Page 28 of Shattered By Grace

Victoria crossed her arms, her pulse hammering against her ribs. “You’re acting like I’m in some kind of danger, but for all I know, the real danger could be you.”

The corners of Tyson’s mouth twitched, not quite a smirk, but something close, like he found her defiance amusing. “You’re not wrong to be cautious.” His voice was smooth, deliberate, as if he chose each word carefully. “But I’m the devil you know,” he added quietly, “and tonight, that matters.”

Victoria’s breath hitched.Is that a warning? A threat?She couldn’t tell. But there was something in his gaze. Somethingraw, unguarded, like a sliver of truth had slipped past the mask he wore so well.

She knew she should walk away. This was Tristan’s brother… She had no business standing this close, no business feeling this… charged.

Her chin lifted in challenge. “You think I need protection?”

Tyson studied her, his silence carrying weight. Then, with a voice so low it barely met the space between them, he said, “I know you do.”

Victoria’s jaw clenched at his audacity. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Tyson’s smile was wicked, teasing, but beneath it, something almost sincere lingered. “I’ve been called worse. So, what’s it gonna be?”

Before she could respond, Taylor stumbled into view, her movements unsteady as she slurred, “This guy said he’s my driver and he’s taking me home.”

Victoria’s heart sank at the sight of her friend’s glassy eyes and flushed cheeks.

Oh, honey, you’re going to regret this tomorrow.She forced a small, reassuring smile while masking her concern.

Tyson’s driver, standing beside Taylor, gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

Victoria exhaled, shifting her focus to Taylor. “He’s Tyson’s driver. But if you’re not comfortable, I’ll take you home myself.” Her voice softened with concern, offering her friend a choice.

Taylor leaned into Victoria, her weight pressing against her in a half-hug. “It’s fine, I’ll be okay,” she mumbled, giggling. “I had so much fun tonight. You’re way funnier than I thought you’d be.” Then, with a dramatic whisper, she added, “You should totally sex up one of the twins. Or both. No judgment.”

Victoria steadied her, amusement flickering through her concern. “That’s absolutely not happening, but thanks for the compliment.”

Taylor gasped, swaying slightly. “That’s tragic. All that hotness, just wasted.”

Victoria shook her head, suppressing a laugh. Drunk compliments were always the most honest.

Her expression hardened as she turned to the driver, her voice dipping into something quiet but razor-sharp. “Text me the second you drop her off. Get her some water before you leave, and if even one hair is out of place, you’ll wish you hadn’t met me. Understood?”

The driver shifted, clearing his throat before nodding. “Yes, ma’am.”

Despite her tough words, unease coiled in Victoria’s stomach. She was putting her friend in the hands of a stranger, someone connected to Tyson, to the Lockes. A calculated risk, but one she had no choice but to take.

She watched, her pulse steady but her nerves anything but, as the driver led Taylor toward the exit, keeping a firm hold to prevent her from bumping into anyone.

She wouldn’t relax until she got that text.

Chapter Twelve

Stepping out of the club felt like entering another world. The pounding bass and neon haze vanished, replaced by an eerie stillness. Cool air cut through the lingering heat, carrying an unsettling edge. Moonlight bathed the street in silver, yet it seemed to avoid Tyson, his shadow stretching long ahead of her. Broader and more grounded than Tristan, he carried the same quiet, imposing intensity.

Silence thickened between them as they walked. Tyson’s sharp glances over his shoulder held a weight she couldn’t place, his movements controlled, almost predatory. He wasn’t just leading her away, he was guiding her into something unseen, where only he knew the rules.

Where is he taking me?

Victoria’s nerves prickled, but she refused to let it show. Drawing in a steady breath, she let her usual bravado take over, a smirk tugging at her lips. “So, this was your plan all along?” she quipped, voice laced with forced confidence. “Lure me into the dark, away from everyone else, and do whatever it is mysterious bad boys like you do when no one’s watching?”

She hadn’t realized just how close Tyson was until he stopped abruptly, turning with a speed that sent her pulse skittering. Moonlight carved sharp angles across his face, illuminating the cut of his jaw, the smirk that was both wicked and knowing. His eyes, deep and calculating in the shadows, traced over her slowly—deliberate, assessing. There was something unnerving about the way he watched her, not threatening, but as if he already knew how this would play out and he had all the time in the world to let her catch up.

“Maybe,” he drawled, his voice curling around her like smoke. Dark, amused, and edged with danger. He stepped closer, the space between them vanishing, heat radiating from him like a slow-burning fire.

Tyson’s gaze locked onto hers, coldly perceptive. “Are you afraid, Grace?”

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