Chapter 24 - Important Friendhsip

***Zadie’s POV***

We turned onto the I-90, heading for the usual diner on Mercer Island. Jaxson looked deep in thought, and whatever he was pondering brought back that serious and rigid guy I had met over a week ago.
Once we got to the neighborhood the diner was on, Jaxson rounded the block before pulling out his phone and dialing a number.
“I want men covering both ends of the street plus the alleys around the diner. If there’s an opening, I want it covered,” Jaxson snapped before hanging up. His voice was firm yet calm.
“Do we need that much protection?” I asked, starting to get nervous.
“Zach asked me to keep my eyes peeled,” he replied.
“Wait, you told Zach we were coming here?”
“Yes, I did. Zach said he wanted to know all our movements. Besides, if I didn’t inform Zach and something happened to you on my watch, even God won’t be able to save me from Zach’s wrath” Jaxson slipped his phone back into his pocket and straightened his jacket. His movement flipped the side of his jacket, slightly flashing me the leather harness Jaxson was wearing under the jacket. It was similar to the gun holster Derek always wore under this suit jacket. *Was Jaxson carrying a gun?*
“Stay close to me, okay? And don’t sit next to the window.” Jaxson instructed before getting out of the car.
Before I could even reach for the door handle, Jaxson was opening the door for me.
“Wow, for once in my life, I am surrounded by gentlemen.” I chuckled nervously, getting out quickly.
“Get used to it. The bar is about to be set so high; no other man will ever be able to reach it,” Jaxson snickered.
I chuckled, pulling my jacket tightly around me as I walked toward the diner. Jaxson’s presence was prominent behind me. I thought having Jaxson with me would put me at ease, but instead, it made me even more anxious than I normally was.
I stopped at the diner door, hesitating as I reached for the door handle.
“I got ya back, Zadie. I promise.” Jaxson whispered. He was so close I could feel his breath on the back of my neck.
I swallowed loudly and took a deep breath, turning the door handle. The coffee-infused musty smell of the diner welcomed me as I stepped in.
Derek was sitting in our usual booth flipping through papers in a folder, oblivious that I had arrived.
I made my way to the booth, my anxiety rising with every step I took. Jaxson grabbed my arm and moved me aside so he could slide into the booth first. Derek looked up, closing his folder, when he noticed I had company.
“And you are?” Derek snapped.
*What’s with his mood?*
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Jaxson, Zadie’s bodyguard.” Jaxson introduced himself, clenching his jaws tightly.
“Bodyguard? Why exactly do you need one? I’ve got people keeping an eye on you,” Derek grumbled.
“You mean the two men in that black SUV over there watching football on their phones instead of watching Zadie?” Jaxson snapped.
Derek’s eyes whipped around to check on the SUV Jaxson was referring to. From where we were sitting, you could see the two men inside staring down at their phones, sipping on what looked like milkshakes.
“They look like they could stop a notorious mobster from attacking,” Jaxson snickered, glaring at Derek.
Derek cursed under his breath and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
“I’m sorry. They are meant to be vigilant.” Derek tried to explain.
I put up my hand and stopped him. “Save the excuses. Why did you need to see me? I thought I told you only to call me once you were genuinely ready to help me.”
Derek looked between Jaxson and me before wetting his lips and swallowing loudly.
“Maybe Jaxson can-...”
“Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of Jax.” I cut Derek off.
Derek’s eyebrows knitted together as his eyes darted across my face trying to figure out how serious I was. I arched my eyebrow and patiently waited for him to continue.
“Well then…” Derek cleared his throat and shuffled in his seat uncomfortably.
“The agency is going to be rehoming you. Obviously, this time we will make sure all the information is stored properly, and no one will be able to find you.”
*Oh, now they cared. I wonder what changed.*
“Really? I thought they said Zach’s fortress was the safest place for me. Why the sudden change of heart?” I questioned.
“After you reminded me about my promise to look after you, I flew out to DC and had a chat with Paul. He agreed that sending you back to scope out Zach and making you look like bait was a bad move. You have risked everything to help us capture a prominent criminal, and we didn’t treat you right. So Paul made some phone calls and found a place for you to move to. Everything has been taken care of. You just need to get on that flight.” Derek explained, giving me a bright smile.
“So you’ve taken care of the vicious drug lord that’s out for my blood?” I narrowed my eyes.
“N-... No, we haven’t. But we will find Knox, and it will all end soon.” Derek swallowed loudly.
“And while you all are still looking for him, I will be looked after by incompetent officers like that?” I pointed toward the black SUV. The two men were still staring at their screens and laughing.
“Zads-...” Derek started.
“You’re my friend, right Derek? Be very honest. Can you guarantee that I will be safe if you move me?” I cut him off.
Derek stared at me with wide eyes. Uncertainty and regret glowing in them.
“The lady asked you a question,” Jaxson’s voice broke the staring contest Derek, and I were having.
Derek cleared his throat and looked down at his fingers.
“No, I can’t guarantee your safety. Now that Knox has eyes on you, you aren’t safe anywhere. Moving you will just buy us time so we can confuse anyone watching you.”
I was never going to be safe, was I?...
I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. Derek expected me to get on a plane and restart my life even though he knew it wouldn’t keep me safe. How many times were they going to move me before they ran out of places to hide me?
Derek was right. Now that Knox had a whiff of my location, there was no hiding, and honestly, I was tired of hiding. I was tired of being alone and secluded. My life had never been this mediocre until I entered the Witness Protection Program, and all I wanted now was to move forward and stop living in fear.
I took a deep breath in and turned to look at Jaxson. “All three of you keep saying you’d go to any lengths necessary to keep me safe. Do you mean it? Can you really guarantee my safety?”
Jaxson’s lips slowly curled into a small smile like he was enjoying some private joke.
“Unlike these assholes here, I can most definitely guarantee your safety. Think of us as your personal shields. Anything aimed at you will have to go through us first.”
My heart skipped a beat at Jaxson’s words. The sincerity on his face told me I could believe every word he had just said. These men barely knew me, and yet they were prepared to give their lives to protect me. While my so-called friend Derek who had the FBI in his pocket, could barely assure me I was safe.
I didn’t even have to ask how Zach would feel about this. He had made it very clear on multiple occasions that my safety was paramount to him.
I let go of the breath I was holding and straightened my back.
“It’s settled then. I’m not going anyway. Zach and his friends are guaranteeing my safety, so it’s in my best interest to stay put. I will continue to work with the FBI, and if and when you guys find Knox, I will happily testify. In the meantime, if you need anything from me, you can contact Jaxson. You and I, this handler partnership we have, we’re done. I no longer have faith in you or your friendship, and I am within my right to keep myself safe.”
“Zadie, you can’t do that. The FBI has invest-...” Derek began, but Jaxson started to push me out of the booth.
“This conversation is over. Zadie’s made her decision, and I will get Zach to have a chat with your boss about how all this will work. Here’s my card. Call me if you need anything. Right now, I need to get Zadie out of here. So, have a good afternoon.” Jaxson tossed his card on the table and started pushing me toward the door.
“Wait! You can’t do this. We had a deal, Zadie. You can’t just walk away. I promise I will look after you.” Derek yelled from behind us.
I turned my head around to say something, but Jaxson opened the door and dragged me out of the shop.
“Hope that friendship wasn’t too important,” Jaxson commented as he opened the car door for me to get in.
“It doesn’t matter now,” I muttered and got in quickly.