Page 146 of Before Dawn

She held my gaze for a beat longer before offering a soft smile. And as I finally turned to leave, I swore I could still feel the warmth of her touch lingering in my palm.

When I got home, Emilia was curled up on the couch with Elijah, trying to settle him down. He squirmed in her arms, still fighting sleep, but her touch was gentle, practiced. She looked up as I walked in, her expression unreadable.

“You’re back earlier than I thought,” she said, adjusting Elijah slightly.

I shrugged, tossing my keys onto the counter. “You okay?”

She sighed, sinking deeper into the cushions. For a second, I thought she wasn’t going to answer. Then, finally— “I’m tired. It’s not easy doing all this alone.”

Her voice was flat, but the words seemed to cost her something.

I watched her, noticing the tension in her shoulders, the way she kept her gaze on Elijah. “Emilia, you—”

Her laugh was dry, humorless. “I know what you’re going to say, and I appreciate it, but I don’t… I don’t think you really get it.” She swallowed hard, her jaw tightening. “It’s triggering to have someone promise you everything and then disappear. To watch them ignore their own son.”

I frowned. This was the first time she’d ever said something like this out loud.

“You think I don’t understand because I haven’t been through it,” I said carefully, “but that doesn’t mean I’m not here for you.”

Emilia looked at me then, like she was trying to decide if she believed that. Finally, her voice softened.“Te lo agradezco.68”

We sat in silence for a while, the air heavy with everything left unsaid. I watched as she carefully laid Elijah down, her touch gentle and precise. She looked exhausted.

Then, to my surprise, she scooted closer to me. And before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me.

Ifroze for a second, caught off guard. Emilia wasn’t the type to do this. She wasn’t the type to cry, or hug, or lean on anyone. But tonight, she did.

And it meant everything.

“I thought you hated hugs,” I teased, my voice quieter now.

She muttered something against my shoulder, her voice muffled. “Cállate.69 I need it.”

I smiled slightly, holding on a little longer than I usually would.“Te amo, Em.70”

For a second, she didn’t say anything. Then, just as quietly,“Te quiero también, hermano.71”

Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but it hit harder than anything else she could’ve said.

I tightened my arms around her, letting her know without words that I wasn’t going anywhere. She felt safe enough to open up tonight, and that meant everything.

I’d always be here for her.Always.

Chapter Thirty-four

Abigail-Ann

“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.”

~ Loretta Young

Iknew something was up the second I stepped into the lobby.

It was a feeling, a shift in the air—like the moment before a first kiss, electric and waiting to spark.

Then I saw Mikkel.

He stood by the curb, all sharp lines and confidence, the city’s glow catching the silver chain around his neck and wrist. His car door was open, but he wasn’t in a hurry. No, he was standing there like he had all the time in the world—like I was the only thing worth waiting for.

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