it was a localized event?”

“That’s not how earthquakes work,” Bennett replies. He stands up and shakes the dust off his pants. “No, you two had help. Who was it, and where did they go?”

Scott folds his arms. “I’m more concerned with how it happened in the first place. Only the cavern caved in. Rather than standing here arguing about it, I suggest we be thankful for the miracle and get out of here before we become the next victims. Half the townsfolk are in the tunnels clearing debris, putting their lives at risk. We need to let them know that Daisy and Angel are safe.”

I turn to Uri and whisper, “Thank you. You’ve saved me twice now. I don’t know how I’ll repay you.”

“There’s no debt owed, Daisy. That’s not how God works. It’s not tit-for-tat,” Uri replies.

I dip my chin a fraction to acknowledge his words. “Will I ever see you again?”

Uri shrugs. “That is not up to me. Just know that the Father is always with you, watching over you. He will not forsake you in your darkest hours. And Daisy, there will be dark hours ahead. You’ll want vengeance. Your head will war with your soul. Don’t let the darkness win. Trust that Yahweh is in full control, even when things seem dire and hope is but a flicker in your heart.”

“Uh, Daisy?” Jeremy asks. “Who are you talking to?”

“Would you believe me if I said my guardian angel?” I ask in a playful way.

Jeremy thinks about it for a second with far more seriousness than I intended, glancing back at the rubble that should have taken a dozen men and equipment to move before saying, “Yes. Yes, I would.”

Bennett scoffs as he shakes his head and charges forward. “Angels don’t exist. They’re as mythical as fairies, gnomes, and dragons. Anyone who believes differently should have their head examined.”

“Well, we do need medical attention,” Angel quips, pointing to the dirty bandage on his head.

Chapter eighteen

Angel

Daisy lies curled up next to me, sleeping soundly on the hospital bed that clearly isn’t made to fit two people. The doctors treated us both for minor cuts and scrapes and hypoxia, even though we both felt fine, then followed it up with a psych evaluation after such a traumatic ordeal. Per Uri’s instructions, we did not speak of his or Eva’s involvement, which I now understand was not only for Eva’s safety, but for ours as well.

As it stands, I’ve been kept overnight for observation due to the bump on my head. I can’t imagine how long Daisy and I would have been stuck in therapy sessions if we’d admitted that an angel, no, an archangel, helped us escape by praying for the Lord to make the earth tremble and shake. If I hadn’t been there and witnessed it for myself, I don’t know if I would have truly believed it despite knowing angels exist.

Owen and Jeremy walk into the room and disrupt my thoughts, while Scott and Jack keep guard outside. “We need to talk,” Owen says.

“If this is about Daisy and me taking our friendship to the next level, I’m really not in the mood for that conversation. So I’ll just get it out there. She’s safe with me, and I would never hurt her intentionally. You have my word that I’ll treat her with the respect she deserves.”

Owen dismisses the comment as though it’s the farthest thing from his mind, while Jeremy scans the room for listening devices or cameras. “I’m not worried about that, not after Daisy told me how you got the bump on your head. You shielded my sister and protected her with your life. I’m grateful she has someone like you in her corner.”

“Then what is it you need to tell me?”

Waiting until Jeremy gives the all clear, Owen says, “You were trapped for four days, and it drew a lot of public attention from the media and police, who would like to talk to the two of you. Bennett is not happy that so much focus is now directed toward the one place he didn’t want it to go.”

Jeremy sets the scanner down on a chair and comes over next to us. He taps Daisy’s shoulder to wake her, which draws a frown from me. “I know you want her to rest, but she needs to hear this.”

“I’m listening with my eyes closed,” Daisy murmurs. “What do the police want to know?”

“Your side of the story,” Jeremy says, gripping the bars of the hospital bed. “So far, Roger has brought the police in on the investigation using non-disclosure agreements and sharing what we know, which isn’t much. The explosive devices found at the scene were military grade.”

Owen grits his teeth. “I found a partial lot number belonging to a shipment sent to Dominion two years ago, but we haven’t shared that information with anyone, including Bennett.”

Understanding dawns on me as to why Jeremy scanned the room before giving us the facts. “You don’t trust Bennett.”

“He said it himself: Dominion is off-limits. If that’s where our investigation leads, then I don’t want Bennett impeding what needs to be done while it’s still in our hands. Director Finnegan is already creating an FBI task force to investigate the company. Though Dominion is based overseas, the company operates in the United States, thereby giving the FBI jurisdiction. It’s very hush-hush at the moment because we don’t want word leaking about the impending investigation.”