Page 11 of Protecting Talia

“What?” Zip asked.

“Waiting on us.”

Zip shrugged. “Ellis spent the afternoon cooking, and you’re a guest.”

“But so are you.”

Trip moved to stand beside Zip, draping his arm over Zip’s shoulder. “Some people think it’s weird. Lord knows I know enough Navy men who think it’s the wife’s job to serve him, but we serve each other. If I cook, she helps clean, and it goes the other way. Zip is just a good guy who values people.”

She nodded. “It makes sense, but honestly, I’ve never once had any guy help me like you two are helping. So it’s not an act?”

Ellis laughed as she shook her head. “No, not an act. They do this. Hop, too. He’s with Vera.”

She shook her head. “I’m surprised. It’s not what I grew up with.”

Trip was back with a plate for her. “So, what did you grow up with?”

Her throat went dry, and she had to look down at the table. She stabbed the lasagna with her fork, wondering exactly how much to tell them. They wouldn’t understand.

“You don’t have to tell us,” Ellis said.

She looked up, seeing three pairs of eyes staring at her. Pressure increased in her ears, and the roar started. She dragged in a ragged breath, trying to keep from passing out. The world swam before her. It was a protection mechanism she’d developed over the years. Passing out changed situations and oftentimes saved her from more humiliation. But these people weren’t here to abuse her. They were just curious.

“It’s okay. Zip already knows my sister is awful. They did…things. I’ve worked hard to get away. I shouldn’t have gone to the bar.” She couldn’t tell them that her work had paid for that bar. It would only raise questions that she didn’t want to answer.

“Why did you go?” Zip’s voice was quiet and held no accusations.

She turned, swallowing at the lump in her throat from the concern in his eyes. “I heard someone putting a hit on the place. I tried to warn my sister, but she’s a terrible person and wouldn’t let me talk. She threatened to send someone after me in the parking lot, and I hid in the bathroom until I could get a car to come pick me up. Stupid move, I know.”

“Not stupid,” Ellis said. “You were trying to stay safe.”

“It didn’t work. Her goon found me.” She waved her hand at her face, where the bruises had faded to yellow with some green still left.

“I’m glad I was able to stop him.”

Talia nodded. “Yeah, thank you. No one else would have ever helped me.”

Zip shook his head. An intensity filled his eyes that almost scared her. “If I’d known it was that bad for you, I would have done damage that jerk wouldn’t forget.”

His words made her gasp. No one had ever stood up for her. Any progress she made, she had to fight and scrap for it.

“I’m glad Zip found you,” Trip said.

Her gaze shot to him. “Why?”

“Because you seem like a nice person. And Ellis likes you. That’s enough for me.”

She shook her head as heat rose. There was no way she could tell them what she’d done, but she had to warn them. “I’m not that good of a person.”

Elis reached across the table and took her hand. “Don’t let what other people said or did to you define you. You get to define yourself.”

The words hit hard, bringing tears to her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, but these people were being nice to her. No one had been nice in ages. To her horror, more tears slid down her cheeks. She couldn’t be in here. She stood, racing to the bathroom she’d spied earlier.

Zip’s strong arms caught her before she could make it to the door. He pulled her close, and she buried her face against his chest. Embarrassment and anger rose, but his arms around her made everything better.

“It’s okay, Talia. I’m here for you.”

His soft voice, along with his strong arms, brought more tears. She couldn’t believe this man wasn’t making fun of her or trying to force her to do something sexual. He was holding her like he cared. She should have pushed him away and walked, but she didn’t. Her fingers twisted tighter in his shirt, and she pulled him closer.

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