Page 122 of Shattered By Grace

“Let me make myself absolutely fucking clear.” The words were slow. Precise. Every syllable laced with something lethal.

His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

“You touch her, and I’ll burn everything you’ve built to the ground. I’ll make sure they beg for an end that never comes.”

Silence.

“You forget, old man.” His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “I’m the most lethal thing you ever created.”

He hung up and turned to Victoria.

She could’ve argued. Should’ve. But instead, she let her breath hitch.

The air between them thickened.

“You don’t have to?—”

“I do.” His voice was steel wrapped in velvet. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if it means playing his fucking game. For now.”

A pause. His gaze burned into hers, dark and unyielding. A quiet, lethal promise.

“Make no mistake, love,” he murmured. “The second I get the chance, I’m flipping the board. Because no one—no one—threatens what’s mine and lives. That stands for my own father, too.”

Victoria swallowed hard, every instinct screaming at her to argue, to fight, to make him stay. But she wasn’t stupid. Not when it came to this. Not when it came to him.

Her throat tightened. “Will you be back?”

Tristan’s expression didn’t soften. “I’ll meet you tomorrow at the ball,” he assured. “I’ll be in black.”

She barely had time to breathe before he closed the distance, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple. And then, just like that, he was pulling away, gathering his things and heading for the door.

His hand rested on the knob. A look back.

Without looking back, he gave a final command.

“Stay here.”

And then he was gone.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Victoria paced the apartment, the flowers now nothing more than background noise. She remembered Tristan mentioning dinner, but her appetite was nonexistent. Instead, she headed to the kitchen, needing something to do.

Of course, Tristan had already taken care of everything. The plates were washed, the counters spotless, the leftovers neatly put away. A bottle of wine chilled in the fridge beside a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries.

Her chest tightened.This motherfucker had the whole night planned,she thought, sending the biggest silent fuck you to Cassian.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do?” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. Sitting here, waiting and worrying was driving her insane.

Her phone was in her hand before she’d fully thought it through, thumb hovering over the rideshare app.I could go to Crimson Veil.

But the second the thought took shape, she shoved it away.

If she showed up, she’d be a distraction. If someone recognized her, it could put both of them in danger.

She needed a release. Something to keep her from spiraling. Her gaze landed on her gym bag in the corner.

I haven’t trained with Tony in weeks.

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