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When Liaure I’ned his own death warrant by arranging to get the guns into the courthouse But he was a target, saht to him and they questioned him, he caved Guess he was terrified the Bratva would coain once he was out of the hospital, once the protection on hi he knewbut not until he’d negotiated a plea deal with his forues in the US Attorney’s Office”
He smiled, but his eyes didn’t “And he knew a lot more than just the atteot to the other witness The Bratva needed to silence him, too, and not just to make sure the hit on Cate was never traced back to Vishenko I can’t tell you the details, but he’ll be the key witness at some new trials, both here and in Zakhar After which, he’ll spend a couple of years in prison, in protective custody Then he’ll go into the Witness Security Program”
He griet to choose who rots in prison and who gets a second chance at a new life under a new name—sometimes we have to choose between the lesser of two evils I don’t like it any more now than I did when I was in the US Marshals Service—I just have to live with it The good news, Cate, is that with Vishenko dead, I don’t think you’ll need to go into the Witness Security Program after all But we’ll see”
“What about the trial I was supposed to testify at?” Cate asked abruptly “If one of the prosecutors orking for Vishenkohow does that affect the case?”
“No iinal trial never started A jury was never seated Vishenko’s dead, but the trial for the rest of the conspirators will go ahead with the new prosecutors the US Attorney’s Office has already assigned to the case”
Cate didn’t respond, and Lia the news the hu conspiracy trial was still on Which meant she still needed to testify Whichthey could to discredit her testi
“I understand,” she said finally Determination pulled her face into resolute lines “‘I alanced down at the scars on her wrists for a h Liam as he realized he couldn’t shield her fro trial—much as he wanted to—any more than he could shield her from the abuse she’d suffered in the past
Then she looked hi froe that had ensnared his heart al “I can do this,” she said softly “I can” She turned to D’Arcy “I will”
Epilogue
Cate walked into the Washington, DC, federal courthouse, Liaht hand clasped firmly in his left one Four US Marshals surrounded theh two of the conspirators in the huains three days before the trial, the prosecution of the otherforward as scheduled Cate’s eyewitness testimony was still key to the prosecution, and the various federal agencies involved—the FBI, the US Marshals Service, the US Attorney’s Office and the agency—were taking no chances with her safety
Nor was Liam He was still on medical leave from his job with the DSS, but he’d scarcely left her side since he’d been discharged from the hospital Just as he’d scarcely left her side fro her safe as only he could do
Cate glanced down at the diaages to know he loved her And besides, they weren’t engaged, they were er, she loved it Not just because it was beautiful—thewith her wedding ring, it was a reminder that Liam had chosen to love her, as he put itand alould A re loved Whenever she slipped back into her oldto know the truth It was her talisman
They paused at the doorway to the witness room and she turned to Liam She had to leave him here He would be in the courtroom for the entire trial, but she wouldn’t As was often the case itnesses, only when she was on the witness stand would she be allowed inside the courtroom On the witness standand when the verdicts were read She took a deep breath and forced a smile