"Witness protection?" Elena echoed. "When—how—why—"
Joshua squeezed her hand again. "I'll pull some strings. You're a civilian, Elena—I'm not going to sit back and watch a crime boss try to kill you."
As her senses returned, Elena pulled back her hand. She shook her head.
"I can't," she insisted.
"Elena, you're—"
"I can't," Elena repeated. "I finally have a life for myself here. I can't just leave it behind."
Elena had never faulted her mother for leaving her family. But occasionally, she did question how her mom could do it. The answer Elena always decided on was misery.
It was easy to leave a miserable situation. To run and never look back. To never miss it or think of risking the smallest bit of contact.
But Elena wasn't miserable. She was finally working as a doctor. She had a
