Page 45 of Shielding his Legacy
Eva lifted her head to find the female officer had tucked a tissue between the bars of the partition that separated them, and Eva took it. “Thank you.”
“It’s a good deal,” she said softly, turning ever-so-slightly in her seat to face Eva. “WITSEC can give you and your baby a fresh start.”
The corners of Eva’s mouth pulled down hard as she remembered running barefooted down the street in Manhattan, an assassin on her heels. But she remembered other things, too. She remembered her hopes for a future with Gavin, a future that would need to be sacrificed if she took this offer. “Two days ago, I would have jumped at it.”
“And now?” asked the officer.
“Now I want more.”
The older woman shot her a sympathetic look. “Is it a man?”
Eva nodded.
“Is he the baby’s father?”
Eva nodded again, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
The officer shook her head slowly. “We women never have it easy, do we? I guess the question is, are you willing to risk your safety and your daughter’s wellbeing on the chance that things will work out with this guy? And is it wise to let this opportunity slip through your fingers for a maybe? You and your child would be safe. You wouldn’t have to look over your shoulder the rest of your life. It might not be the way you planned your future, but it could be a good life all the same.”
Eva heard the echo of thoughts she herself hadentertained, platitudes she could see now involved letting go of your dreams. For settling. Not that she was saying safety didn’t sound appealing. Nothing in the world sounded better than that.
Well, one thing sounded better. Gavin in her life and in their daughter’s life. The chance to be with the only man she’d ever really loved. “I want more,” she said softly, meeting the officer’s gaze with a certainty she hadn’t felt until that very moment. She believed Gavin and HERO Force could keep them safe. Yes, it was a leap of faith, but she believed there was a solid chance for a good outcome.
The officer shrugged and sighed her disapproval before turning back around. “Suit yourself.”
23
The state troopers had put Gavin in the back of a squad car and left him there, shooting the shit with each other until the cruiser with Eva and Abby inside had been gone a solid half hour.
Then they’d let him out with a casual,you’re free to go, sir.
Now he was doing eighty-five miles-an-hour down the New York State Thruway while Sloan talked to Jax Anderson on the phone. The former head of HERO Force Atlanta, Jax was known to have connections all across the east coast, including higher-ups in the New York City PD.
“I see sir, yes,” said Sloan. “The first deputy commissioner. And he understands what we need him to do?”
“Put it on speaker,” barked Gavin, unable to tolerate being left out of this particular conversation.
“…for the video recording,” said Jax.
“Sir, this is Gavin DeGrey. Can you repeat that please, sir?” He could all but feel Sloan’s look of warning, right along with Jax’s raised eyebrow more than a thousand miles away. And he didn’t give a shit about either one.
“Isaid, everything’s all set at the station. They have a camera setup for the video recording,” said Jax.
Gavin forced his clenched fingers to relax on the wheel before he lost feeling completely. “Mock recording,” he corrected.
“Right,” said Jax. “The video will be streamed from the interrogation room into a large conference room with the entire task force present, as well as to the cloud and your own devices. Every detective on organized crime will know that Eva’s in the building and that she’s ready to produce a photograph of the murderer.”
A chill ran up Gavin’s spine at the sheer number of people in that room who might want to hurt Eva. Who knew how many detectives were involved? Best case scenario, it was only one highly trained, highly regarded, well-armed police officer. But it could be two. Hell, it could be a goddamn dozen, for all he knew. “Thank you for setting this up, sir.”
“Call me Jax. Is there anything else I can do for you, men? I’d offer you backup, but it would take hours for it to arrive.”
“We’ll be all right, sir,” said Gavin. “Jax.”
“We’re going to kick some dirty cop ass,” said Sloan. “Thanks for your help, Jax.”
Gavin echoed the sentiment and Sloan hung up.
“I fucking hate this,” grumbled Gavin.
