Page 18

I added, “The same blood runs in your veins, Christian. You’re more like me than you’d care to admit. When you decide you want something, orsomeone,you don’t let anyone stand in your way.”
Christian let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head.
“Maybe, but never for a woman. Honestly, I never expected the infamous Cole Valen to turn into a lovesick puppy over anyone. And here you are, pulling out all the stops to… protect her,” Christian said.
Christian smirked, and the implication was clear.
“Tori’s life might be in danger,” I said stiffly, jaw tightening.
I’d trained myself to bury feelings for years, focusing instead on business and family, and now this woman had blindsided me.
Christian looked at me with a brow raised, clearly not buying it.
“And she’s aware you’ve got one of Shaw’s ex-Navy SEALs tailing her every move?” Christian asked.
Silence settled in the room.
If Tori ever found out what I’d done, I doubted she’d forgive me—or even look at me the same way again.
In a single moment, whatever tentative trust I’d managed to build with her would come crumbling down, scattering like sand through my fingers.
I knew her too well already.
Tori was fiercely independent, someone who’d fought hard to shape her life on her terms, free from the shadows of her past.
She’d made it clear that the last thing she wanted was anyone meddling in her life, especially not a man trying to play the savior.
And here I was, doing exactly that. Admittedly, what I’d done was more than a little questionable.
But keeping her safe, ensuring she didn’t have to look over her shoulder every time she walked home at night, was worth the risk.
I couldn’t let her ex worm his way back into her life—or worse. Who knew what Marcus was capable of?
I made a mental note to call Shaw again and have one of his specialists look into him.
Either way, I’d made my choice, and if it meant carrying this secret alone, so be it. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
And as long as I could protect her from afar, I’d be willing to live with that.
Christian’s smirk grew wider.
“Didn’t think so,” he murmured, leaning back in the chair, crossing his arms.
“Seems like Tori doesn’t know half the lengths you’re going to in order to keep her close. You sure she’ll be okay with that, big brother? Especially when she realizes you’re still keeping secrets?” Christian asked.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” I replied, coldly.
Christian, for all his intelligence, had never understood what it meant to protect someone like Tori.
He hadn’t been there when I’d first seen that fire in her—the fire that made me feel more alive than I had in years.
“Oh, I understand perfectly,” Christian said, tone laced with mock concern.
“But answer me this: What exactly is your endgame here? You’ve got your guy following her, you’re keeping tabs on her ex… What’s next? You planning to swoop in as the knight in shining armor?” Christian asked.
Honestly? I didn’t know the answer to his question.
I simply knew I had to keep Tori safe. I felt the tension coil in my chest, but I fought to keep my voice level.