“Is that difficult?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “It’ll take me all night, but it’s a start.”
“Right beside you,” Hawke murmured. Like he wanted to stay. He leaned in closer, catching Penny’s floral aroma and inhaling it in as deep as he could.
She visibly shivered at his nearness.
“Stay focused, Red,” Hawke said with a grin. “We’ve got a job to do.”
She drew in a deep breath, all traces of the heat gone from her expression, and she grinned in return. “Let’s burn this fucker’s world down.”
7
The following night, Penny was running on four cups of coffee and pure frustration after an entire day of investigating. Even though she got the FBI’s file on Victor, she hadn’t even found a tiny thread that could get him put away. While Hawke had updated Rhys and Archer on the new development, he was deep in the FBI files looking foranything.
But Penny had her mind focused on Julia as she followed her into a high-end lingerie store on Fifth Avenue, after receiving Julia’s text inviting her for a shopping trip. Her plan to get close to Julia was working, and Penny sighed a breath of relief. “Doesn’t Phoenix provide outfits for the shows?” she asked Julia.
“They do, but pretty, lacy things make me happy,” Julia said, a smile in her voice.
The air was thick with the scent of perfume, and soft music played in the background. The lights were dimmed, casting a warm glow over the array of lacy garments hanging from the walls and mannequins seductively posed throughout the shop.
Penny browsed the teddies, her fingers tracing the silk and delicate lace before settling on a set that caught her eye. She noticed how Julia would often pause, seemingly lost in thought, a faraway look in her eyes that spoke volumes about whatever secret she was hiding. As they made their way toward the dressing room, Penny couldn’t help but wonder how deeply entangled Julia was with Victor.
They stopped at a counter laden with lacy bras and panties, the salesperson smiling widely at them both. “Can I help you ladies find anything?”
“Just browsing,” Penny said, glancing over at Julia who seemed lost in thought.
Theclick-clackof high heels on the tile floor echoed through the store as the saleslady walked away toward another customer.
“Are you okay?” she asked Julia.
Julia glanced her way. She watched Penny closely then shook her head, smiling. “Oh, yes, sorry, I’m good. Just got a man on my mind.”
Penny’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest. “That sounds interesting.”
Julia shrugged casually. “It’s not, believe me.” She watched as Julia’s eyes darted around the room, taking in every shadow and every sound, her body tense. “I think I’m in trouble.”
Penny hesitated at the faraway look in Julia’s eyes. This was not a woman out to burn Rhys. Penny offered a comforting hand on her arm. “You can’t be in any trouble that Rhys and Archer can’t help you out of anything.” And she meant that. “I haven’t even known them that long,” she said, playing the part of a new participant. “And I know that.”
A smile ghosted across Julia’s lips, and she reached out to take the bra from Penny’s fingers. “You don’t know this man like I do. He can be very persuasive.”
“I understand,” Penny said, her stomach churning at the thought that maybe Julia wasn’t a willing participant but another one of Victor’s victims. “Still, you have people around you that could help you.”
Julia looked at her then, taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“One step at a time,” Penny replied, squeezing Julia’s arm gently. “Tell me more about him. About why you’re afraid.”
Julia bit her bottom lip, eyes still fixed on her reflection in the mirror. “He’s powerful,” she whispered softly. “Very powerful.”
Penny pulled a matching thong from the rack to keep her hands busy. “And you trusted him?”
A small laugh escaped Julia’s lips as she took the garment from Penny. “I didn’t really.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I thought... I thought he could help me.”
“Help you how?” Penny prompted, her mind racing with possibilities.
“He... he promised me security. A way out.” Julia’s voice was hollow, her gaze still not meeting Penny’s in the mirror. “I didn’t realize how much I’d given up until it was too late.”
“It’s not too late,” Penny assured her. “I can help you.”
