In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 42

Jimmy stopped abruptly, his hand streaked through his hair nervously. "Ev, I need to tell you something first."

"What?" She asked him slowly. Her heartbeat began pumping faster. She knew the look in his eyes. It wasn't good news.

He swallowed hard and sighed. "I don't know how to tell you this. I don't know what the right words are to say." He pushed his fingers through his hair again.

"Tell me what?" Evelina could feel the worry creeping up the back of her neck.

"Nakita..." He started, looking up at the ceiling for a moment.

"What about Nakita?" Ev's back stiffened. She wanted to know, yet she didn't want to know. Not knowing left her hope; knowing might not be so lenient.

"Nakita's not coming back." He blinked back the water filling up his eyes as he quietly spoke. He couldn't think of any better words to say it.

Tears filled Ev's eyes. She swallowed; waiting for him to say more, knowing that if she spoke first no words would come out.

"Nakita... Nakita didn't make it out of that warehouse." Jimmy stuttered. He looked away briefly and let out a heavy sigh.

"No..." Ev's chin quivered. She took a few steps backward.

"Ev, she told me to tell you to stay safe and that you were her best friend... and that you meant more than a sister ever could." He relayed the message that Nakita had told him as she bled out, adding his own touch to it.

"No...no..." She shook her head in disbelief. "She shouldn't have even been there!"

"I know. She shouldn't have been, but she was. And because she was, you and Joey are alive right now." He tried to explain to her, reminding himself of what he told himself on his car ride over.

Jacob had helped Joey up. They were standing by the doorframe, watching the conversation unfold. Joey had his arm around Jacob's shoulder for support. He hung his head down as he heard what happened.

Ev looked past Jimmy's shoulder and saw them. Her face was crumpled up with emotion. Tears dripped down her face like a dike had just sprung a leak. She walked slowly to Joey, then sped up. She put her arms around him and cried.

He pulled away from Jacob and leaned against Ev for support. He understood what she was going through. He had loved Nakita as a friend, too. She had been very important in their lives.

Ev's sobs cut through him like a knife slicing bread. There was nothing he could do to comfort her. She blamed herself for what had happened. She had blamed herself since the beginning of their relationship.

"Shhhh..." He comforted her quietly, ignoring the burning pain that coursed through him uncontrollably. He knew his knees would buckle if she let go of him, and used all of his strength to stay upright.

Evelina shook uncontrollably. The tears continued to pool down her face. She had just lost one of her best friends. She had known Nakita for years. Nakita had put Joey and her together. She had helped Ev find a place to live when she had gone off on her own. They had been like sisters.

Ev slowly hiccuped away the sobs, realizing that Joey shouldn't be out of bed. He shouldn't be standing there supporting her. She shakily sighed, pulling away from Joey enough to attempt to wipe away the tears. "You shouldn't be standing."

He ignored her comment, forcing himself to be all right. She needed him. Cautiously, he pushed some of her hair out of her face. "You gonna be okay?"