In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 29

Months flew by rather quickly. Time had refused to stand still. Rose was already seven months old. She had grown up before their eyes like a wildfire spreading. Teeth were beginning to fill up her mouth and she was finally starting to crawl on her own. Evelina was amazed at how well Joey filled the part of being a daddy. He was gentle, caring, and supportive. Their life was good. It was peaceful.

Senator Downs had come over frequently in those few months that they had been home. He was quickly becoming part of the family. Evelina had been reserved about it for awhile considering his relationship with Joey, but she warmed up to the man and his wife as she got to know them better. He seemed more human to her instead of just the man who attempted to have her killed; the man whom put her husband in danger on a daily basis. Things were obviously better now, but she knew that he was still in risky, compromising situations in spite of what the senator said to reassure her. She was as all right as she could be with it though.

Thoughts of how their lives had changed dramatically in the last two years flashed through Evelina's mind as she put away dishes. The fact that she was able to put away dishes and hold her daughter were two very important tasks that she hadn't been sure she'd be able to do without pain. Her wrists were healing very well. Bad weather and bumping them reminded her of the events that had happened well over a year ago. Things had changed so much.

A knocking on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She smiled at Joey. "I'll get it. You finish drying those dishes."

"Oh, make me do all of the hard work." He teased her, gently tugging on her ponytail as she snuck by him.

She looked back at him with a glare, but a smiled quickly lit up her face. "Welcome to a day in the life of a wife and mother. Not all of us get to protect a senator during the day." She laughed and headed for the door, opening up to a man standing tall in front of her. A few of his characteristics reminded her of Joey, but he seemed meaner, harsher, bigger. "Can I help you?" She gently smiled at him.

"As a matter of fact, you can." A cruel smile formed across his face as he pushed her back inside the house and pulled a revolver on her. A couple of guys seemed to appear out of nowhere as they rounded the corner and followed the man inside.

"What do you want?" Evelina couldn't hold back the quiver in her voice. Panic slipped in inevitably. Her eyes didn't dare leave sight of the man holding the gun on her.

Joey could hear her. He could hear the tenseness in her voice, along with the worry and uncomfortableness. The man's voice sounded very familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. He mulled it over for a few seconds. His eyes grew wide; anger overcame him. He grabbed his revolver from a kitchen drawer and walked into the room. His aim was at the man, but before he could do anything the man grabbed Evelina and pulled her in front of him.

Her eyes were wide. "Joey!" She couldn't hide her worry as the man's grip around her tightened.

"Let her go, Davy." Joey kept his voice steady and his gun high.

"You knew I'd be back, brother. Is this the little working lady that broke your heart some time back?" Davy tilted his head down at her. He rubbed his nose against her hair, taking in the fruity fragrance.

Joey's gut churned. He was fighting to keep every ounce of stability in him. He fought to keep his tone stern and confident. "She's none of your business. The fight's between you and me."

"Well, she shouldn't be living with you if it's just between the two of us." Davy told him. "Put the gun down, Joey, or I'll get her out of the way sooner than you'd prefer." He threatened Ev's life. He kept his grip tight on her and his gaze level with Joey.

Joey didn't want to put the gun down, but the safety of his wife meant too much to him to risk her getting hurt, and there was no question that Davy would hurt her. Slowly, he lowered the gun down to the ground.

"Good. Now move out to the car." Davy commanded him.

Joey glared at his brother as he walked out of the house. He was worried about Rose. He knew it was safer to not mention her though. He gave Evelina an apologetic look as he passed her. There was no doubt that she was questioning his ready obedience. He prayed she wouldn't mention their daughter. Chances were Davy already knew about her, but there was no need to test that theory.

"Don't worry, Joey, your precious wife is coming with us, too." Davy surprised them with knowing who Evelina was to his brother. Of course he knew. The bastard tracked Joey way to well not to know.

Joey turned on a dime. "You leave her out of this!" He pointed at his brother sharply.

"You're the one who brought her into our dysfunctional family." Davy reminded him. "It only seems appropriate to bring her with to our family reunion." He laughed cruelly. "Now move!"

One of Davy's men shoved Joey toward the car. He couldn't wipe away the look of defeat. There was nothing that he could do without endangering Evelina and Rose. He felt helpless. He needed to carefully calculate any move he made. And none of those moves could risk the lives of his family.

"And to think, you never invited me to your wedding." Davy's tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth a couple of times.

"Joey?" Evelina's blue eyes were wide, reflecting her fear. The uncertainty was distasteful in her voice.

"Just do what he says, Ev." Joey hated that he had to tell her that. He was being followed closely with a gun tucked into his back, pushing him toward the car. There was no way to look back at her and offer some form of comfort.

Davy released Evelina only to grab her arm and drag her to the car, too. She looked back at the house. All she could think of was Rose. She wasn't going to risk mentioning her, she knew Joey wouldn't approve of it. Jimmy or Nakita would swing by later and find her. She'd be safer that way. Not even that thought made her like the idea any more. It felt like someone had their hold on her heart and was squeezing it tight. She tried to keep the panic down, trying to stay calm, as she was shoved in the back seat next to her husband.

Joey couldn't look at her, even with the weight of her gaze resting heavily upon him. He couldn't show her the shame that was clearly written throughout his face. This was what he had been afraid of. This was part of the reason why he had left her the first time. He had underestimated his brother coming back for him. He had left him alone for so long, but he should have known his brother was unpredictable. He should have known that this could happen. He should have planned for it.