All Chapters of The Thin Redline Between Love and Hate: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Calla: The first thing I noticed was the warmth. Not the heat of the Florida sun creeping through the cracks in the old boathouse, not the blanket tangled around us. Him. I blinked slowly, still caught somewhere between dreaming and waking. My cheek rested against Jace's chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear. Strong. Calm. Outside, the storm had finally passed. Rainwater dripped from the old tin roof in slow, rhythmic taps, and the first streaks of dawn painted the sky beyond the dusty warehouse windows in soft shades of pink and orange.For a moment… I forgot where we were. Then everything came rushing back. The beach festival. Running through the rain. The police. The abandoned boathouse. The conversation. The kisses. The night we'd shared together. I pulled the blanket a little higher around myself, suddenly aware of just how close we were, and that we both were completely naked. Jace stirred beneath me. A sleepy smile spread across his face before his eyes even opened.

Calla:The ride up the elevator felt like it lasted five minutes, or five hours, couldn't decide.My fingers drummed against my thigh, as I watched the morning sun dance across the water through the glass windows. Everything looked beautiful. Everything felt terrifying. Every story gave me another minute to think. About Jace. About the investigation. About last night. About the way he'd looked at me when he'd said we'd figure it out together. My stomach fluttered. Then immediately knotted itself. There was no pretending anymore. Not after last night. Not after the way I'd fallen asleep wrapped up in his arms. Not after waking up there. I smiled despite myself. Then, ding, I was at my apartment floor at the complex. Reality waited behind the front door.I walked to the door and unlocked it. My body felt heavy. My hair was still damp from the storm. Jace's flannel flowed over my frame. I'd forgotten to give it back. I hugged myself for a second, taking in the scent, then smiled. "I'll

Calla: I couldn't breathe. Dad's words still echoed through my apartment long after he'd slammed the door. Stay away from Jace. I've already lost one kid. I'm not losing another.I leaned against the kitchen counter, staring at nothing. The apartment suddenly felt too small. Too quiet. Too much like a cage. No. I needed air. I hurried into my bedroom, throwing my hair into a messy ponytail. Fresh jeans. An oversized faded teal T-shirt. My favorite white and teal Nike Dunks. I didn't even bother with makeup. I grabbed my keys and practically ran for the door. The second Bubblegum fired to life, I felt myself breathe a little easier. Just drive. That's all. Clear your head. Figure everything out later.Traffic rolled steadily across the Eastside Bridge. The bay sparkled beneath the morning sun, calm enough you'd never guess a storm had torn through the city just hours before. I rolled the windows down. The salty breeze whipped loose strands of hair across my face. My phone was in th

Calla:Something was ringing. Over, And over, And over. It was my phone. Fuckkkkkk. I groaned into the pillow, burying my face deeper beneath the blanket. Whoever it was… They were persistent. My hand blindly searched the nightstand. Nothing. I cracked one eye open. The unfamiliar room slowly came into focus. The faded walls. The old dresser. The cracked window looking out over the marsh. Right. The Reapers clubhouse. Jace. Everything. I sat up too quickly. My head protested immediately."Ow..." My phone vibrated again. It was sitting on the chair beside the bed. Dad. Of course it was. I glanced around the room. Empty. Jace was gone. Probably downstairs. I answered. "...Hello?""Calla." His voice sounded tired. More tired than I'd ever heard it. "Thank God. I've been calling you.""My phone was on silent.""Where are you?"I hesitated. "Safe.""Calla.""I'm safe."Silence. Then… "I want you to come home. Now."I looked toward the window. "No."Another pause. "Your mother is worried si

Calla:By the time we finally lost Reve, my nerves were shot, Not frayed, Not strained, Completely fucking gone. I kept checking the rearview mirror long after the black BMW disappeared from sight. Nothing. Just traffic, A delivery van, A silver sedan. A minivan with two screaming kids in the back. Normal. Safe. Except I didn't feel safe anymore. Not after yesterday. Not after Bishop. Not after Dad. And definitely not after watching Reve chase us through downtown like he had nothing left to lose. Jace must have noticed me checking the mirror for the hundredth time because he reached over and gently lowered it."You're going to give yourself whiplash.""I want to know if he's behind us.""He isn't.""You don't know that.""I'd hear him."I glanced at him. "How?""That BMW sounds like an angry lawn mower."I almost smiled. Almost. Then my eyes drifted toward his face. The cuts from yesterday were darker now. A bruise had started blooming along his cheekbone. His ribs were wrapped beneat