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Z ip stood in the shower, washing the grime from their mission off his body. He couldn’t wait to get home to Talia. It would take them a few days to make it home, but at least they were headed that way. He wanted nothing more than to pull her close and hold her. He hoped they returned home on a day she didn’t have to work.

“You in here, Zip?” Rider called out.

“Yeah. Just finishing.”

He turned off the water and grabbed a towel. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much. Just checking on you. We’re leaving in about an hour. Got a ride out for us.”

“Awesome. I’m ready to get home.”

“Oh yeah, Talia. How is that working out?”

“Excellent.”

Rider laughed. “That’s too funny. You were one of the ones who wasn’t going to fall. But I could almost hear the slam of you hitting the ground.”

He snapped his towel. Almost hitting Rider, who laughed even more. “Yeah, she’s got me. No question, I’ve fallen for her. I’m happily joining the crowd of happily paired off. What about you?”

Rider shrugged. “I’m fine alone. But if I find someone, that would be great, too.”

“Look at you, all in touch with your inner self.”

Rider chuckled. “Keep it up, buddy, and I’ll make sure Talia knows you’re mooning over her.”

“Tell her. I’m fine with that.”

“Oh, how the mighty fall,” Q said as he entered the room.

Zip smiled, happy to take their joking. They were right. He had fallen hard for Talia. “You ready?” he asked as he pulled on his shirt.

“Yeah. We’re ready,” Q said as he followed Zip out the door.

After a mission, the pressure was off. He liked this feeling. Success was nice. He’d never been on a total failure of a mission. They’d made mistakes before, but nothing had ever been a failure. He wasn’t sure how his buddy Sharp had dealt with the mission he’d been on that had failed. That had to have been terrible. Losing friends like he had must have been a real mind fuck. They didn’t talk about it, but he knew from the few things Sharp had said it had screwed him up. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Going home felt good. Much more special knowing Talia would be there for him. He never wanted to forget this feeling.

* * *

Talia reached for her phone, but her sister knocked it from her hand before she could use it. She tried to get the digital assistant to call emergency services, but Cheryl screamed so loud the assistant couldn’t hear her.

“Shut up, you bitch! You’re never getting free of me.”

“Help!” Talia tried to run around Cheryl, but two men were on the stairs. She was trapped. There was no way for her to escape. “Help!” she screamed again, hoping someone heard.

Cheryl’s hand landed on her cheek, sending pain straight through her and dropping her to her knees. One of the guys stepped inside and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her backward.

“Stop!” He held her in an awkward position, her back arched, her legs bent awkwardly. She couldn’t catch her breath. Tears streamed down her face. “Leave me alone.”

Cheryl knelt beside her, disdain clear in her eyes. “No can do. You used to be helpful.”

“Just stop,” Talia begged.

“No. I don’t think so.” Cheryl stood and waved for the men to follow with her. “Come now. We have work to do.”

The guys grabbed her, and though she tried to fight them, it was no use. They had too good of a hold on her. She wasn’t going to get free. She knew what would happen, how it would go from here on out. Her life was over, and there wasn’t anything she could do to change that.