Page 34 of Protecting Talia

“I can’t believe you want me.”

“Every single day. I want you, Talia. I want all of you.”

He pulled out and kissed the side of her head before tossing the condom. This was the kind of relationship he vowed never to have, but he never wanted this to end. Talia was the perfect person for him, and he wanted to make sure she knew how much he cared for her.

20

Being with Zip was nearly magical. He cared deeply for her. It was unlike any relationship she’d ever been in. Of course, her past was littered with toxic people and toxic situations. With Zip, everything was better.

She was back at work, which meant she got home close to midnight, so he was asleep and he left early while she slept. The days she didn’t work were best. That’s when they made love and she realized she had a great man.

Two weeks after the first time they’d had sex, she was at home alone when her phone rang. It was the police. They wanted her to come to the station. She texted Zip as she was driving over.

He called seconds after she stepped into the station, and she answered. “I just stepped into the station. I’ll call you when I get done.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. They want to talk about the guy who assaulted me. I’m fine.”

“Okay. Call if you need something. And if you can’t get hold of me, call Caroline and Wolf.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

She ended the call and was greeted by someone in uniform. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m here to talk to Detective Huett. They called me.”

“Sure. I’ll tell Huett you’re here.”

She only had to wait a few minutes before Huett called her back. A woman joined them in the room. “Hello, I’m Amy. I’m here for you, not the police.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand. Are you a lawyer?”

“No, I’m a psychologist.”

Huett cleared his throat. “I asked Amy to join us. I—” Huett coughed and glanced down at the table.

Talia’s stomach clenched. He knew. There was no way he didn’t. Now, they wouldn’t take her seriously.

“I wanted you to have support. You’re twenty-eight, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“When were you freed?”

She shook her head. “I don’t understand your question.”

Amy smiled. “Victims of trafficking have seven years to press charges.”

She looked from Amy to Huett. “You’re pressing charges against me?”

Huett shook his head. “No. We were talking about charging whoever was responsible for what happened to you.”

Tears filled her eyes. Was this for real? Years had been spent fearing the police. Would they really listen to her? “They always said you would arrest me.”

“No. I’m sorry you didn’t know to come to us. I get it. The police can be scary. If I’d known…I don’t know. I hoped if I figured out someone was being abused that way at thirteen years old, I would have done something to fight it. I’m sorry you weren’t taken care of properly.”

Her throat closed, and her heart squeezed. “No one ever cared.”

---