25
THE MURDER WAS SET to go down at eight o’clock that night.
Beck had been stalking Ramon since that morning, when he first got word from Orlon. He knew the full story now. Until today, the leader of the West Knights had no idea what happened to Lexy. He’d been by her grandmother’s house and even thought about shooting the older woman. Just to make Lexy think about what she’d done. In the end he spared the grandmother’s life for one reason.
She wasn’t worth serving time for.
Lexy, on the other hand . . . she was a different story.
Beck knew all of this, because he’d been watching Ramon for seven hours, ever since the texting that started between him and Lexy. Beck had been listening to him, waiting on him. Aspyn and Ember were nearby. They’d called on a team of angels to stand guard at Lexy’s grandma’s house.
But even then Beck knew it would take all they had to stop Ramon from killing Lexy tonight. Lexy and her unborn baby. From the place where Beck and Jag waited, invisible, Ramon stood and paced the alleyway. “No girl dumps me, the leader of West Knights, and gets away with it.”
Beck watched three other West Knights sitting on trashcans, smoking pot. “Take her out, Ramon.” One of the guys raised his joint in the air. “That’ll teach her.”
“What about her grandma?” Another one took a long drag from his joint. “You gonna shoot her, too?”
Beck saw Ramon glare at the guy. “I’ll kill anyone who gets in the way.” He rattled off a string of cuss words. “That whore is finished.”
Jag was suddenly at Beck’s side. “I’ll call the police.”
“Yes. You and Aspyn.” Beck kept an eye on Ramon. “She’s a volunteer for the Youth Center. The police will believe her.”
“You’ll stay here? With Ramon?”
“Yes.” Beck clenched his jaw. “I won’t leave his side.” Beck was already moving closer to Ramon.
“Good.” Jag looked relieved. “People like Ramon . . . they don’t bring out the best in me.”
The two angels committed to pray about the night ahead. Whatever happened, the outcome was highly critical to the mission. Every one of them knew that much. Beck watched Jag leave. Then he anchored himself a few feet from Ramon. In the near distance the air filled with silent screeches, the hissing of an army of demons.
An hour and a six-pack of beer later, Ramon coughed. “I’m ready.” He pointed to the youngest gang members. “Load my gun. You’re going with me.” He looked at another. “You, too.”
The two guys—both sixteen years old—immediately responded. One loaded Ramon’s revolver. The other took up his place at Ramon’s side. “Let’s do this.”
Ramon smiled as he took his gun. “She won’t know what hit her.”
Beck trailed them as they walked three blocks past the Youth Center, turned left, and headed straight for the house where Lexy and her grandmother and her mother were finishing Thanksgiving dinner. A cloud of darkness gathered around the place, held off only by a hedge of angels—all called in especially for this stage of the mission.
The enemy’s forces hissed and bellowed in anticipation of what was coming.
In a rush, Aspyn was at Beck’s side, the two of them moving just above Ramon and his boys. “She’s expecting him.” Aspyn had never looked more concerned. “They’ve been texting all day. She thinks it’s a reunion.”
Beck felt sick. “You think she’ll come out to meet him?”
“I do.” Aspyn pointed at three unmarked police cars parked in an empty lot across the street from Lexy’s house. The officers were armed and hiding behind their cars. Ready. “The police have been notified. They know something’s going down.”
Beck had never been more concerned. “But Lexy . . . if she runs out now . . .”
“Exactly.” Aspyn breathed deep. “She’ll get caught in the crossfire.”
If Ramon weren’t so drunk and drugged, he would’ve noticed the police cars. They weren’t that well hidden. Instead he reached Lexy’s house, pulled out his phone, and sent a text.
Beck could see every word.
Baby, I’m here . . . come on out.
“Father, delay her! In Jesus’ name!” Beck shouted the prayer. All around him he could hear other angels doing the same thing. Aspyn and Jag and Ember. But also a host of angels. The battle had never been so intense. Beck raised his voice again. “Keep her inside. Please, God.”
Jag appeared then, towering in his police uniform. He stepped out of the bushes between Lexy’s house and the waiting police officers and shouted at Ramon. “Hey! What are you doing?”
In an instant, Ramon drew his gun and aimed in Jag’s direction. But Jag disappeared before the kid could fire. At the same time the waiting police officers used a bullhorn. “Drop the weapon and put your hands up.”
Instead, Ramon fired three rounds at the officers. The policemen ducked behind their cars, and chaos followed. Ramon’s fellow gang members opened fire, too. But one of them was too close to Ramon.
Beck held his breath, praying Lexy would stay inside until the danger passed.
On the fourth shot, Ramon took a bullet in the upper back. He dropped to the ground, motionless.
“No! What’d you do?” The other gang member screamed at the one who had made the mistake. “You shot Ramon! Are you serious?”
“Get your hands up!” It was one of the police officers, still behind the line of squad cars. “Now!”
Both gang members threw their hands in the air. One of them yelled. “Someone call 9-1-1. Ramon’s been shot!”
Thank You, Father . . . thank You.” Beck rose to his full height and looked the darkness straight on. “Be gone. In the name of Jesus!”
The cloud of evil withdrew, but not completely. Never completely.
Lexy ran out the door then and immediately she saw Ramon bleeding on the ground, his friends with their hands up. “No! Ramon . . . no!”
She ran toward him, but at the same time Ramon reached for his gun. He cussed because he couldn’t grab it. His injuries were too grave. Instead he glared at Lexy. “No one walks out . . . on the leader of . . . the West Knights!”
“Ramon, what are you doing?” Lexy shrieked. “What happened?”
Again he tried to grab his gun, but before he could find the strength, he passed out.
Police rushed the scene and handcuffed the younger gang guys. A paramedic was called for Ramon. Beck was suddenly surrounded by Jag and Aspyn and Ember. The four of them hugged for a long time. Then they formed a circle and prayed. They thanked God that on this Thanksgiving Day, Lexy Jones had been allowed to live.
Light had overcome the darkness—at least for Lexy and her baby.
And then the angels prayed for a single mom seven blocks away who—later tonight—would get word that her son wasn’t only in trouble again.
He was dead.
26
EVEN THE WEATHERMEN SAID it was the most beautiful December third that Southern California had ever seen. Sami wasn’t surprised. God had done the miraculous time and again to bring this day together.
Of course He would give them beautiful weather, too.
Before the guests arrived, Sami and Mary Catherine walked out to where a hundred and fifty chairs were set up. The management of the Ritz-Carlton had given them the prettiest grassy knoll on the property. Each of the chairs was covered in white satin with white bows tied in the back. The only thing that would separate their guests from the stunning view of the ocean were two lattice archways.
The spot where later today Sami would stand with Tyler, and Mary Catherine with Marcus.
“It feels like a dream.” Mary Catherine stood beside her best friend.
“Especially with that view.” Sami stared out at the ocean. The temperature was sixty-eight and climbing. By the time the wedding started at four o’clock it was supposed to be in the low seventies. “It couldn’t be more perfect.”
They had three hours before the ceremony, thirty minutes befor
e they’d do hair and makeup in the bridal room. They would be each other’s maids of honor. Sami had three of her UCLA friends as bridesmaids. Mary Catherine’s bridesmaids were three of her friends from Nashville, girls she’d grown up with.
They had each written their own vows and picked their own cakes. Most of the Dodgers organization had been invited—guests Mary Catherine would’ve invited, too. The idea of a double wedding not only worked—but it was giving them the chance to share their special day in a way they would remember forever.
“Lexy will be here soon.” Mary Catherine checked the time on her phone. One of the bridesmaids was bringing her earlier than the other guests. She wanted to be in the bridal room—just to have a reason to be happy. “Poor girl.”
“I told her not to respond to Ramon’s texts or calls.” Sami sighed. Her heart broke for Lexy. “Now she thinks it’s her fault. That if she hadn’t been texting Ramon, he wouldn’t have come to her grandmother’s house to kill her.” She paused. “No logic at all.”
“I’m glad she’s seeing a Christian counselor.” Mary Catherine looked out at the ocean. “She can’t go back to the old neighborhood again. Lexy knows that now.”
“Yes.” Sami stared at the expanse of blue. “She needs full-time help. Just to believe God really has a plan for her. Even now.”
They were quiet for a moment. The tragedy of that night was something Lexy would live with forever.
After a while, Sami turned to Mary Catherine. “We need to remember this moment. Just before getting married.” She smiled.
“Definitely.” Mary Catherine used her phone, and the two of them grinned for the picture.
Sami looked at the photo for a long time. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” She gave Mary Catherine a side hug, holding her phone up so they could both see the picture.
“I remember when you were dating Arnie. You were actually going to marry him.” Mary Catherine sat on the nearest wedding chair and patted the seat beside her. “Sit for a minute.”
“Dear old Arnie.” Sami sat next to Mary Catherine. The bluff was quiet, serene. Just the two of them and the gentle breeze off the Pacific. “So very safe.”
“I kept telling you to break up.” A soft laugh slipped from Mary Catherine. “Your heart was never into Arnie. Not once.”
“And what if you hadn’t pushed me to see Tyler, during that business trip to Pensacola?” Sami smiled at her friend. “I’ll be forever grateful for that.”
“It was your way of skydiving. Taking a risk.” Mary Catherine tilted her face to the early-afternoon sky. “You had to see him.”
Sami could hardly get her mind around all the changes that had happened since then. Tyler had gone from injured and homeless to one of the top pitching coaches for the Dodgers. Just last week he’d gotten word that his position was permanent. “I would’ve loved him anyway . . . till the day I died.” Sami leaned back in the chair. “I just didn’t know it. Not until you pointed it out.”
A peaceful feeling settled around them. Mary Catherine grinned. “That’s what friends are for.”
“And what about you? Going off to Africa and nearly dying.” Sami still couldn’t believe the miracle of Mary Catherine’s healing. The fact that she was alive at all. “You should’ve told me.”
“I should have.” Mary Catherine nodded. “I knew you’d tell Marcus.”
“Good thing I did.” Sami felt the depth in her smile. “You wouldn’t be here.”
Mary Catherine stood and drew a deep breath. “I guess we’re both here because of each other.”
“And the grace of God.” Sami rose to her feet and for a moment the two of them stayed there, side by side, facing the ocean and looking at the place where they would say their vows later that day. “It’s going to be a perfect day.”
“Yes.” Mary Catherine linked arms with Sami and they headed back into the resort toward the bridal room. Mary Catherine looked back just once. “The most perfect day of all.”
SAMI DIDN’T OFTEN THINK about her parents. She was so little when they were killed. But today in the bridal suite, she couldn’t stop wondering how it would feel to have her mother here, beside her. Helping her into her dress.
The way Mary Catherine’s mother was helping her a few feet away.
At first Sami had thought about asking her grandmother to take her mother’s place. But that didn’t feel right. Her grandmother was a special person, a kind woman who had given up much of her life to raise Sami. Still, they weren’t particularly close. And so Sami had simply asked her bridesmaids to join her a little earlier.
Their hair and makeup was already done. Now all that was left was the dress.
“It’s time!” One of Sami’s friends nodded to the pretty white dress hanging elegantly from a hanger on a hook nearby. “Let’s make you into a bride.”
Across the room, Mary Catherine’s mother was fastening a row of thirty small buttons down the back of her gown. As she finished, Mary Catherine turned and held out her hands. “Well? How do I look?”
Sami felt her heart melt. There would never be another friend as dear to her as Mary Catherine. “You’re the most beautiful bride ever.”
“The two most beautiful brides.” Mary Catherine’s mother smiled at Sami. “Your dress is stunning, dear.”
“Thank you.” Sami held her hands up while her friends lifted her dress and let it fall into place. The room had mirrors everywhere, and already Sami felt like a princess. “I wish we could wear these dresses again.”
“Like once a month for a special date night.” Mary Catherine twirled around, swishing her long skirt back and forth.
Sami laughed. “Exactly.”
“Every girl should feel like this at least once in her life.” Mary Catherine smoothed her lacy dress and the layers of taffeta beneath it. “I’ve never felt so alive.”
That was saying something for Mary Catherine. Sami held her arms up while one of her friends eased her zipper up. “Better than skydiving?”
A smile lifted the corners of Mary Catherine’s mouth. “So much better.”
Her friends finished with her zipper, and after fluffing out her train, Sami turned and faced Mary Catherine. “Here I am!”
Mary Catherine had been fixing her hair. Now she turned to Sami and gasped. “You look absolutely stunning.” She walked closer. “Tyler won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
The bridesmaids were all ready and they’d taken dozens of photos. Now there were just ten minutes before the wedding was set to start. Sami took hold of Mary Catherine’s hands and smiled at the group. “Let’s pray before heading out.” She felt a surreal sort of peace surround her and the others.
“God is with us, His presence is here.” Mary Catherine smiled at the faces around her. “This wedding . . . marrying Marcus . . . I’ve never felt so sure about anything in all my life.”
They all held hands and Mary Catherine’s mother began the prayer, asking for God’s blessing over the two weddings and the marriages that would begin today. Several of the girls prayed, too. Some of them thanking God for bringing them all together, and for the gift of marriage, others asking for His continued presence in the lives of Sami and Mary Catherine and the men they were marrying.
Sami closed her eyes and suddenly she was there again. Sitting on her grandparents’ roof, looking at stars next to the cutest boy she’d ever seen, and he was looking into her eyes and asking her to be his girlfriend. And they were sharing a million happy high school moments and then she was watching his bus drive off as he left to play for the minor leagues.
And she was walking through the doors of Merrill Place Retirement Center, seeing Tyler for the first time in years and wondering whether that would be their final goodbye, and she was opening her laptop one night and seeing a letter from him and knowing she would never love any man the way she loved Tyler Ames.
And she was standing on the beach meeting him again for the first time since his return to Los Angeles. And he
was taking her hand and telling her he couldn’t live without her and she was learning that because of a sweet old woman named Virginia, Tyler had changed. He was real in his faith and his character, and he forever would be. And like that the year flew by and Sami was once more on the rooftop of her grandparents’ house and Tyler was asking her the only question that remained between them.
And she was saying yes. Yes, a million times yes.
In a single moment she could see it all.
As the prayers ended, Sami whispered to her friend, “Thanks for helping me find my way back to Tyler.” She hugged her. “I love you, Mary Catherine.”
“You, too.” Mary Catherine grinned at Sami. “You taught me how to love. Otherwise I would’ve run from Marcus forever.”
The photographer stood on a nearby chair and captured their hug. Sami was grateful. She could picture herself some far-off day, ninety years old, sitting in a rocking chair and having the photo from this moment somewhere nearby.
A reminder of the forever friend who had taught her how to live.
How to really live.
TYLER HAD HEARD from a few of his married friends that a man’s wedding day was the most profound page in the story of his life. Now that he and Marcus were standing inside the back foyer of the Ritz-Carlton, dressed in their tuxes, ready to walk out and meet their brides, Tyler could only say he agreed.
All day God had brought to mind images of His faithfulness. The way He’d loved Tyler through his minor league days and His grace in healing his arm and restoring his career. And even the way God had connected him with Virginia Hutcheson.
Tyler had thought about her today, too.
Virginia had taught him about love and grace and second chances. Despite the dementia she faced in her final days, the two of them had shared many beautiful, profound conversations. And in those conversations dear Virginia had thought she was talking with her son. All of which made Tyler miss his own parents. Virginia believed in family. And how a family was forever, no matter what.
Joy filled Tyler’s heart. His parents were here this evening because of Virginia Hutcheson. More than that, he was here today because of her. Even when Sami walked back into his life, he would’ve been too embarrassed to ever talk to her again if it weren’t for Virginia. And something else the woman did for him.