April Windsor is drawn into a dangerous world on Emmerdale next week when she’s forced into drug dealing – and puts her life on the line.
The terrified teen is desperate to save Dylan Penders from the clutches of evil gangster Ray, who preys on vulnerable youngsters by luring them into his criminal empire, and makes it impossible to get out. Can April stand up to Ray, or are she and Dylan in too deep?
“This wasn’t exactly how April dreamed of spending her 16th birthday,” begins our Emmerdale insider. “After such a traumatic year, all she wants is to move forward and take her romance with Dylan to the next level.
“But with Ray sniffing around, events take a sinister turn. Will April regret trying to help Dylan when she gets dragged into a decidedly dodgy situation?”
With his daughter’s sweet 16th approaching, Marlon Dingle hopes the family can put the last 12 months behind them and look to the future. However, April’s attention is firmly on boyfriend Dylan, who is now back in the village and has been taken in by Paddy Kirk and Mandy Dingle.
Marlon feels Dylan is a painful reminder of April’s traumatic time living on the streets, where she suffered a stillbirth after falling pregnant. But the lad is clearly here to stay, and lovestruck April wants him to make her birthday extra special.
“April is ready to sleep with Dylan,” shares our source. “She’s utterly smitten and ready to take this big step.”
Waiting for the coast to be clear at Mandy and Paddy’s, the teens head upstairs, but Dylan is unaware Ray is trying to call him. Later, after mortified Mandy catches the pair post-coital and realises they’ve done the deed, Dylan and April bask in their love bubble – not realising danger is round the corner…
Ray eventually collars Dylan and says he wants his help on another job. This immediately distresses Dylan, who thought Ray was going easy on him after he was allowed to duck out of the last drugs drop, and hoped he could stop working for him and go straight.
While Dylan deals with his dilemma, Mandy admits to Marlon that she found the young lovers in a compromising position.
Unsurprisingly, the overprotective parent does not take the news well. Wise Rhona Goskirk reminds her husband that April is now old enough to make her own decisions, and after what she’s been through, she’s more mature than most girls her age.
But April and Dylan’s happy ever after is thrown into jeopardy when she learns her fella is involved with Ray again, and he’s putting the pressure on to shift more narcotics…
Scared of letting Ray down, Dylan explains he feels he has no choice but to do as he’s told.
Despite the dangers, April can see where Dylan is coming from and reluctantly allows him to carry out the task, hoping it will finally get Ray off his back. But the birthday girl is gobsmacked when Dylan then reveals Ray wants her to do the job.
Brave April confronts Ray, who manipulates her into agreeing to deliver a consignment of drugs. April can’t believe what she’s got herself into, but she makes Dylan promise to cut all ties with Ray in exchange for her doing this one and only job. But will it be that easy?
“April is conflicted,” our insider adds. “If Dylan went against Ray, there’d be serious consequences. She hopes by helping out it will be the end of their association. She’s putting herself at risk, and doesn’t realise this is just the beginning of Ray getting his claws into her…”
As Marlon gives his daughter his blessing to be with Dylan, and vows to trust her from now on, anxious April prepares for her drug-dealing mission. Will she go through with it?
