In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 40

Evelina wasn't sure how long they had sat out on her front step, but it was long enough for her tears to come pretty close to being stopped, only because there were no more to cry. She swallowed hard. Her eyes felt puffy from the crying. She was grateful for Jacob's silent presence. She pulled herself up to standing. Without a word, she gently squeezed his shoulder and staggered into the house, watching him get up and go to his car. She knew he wouldn't go far, he'd watch out for her just as he promised.

Ev's breath hitched in her throat as she saw a shadow of a figure in her living room. A revolver hung loosely from his hand as if expecting something bad to happen. Ev walked closer. She gasped. "Joey?"

Joey turned his head and looked at her. A half smile relaxed his tight, pained face. "Hey, Ev."

Evelina didn't dare move, just in case it was a dream. She allowed a small smile to appear and disappear. "Is this real? Are you really here?" She couldn't help but look him over. He looked like he was in pain; reminding her that this was as real as it came. Tears prickled her eyes. "The police came by. They said you were dead."

"I know. They're expecting me to show up here." He looked back out the window, barely holding himself up.

"They took Rose." She said slowly, watching his expression. She wasn't sure if she should run and hold him up or wait for him to say it was okay for her to help him.

"I know. She's safer with them right now. Davy made sure they took her." Joey refused eye contact. His face tried to hide that he was clearly writhing in pain. He leaned a hand against the wall to keep himself up.

"What? Why'd he do that, Joey?" Ev crept closer to him, stopping herself from reaching for him.

"To take her away from me." He looked back at her. "From us."

"You shouldn't be standing. Are you okay?" The concern didn't budge from her bright eyes.

"I'm with you now, I'm okay." He meant his words. "How are you doing?"

She shrugged, not sure herself how she was doing. She couldn't hold back anymore. She rushed over, embracing him in a hug. "I was so worried about you. Jacob kept telling me everything was going to be all right. I doubted him, though." She paused, something didn't feel right.

"He's always trying to make any worry go away. He's the optimistic one out of us all." Joey flinched in pain, his breathing more labored than earlier.

Ev felt something warm and wet touch her stomach. She pulled away and looked up at Joey. His eyes were trying so hard to hide the pain he obviously felt. She moved her gaze down his shirt. There was blood covering his right side. She looked back up at him. "Tell me it's not yours." She prayed for him to tell her it was someone else's on him, but no matter the desire to be naive she knew the truth.

Joey swallowed hard. He didn't move or say anything, but his eyes gave it all away as he tried to ignore her gaze. He was fighting to stay upright and standing. He couldn't do it anymore, his knees buckled, sending him to the ground.

Ev grabbed him before he could hit the floor. He was a lot for her to support, but her stubbornness was far too determined to keep him off the ground. "Come on." Evelina pulled him away from the door and back to their bedroom. She made him lay down on the bed.

"Under normal circumstances, I'd be pretty turned on right now, babe." He tried to make light of the situation. "But I'm fine, Ev."

Her brows arched. "Are you for real right now?"