Page 124 of Shattered By Grace

Her heart was pounding, her muscles burning, but she kept pushing. She wasn’t thinking anymore, just moving, throwing combination after combination. Each strike felt sharper, faster, like she was finally escaping the tight grip of her worries, if only for a moment.

The sweat was dripping from her brow now, but the intensity was growing. She pushed harder. Punch after punch came faster, more instinctive, more powerful. The exhaustion she’d felt earlier was now gone, replaced by a raw, unstoppable energy.

She wasn’t thinking about Tristan.

Not anymore.

For the first time in hours, her mind was clear. Just her, the pads, and the fight.

It had been at least forty-five minutes on the mat when the air in the gym shifted. Victoria was hitting her combos, herbody moving with practiced ease. Tony stood off in the corner, watching, his arms crossed.

“You’re not where I left you.”

Tristan’s voice cut through the gym, low and dangerous.

Victoria finished her set before turning to him. Her eyes widened at the cut on his lip, a bruise already darkening along his eyebrow.

“Well, fuck,” she muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm as she stalked toward him. “I was hoping to beat you home.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I told you to stay,” he growled, jaw clenched, his tone leaving no room for argument. “What part of that didn’t you get?”

“Don’t. Don’t do that.” Standing in front of him slowly, draping her arms over his shoulders, forcing him to meet her gaze. “You don’t get to run off, fight for your life and expect me to sit in an apartment like a basic bitch.”

Tristan’s fists curled at his sides, his whole body coiled tight. “This isn’t a joke, Victoria,” he said sharply. “You think this is about me treating you like a basic bitch? It’s about keeping you alive.”

Victoria’s fingers trailed over the bruise forming along his jaw, her touch light but taunting. “Oh, right. Because you’re the only one allowed to risk your life?” Her smile didn’t waver, but her eyes burned. “That’s rich, Locke.”

Tristan exhaled sharply, his jaw flexing. “You being out here, alone, makes you a target. And I don’t have time to hunt down every bastard who thinks they can get to me through you.”

Victoria huffed a laugh, stepping back. “You don’t get it. I can’t just sit there, waiting for the next time you don’t come home.” Her voice was quieter now, but no less fierce. “I have to do something, Tristan. I have to breathe.”

His expression softened, just for a second, but the battle between them wasn’t over. He reached up, brushing his knuckles along her jaw. “Then let me be the one to keep you breathing,. he pleaded quietly.

Before she could respond, he caught her wrist, just enough to still her movement. His lips brushed against the inside of it, his voice a rough whisper as his gaze flicked around the room. “And we should not be doing this here. We have eyes everywhere.”

Victoria blinked, realization crashing down on her. They were still standing in the middle of the gym.

Well, fuck.

“Let me go get my stuff. Be right back.” She gave him a quick peck on the lips before turning to walk away.

Chapter Fifty-Five

When she came out of the locker room, Tristan and Tyson weren’t sparring, this was a blood-for-blood fight.

“What the fuck?” Victoria yelled, dropping her bag and sprinting toward Tony, who was standing nearby.

“Tony, what’s going on?” She glanced at him before turning her gaze to the mat. “Tristan, Tyson, stop!”

For a brief moment, Tristan hesitated, just long enough for Tyson to land a punch to his stomach.

Victoria didn’t wait for Tony’s response. She hopped through the ropes, determined to stop the fight.

“Get back!” Tyson growled, holding out his hand to shove her away.

Just as Victoria reached them, Justin grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back. She didn’t see who it was, and instinctively started fighting.

“What the fuck?” she hissed, throwing an elbow into his stomach. He dropped her instantly.

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