Page 11 of Find Me
“Tell me everything you know about him,” Penny said.
“Romano is cunning and ruthless,” Hunt continued. “He’s fiercely protective of his territory, and he commands respect and loyalty from his subordinates. His criminal empire spans across several illegal activities, such as arms trafficking, drug trade, and money laundering.”
Hawke processed that and asked, “Could you think of anything that would tie him directly to Julia?”
Hunt hesitated for a moment before answering. “Besides what you have learned that she has a personal relationship with him, no. Julia most certainly wasn’t connected to Romano when she joined Phoenix, or Archer would have known when he vetted her.”
Hawke made a mental note of that, taking her being Romano’s old friend off the table.
Penny’s gaze lingered on Hawke as she obviously thought over what she’d heard, making it difficult to concentrate. He got lost in those eyes.
“Listen, both of you,” Hunt said, drawing Hawke’s focus. “Romano is not someone to underestimate. He has eyes and ears everywhere, and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect his interests. You need to be cautious and plan every move carefully.”
“Understood,” Penny replied, her eyes flashing with determination. “And right now we don’t even know if he’s involved here or if it’s just a coincidence that Julia knows him.”
Hunt studied her for a moment, nodding slowly. “Let’s hope for Phoenix and Rhys that Romano has no hand in bugging the club.”
“No shit,” Hawke muttered, and silence settled over them like a heavy fog.
Until Penny broke it. “Julia’s our best lead,” she said. “We need to continue to keep an eye on her—find out what she knows about Victor and why he’s interested in her.”
Hawke nodded and told Hunt, “We’ve bugged her place. Let’s hope something comes of that.” He pulled the plastic bag from Penny’s purse. “Can you run the prints on this and compare them to the ones on the bugs?”
“Can do,” Hunt said with a firm nod, taking the bag and tucking it into the pocket of his jacket. “Be careful out there,” he warned, his voice deep with concern. “Remember, this is Victor Romano you’re dealing with. Don’t underestimate him.”
“We won’t,” Hawke assured him.
Hunt leaned back in his seat, his gaze connecting with Penny. “I have no doubt he’s connected digitally as well. Watch where you go into.”
Hawke fought his smile. He knew Hunt was treading lightly with his words.
Penny grinned. “I’m in and out before anyone knows I was ever there.”
Hawke outright grinned at that. She was fucking incredible. He understood Hunt’s qualms about Penny’s profession, but Penny worked on the good side as far as Hawke had seen. But Hunt lived in the black and white as a law enforcement officer. Hawke, a Navy SEAL, understood that sometimes breaking laws for the greater good saved lives.
Hunt cursed softly, shaking his head, rising from his seat. “Keep me in the loop.”
“We will,” Hawke said, rising too.
Once they settled their bills and left the restaurant, Hunt walked in the opposite direction. The air was thick with the tension, heavy with the looming unknowns.
Hawke knew better than to go home now. They needed a plan to quiet their heads for the night. “Up for some grub, Red?”
Penny nodded. “Yeah. Food needs to happen before we talk next steps.”
Twenty minutes later, Hawke’s stomach agreed as he held open the door for Penny. They stepped into the diner, immediately enveloped by the cozy atmosphere within. A warm, golden light bathed the room, casting a gentle glow on the well-worn leather booths and gleaming countertops. The hum of conversation and laughter filled the air, along with the clinking of silverware against plates and the sweet aroma of coffee and freshly baked pies.
“Ah, Hawke!” A voice rang out in a thick southern drawl as an older waitress approached them, her face lighting up with delight at the sight of him. Her once raven hair had faded to a silvery gray, but her eyes sparkled with the same warmth and kindness they always had. “Haven’t seen ya ’round here in a while.”
“Hey, Mabel,” Hawke greeted her with a genuine smile, wrapping her in a brief hug. “It’s good to see you too. This is my friend Penny.”
Mabel turned her attention to Penny, giving her a once-over before nodding approvingly. “Well, ain’t you just a pretty thing?” she said, beaming at Penny. “Come on now, I’ll get y’all settled.”
As they followed Mabel through the bustling diner, Hawke couldn’t help but take in the familiar sights and sounds that surrounded them. The red-and-white checkered floor tiles, the vintage jukebox tucked away in the corner, the hiss of the griddle as the cook flipped burgers and tossed hash browns. This place held a special meaning for him. It brought back memories of his childhood, when his parents would take him for breakfast at a similar diner in San Diego. They still lived there, and he cherished their visits. His father was an engineer, and his mother was a physical therapist.
“Here y’all go,” Mabel said, gesturing to a booth beside the window. “Take a seat, and I’ll be right back with some menus.”
As they slid into the booth, Hawke replied, “Thanks, Mabel.”
