Just as the odds seem to be tipping against them, a loud crash comes from the warehouse doors. Reinforcements pour in—Wayne and his men, followed closely by Tristan's backup. The traffickers are quickly overwhelmed, caught between Summer, Tristan, and the newly arrived forces.
It's chaos, but within minutes, the room is cleared. The last of the thugs are subdued, either unconscious or restrained. The girls, huddled in the corner, are safe.
Summer turns to Tristan, breathing heavily but with a triumphant smile on her face. "Told you we'd take them down."
Tristan chuckles, wiping sweat from his brow. "Couldn't have done it without you."
Just as they're about to catch their breath, one of the men they've captured starts mumbling, fear evident in his voice. Summer's eyes narrow as she crouches down beside him, gripping his collar tightly.
"Who sent you?" she demands, her voice cold.
The man trembles, trying to avoid her piercing gaze. "I-I don't know—"
Summer presses the barrel of her gun against his forehead, her patience wearing thin. "Who?"
The man gulps, sweat dripping down his face. "M-Maria Belmont. She paid us. She wanted us to sell you just like other girls to….humiliate you."
At the mention of that name, both Summer and Tristan's expressions darken. Summer released the man, standing up with a look of cold determination in her eyes. Maria Belmont had made a grave mistake.
Wayne rushed over, his face tense with worry as he hurried to Summer's side. He scanned her from head to toe, his eyes frantically searching for any signs of injury. "Are you okay?" he asked breathlessly, his hand hovering near her shoulder, unsure if he should touch or not.
Summer, slightly taken aback by Wayne's overt concern, gave a soft smile and brushed off his worry with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "Yeah, I'm okay, Wayne. I promise."
Tristan stood a few steps behind, his gaze flickering between Summer and Wayne, a look of puzzlement crossing his face. He couldn't help but notice the casual ease with which they interacted—the way Wayne's voice softened, the almost brotherly care he displayed toward Summer. Something felt off.
"Wait a second," Tristan began, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Summer. "Do you… know Mr. Malik?" His tone was sharp but cautious, the hint of a question disguised as suspicion.
Summer's heart skipped a beat at his words, her mind racing as she tried to keep her composure. Her identity as Dr. Lifeath was hanging by a thread, and if Tristan pieced everything together now… it could complicate everything. She let out a nervous chuckle, brushing her hair behind her ear with a casual flick. "Who doesn't know Wayne Malik?" she said, trying to sound playful, though she felt Tristan's piercing gaze studying her closely. "He's the CEO of Spring Synergies, after all."
Tristan remained unconvinced, his eyes narrowing further at her vague response. There was something in the way she avoided the question that stirred his suspicion even more.
But Wayne, ever the oblivious one, stepped in with his usual charismatic grin, giving Tristan a nod as if to confirm the whole situation. "Yeah, we're friends," he said with a chuckle, clapping Summer on the back a little too hard, making her wince slightly. "She saved my life and Dr. Lifeath's once, so I owed her a big one tonight. That's why I came as soon as she called."
Tristan's brows furrowed at Wayne's words. He didn't like how easily Wayne seemed to be in Summer's personal space. It was subtle, but Tristan noticed every detail—how Wayne stood too close to her, how his eyes lingered a little too long on her, and how comfortable Summer seemed with him. His possessiveness flared up in an instant.
Before Tristan could say anything, Wayne glanced between them with a curious tilt of his head. "By the way, Sam," Wayne began, his brow furrowing slightly, "who's this guy?" He motioned toward Tristan with his chin, clearly unaware of Tristan Stark's charming face, thanks to Tristan's low-key lifestyle.
Summer blinked, caught off guard. She could almost see the wheels turning in Wayne's head as he tried to figure out the dynamic between her and Tristan. With a mischievous grin, Summer stepped closer to Tristan and looped her arm through his, pulling him against her. "This is Trish," she announced with a proud smirk, raising her chin slightly. "My boyfriend."
Wayne's eyes went wide, his mouth falling open in disbelief. "You—" He blinked several times, clearly processing her words. "You made a boyfriend?! Since when?" His shock was palpable, and for a moment, Summer enjoyed the look of pure astonishment on his face.
"Why didn't I know about this?" Wayne sputtered, still reeling from the revelation.
Tristan, however, didn't miss the hint of emotion in Wayne's voice. His eyes darkened ever so slightly, misinterpreting Wayne's shock as jealousy. Did this guy like Summer? Was that why he was so overprotective of her? Without a second thought, Tristan's arm snaked possessively around Summer's waist, pulling her firmly against his side as if to send Wayne a very clear message. She's mine.
Wayne's mouth twisted into a sheepish grin, immediately noticing Tristan's territorial move. "Whoa, easy there, lover boy," Wayne teased, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Didn't mean to intrude."
Summer shot Wayne a glare, her eyes narrowing into slits. "what? Can't I have a boyfriend and… Why should you know?" she snapped, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "My love life is none of your business."
Wayne chuckled nervously, clearly not wanting to get on Summer's bad side. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'm just surprised, that's all. I mean, you're a great person, Sam. Anyone would fall in love with you." He winked, trying to lighten the mood.
Tristan, however, didn't take Wayne's flattery lightly. In his mind, Wayne had just confirmed himself as a rival, and his jaw clenched slightly as he tightened his grip on Summer's waist. Summer, sensing Tristan's growing tension, gave him a quick nudge with her elbow, shooting him a look that clearly said, Relax.
Thankfully, at that moment, the police arrived, interrupting the playful tension between them. The officers quickly took statements from all the parties involved, including Summer and Tristan, who recounted the details of their ordeal. The mention of Maria Belmont's involvement sent a ripple of tension through the group. As the police took control of the scene, Summer and Tristan exchanged a silent, knowing glance. There would be more to deal with later, but for now, they had other things to attend to.
As the situation finally calmed down, Summer and Tristan parted ways with Wayne, making their way back to the hotel. The evening air was cool, and the streets of Paris were quieter than usual. They walked side by side, the events of the night still fresh in their minds.
Tristan, however, couldn't shake the lingering feeling of jealousy gnawing at him. His gaze flickered toward Summer, and without warning, he spoke up, his voice tinged with possessiveness. "You know," he began, "you should really keep your distance from Wayne Malik."
Summer raised an eyebrow, casting him a sidelong glance. "Oh? And why's that?"