Page 56 of Lily

“Come sit,” Oleander said softly. “We’ll introduce ourselves. I promise being together is cathartic, but if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to join us.”

Roselia let Daffodil lead her toward one of the couches where she sat, still gripping her friend’s hand. The furniture was arranged in a circle so they could all see each other. She released Daffodil’s hand and tucked both of hers under her thighs. “I don’t know what to say.”

Marigold smiled. “We’ll start. My name is Gemma. I was the first to be found because my boyfriend, Damon, searched for me from the day I disappeared three years ago. He actually purchased me. That’s how I ended up free.”

Oleander spoke next. “I was the next to be found. My name is Kalinda. Kally for short. The man who picked me up from the auction was not my buyer. He was out of the country at the time. On the day my buyer would’ve picked me up, my handler failed to lock my cage. I got out, found a gun, and…well, shot every bullet in it until he was very dead. The FBI agent who came to the scene is now the love of my life, Jagger.”

Roselia’s eyes widened, but she smiled. “Good for you.”

“The man who purchased me was located and is in prison,” Kally continued.

Jasmine spoke next. “I’m Nora. I was raised in a strict cult and never had any interaction with the outside world. My boyfriend, Axel, was an FBI agent living undercover within the cult to uncover suspected human trafficking. Unfortunately, it was me who was sold. The man who purchased me was OCD. He didn’t want to touch me. He kept me in a glass cage as a child so he could watch me play all day.” She shuddered. “It was gross. Axel recognized me from the pictures after Master J was arrested. He found me in that cage.”

Jesus. They all had a story to tell. Already, Roselia found this cathartic. Reuniting with them was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to her.

Tulip spoke next. “I’m Grace. Soon after my buyer brought me home, I grabbed a fire poker, knocked him out, and fled the house wearing nothing but his suit jacket. I walked half the night to get as far away as possible before I broke into a cabin tucked away in the woods and stayed. The owner, who is now my boyfriend, Khai, found me there two months later. I didn’t tell him who I was or how I’d come to be there until the FBI found me.”

And finally, Daffodil. “My name is Summer. An old man without any good common sense bought me for his grandson.”

“Seriously?” Roselia almost laughed.

Summer giggled. “Yes. He’d hoped his grandson, Bridger, would leave his boyfriend, Colter, and go straight. Joke’s on him. Bridger and Colter rescued me, and although they’ve been in a relationship for ten years, they weren’t displeased with adding a woman.” She grinned.

Roselia leaned back. She found herself almost smiling.

Dr. Langston, Carol, spoke next. “Would you like to tell everyone a bit about yourself?”

She nodded. “My name is Roselia. I was working for a man named Antonio Santo as part of his cleaning staff when I was abducted. I’d been flirting with another of his employees, Stefano, when I disappeared. Thank God Stefano cared about me enough to look for me. The man who bought me was probably impotent. He never touched me, but he liked me to roam around almost naked, cleaning and cooking so he could look at me. Ten days ago, he had a guest who dropped his phone between the couch cushions. I hid it and called Stefano as soon as my Master was asleep. He rescued me and took me to a safe place.”

Gemma wiped her damp eyes. “We’re so glad you’re here. We’ve all been working together to find everyone. We worked from Kally and Jagger’s home, turning the entire room into command central.” She smiled. We had an informant who was feeding us information. We understand now that that must be your boyfriend, Stefano.”

“Yes. I wasn’t aware of that until this morning,” Roselia murmured.

“I’m sure he did what he thought was best to keep you safe,” Kally said.

Roselia knew that was true, but now what? Would she even see him again? She had no idea why he thought he was in so much trouble with the FBI, but she was scared out of her mind that he would be gone from her forever.

Nora cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. “We’re all very careful. We spend our days together at Kally’s house. Even though all of our buyers are either dead or have been arrested, including Master J, we don’t know who the actual seller was, and the thought of him still being out there, possibly gathering the next group of women to train, makes us constantly vigilant.”

Roselia realized they didn’t know about Santo. “The man I worked for is the seller—Antonio Santo.”

Everyone gasped, including Carol.

Gemma’s face turned white. “I believe Santo was the head of one of my father’s rival families. I wasn’t supposed to eavesdrop, but I’m pretty sure Santo had my mother murdered.” She shuddered.

Roselia swallowed. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know about that.”

Kally leaned into Gemma and wrapped an arm around her. “I’m sure we’ll find out everything.”

Grace turned toward Carol. “Do you think they will arrest Santo now?”

Carol drew in a breath. “I don’t know, but I would presume so if they have enough evidence.”

“Stefano worked for Santo for fifteen years,” Roselia informed them.

Gemma looked like she might puke. “Why?”

“I don’t know the specifics. He said revenge. Something happened eighteen years ago that made Stefano so angry that he made it his life’s goal to destroy Santo.”

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