Page 143 of Shattered By Grace

Fuck.

Victoria exhaled slowly, rolling her eyes as she tilted her head, her heels clicking with deliberate ease. She wasn’t looking at the girl anymore. No, she was focused on them.

She let her lips curl into a smirk, eyes dark with amusement as she plucked a flute of champagne from the tray, her fingers just barely grazing the girl’s as if to say,I see you. I’ve got you.

Then, she turned her full attention to the men.

“Gentlemen,” she purred, swirling the champagne in her glass. “Did no one teach you manners? Or do you just get off on roughing up girls half your size and age?”

One of the men, a thick-necked bastard with a too-tight suit, scowled. “Mind your business.”

Victoria arched a brow, taking a slow sip. “Oh, but this is my business. See, I don’t like watching pathetic little cowards pretend they have power.” She stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough that only they could hear. “It makes me… twitchy.”

The man’s jaw tightened. He shifted slightly, blocking the girl behind him.

Victoria just laughed, taking a long sip of the champagne before sitting the empty glass down.

“That’s cute.” She leaned in, voice like silk wrapped around a blade. “Now, let her go before I really start having fun.”

The man’s nostrils flared, his grip tightening on the girl’s arm. He was weighing his options, trying to decide if Victoria was bluffing.

She wasn’t.

Victoria sighed, tapping a manicured nail against the rim of another champagne flute. “You’re taking too long,” she said, almost bored.

“And I said back off.” He let go of the girl and stepped toward Victoria, towering over her.

Victoria tilted her head, smirking. “You know, they say the bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

Before he could react, her fist shot out with lightning-fast accuracy, slamming into the side of his neck, striking the vagus nerve. His body locked up for half a second before his knees buckled, his balance faltering as a momentary blackout hit. He crumpled, gasping, his hands clawing at his throat as he struggled to stay upright.

“Guess they were right.” Victoria places her stiletto on his throat, pushing slightly. “Anyone else?”

The man beneath Victoria’s precise strike swallowed hard, his body still reeling from the blow. The one with the ruined suit glared, fists clenched, his anger rising.

Victoria smirked, eyes flicking between them. “Smart boys,” she said, her tone calm and dangerous. The men stood frozen for a moment, their unconscious friend still twitching on the ground.

One of them, his voice low and hoarse, finally spoke. “Who the fuck are you?”

Victoria tilted her head, a smile curling at the edges of her lips. “Does it matter?”

The man’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t make a move to advance. The others hesitated as well, the realization that they might have bitten off more than they could chew settling in.

Victoria took a step back, eyes cold and calculating. “Now, I’d recommend walking away before things get… messy.”

They lingered for a moment, exchanging tense glances, but the sight of their friend still crumpled on the ground made them think better of it. One of them scoffed and shoved past his friend, stalking off, followed closely by the others, casting Victoria one last glare.

She just smiled, tilting her head. “Run along now.”

Once they were gone, Victoria exhaled and turned to the girl. “Alright. Let’s get you out of here.”

The girl hesitated, her voice trembling. “I can’t go. They’ll kill my father if I don’t pay his debt.”

Victoria’s gaze sharpened. “Who will?”

“Cassian Locke.”

Victoria’s jaw tightened, but her expression remained calm. “Go out the back door and don’t look back. I’m taking care of Cassian. Don’t you worry.”

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