Page 10 of Shattered By Grace

Clawdia blinked, utterly unbothered.

Victoria sighed, staring into her glass. “Right. Flirting with Tristan already happened, so… leaning into that might not be the worst idea?”

Silence.

“…It’s a terrible idea.”

She took another sip.

“…But it’s also my best one.”

And that?

That was the real problem.

Chapter Five

Victoria swirled her coffee, staring at the city as the morning sun climbed higher. The skyline stretched before her, but the weight in her chest refused to lift.Locke. The name she’d never been able to escape.

Her phone buzzed against the counter. Detective Adams?

“You don’t usually call before breakfast,” she answered.

A low sigh crackled through the line. “Cassian Locke is moving money. Fast. He’s searching for something, and my sources say he’s getting close.”

Victoria’s grip tightened on the mug.

“He knows you’re in town,” Adams continued. “Doesn’t know what you look like yet.”

Her stomach twisted.Yet.

“Tell me you’re staying clear of this.”

She smirked, lifting the coffee to her lips. Funny. Considering I just met his sons last night. “I don’t go looking for trouble,” she said instead.

Adams gave a dry, humorless laugh. “You don’t have to. It finds you.” Silence stretched between them.Then, lower. “You were collateral damage once. Don’t let it happen again.”

Victoria exhaled, gaze fixed on the city. “Noted.” But they both knew she wasn’t listening.

Adams sighed. “Be careful, kid.”

She hung up first.

“Hey, Grace, I know you’re about to finish your shift. Want to grab a bite?” Taylor asked, her dark hair in a messy bun that still looked effortless after a grueling shift. She slid the iPads into their charging dock for the next shift.

Victoria hesitated, her hand on her bag. She’s been at the hospital for a month, and she barely knew anyone. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to take a break. She smiled. “You know what? That sounds great… though I probably look a mess.”

Taylor shot her a playful grin. “You look beautiful,maybe just add some lip gloss,” she teased, winking. “There’s a great spot near the hospital. Let me grab my stuff, and we can walk there.”

About twenty minutes later, they were in a cozy booth. Taylor leaned back with a grin. “Alright, Grace, you know all about my music preferences. Now, it’s my turn. What’s your story?”

Victoria smiled, appreciating Taylor's straightforwardness. "I moved away when I was fifteen, right after my dad died. I didn’t have any family left to stay with, my mom was never really in the picture. Been back in the city for a little while now. I've only been a midwife for about eight months, but I’ve been working in hospitals since I was sixteen. Took a while, but I finally earned my DNP."

Taylor’s eyes widened with admiration. “That’s seriously impressive. You’ve been at this for a while.”

“Yeah,” Victoria replied, her tone lightening a bit. “It was a lot of work, but I love it.”

Taylor’s expression softened. “I’m sorry about your dad. That must have been tough.”

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