Trevor wanted to smash his head against the table hearing the destructive scuffle going on at Zara's house. He looked at the rest of the men on the team scattered about the room – each shaking their head in despair. Zara's bold stand launched Roman from his chair and he tried to head out the door to save his treasure. While Trevor's men under strict instruction got warned not to let him out of the house. Roman bulldozed through them as if they were paper. The sounds of hurled furniture and shattered glass made Trevor cringe. But it was the last sound of something thudding onto wood and glass that made him relinquish.

"What was that?" he asked trying to remain calm.

"He body slammed Andrews into the coffee table, it broke. Andrews is bleeding and knocked out. Connors is taking care of him. He'll be all right."

"Shit," Trevor whispered. "Let him out – just let him out before he kills somebody. Call the Feds and get them here immediately."

"Yes, sir."

***

Ava had put Glory Rose to bed a little over an hour ago. The little love piece had been such a wonderful distraction for her in the midst of anxiety that ebbed in and out of her day. Between bottles, burping, baby diapers, and watching her master the roll, it was calming and entertaining. She was even trying to sit up for a longer period of time. That was something new that she nor Trevor had seen. She couldn't wait to show him.

But with the baby sleeping, a fresh - wave of anxiety struck. There had never been a mission like this – three of the people that she loved most in the world were at risk. So, Ava did what her mother would have done, what her grandmother would have done, and what her great grandmother would have done. Ava lifted her voice to God and began to sing to the Almighty and pray for their safety – sing and pray.

She walked into the kitchen with a song in her heart and prayers from her lips. They will need to eat. They're coming home for dinner. Preparing for their return was the thing that kept her standing. Her mind began rehearsing all the time that God kept Trevor safe – on the battlefield, in the middle of the worst regions of the world. She pulled out her chopping board cutting up fresh peaches for the cobbler that Roman asked her to make. She knew just how they liked her cobbler. Make it sugary-sweet and overflowing with cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter. They're coming home. We will celebrate. Thank you, God, for a safe return and victory.

***

Ethan beamed with pride showing statistics of Soaring Social's marketing impact from his laptop. He watched the heads of people nodding with appreciation at information. It would catapult all of them to a higher-financial stratosphere. He called out to the Russians and painted a picture of what this network could do for their country. The table of businessmen applauded. Ethan was so pleased with himself. He hadn't noticed when Zara stood next to him.

She tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to brandish threatening eyes, yet a mega-watt smile. "Yes, darling."

"I am quite capable of speaking for my company. I would like to say a few words – PUMPKIN," she purred.

Ethan got rigid – insulted at the word Pumpkin. He began to quake but tried hard to maintain perfect behavior. But the fire engine red covering his face betrayed the silk running through his voice. "Certainly, darling. We surely want to hear what you have to say. Perhaps a little later in the program."

Zara got loud and boisterous, just like she'd done in the penthouse lobby. She pinched his cheek and wagged her finger in front of his face. "No, Pumpkin. I have so much to add to your fabulous presentation. I will speak right now!" The word came out like a bomb blast.

He snarled in her ear, "You're – crossing – the – wrong - person!"

"Don't think so - shit face," she whispered back and bumped him hard. He stumbled away from the microphone. Ethan vibrated with massive rage. It was hard to keep that perfect smiling face from revealing the tornado inside. But for appearance's sake, he gave the perfect performance. "Isn't she adorable. By all means darling – speak." Snickers gushed from the crowd but soon resided.

Zara scanned the room. She could see T-30, Trevor and his team sitting on the edge of their seats. She nodded to Trevor as if to say 'get ready.' He took a deep breath and nodded back.

"Raise your hands if you can see me," she yelled, slamming her hand on the podium. The room was silent as a tomb. "You all act like I'm not sitting in this room while you salivate over my company."

From the corner of her eye, Zara saw Roman walk in. Elation swept her world while her heart pounded at the sight of him. Her emotions swelled and so did the comfort. So glad you could make it, Roe. He inched towards Trevor's table. She waited until he got seated before she continued. They made eye contact for a long while and in this very exhausting day, she smiled at him. He returned the smile and did an air clap.

Zara stood pencil straight, folding her arms across her chest. Her words poured out with defiant confidence. "I don't know who you are. Don't care who you are. I've been shit on my entire life and I already made a declaration to myself – it's not happening again. So whatever plans you have for my company – forget it! Not a damn soul in this entire room is going to control anything – not even a paper clip in my company." She turned, yelling at Ethan. "You're as worthless as horse dung, a failure, and a complete idiot. You're days of destroying women are over – done with."

The Russian snatched out of his chair, seeing Ethan stupefied. "Do I need to control this, Ethan!" he bellowed, his thick accent cut through the mountain of tension about to explode in the room.

Ethan lunged at Zara. The roar from him amplified through the speakers. "You – you!!! I will kill you!!!"

"Go ahead and try," Zara screamed until her throat felt raw. She grabbed his laptop from the podium. Trevor's words flowed in her head. To disable a person - swift blow to the nose. Zara slammed the laptop against Ethan, breaking his nose. He stumbled back howling. Blood gushed down his face. To immobilize – trauma to the throat. It was amazing how clear the words came to her. She hauled back and side chopped his throat with the edge of the laptop.

Ethan gasped, grabbing his throat not able to breathe. He wheezed and stumbled to his knees. She slammed it on top of his head. He cried out. She raised the laptop again to strike but everything went into slow motion. She turned hearing Roman yell – Down Zara - Now! Sounds of guns cocked all over the room. In seconds sheer, pandemonium-massively erupted.

***

Ava's house

The smell of dinner and peach cobbler filled the kitchen. Ava laid prostrate on the floor feeling an urgent tug in her soul. She'd felt it many times before. It was as if a part of her connected to Trevor in his greatest time of need. Now she had three of the dearest people in the world pulling at her and the entire loyal team. A weight of heaviness covered her. But she laid flat on her face calling out to the Almighty and remembering his word. She voiced her prayers in whispers...

"No weapon formed against them shall prosper," she breathed.

***

The ballroom

Pristine white tablecloths dripped with blood. Murals were splattered with crimson. Legs and limbs of dead bodies lay contorted across the ballroom floor. The thunderous whiz of bullets and the pump of pneumatic silencers ricochet between the walls. Groans from the injured and the bellowing of powerful-deadly men turned the ballroom into a battleground.

***

Ava's house

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

***

The ballroom

Roman and Trevor fired rounds as they cut through the mayhem, charging after those heading for the podium. The evil A-list all wanted Zara dead for upstaging the takeover. T-30 and the seals cut them down in masses as they rolled and shot their way to the front of the room. Two Russians leaped up the stairs to the podium but got struck down. Their bulky bodies tumbled and crashed to the ground, causing others to stumble and fall.

***

Ava's house

"The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."

***

The ballroom

Roman and Trevor were only a few feet away from Zara now. Roman was so proud of her. She was fearless. She crouched behind a table spraying the mace she had stuffed in her bra. In the other hand was the unfired gun. But the fact that she pointed it kept people away.

"Don't get caught in the haze, Roman. Try to cover your face," Trevor yelled.

The smell of the stinging substance was noxious. Men yelled and screamed as the poisonous substance hit their eyes. Zara kicked over a chair that flipped into several men knocking them off the podium. Ethan finally caught his breath he stumbled towards Zara with fist balled.

"These men...these men...you were in my office!"

"I sure was – messed up your shit, didn't I?"

Who are you!" he thundered.

"Your nightmare! Avenging every woman that you abused."

Zara smiled as Roman and Trevor leaped on the stage.

Ethan was confounded he jerked around. "What...what?"

****

Ava's house

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

With that last whispered prayer, Ava got off of her face and went to bed. She was totally at peace – they all are coming home.

***

The ballroom

Ethan turned just as Roman crashed his fist into his eye blackening it. Ethan fell backward and crashed into the ground. "That's for punching my woman." Roman straddled Ethan battering him with one blow to the head after the other. Right – left – right – left. It was merciless. Blood oozed from Ethan's ears and nose. He howled in pain feeling his face swell as Roman beat him black and blue. Roman bellowed, "That woman you threatened is my wife. I'm Roe."

Trevor stood protecting Zara, blazing his automatic at anyone coming near the stage. Bodies fell back and tumbled from the stairs leading up to the stage. Blood spread like liquid ink across the stage and dripped down the stairs. Zara kept pumping mace. Then all of a sudden Trevor and Zara heard loud gurgling. They turned and saw Roman choking Ethan while he slammed his head against the floor.

"Trevor – go get him. He's going to kill Ethan."

"All right – use that gun if you have too."

Trevor dived on Roman knocking him off of Ethan. Roman snatched up and started stomping the evil man again. Trevor dragged Roman away and flung him on the floor. Ethan's legs kicked in spasms as he tried to draw air into his lungs.

"Enough, Roman," Trevor yelled. "She's safe, let's go. The Feds will take him and anybody left."

The blood lust in Roman's eyes began to subside. "She's safe?" Tears welled in his eyes.

"Yes – look."

Zara was holding down the fort. The mace was effective and the gun did its job. A weary smile traced up Roman's face. "That's the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen."

"The team can finish this out until the Feds arrive. Let's go."

Trevor and Roman ran towards Zara. They were almost by her side when they heard her scream. "Roman – Trevor watch out!!!"

Everything happened so fast. Ethan had a knife hidden in his boot. He lunged towards Roman with the knife raised aimed at his neck. Zara fired a shot in the air. It distracted Ethan long enough for Trevor to spin his automatic and hack Ethan down. A hail of bullets exploded into his body. Ethan jerked as the bullets burned through his flesh. He landed on the floor in a heavy thud. The blaring sounds of sirens from the arrival of the Feds swelled in the air. Within seconds the sounds of hundreds of boots pounded into the room.

Roman leaped across the room and cradled Zara in his arms. "It's over, treasure. It's all over. We're so proud of you."

Zara smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. She nodded to Roman as Trevor walked over. Roman and Trevor gave each other a fist bump. The Feds had spread across the room taking over everything. T-30 and Trevor's team walked up on the stage. Roman accounted for them all. Not a soul lost, while a sea of blood and bodies lay all around the room. Those not dead were taken away as ambulances arrived.

"Great job, team," Trevor said, looking at their blood-stained and battered bodies.

Roman clapped for his loyal team. "Take the rest of the week off."

They each paid their respect and commended Zara on her performance. Soon they all cleared the ballroom. Roman, Trevor, and Zara walked out into the chilling air of the parking lot. "Time for dinner," Zara said, "And I'm starved."