Page 5 of Protecting Talia

* * *

Talia grabbedher phone and entered the number from Zip’s screen. A woman answered immediately.

“Hello.”

“Zip said you’d track my location. Why should I trust him?”

“Trip said you’d call. I’m Ellis.”

“I’m Talia.”

“You can trust Zip. He won’t harm you. He’ll take you home and make sure your place is safe.”

“Doubt it.”

“No, he will.”

How could she explain the hell her family had put her through? It wasn’t normal at all and people didn’t understand. “It has nothing to do with him. My place will never be safe. I could have police sitting outside my door, and I’d still be in danger.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did something happen?”

“My family. They aren’t nice.”

“That sucks. Well, Zip is a good friend. Maybe your luck is changing.”

“I’m not going to hold my breath.”

“He’ll make sure you get home. And Talia, give me a call this weekend, maybe we can get a drink.”

She didn’t know what to say for a second. Why would this complete stranger want to get a drink with her? The offer honestly shocked her, and she had no excuse lined up for why she couldn’t join this woman for drinks. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

The second the call ended she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Friends didn’t stick around once her family got to them. Maybe getting this person involved was wrong. Ellis didn’t know what kind of hell her family started.

She shoved her phone into her pocket after sending tracking information to Ellis’s number. When she looked up and met Zip’s gaze, a shiver slid through her. What was that look about? No way would this man be interested in her. Besides, he wasn’t like the guys she usually went for. But what good had that done for her? The last man she’d been serious with had ended up stabbing her in the back by sleeping with Cheryl.

She had the feeling that this man in front of her wouldn’t fall victim to Cheryl’s lies. She could trust Zip. Maybe it was the way he held her gaze, or just something deep inside, but he didn’t seem like the type to bend to her family. He would tell them to go to hell.

“Okay. I’ll let you take me home.”

“Good. Get in, and you can give me your address.”

“You won’t come to track me down and stalk me like some weirdo and make me regret this?”

“No. You don’t ever have to see me again unless you want to.”

She slid into the passenger seat and looked up, meeting his gaze. “What if I want to see you again?”

* * *

Zip didn’t wantto make too much of her words, so he shrugged, but his chest grew warm as he thought about seeing Talia again. He shut her door and moved around the car, trying to cover his feelings. He was confused. This woman was sassy and strong, but she had a streak of vulnerability he spied when she talked about her family. What was up with that?

He followed the directions, getting on the freeway after a few turns. “I don’t want to make you think I’m better than I am. I would never do anything with someone who wasn’t into what we were doing, but I’ve never been the type of guy who was in it for a long time. I’m not good enough for you.”

Talia scoffed. “You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He glanced at her, seeing her frown. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’m trash and I know it. I’m no prize.”

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