Chapter 26

Summer felt like she was walking on clouds as she stepped out of the SUV an hour later. They were inside Jagger's gated property, and her men flanked her, each holding a hand.

She'd been a ball of nerves during the drive. She was excited to reunite with these women, but the truth was she hardly knew them. According to Jagger, the women had found they shared a bond so tight that it didn't matter that they'd rarely spoken to each other while in captivity.

The back door opened, and four women rushed outside.

Summer couldn't move. She was like a statue watching them rush toward her. Then she was surrounded by them, embraced in a giant group hug. Everyone spoke at once, telling her their real names. There was laughter and tears—so much of both.

Summer glanced at her guys as she was ushered into the house through a glass door. The room was filled with people and office equipment. It indeed looked like a command center, as Jagger had described. Jagger pulled Kalinda into his arms, and at the same time, the rest of the women paired off with a man, matching everyone up for her.

A professionally dressed woman introduced herself as Diane Malinsky. Summer learned she was an FBI agent and the head of this operation over Jagger Whitley.

Another couple was present, and they came forward and introduced themselves. The man held out a hand. "My name is Robert Suthers. My father was friends with Damon's and Gemma's fathers. We suspect there is a connection between all of us, though we haven't figured that out." He turned toward the woman holding his arm. "This is my wife, Ella."

Colter set a hand on Summer's back and extended his other toward Robert. "Wait. I know you. Don't you own a club?"

Robert's smile grew. "Yes, right. I recognize you now—Colter and Bridger. You haven't visited in a while. Of course, neither have I. It runs itself."

Bridger threaded his fingers with Summer's. "We've been busy."

Robert chuckled. "I'm so happy for you."

"What makes you think you're connected to this human trafficking ring?" Colter asked.

Jagger stepped into the ring, but everyone grew quiet to listen. He looked at Summer, making her nervous. "The tattoo on your inner thigh?"

She nodded.

Robert spoke. "It's my club logo."

She gasped. So did Bridger and Colter.

Jagger nodded. "In addition, there's a chip under the tattoo. When Russo had the artist put it on you, he made a small incision and included a small chip you probably didn't know about."

Her hand flew to her mouth.

"Like a tracking device?" Bridger asked.

Jagger shook his head. "No. The technology isn't advanced enough for that. It's the kind of chip you would put in a pet. All it can do is hold information."

"What information does it hold?" Colter asked, his palm stiffening on her back.

"Originally, the chips were all programmed to say ‘Property of Roberto Moretti.'"

Robert rubbed his chin. "That was my given name at birth. This is the mystery. It would seem the seller has a vendetta. He's perhaps hoping if anyone ever discovers one of those chips, I will be implicated in the human trafficking ring instead of himself."

"How did you find out about them?" Colter asked.

Gemma stepped forward. "Mine was always irritated. It didn't heal quite right. Damon felt the chip under the skin and called Jagger."

Jagger pointed toward the computers. "The chips only permit a certain number of characters each. We believe the informant works closely with the seller. He noticed when I cracked the chips and found the information. He changes the data every time he has a breakthrough. Someone watches for a change around the clock. He won't leave the information long before he reverts it back to ‘Property of Robert.' I can also communicate with him by changing the information from my end."

"Why doesn't he just tell you who the seller is then?" Bridger asked.

Summer was wondering the same thing.

"No one knows. He must have his reason. We work night and day on this case. Of course, we want to find Lily, but we won't stop until we've nailed the seller to the wall."

Summer leaned into her men. It was so overwhelming.

"We've all gotten ours removed," Kalinda said softly.

Summer perked up. "Really? I can do that?"

"Absolutely," Nora agreed.

"It was the first thing I did when I found out," Grace added.

Summer looked up at Colter and Bridger.

Colter rubbed her back. "Immediately, honey."

Jagger nodded. "We have an amazing female surgeon who has removed all four so far. The women have been very relieved to have that constant reminder off their bodies. The tattoo is small enough and in a discreet enough location that she simply removed each one entirely and pulled the sides together. After a few weeks, the scars fade."

"Mine is hardly noticeable," Gemma informed them. "It was like a giant boulder was lifted off my shoulders."

Summer suddenly needed to hug her friends again. She pulled out of her men's embrace, rushed over to Gemma, and hugged her tightly. The other women joined.

"Get used to it," Damon said. "This happens every day."

When Summer looked back at her men, they were beaming. They must have understood her silent question. Suddenly, she knew what she needed to be doing with her life in the near future—helping here, reuniting with these women she shared a bond with, and helping in any way she could. She'd been scared for so long. It was time to shed the fear and find her brave side.

Colter turned toward Jagger. "We own a consulting firm. Since Summer came to live with us, we've never left her alone. We take turns going into the office. One of us will be here with Summer as often as possible."

She raced back into their arms and hugged them both.