Jenalyn: Crossing Lines (#4) [Complete]

Chapter 55: Hayden

Monday, 5:00 P.M. EST

“Evelyn is staying here until she gets her fucking shit together,” Dane says upon opening his apartment door. 

I don’t even notice Evelyn’s body slumped over his shoulder until he very carelessly throws her down onto the couch beside where Sierra and I still sit. She doesn’t look high, but her limp body and glazed over eyes show that she’s been through some shit today. 

“Why, what’s wrong with Evy?” Sierra pipes in after a second, both reluctantly and over-excitedly if that’s possible. 

Dane doesn’t bat a lash though. He’s been on a mission since he walked through that door- he went to the kitchen to grab a beer first, then made his way to the safe over in the corner of the living room, and then into his room for a few moments before making his way back out here. 

“Evelyn overdosed today!” Dane exclaims matter-of-factly, probably in response to Sierra, though late. “She thought she was going to be slick, and take the easy route out of here! And though death is probably the only route for any of you to get out of here… it just wasn’t her time.” 

Evelyn overdosed? What is she fucking doing? She wasn’t supposed to be touching drugs in the first place! And now this?!

I glance over to where she sits slumped over on the couch. A heavy feeling easily settles over my chest, but McKaiden’s stirring inside of me is quick to remind me that now isn’t the time to try to do anything about it. I had my chance to get her out of here, but that meant risking more lives than what was already in play. 

Dane quickly breaks down four thick lines on the coffee table in front of us, visibly exciting Sierra. 

I bet she’s expecting to get some of that. 

But if I know Dane, and I do- that’s two lines for him, and two for him to force me to snort. He’s too pissed right now to even consider “blessing” her with a line. But me? Forcing me to take them would ease his anger, reminding him that he’s got control of at least something in his life right now. 

He tosses me a rolled up twenty with no hesitation as soon as he’s finished sloppily breaking down the lines. 

“Don’t be a pain in the ass, Jenalyn,” he says in a stern tone. “I’m not in the mood for bullshit right now. Take two of those and get your ass in your room so I can lock you up before Rob gets here.” 

Rob? Why does he have to come over? I don’t feel like dealing with him right now. I can’t... even if he is trying to work out a way to save me and the baby...

Well… probably just the baby.

I put the bill to my nostril and inhale both lines without complaints before attempting to inquire about it.

“Rob?” Sierra asks after a second, eagerly reaching for the bill once I lift my head from the table. She beat me to the punch, but it’s probably for the better. “Why’s he coming over?” 

Dane snatches the bill from her grasp, shooting her a dirty look before snorting the last two lines himself. Only after he finishes does he clear his throat and go to respond.

“To babysit, if you must know,” he says matter-of-factly, using the table to pull himself from the floor to go retrieve his beer. He shoots Sierra another dirty look before forcefully extending his arm toward the bathroom. “Now get your ass in the shower. You've got two appointments later, and you look like shit.” 

Sierra pouts beside me, and slowly lifts herself from the couch to make her way to the bathroom. I wish I had it in me to laugh, but I don’t. 

Evelyn fucking overdosed. I’m in a whole shit ton of pain. I’m using drugs while pregnant with my daughter. Fucking Rob is coming over…

I can’t do much of anything except dread.

“-and didn’t I tell you to get the fuck in your room?” Dane frustratedly asks after a few moments, turning to me.

I forgot I had follow up plans, but even now upon remembering, I have no idea what to do. “My room?” I ask, confused.

Dane rolls his eyes and uses the same hand he used to point Sierra toward the bathroom to direct me to the room he locks me in when he leaves the house and doesn’t trust me not to escape.

That’s never been my room… It’s just a spare for the girls he damned near kills. I share a room with Dane…

“Can’t I just go to your room…?” I ask, confusion still present in my voice. “I’m not going to try to leave, Dane- that’s stupid!”

He rolls his eyes again, and damned near chucks his half full beer right at my face. “If I wanted you in my room, don’t you think I would have told you to go to my room?!” he snarls, leaving no room for me to attempt a response. 

I guess I wouldn’t even if he had left the room.