Page 21 of Protecting Talia

“No.” Agitation filled her. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry for. I just—it’s my past. I just realized how much I’ve lost out on. I’ve spent my life just trying to survive, and I feel like I’ll never get there.”

He moved fast and had his arms around her. “I’ve got you.”

This wasn’t how she wanted this night to go, but the good food, the movie, and now him being so kind brought more tears. She clung to him, sobbing against his chest as he smoothed his hands over her hair.

After a moment, he moved to the couch and pulled her down on his lap. She clung to him, hating that she was falling apart but loving that he was here for her.

When her tears finally calmed, she sat up and met his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m happy to hold you and help you.”

She shook her head. “I feel like something bad is coming for me. You shouldn’t be close to me. It’s dangerous.”

He tapped his finger on her nose. “I’m dangerous as a fucking heart attack, and I give back more than I get. So there is no walking away from you. I’m here to stay.”

“They do bad things. You could end up in trouble.”

“Trouble? I eat trouble for breakfast.”

“One time, I tried to press charges against them, and I ended up in jail for four months.”

His lips thinned, and she swore the anger in his eyes could cut glass. “What do you mean?”

“They have cops, not San Diego police, but they have other officers in their pocket. They had me arrested and held. While in, they wouldn’t feed me but once a day, and they wouldn’t let me call anyone. I only got out because a group from the government came to tour the jail and found me.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you. I promise that won’t happen with me around.”

“But you can’t be around twenty-four-seven.”

“No, but I have interesting friends who don’t always operate in the bounds of what is legal.”

“That sounds like my family.”

“Except my friends work for good, not chaos.”

“What exactly are we talking about?”

“One of my friends can track you. You can wear earrings, or we can place a tracker in your clothing. It could be in a watch or something like that. Then if you haven’t been heard from at whatever time we decide, we track you. You can have an emergency button to send a distress call. Basically, we can get you security, which is usually reserved for heads of state, so you can feel safe.”

“I don’t know. I don’t like the idea of being tracked.”

“I get that. It would be for your safety and not to put limits on you.”

She shook her head. “Why would you do this for me? Why do you care?”

He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her skin. “I don’t know, but I do care about you. I care what happens. I don’t know if we’ll make it as a couple, but I still will care if something goes bad for you.”

She blew out a breath, wondering how she’d found such a good man. She hadn’t even been looking for someone to date, and now she had someone who cared about her.

“I don’t understand.”

“What’s to understand?”

“Why are you being so nice? No one is this nice.”

“People should be this nice. You deserve to be treated well.”

Her throat closed, and words failed her, so she hugged him again. She wasn’t used to anyone being this nice. She’d called him a cinnamon roll to razz him earlier, but it was the truth. He was a cinnamon roll. He was kind and sweet, and protective of her. She hoped he never changed because this felt so good. Having Zip in her life would be different from any relationship she’d ever had. He was different, and she liked it. Her past had a way of creeping in, but maybe this time was different.

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