“You should have come to me,” Rhys muttered. “We could have dealt with this together.”
She finally looked up, her gaze connecting with Rhys. “Could we?” Her question hung in the air. “What could you have done?”
“Protected you,” Rhys said, the ferocity of his response leaving no room for doubt. “I don’t abandon my people. I would have done whatever I needed to do to ensure that you or your sister were not targeted by Romano.”
“I didn’t know what to do,” she implored, tears now running down her cheeks.
Penny shifted in her seat, before she spoke, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “We need to focus on how we move forward. Victor’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants, which is apparently enough evidence against the influential clientele so he can blackmail them.”
Julia added, “Mostly the political figures. He wants to use Phoenix for as long as it can serve him.”
“Of course, he wants access to Phoenix,” Rhys ground out. “He wants to get his dirty hands all fucking over the members, because of what they can give him.”
Penny nodded. “Which is why we have to be one step ahead.”
“Agreed,” Hawke chimed in.
Rhys took a deep breath. He locked eyes with Julia, his gaze softening. “We will bring Romano down,” he vowed. “If you’re willing to help us, to really end this—”
“I want to,” she interjected. “More than anything.”
“Then we’ll protect you,” Rhys promised, and the sincerity in his tone filled the room. “You have my word.”
Her relief was palpable, a visible softening of her features as the burden she’d been carrying began to dissipate.
“Every detail, every transaction, everything I know about him... I can give it all to you,” Julia replied.
“Even if it puts you at risk?” Rhys pressed, his eyes scanning hers.
“I’m at risk already,” she affirmed, her voice finding strength as she locked eyes with him. “I want to be rid of him just as much as you do.” Her chin quivered. “I want this to be over. I want to feel safe again. I want to be with my sister.”
A muscle twitched in Rhys’s jaw as he shot a glance at Hawke. “I assume you have an idea.”
Hawke nodded, gesturing toward Penny. “We do.” In bed last night, while she was wrapped in his arms, they’d talked it through. Every little detail. And all he had to do was keep her safe, a task he wasn’t taking lightly.
“What do you need from me?” Rhys asked, breaking into his thoughts.
“We need Archer, Ronan, and Jett,” Hawke replied. Hawke had met Ronan during hell week and had gotten him the job at Phoenix when he left the SEALS, and Jett was a retired SEAL too. With Archer being Army Special Forces, Hawke knew there was no one else he’d want on his team. “And a meeting space to plan.”
“You’ve got what you need,” Rhys declared. He grabbed his cell from his desk and fired off a text. “They’re on the way.” Right as he lowered his phone, a knock sounded on the office door. “Come in,” he called.
The door opened and Nico, a stoic-faced, well-muscled member of the security team, entered the room. “What’s up, boss?” he asked Rhys.
Rhys gestured to Julia. “Nico, I need your assistance in keeping Julia safe. Would you be willing to take her to your home until I say otherwise?”
“Of course,” Nico said without hesitation. He studied Julia a moment before glancing to Rhys again. “Any information I should know?”
“I suspect she’ll soon be hunted by Victor Romano. You’ve heard of him?” At Nico’s nod and deep frown, Rhys added, “Don’t let your guard down.”
Hawke added, “We have no idea if he has eyes on Julia.”
Nico acknowledged the advice with a nod, as Rhys said, “We will contact you when it’s safe to do so.”
“Affirmative.” He set his hard gaze on Julia. “Let’s go.”
She turned to Rhys. “I am sorry. Truly.”
“I know that you are,” was all Rhys said.
