Page 100 of Shattered By Grace

Her grip on the phone tightened. “I already told you…”

“Not everything.” His voice was calm, but the way his jaw ticked told her he wasn’t letting this go.

“I’ve told you everything.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. He was getting too close, too damn close.

“Eat first,” he continued, turning back to the stove. “Then we talk.”

Chapter Forty-Five

Victoria 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 someoneguarding 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. Tooeverything.

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

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