Page 2 of Protecting Talia

“Both of you get out, or I’ll kick you out!” the mean bartender bellowed before turning around to leave.

Zip rolled his eyes. “Seriously, what is her problem?”

The woman standing next to him huffed out a breath. “That’s my sister.”

Her words brought Zip up short. How could one sister treat another like this? He wanted to tell the bartender to stop being such a jerk, but obviously they had a history, and he was sure nothing he said would change her attitude.

2

Talia Mast should never have come to the bar, even if it would benefit Cheryl. Her sister was the worst type of narcissist. She’d turned everyone against Talia, even their parents. Why should she care if someone wanted to do something bad?

“Hey, wait up.”

Talia turned and rolled her eyes at the man who’d come into the bathroom to save her. Little did he know she wasn’t worth saving. Maybe he wasn’t there to save her. He could be working with her sister. “Did she send you out here to beat me up this time?”

A look of shock crossed his face. “No!”

At least he had the decency to look and sound offended. She put her hand on her hips and cocked them to the side as she tilted her head. “Give it time, and she’ll have you eating out of her hand.”

“No, she won’t. You need help. Let me at least take care of that wound on your head.”

Talia reached up and winced as she wiped the dirt and grime off her forehead. But it wasn’t grime or dirt, it was blood. “Bastards.”

He took a step closer and spread his hands, making him appear innocent. “Let me look at it and help you.”

“What are you, some kind of doctor?”

“No, but I know how to take care of a wound. Let me just look. I have a kit in my trunk.”

She shook her head and scoffed. “So you drive around with some kind of medical kit in your car just looking for people to fix up? That sounds suspicious. What are you, some kind of serial killer?” When he rolled his eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh. “You look like a dork when you roll your eyes with that beard.”

“Well, I am a dork, so at least you got that right.”

Laughter spilled out, and she shook her head. The pain made her stop moving, and she groaned. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

He moved to her and put his hand on her back as he gently guided her to his car. She should make a run for it. Cheryl could have paid him to kidnap her. She wouldn’t put it past her sister.

“Why are you helping me? Talking to me will get you banned from that bar.”

“It was a shitty bar. Not my usual place. I needed time to think away from friends.”

“If I had friends, I sure as shit wouldn’t abandon them. You might be worse off than I am.”

He grunted, disgust crossing his face. “It’s not like that.”

“What is it like, then?”

“Let me fix that bloody mess first, then we can talk.”

“Fine. I don’t need it dripping on my beautiful dress.” She curtseyed, holding out an imaginary skirt. Her gray t-shirt was already stained from stuff that had happened earlier. A little more blood wouldn’t make that much difference.

The guy opened his trunk, and she glanced in, seeing he had multiple bags in there. No way would he have room for her in there. Unless he folded her up really small.

“You just get back from a trip?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Just need to take some things to work with me.”

“What kind of work?”

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