6. Cole
COLE
T he sweetness of Tori’s kiss lingered on my lips, sharp and intoxicating, even as the car door shut and I settled into the back seat.
I turned to glance back at her shop, where she was talking animatedly with one of her employees through the glass.
The sight of her, so gorgeous and animated, warmed me—but something else tugged at my focus, something darker.
I scanned the street, a chill prickling down my spine. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. No, not me. Her.
Was it Marcus? Her ex-fiancé’s recent return to Oakridge Bay didn’t sit well with me.
That man had forfeited any right to look at her, let alone be in the same town as her, when he left her broken.
Yet here he was, slinking back into her life. I clenched my fists, willing myself to calm down.
Tori wouldn’t want me to pick a fight—not that I wouldn’t, given the chance. But I didn’t intend to let her handle this alone, either.
“Back to the office, sir?” my driver asked.
“Yes,” I replied absently, still watching the street in my side mirror.
Marcus was dangerous in ways Tori didn’t even know, and I had no intention of underestimating him.
The drive back to the city felt like minutes instead of an hour.
Before I knew it, we were pulling up to Valen Tower, the skyscraper my father had built.
I entered the building, ignored the nods from passing staff, and took the elevator to my office on the top floor.
Even as I stepped into my office and my secretary reminded me of the upcoming board meeting, I couldn’t fully shake the worry gnawing at me.
I paced toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, surveying the city like it held the answers I needed.
I finally reached a decision and phoned my secretary.
“Mia, contact Shaw for me,” I said.
“Right away, sir,” she replied.
Moments later, my phone buzzed with Shaw’s name on the caller ID.
Shaw, CEO of Bracken Security, was an old army buddy—a man with a reputation for leaving no stone unturned when it came to protection.
“Shaw,” I greeted, getting straight to the point. “I need one of your specialists on a close-protection assignment. The target’s name is Victoria Amelia Blake.”
There was a beat of silence on the other end before Shaw’s amused voice came through.
“Cole Valen, calling me for a bodyguard? Who’s this lady, huh? Can’t say I ever pictured you going to such lengths for a woman,” Shaw said.
I let out a sigh, suppressing my impatience. Shaw was perceptive, but this wasn’t the time for him to dig into my personal affairs.
“Just make sure your guy keeps a low profile. No interaction unless absolutely necessary. If her ex is behind this, I don’t want her dragged into his mess again,” I told him.
“Sure, Cole, whatever you say,” Shaw replied with a laugh. “Consider it done. But seriously, who is she?”
“She’s…” The words hung in the air, unspoken.
I could barely define it myself. I continued, “Just make sure your man doesn’t slip up. I can’t afford for her to find out about this.”
Shaw gave a low whistle.
“Got it. Your secret’s safe with me,” he said.
As I ended the call, I felt a presence at the door.
Christian, my younger brother, stood there, arms crossed, an amused gleam in his eyes.
I groaned, annoyed at the timing of his appearance.
“Eavesdropping, were we?” I asked coolly.
Christian shrugged, sauntering into the room like he owned the place.
“So, is Tori the reason you’ve been skipping important meetings to gallivant off to Oak Bridge?” Christian asked, ignoring my question completely.
“Oakridge Bay,” I corrected, leaning back into my chair with a heavy sigh.
But my correction only seemed to amuse him, as he settled himself into the seat across from me without a hint of shame.
He crossed one leg over the other, taking his time as he looked around my office.
“And does she have any idea what kind of monster she’s dealing with?” Christian asked.
My jaw clenched.
“You’re calling your older brother a monster?” I asked dryly, giving him a pointed look.
I added, “The same blood runs in your veins, Christian. You’re more like me than you’d care to admit. When you decide you want something, or someone, you don’t let anyone stand in your way.”
Christian let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head.
“Maybe, but never for a woman. Honestly, I never expected the infamous Cole Valen to turn into a lovesick puppy over anyone. And here you are, pulling out all the stops to… protect her,” Christian said.
Christian smirked, and the implication was clear.
“Tori’s life might be in danger,” I said stiffly, jaw tightening.
I’d trained myself to bury feelings for years, focusing instead on business and family, and now this woman had blindsided me.
Christian looked at me with a brow raised, clearly not buying it.
“And she’s aware you’ve got one of Shaw’s ex-Navy SEALs tailing her every move?” Christian asked.
Silence settled in the room.
If Tori ever found out what I’d done, I doubted she’d forgive me—or even look at me the same way again.
In a single moment, whatever tentative trust I’d managed to build with her would come crumbling down, scattering like sand through my fingers.
I knew her too well already.
Tori was fiercely independent, someone who’d fought hard to shape her life on her terms, free from the shadows of her past.
She’d made it clear that the last thing she wanted was anyone meddling in her life, especially not a man trying to play the savior.
And here I was, doing exactly that. Admittedly, what I’d done was more than a little questionable.
But keeping her safe, ensuring she didn’t have to look over her shoulder every time she walked home at night, was worth the risk.
I couldn’t let her ex worm his way back into her life—or worse. Who knew what Marcus was capable of?
I made a mental note to call Shaw again and have one of his specialists look into him.
Either way, I’d made my choice, and if it meant carrying this secret alone, so be it. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
And as long as I could protect her from afar, I’d be willing to live with that.
Christian’s smirk grew wider.
“Didn’t think so,” he murmured, leaning back in the chair, crossing his arms.
“Seems like Tori doesn’t know half the lengths you’re going to in order to keep her close. You sure she’ll be okay with that, big brother? Especially when she realizes you’re still keeping secrets?” Christian asked.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” I replied, coldly.
Christian, for all his intelligence, had never understood what it meant to protect someone like Tori.
He hadn’t been there when I’d first seen that fire in her—the fire that made me feel more alive than I had in years.
“Oh, I understand perfectly,” Christian said, tone laced with mock concern.
“But answer me this: What exactly is your endgame here? You’ve got your guy following her, you’re keeping tabs on her ex… What’s next? You planning to swoop in as the knight in shining armor?” Christian asked.
Honestly? I didn’t know the answer to his question.
I simply knew I had to keep Tori safe. I felt the tension coil in my chest, but I fought to keep my voice level.
“Tori isn’t some prize, Christian. And if Marcus thinks he can worm his way back into her life, he’ll have to go through me first. There’s a reason she walked away from him, and I’m not about to let him pull her back down,” I said.
Christian studied me, his sharp gaze unwavering.
“So, this is serious, huh? You’re not just keeping tabs on her to protect her—you’re invested.” He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. “Who would’ve thought?”
“Is there a reason you’re here, or are you just here to poke at me?” I finally asked, hoping to cut the conversation short.
Christian’s amusement was wearing thin, and I needed to focus.
He gave a dramatic sigh. “You know, we do have a board meeting in about five minutes. Remember the one Mia reminded you about?”
I scowled, glancing at my watch. I’d been so caught up in thoughts of Tori, I’d completely forgotten. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Christian stood, shaking his head as he followed me out of the office.
“By the way,” he added casually, “I’d love to meet this Tori of yours. After all, if she’s got the legendary Cole Valen wrapped around her finger, she must be one hell of a woman.”
I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to tell him exactly where he could stick his curiosity.
Instead, I pressed the elevator button and willed myself to keep calm. Because deep down, I knew Christian was right.
Tori had done something no one else ever had.
She’d slipped past every wall I’d built, breaking through defenses I’d held firm for years.
She hadn’t just captured my attention—she’d managed to steal a piece of my heart and soul.
Somehow, without even realizing it, she’d anchored herself in the deepest part of me, slipping into the spaces I’d long thought closed off.
Every glance, every laugh, every fierce spark of independence she showed only pulled me deeper, leaving me torn between wanting to hold her close and letting her have the freedom she cherished.
For the first time, I understood what it meant to feel vulnerable, and I wasn’t sure I liked the feeling.