The Dealers

Chapter 39 - Lena

I was officially the worst person on the planet. I was the biggest asshole of all time. Not going with Azrael didn't bode with for Noah and his brothers. I did what I thought I was best but, walking away from Noah was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

Nothing would compare to the look on Noah's face as he begged me to stay and I still walked away. Azrael was winning and I didn't know how to stop him. Everything I did made me wonder if I was just playing into Azrael's master plan without even knowing it.

Why did protecting Noah have to mean hurting him?

He will never forgive me.

"You did the right thing, you know?" Azrael said as I sat beside him in the back of a blacked out limousine. We had been driving for hours and he still wouldn't tell me where we were going.

"How do you figure?" I scoffed at him, not caring what happened to myself at that point. The guilt was eating me alive.

"Noah is better off in the long run because of this." He explained. "You're doing him a favor."

Somehow, I didn't think that Noah would see it that way and I surely didn't.

"You better keep your word." I warned Azrael as if I could actually do anything if he went back on his promises.

"Didn't you see me not hurt Noah at the club?" He said as he watched me intently beside him. "I could have done worse and I should have."

Catching a glimpse of the dark Azrael in between the casual interactions with him was odd and I wondered who he really was, deep down. I wondered but, not enough to humor him in anyway. I wouldn't forget that he had forced my hand here knowing how I felt about Noah and knowing that I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his wellbeing.

As the limousine drove on, I was at least grateful for ample space to stretch my legs. I was getting antsy in the back of the car and had no idea where we were going. Would it be another hour or twelve? By then, it was well after four in the morning and I was exhausted. I should be fast asleep next to Noah in my bed, not on the road with Azrael going God-knows where.

"Can I ask you something?" I turned to Azrael and as uncomfortable as I felt sitting casually next to someone I still saw as a monster, I had to know one thing.

Not allowing me to scoot further away from him in the spacious backseat, Azrael examined my face before answering, "shoot."

I bit my lip with uneasiness as I thought how best to word my question without offending him but before I can speak, Azrael scoffed, "you can't do that, Lena..."

"Do what?" I asked even though I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

Licking his lips slowly, Azrael looked me over from the top of my curly brown, hair lose from a hair tie, down to my brown eyes that still had a hint of fear in them and to my mouth where my lip was still tucked between my teeth.

Biting my lip was a nervous habit. I couldn't help it.

"That." He said as he lifted his finger and gently pulled my lip down.

I inhaled and held my breath.

"Your question?" He asked after a moment and I remembered to exhale.

"Uh—I was just wondering," I stuttered, "what changed?" Unsure if I was being clear, I found myself babbling, "I mean, the first two times you came to the club, you were different."

"Was I?" He asked even though he knew what I was talking about. Something had shifted in him. While he was still scary, it was almost as if he was tying not to be.