Chapter 44 Lincoln
Icould feel my knee shaking the table in front of me. The coffee they offered remained untouched but vibrated to the movement. Angry couldn’t even describe what I was feeling. At least 5 detectives interrogated me about my connections with Alayna Morris. I understood why they perceived me as her captor, but I also knew without evidence or her cooperation they had to let me go. I refused to give them any names because I already planned to kill those fuckers, but didn’t want it to come back on me later. They took my phone, so I hadn’t been able to check on Laynie. I gave her a burner phone from my bag with my credit card in it before I left. I told J.C. to go pick her up, so hopefully she’s just been in the penthouse waiting for me. Honestly knowing that was the only thing keeping me sane. I knew J.C, would help her and make sure she was fed and comfortable.
“Alright Mr. Hayes, we are going to let you go for now, and if you think of anything else,” he reached into his coat pocket and handed me his business card, “let me know.”
I grabbed the card and dumped it into the trash can on my way out. I pulled my phone and wallet out of the plastic bag they handed me. First, I powered it on and read texts from Laynie.
Are you okay?
Where are you?
J.C didn’t come, Don did. Come and get me, please.
My heart was racing after reading she was with Don. What the fuck, J.C.?”
I miss you.
Hey, I left Don’s. I couldn’t stay there anymore. Came to penthouse but they won’t let me up. Phone is at 2%. Will try to come back in the morning and see if you’re here. I’m okay.
The last text was at 5:16 AM. They wouldn’t let her up? I gripped the side of my phone and tried dialing her number, but of course it went to voicemail. I dialed J.C. next. No answer.
It was already 9 AM. I had no idea what she would have done for 4 hours, but I hoped she was safe. My car was at the hospital parking lot and would take me an extra hour to go pick up. I decide to take the train to the penthouse.
I texted and called J.C. four more times, but no response. Since I didn’t know the circumstances of Laynie leaving Don’s, I refrained from calling him and alerting him of anything. I took a breath and just had to wait until I got there to find Alayna.
The last train was 4 blocks from my apartment and I walked slowly taking my time to look for her on the street. I’m sure she was close by. I scanned the faces of everyone passing by but none of them were her. Bursting into the building, I forcefully grabbed the collar of the blonde guy behind the counter.
“Why the fuck did you not let my girlfriend up to the penthouse?”
He put his hands in the air in fear and began to stutter an excuse. “I didn’t know, sir. I’m so sorry.”
“I added her fucking name to the list.” I threw him back, and he landed in the rolling chair behind him.
“Sh-she looked homeless, sir. My impression was that she was merely a drug addict. I even saw her pull needles out of her bag. I didn’t even think to look for her name in the system.”
I didn’t have the restraint to respond to him without putting my fist through his windpipe.
I pushed the door open and studied the street. Where would she go? I checked her last location when the phone died and saw it was a coffee shop a few blocks up. I almost ran there, pushing past people on the sidewalk. When I walked up, I saw her immediately. She was leaning up against the window, with her face hidden under the hood of her jacket.
I pulled open the door, and the little bell dinged. The line was long, so no one even noticed me. I excused my way through the tiny little shop until I was standing in front of her. I knelt down and touched her thigh.
“Baby.”
She jerked awake in a panic, but her face relaxed when her eyes met mine. “Linc,” her voice quivered.
“Let’s go.” I helped her up and wrapped my arm around her, pulling her body against me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just really sleepy.”
“Let’s go get some sleep then.”
We walked out of the coffee shop and back to the penthouse. Security avoided eye contact with me when we entered the building.
Once inside the apartment, we both wanted to collapse on the bed, but I made her change into pajamas first. She curled up next to me and I waited for her to doze off before checking her sugar levels. It was high and I remember the doctor saying stress can cause her levels to be higher, even without eating. He also mentioned that sometimes in the wee morning hours, levels can jump up. I gave her insulin, and she didn’t even flinch. We needed to see the endocrinologist soon. I would make an appointment when we woke up later this afternoon.
* * *
Laynie stirred beneath me, and I heard the elevator open. I got out of bed but grabbed my gun from the nightstand.
“It’s me,” J.C. called out.
I put the gun back and entered the living room.
“What the fuck?”
“I’m sorry. Don was with me when you called, and he said he was going to handle it. What was I supposed to do?”
“You were supposed to do what the fuck I said. Go get her and bring her here,” I snarled.
“Okay, well, that’s easier said than done when I’m dealing with our father.” She placed a bag of groceries on the counter.
“That’s your problem. You need to stop dealing with him.”
“Is she okay?”
“Who the fuck knows? She’s sleeping.”
I could see J.C. biting the side of her cheek, debating on saying something.
“What? Say it,” I said.
“It’s just that Don is looking for her. He said she busted out his screen and went out the window. He’s blaming me. As if it’s my fault.”
“Well, if something didn’t happen, she wouldn’t have felt the need to escape. And she’s not in his control. She left and fuck him. Don’t tell him shit.”
She nodded, but I could tell she didn’t like that answer.
“What the fuck is going on with you lately? It feels like I don’t even know you.”
“I just have a lot going on,” she said as she put the groceries away.
“When have you ever not been able to tell me what’s going on? Is it Don? Did he do something? You know I’ll break his fucking neck.”
“No. It’s not him. Please, just leave it alone.”
I saw Laynie out of the corner of my eye, leaning against the door frame.
“You cooking something?” I asked J.C.
“Yeah, I was going to make some pasta. You guys want some?”
“Yeah, we’ll eat. I’m starving,” I said.
She nodded and turned around to grab a pan from the cabinet. Something was off and I was going to figure it out, but one problem at a time, I guess.
Laynie and I snuggled under the blanket on the couch while J.C. cooked for us. Something seemed off with her too, but she said nothing happened with Don. She just didn’t feel comfortable there. I couldn’t blame her given the last time we were there, she has pissed on his floor.
We ate, and both realized we would probably be up all night since we slept all day. I also noticed that J.C. and Laynie weren’t talking much during dinner. I had no idea what the fuck was going on.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Much better than before.”
“Let’s go out then. We’ll do something fun. Neither of us are tired.”
“I don’t know. What if-”
“Stop. Nothing is going to happen.”
She nodded. “Okay, let’s go out then.”
I waited on the couch while Laynie got ready in the bathroom. J.C. let her borrow her makeup and some clothes. They were almost the same size.
“Do you want to go with us?” I asked J.C.
“I’m not feeling like a tricycle today, but thanks anyway.”
I threw a couch pillow at her. “You aren’t a third wheel bozo. Come out with us. We’ll have fun. I’ll buy you a drink.”
“I’m really not in the mood, but you guys go, have fun. She deserves some fun.”
Laynie emerged from the bedroom. She had a long sleeve maroon dress on with see through sleeves. The dress hit just above her knees. She wore high heels black boots that made me want to rip off her dress and take her back in the bedroom.
I got up and helped her put her coat on.
“You’re stunning.”
She instinctively touched a scar above her eye and I grabbed her hand.
“You’re perfect.”
She closed her eyes as if she was convincing herself that my words were true. I would tell her every day if I had to.
Liam had brought my car to the garage this morning and although I would have preferred the train, I knew she would feel safer in my car.
I opened the door for her and watched her climb inside. I saw a small wince when she sat in the seat and wondered what was hurting her. If I found out Don had even laid a finger on her, I would slit his throat.
We arrived at the poetry club and found a seat in the back. It was dim with red lights illuminating around us. I pulled her close to me and ordered two drinks.
“I’ve never been to anything like this before.”
“You’ll love it.”
Spoken word was one of my favorite forms of art. The feelings they poured into their words were incredible.
Laynie watched with awe as each artist’s words broke the silence of the room. I even saw her wipe her eyes when a woman talked about men taking advantage of her. I knew she would connect to this. We didn’t talk, we just enjoyed the moment.
I remember when I first came to this club years ago. I was in my early teens and avoiding home. My high school English teacher was teaching a poetry unit, and I laughed and told her how stupid poetry was. She told me to come here because she was performing one night. I acted as though I would never come to something like this, but secretly sneaked in and stood in the back. I watched her perform in a way that was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time. She was a stunning woman, and I had never appreciated what kind of teacher she was. Her immense care for her culture and people made me realize things I had never even paid attention to. She changed my life. I don’t even think she knew I came to see her that night, but I never saw poetry the same again. I ended up getting an A in the class. My only A all year.