Chapter 31 - Lena

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Stumbling back into the bar, I could barely stand. My vision was beginning to waiver and I felt like I was going to pass out. Thankfully, I saw a blurry Jacob standing at the bar. He looked up and saw me struggling over.

"Shit, Lena, what the fuck?" He asked with wide eyes as I let myself rely more on him than my own two legs.

Sitting me down on the nearest bar stool, he steadied me and tried to get me to speak but, I had no words.

"You're shaking!" He said with a rumble in his voice.

"Everything okay?" I heard Max ask but his voice was muffled and soon, I could barely hear anything.

"Lena..." Jacob's familiar voice pushed through the numbness in my ears and I opened my eyes fully, realizing that I wasn't at the bar anymore but in Jacob's office at his desk.

I tried to focus.

"What the hell happened?" He asked again but I was unsure myself. "Should I call 9-1-1?"

Scared at the fuss an ambulance would cause, I shook my head slowly.

"Then talk to me." He argued but I found it impossible to formulate a sentence.

"Fuck!" He yelled as he slammed his fist into a nearby file cabinet, denting it.

It was another minutes before I could even bring myself to speak. Jacob sat there across from me and draped a blanket around me to help with the shivering but, I wasn't shivering because I was cold, I was shivering because I was terrified.

Azrael.

I felt drunk and unsteady even seated but I tried desperately to clear the brain fog that remained. Even though Azrael had left, I couldn't get his face or his voice out of my mind. The terror I felt every second he was close to me still lingered and I fought desperately to regain my bearings.

"Drink this." Jacob said as he handed me a glass of water.

Less likely to pass out then, I reached for the glass and took it with a shaky hand.

"Thanks." I said, my first word since I stumbled back into the bar.

Jacob was in front of me, kneeling down and examining me as I spoke finally.

"Lena?" He asked and I looked him in the eyes to acknowledge that I was okay, "Lena what's going on?"

"I—I don't know." I said honestly, still not sure how to process what just happened.

The terror I felt when Azrael had me up against the wall kept replaying in my mind. For a long while, I thought he was going to kill me. Then, I realized that he was only toying with me. That was slightly worse because there was nothing I could do about it.

As Azrael had placed his hand to my face and gently stroked my cheek despite my protest, I knew there was nothing I could do to stop him. If Noah had made one thing clear, it was that Azrael was dangerous.

"I—I just need another minute." I blurted out, my words choppy and my voice weak.

Jacob nodded and sat back down to give me space. Sipping the water slowly from the glass, a faint commotion came from the bar and Jacob jumped up.

"I'll be right back." He told me as he rushed out.

Bursting through he door moments later, Jacob wasn't alone. Noah was in tow and he looked like he was going to kill someone.

"Do not take a swing at my bartender, bro!" Jacob warned Noah as he gestured to me sitting down at the desk. "I told you I would take you to her."

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"He's got the attitude problem." Noah bit back as he eyed Max through the doorway.

Jacob slammed the door shut and swore under his breath.

"Focus!" Jacob spat at Noah and immediately, he snapped back to me sitting there.

"Jesus!" Noah exclaimed as he fell to his knees in front of me and helped me put the water glass on the nearby desk. Turning to Jacob he demanded answers, "what the fuck happened?"

"I don't know!" Jacob barked at him as he ran his hand through the shaggy hair on his head.

Why was I such a mess?

"She's terrified, can't you tell?" Noah asked as if he saw that kind of emotional response all the time. "She's fucking shaking."

"I'm aware, Captain Obvious," Jacob snapped at him, "if you have a clue, I'm all ears. I just barely got her to say a fucking word."

Noah turned to me and tried to examine the look on my face. He lifted his hand to brush the curls from my face but paused. His eyes grew wide and the concern turned to anger.

"Where was she?" He demanded of Jacob without turning to face him.

"She was doing inventory out back and she came in looking like she was going to pass out" Jacob explained as best he could. "She sat here for a half hour without saying anything."

"I'm taking her home." Noah said abruptly as he got up from his knees and looked around for my belongings.

"I can take her home." Jacob argued but the fact was that he had to stay at the bar.

"She's mine so, I'll take her." Noah spat without even thinking how that must sound to Jacob.

Regardless, Jacob didn't fight him on it further and helped get my bag from under the register. I think he complied more for me than for Noah.

"Can you at least let me know that she's okay?" Jacob asked genuinely as he handed Noah my bag. "I'll get Dorian to help me take her truck back to her house."

Noah didn't make a comment about Dorian as I expected him to but simply nodded as he hoisted me into a fireman carry and Jacob held the door open for him to rush me out.

Outside, I felt the cold night air on one side of my face as I buried the other into Noah's chest. He carried me from the bar to his car and gently placed me into the passenger's seat.

"Noah..." I said softly but he was already in the driver's seat and speeding out of the parking lot.

"Shh..." he insisted, "just rest. We'll be at your place soon."

I did as I was told because I was unexpectedly exhausted. Everything happened so quickly and I just wanted to feel like my old self again.

Noah's anger was evident but when he turned to look at me, he softened. There was something that he wanted to say but he was waiting until I was home before we spoke.

By the time we pulled up to my place, I was feeling slightly nauseated but otherwise okay. When Noah swung around to open the door for me, I was able to stand on my own.

"Easy..." he sighed but, I wanted to walk on my own.

Guiding me up the porch, I unlocked the front door and Noah continued to hover as I walked inside and turned on the main light switch.

Pointing me in the direction of the nearest chair, I opted for the comfortable couch instead. Frustrated with my noncompliance, Noah sat apprehensively on the edge of the seat beside me.

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