Page 70 of Shattered by Grace (The Locke Empire Duet #1)

Chapter Fifty-Nine

I t didn’t take long to find Taylor. She was stunning in an emerald velvet dress, the long sleeves hugging her arms, the fabric draping like liquid elegance. Her short hair was pinned up effortlessly, and a delicate black lace mask framed her face—a near twin to Victoria’s.

“I think I have a girl crush,” Victoria murmured into Taylor’s ear as she spun on the dance floor.

Taylor turned sharply, eyes lighting up. “Victoria.” She pulled her into a tight hug before stepping back, scanning her outfit with approval. “You look gorgeous.” Her gaze flicked to Tristan. “Tristan.”

Before he could respond, Justin appeared at Taylor’s side, pressing a glass of champagne into her hand. “Here’s your drink—” His words cut off the second his gaze lifted to Victoria’s companion. His expression flickered, something sharp and uncertain flashing behind his mask. “Oh, fuck. Mr. Locke.”

Victoria’s gaze turned icy, her body language stiff. Tristan’s lips pressed into a thin line, a cold, exacting stare settling on Justin. The air crackled with unresolved tension, both of them not bothering to mask their discomfort.

To break the quiet standoff, Taylor grabbed Victoria’s hand and spun her onto the dance floor with a smile. “Come on, let’s get some fun in before someone says something they’ll regret.”

As the upbeat strings filled the air, Taylor grabbed Victoria’s hand and spun her into the dance, a playful smile tugging at her lips. The lively melody lifted the room’s energy, pulling Victoria into the rhythm. But even as she moved, her attention wasn’t entirely on the dance floor.

Her eyes were locked on Tristan across the room.

There was no mistaking the quiet, unyielding way he watched her.

His gaze burned through her, making the space between them feel like an electric charge.

She let him see her. The way she moved, the way the dress flowed over her skin, how her lips curled in a knowing smile. She didn’t look away, not for a second.

If anything, she wanted him to feel it. Wanted him to want it harder. The game they played wasn’t lost on her. She could feel the pull, the tension wrapping tighter between them, and she let it simmer, making sure every movement was deliberate, every glance a challenge.

He didn’t blink. Neither did she.

Taylor’s voice cut through her thoughts, playful and oblivious to the battle silently raging between them. “You’re really trying to make him suffer, aren’t you?”

Victoria didn’t answer. She just smiled, her eyes still locked on Tristan, watching the way his jaw clenched, the way his body seemed to inch closer, even though he hadn’t moved a muscle.

Victoria turned away from Tristan with a smirk, letting the energy of the dance floor wash over her.

She continued to move with Taylor, the music carrying her in a rhythmic flow.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling of Tristan’s eyes on her, even as she spun and twirled, savoring every second of their silent battle.

A movement to her side caught her attention.

Justin sidled up next to Taylor, flashing a grin as he took her hand and pulled her into a dance.

The sight of them, Justin so smug and Taylor giving in with that carefree smile, made Victoria’s stomach churn.

She fought the wave of repulsion, unwilling to let it ruin her night.

Instead, she pushed it down, forcing herself to focus on the beat of the music and the way her body moved with it.

Fun , she reminded herself. She was here to have fun.

As she twirled again, the movement shifting her focus for just a second, her eyes caught on him.

Tristan.

He was walking toward her with that confident stride, his presence undeniable. Every step he took seemed deadly, as if he knew she was watching him, knew the effect he was having. His gaze never wavered, and she felt the pull in her chest drawing her to him.

He’s so fucking sexy , she thought, unable to suppress the quickening of her pulse. The way he held himself, the way his eyes blazed as they locked onto hers like a silent dare.

She kept dancing, but her eyes never left him. The world around her seemed to fade, the music pulsing through her veins as he drew closer, their invisible connection tightening with each breath.

Then, as if the moment had been written in the stars, the music shifted.

The soft notes of Wildest Dreams filled the air, a slow, haunting melody, and suddenly Tristan was there.

Without a word, he grabbed her hand, slinging her effortlessly into his chest until they were face to face, the tension between them so thick it could have been cut with a knife.

Victoria’s breath caught. This is it, she thought. This is the moment.

His lips curled into a half-smirk, and the fire in his eyes flickered darker as he leaned in, just enough to speak in a low, almost teasing tone. “Admit it, Victoria, You’ve had me under your skin since the moment I laid eyes on you. So, what are you waiting for? Let me show you what happens next.”

It wasn’t a request. It was a command, wrapped in that familiar, cocky confidence. The words hung in the air between them like a challenge.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she let herself melt into the rhythm of the song, the weight of their gazes pulling her deeper.

They danced, slow and easy, their bodies moving as if they had done this a thousand times before.

There was no rush. Only the lingering heat of his touch on her waist, the flicker of a smile on his lips, the way his eyes never left hers.

Tristan moved fast, dipping her before she had a chance to react, his grip strong and steady, like he had no intention of letting her go.

The world around them blurred, the music pulsing through the air, but all she could focus on was him.

The way he always looked at her, like she was the only thing that mattered.

“Oh, love,” he murmured, voice dripping with amusement. “You should know better than to look at me like that.”

And as Wildest Dreams reached its crescendo, he kissed her.

It wasn’t soft or hesitant. It was reckless and consuming, like he knew exactly what he was doing to her and refused to stop. His fingers tangled in her hair, his body pressed against hers, and for a moment, the entire world tilted, gravity bending beneath the weight of them.

And then, just as quickly, it was over.

Tristan pulled back, his breath warm against her lips, his smirk still there. His eyes… God. They burned for her with a deep hunger. No teasing now. No games. Just him, laid bare.

“I love you, Victoria.”

The words weren’t playful. They weren’t arrogant or coaxing. They were real.

And just like that, the air left her lungs.