He shook his head. “We can certainly get you set up with new doctors, but I can understand why you might not want to relocate during a pregnancy.”
I slammed my fist on the table. “I wouldn’t want to relocate if I wasn’t pregnant. I’m asking, do we have to?”
Drew cleared his throat. “It’s my recommendation. Taking us up on our services, though, is always a matter of personal choice.”
His recommendation. The expert on the matter recommended that we pick up our lives and disappear. My job, my friends, my family…our wedding! Did we just abandon all the planning and get hitched in front of a justice of the peace?
I wanted to cry.
JC swiveled his chair, directing his words to me alone. “We can rely on Dom’s team. He’s been watching us since I got back, and they’re very well trained. We have no reason to assume that Ralphio will try to go after me now that my testimony has been heard.”
“But that testimony doesn’t count. It’s a mistrial. You’re back at square one. If he gets rid of you, then he’s free forever. Right?” A glance at Drew confirmed my words.
But now there was something else that JC had said that was bothersome. “And what do you mean they’ve been watching us since you got back? Were you worried about our safety even with Mennezzo in jail?”
When it was clear I wasn’t going to get answers from JC, I turned back to Drew. “Have we been in danger this whole time?” Because if so, then my anger was about to escalate to full-blown rage.
“While Ralphio Mennezzo has not been tied to any other criminals, there is strong reason to believe that the other witnesses were taken out by a third party.”
Drew’s calm delivery made me doubt my interpretation of his words. “Meaning he could have hired someone to take JC out, even from behind bars?”
“Yes.”
I was wrong. I wasn’t raging. I was panicked. My heart was thudding in my chest, my hands were clammy, my mouth was dry, and all I could think was how fast can we get out of here? How soon can we be safe?
Somehow I managed to stay seated when I really wanted to be up and moving. “What do we have to do? Can we pack some things, or do we need to just disappear?”
“If you decide to go,” Drew said, “we’d want to leave as soon as possible. We’d like as much time to get you far away before Ralphio’s released.”
“Of course.” I was too frightened to disagree. What did it matter if I didn’t get to hug Ben before I left as long as I’d get to hug him one day in the future?
My mind was already letting go of my material things. The plans we’d made would be harder, but as long as I had JC and the baby, what else did I really need?
Except JC had other ideas. “We aren’t going anywhere, Gwen.”
I spun toward him with blazing determination. “You’re not going without me. Not this time.” I’d chosen not to go with him before, and it wasn’t a choice I’d ever repeat.
He shook his head, and I was already preparing to argue further when he said, “Neither of us is going anywhere. We aren’t going to be pushed out of our lives.”
“How can you be so flipping obstinate?”
JC sat forward. “This isn’t me being stubborn, Gwen. I don’t believe Ralphio will do anything. He’s got too many eyes on him. Before, he was acting in the dark. He could commission hit men without notice, but now no one wants to work with him. His connections have cut him off. They won’t touch a wanted man. And what good is it to Ralphio if he walks away from Corinne’s murder and ends up in jail for mine? He’s too smart for that.” He leaned back in his chair. “The detectives I had watching him while I was gone saw nothing to indicate that he’s still interested in silencing me. We’re not going.”
JC’s speech came with conviction. I wanted to buy into it.
I didn’t. “That’s mighty confident considering it could mean your life if you’re wrong. Unfortunately, I’m not that ballsy. We’ll take the protection.”
“I said no. I’m not going anywhere.” JC stood, signaling an end to the meeting. “Thank you, Andrew, for the offer. I appreciated it before, and I appreciate it now, but I’m not interested in running.”
I flew up from my chair. “It’s not running! It’s living!”
Drew kept his gaze away from mine. “Are you sure about this, JC?”
“I’m positive. I’ll take my chances with the team I have.” He nodded at Dom and the men surrounding him at the other end of the table. Several, I noticed now, were wearing guns. If I could see those, how many could I not see?