In The Safety Of A Lie - COMPLETED!

Chapter 51

Joey felt like a bus had hit him. Every part of his body ached. Whatever the drugs were that the hospital had him on, they helped, but even they weren't strong enough to take away the raw pain. The events clouded his mind and drew him back to where he was now.

"My wife! Where's my wife?" He couldn't hold his body down. He sat up, quickly regretting the movement as he sunk back down. His eyes pinched shut, but quickly jumped open as soon as he felt hands holding him down.

"Don't move, Joey." Jacob had never been demanding, so this was a first to hear of the younger man. He was quick to release his elder, but he watched him closely, ready to take charge again if he had to.

"Where's Evelina? Please tell me she's okay, Jacob." Joey moaned, feeling sick while he waited for the answer. The butterflies in his stomach were hard to define between being nerves or just a side effect from the beating he had taken. He fixed his gaze on Jacob, his hands shaking in anticipation.

"She'll be alright, Joey." Jacob answered simply. Once again, vague as usual.

Joey fixed him with a look, not wavering no matter the pain he was in. "Tell me everything."

Jacob watched him for a moment. "I don't know what I'm allowed to tell you."

"What do you mean by allowed to tell me?" His gut churned. Information was never held back from him unless it was something major.

"I can tell you that she's fine." Jacob licked his lip. "Downs is with her."

He knew he should have felt relief, and to some degree he did, but it was whatever wasn't being told to him that sent pangs of fear throughout his body. "Stop toying with me, Jacob, or I'll remind you who's in charge when I get out of this bed."

Jacob laughed, his eyes twinkling. "That'll be quite some time down the road, Joey, even when you do get out of that bed."

Joey groaned, a stubborn sigh quickly escaping after. He was in no condition to bargain or threaten.

"Take a break, Jacob. I'll deal with him." Jimmy entered the room slowly. He gave Joey a lazy smile after Jacob had taken his leave. "You've looked better."

"Tell me about it." Joey scoffed, trying to get comfortable. Every little movement hurt. At least breathing was a little bit easier. He assumed his ribs had been wrapped up to heal.

Jimmy nodded, fidgeting at what to say. "At least that damn bullet is out of you."

"Stop stalling." Joey tried to keep his breathing slow and steady. "What was Jacob not telling me?"

Jimmy looked down at the floor, weighing everything out. Slowly, purposefully, he looked up at Joey. "I think it's something Ev should tell you."

"I think that you should just spit it out." Joey eyed him warily. It couldn't be good if his best friend wasn't even willing to tell him what the hell was going on.

Jimmy sucked in a deep breath through his nostrils and let it out in a gush. "Ev lost a baby."

The world stopped for a moment. It felt like it took longer to truly process the information. "What?" His voice squeaked out.

"I'm sorry, Joey. Her body just couldn't take everything that Davy was dishing out, I guess." Jimmy stared at his fingers laced together. His jaw had hardened, a shadow crossing his face with every word he spoke. The unborn baby had been another civilian casualty to add to the body count.

They'd lost a baby? He didn't even know she was pregnant. "Did she know she was..."

Jimmy shook his head. "She didn't have a clue she was pregnant. Downs broke it to her."