Page 55 of Shattered by Grace (The Locke Empire Duet #1)

Chapter Forty-Five

V ictoria unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside, but before she could turn around, Tristan brushed past her. His presence was immediate, overwhelming, as he prowled through the space, checking every corner like he expected an ambush.

She raised a brow, half amused, half annoyed. “Seriously? What the hell are you doing?”

His jaw was tight, his shoulders rigid. “Making sure it’s safe.”

She scoffed, the sound sharp with disbelief. “You don’t think that’s a little dramatic?”

He didn’t even flinch. He just kept scanning the space, every corner and every shadow. “Not a chance.”

The way he said it, calm and certain, chipped at something inside her. She crossed her arms, trying to reassert control. “You’re being ridiculous.”

His gaze snapped to hers, dark and unreadable. “Not after the other night.” His voice dropped, low and deliberate. “And you told me about the break-in.”

Her heart stuttered. She remembered. Of course she remembered. But that didn’t mean she needed someone guarding her like a soldier. Still, something about the way he stood there, unflinching and unmoved, left her throat dry.

She wanted to roll her eyes. To throw another jab. To remind him she could take care of herself.

A sudden brush against her foot had her jumping into Tristan.

“Oh my god, Clawdia, you scared the shit out of me.”

Tristan’s arm steadied her, but she playfully swatted him. “See? You’ve got me all jumpy now, soldier boy.”

For a heartbeat, she clung to him, the tension of the moment still hanging between them. He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “It’s alright, love. I got you, always.”

Just as the moment threatened to break, her phone buzzed in her hand, slicing through the air like a shot. She glanced down. Saved by Taylor. And just like that, the moment was gone.

Tristan was still watching her, his eyes scanning her face like he was searching for something. Maybe she was too.

She turned away, walking toward the couch, needing space. “You don’t have to keep doing this, you know.”

“Doing what?”

“This,” she gestured vaguely between them. “Hovering. Acting like it’s your job to keep me safe.”

Tristan exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair before stepping closer. "You don’t have to want it. That doesn’t change the fact that I will.” His voice was quiet, but firm, it almost felt like a vow.

The words landed hard, knocking the air from her lungs.

She swallowed. “Why?”

Tristan didn’t answer right away. He took another step, closing the distance between them. “Because there’s no world where I wouldn’t,” he said, so softly she almost didn’t hear it.

Her fingers curled into fists. This was too much. Too close. Too everything .

“I don’t need you to save me, Tristan.”

His lips twitched, but it wasn’t quite a smile, more like the ghost of something bitter. His gaze held hers, steady, unshaken. “You don’t have to need me. I’m still here.”

She hated the way her heart stuttered, the way something inside her cracked just a little. He was making it impossible to hold onto the anger, to the walls she had spent years reinforcing.

Tristan took a slow step back, exhaling like he had just made some kind of decision. He reached for the lock on her door, testing it, “Get some sleep, Victoria.”

And then, just like that, he walked out, leaving her standing in the middle of the room with her heart pounding and the weight of his presence still lingering in the air.

She barely registered the missed call, too focused on the door, on the space he had just filled, on the way it suddenly felt too empty.

Then her phone lit up again.

Taylor.

Victoria hesitated before answering, but the moment she did, Taylor’s voice came through, sharp and demanding.

"Umm, Victoria… what is going on?"

She swallowed. "Nothi—Nothing." Her voice wavered, emotions twisting inside her, but she forced herself to focus.

"Why haven’t you been to work? Conner’s said you had an accident, but you’re safe?"

Victoria exhaled, sinking onto the couch, staring into nothing as the memories rushed in.

"It’s… kind of a long story. Short version?

I gave the notebook to Adams, the detective.

After that, I felt off. My apartment felt too small, so I went to the gym.

" Her fingers curled against her throat as the words tumbled out.

"I don’t know. It all happened so fast. Cassian sent three or four guys to send a message.

One of them had me by the throat, choking me. "

There was a sharp inhale on the other end of the line, but Victoria kept going. "Then Tristan swoops in, saves the day. But I had to tell him everything, and… that didn’t go over great. We had a huge fight. I lost my phone at the gym, so I couldn’t call or text."

Taylor was so silent on the other end that Victoria glanced at her phone to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.

"Tay? You still there?" Her voice was quieter now, uncertainty creeping in.

"Yeah… I’m here." Taylor’s voice finally came through, slow and careful. "I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that you were attacked, lost your phone, got into a fight with Tristan, and somehow, you’re just now telling me?"

Victoria groaned, rubbing her temples. "I wasn’t exactly in a place to call and chat about it, Tay."

"That’s not the point! You disappeared! I was worried sick. And Conner…do you have any idea how freaked out she was?"

Guilt curled in Victoria’s stomach. "I didn’t mean to worry you guys," she admitted.

"Yeah, well, you did.” She took a small breath, “Did Tristan really call Conner?"

Anger filled her veins. "God, yes. How freaking embarrassing?"

Taylor started laughing on the other end. "Victoria, it’s kinda sweet."

"Sweet?! Sweet?" Victoria scoffed, standing up and starting to pace around the living room.

"This man told me that 'Whitney' and him go way back. That she dated a friend." She shook her head, disbelief still ringing in her voice. "He told me not to worry about it because technically he’s my bosses’ bosses’ boss, since his family owns the hospital. "

Taylor’s voice shot through the phone. "What?"

"Girl, I think you just busted my eardrum." Victoria laughed at Taylor’s reaction, which was about the same as hers. "Yeah, well… I, uh… I stayed at his place last night." She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.

Silence. A long, drawn-out silence.

“YOU WHAT?”

Victoria winced, pulling the phone away from her ear.

“Not like that! After the attack, I had a panic attack, and he just…he stayed with me. Took me into the shower to calm me down, rubbed my arms… just held me until I could breathe again.” The memory hit her like a wave, goosebumps rising along her arms. “And I just…after everything, I couldn’t go back to my apartment.

He refused to take me anywhere else but his place, so… yeah. But it wasn’t like that at all.”

"You slept in Tristan Locke’s bed. The Tristan Locke. The broody, emotionally unavailable fighter who looks like sin and fights like a demon?"

Victoria groaned. "Yes, but also, Tay…he sings, he cooks, and I kid you not, we slow-danced around his kitchen when the power went out. Like, is he even real?"

"Okay, no. That’s not fair. You’re telling me he’s not just stupidly hot but also domestic? Does he also rescue puppies and read poetry in his free time?"

Victoria snorted. "I wouldn’t be surprised at this point. He has a book corner in his room with a leather chair and shelves full of books overlooking the woods"

Taylor made a strangled noise. “Girl, you’re done for. Just go ahead and send me the wedding invite now.”

Victoria’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not.”

“Mhmm. That’s what they all say right before they fall madly in love.”

Victoria flopped back onto the couch with a groan. “I hate you.”

“No, babe. You hate that I’m right.”

Victoria laughed, but then her gaze flickered to the dryer, and she smirked. "Oh, and you’re gonna love this. Tristan has a jar full of names and numbers by his dryer."

"A JAR? Like… a trophy case for his conquests?!"

"That’s what I thought! But no, it’s just his system for tracking who’s left their number with him. You know, to return lost items."

Taylor cackled. "Please tell me you put my number in there."

Victoria grinned. "Already done."

"You’re the worst."

"I know."

But as their laughter faded, Taylor’s voice softened. "Vic… be honest. What’s going on between you two?"

Victoria hesitated, staring at the spot where Tristan had been just moments ago. She could lie. She could brush it off.

Or she could admit the truth, whatever the hell that even was.

“I wish I knew.”