“If they want the use of my building, they’re going to have to accept it on my terms.” It was almost cute how she called it her building. “So I’ll just stay here, if you don’t mind.”
She would be difficult when it came time to make hard choices. I didn’t want her there. “It doesn’t matter if I do mind, does it?”
“No,” she grinned. “I don’t believe it does.”
With a defeated sigh, I headed to take a seat next to JC. Just then, a dozen men entered the room, half wearing black suits and ties, the rest in plain clothes. Dom was there in a T-shirt and jeans, but he was the only one I recognized.
JC stood to greet one of the suited men. “You got in okay?” he asked as he shook the hand of one of them.
“You can pretty much get in anywhere when you flash the right badge,” the man answered.
As the rest of the group claimed seats around the table, JC introduced me to the one he’d been talking to. “Gwen, this is Andrew Tate. He’s the man in charge of the witness protection program.”
“Well, I’m in charge of your case anyway.” Andrew turned to offer me his hand. His grip was firm yet gentle at the same time. “I’d say that it was good to meet you, Gwen, but I’d hoped it would never be necessary.”
“And now it is?” My voice was shaky.
“Now it might be. We’ll get there. May we sit?”
I sat down and leaned over to JC. “I thought that Dom was in charge of your case.”
Though I’d kept my words low, JC answered so that everyone could hear. “Dom is one of my bodyguards. I was nervous about the protection program so I abandoned it in Las Vegas and relied on my own team to hide me instead. They worked closely with Drew’s division.”
“You were nervous about a program run by the FBI?” I knew JC liked to be in charge, but I hadn’t known he’d been so intent on it that he’d brush aside the help of the experts.
Andrew chimed in before JC could answer. “Actually, I’m not with the FBI. They usually only step in when a case involves organized crime. There are few states that have their own witness protection program, but New York happens to be one of them. That’s us. When we realized that JC was in danger, and that he was the single key witness remaining in the case against Mennezzo, we offered him a place in our program.”
I addressed my next question to Drew directly. “Are state level programs not as secure?”
He glanced over the other men in suits. “We certainly endeavor to be, but we obviously don’t have the manpower of the FBI or the US Marshals. However, I believe Justin’s decision not to use us was based as much in his desire for autonomy than it was in a fear for his safety.”
I glared at JC.
He didn’t seem at all apologetic. “I wouldn’t have been able to stay in touch with my detectives.”
“The detectives that you hired to look after me, you mean. You put yourself at risk just so that you could know where I was? What the hell, Justin?” I’d wanted to keep my emotions in check as much as possible during this meeting, but I couldn’t hide my anger. I’d wanted to know where he was when he’d been in hiding too. It didn’t mean he should put his life on the line.
“It wasn’t just you I was keeping tabs on. But, yes.”
“Who else did you need to spy on?”
JC exchanged a glance with Norma, and I imagined they were both commiserating over my stubbornness. “Can we save that for later? I promise I’ll tell you. It’s just not relevant at the moment.”
“By all means, leave all your confessions until they’re relevant.” It was snotty, but for once, I felt I had the right to an attitude. “Whatever. The past is past. Can someone tell me what happens now that Mennezzo is going to be free?”
Everyone looked to JC. He didn’t answer.
“That depends on what he decides,” Drew said after a beat. “We’re offering the same protection we did before. The team here is ready to escort JC to a safe place the minute he gives the word.”
Those are the men in suits, I reasoned out. The other men were most likely hired by JC.
“To escort you, as well, Gwen,” Drew added. “I’m told you’re expecting?”
JC must have told him before I’d walked in on his phone conversation. “Yes. I am.”
“You’re pregnant?” Norma had been impressively silent during the meeting so far. It figured that this would be the thing that got her attention.
I ignored her, keeping my focus on Drew. “Is that a problem?”