Page 28 of Only Ever His

You’re jumping to conclusions,I tried to tell myself.Cole wouldn’t do this. He’s been honest with you….

But Marcus’s face in the footage refused to leave me.

And somehow, knowing Marcus had his eyes on me again made every other piece fall into a sinister puzzle.

It was too easy to assume Cole’s world, the one filled with power and influence, came without complications.

I picked up my phone, fingers hovering over the screen. There were so many ways to go about this.

To push this thought away and wait for Cole to explain. Or to confront him, point-blank, demanding answers.

But the unease bubbling inside me was too real. I couldn’t ignore it. I opened our chat, tapping out a brief message.

Tori:Call me when you’re free.

It was onlya matter of minutes before my phone lit up with his name.

The sight of it sent a rush of relief through me, but my gut still twisted with uncertainty.

I swiped to answer, my voice as steady as I could manage.

“Hey, Tori,” Cole greeted me, his voice warm and familiar.

There was that familiar ache, the part of me that wanted to believe in him wholeheartedly, to trust without hesitation.

“Hi,” I replied, clearing my throat. I wanted to ease into it, but the words spilled out. “Did you...have someone watching me last night?”

There was a long pause, and I could almost hear the shift in his tone as he realized the weight of my question.

“Why do you ask?” Cole asked.

I swallowed. “There was a man in the store after Marcus showed up. At first, I thought he was a customer, but now I’m not so sure,” I said.

He didn’t answer right away, and my heart began to pound harder, waiting for his response.

Finally, he sighed, and there was something in his voice—a mixture of regret and resolve.

“Yes, Tori. I did,” Cole admitted. “Aden is a security specialist I hired once I heard your ex was in town.”

I felt a pang in my chest, my fingers tightening around the phone.

"So you don’t trust me to handle things on my own?" I demanded, my voice rising as fury surged through me.

I could hardly believe it—he thought I was so incapable, so helpless, that I needed…what, a bodyguard?

I took a sharp breath, trying to steady the anger heating my skin. How dare he?

I’d worked so hard to build my life back up, to prove—to myself, if no one else—that I could stand on my own two feet.

And here he was, just assuming I couldn’t manage without his help.

“No,” he replied, his voice firm yet gentle.

He continued, “It’s not about trusting you; it’s about not trusting him. Marcus is dangerous, Tori. I had someone dig into his past—he’s been charged with assault before, and there are rumors he’s done worse. I’m not willing to take any chances if he’s anywhere near you. I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”

My heart softened at the protectiveness in his voice.

Still, the anger, the old feeling of being watched, of losing control over my own life, was still there.

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