Page 200 of Before Dawn

I shifted my stance. “Do you want me to check if Abigail’s awake?”

Daniel shook his head. “No need.” His voice was smooth but held an undercurrent of something firmer. “We want to talk to you.”

Alicia smiled, but there was something knowing in her expression. Like she could already tell where this conversation was headed.

Daniel grabbed a bottle of water from the counter, twisting the cap off with slow precision. “How did you and Abigail meet?”

I met his gaze, unfazed. “At SFO. She was having a rough morning, so I went over to check on her. After that, we kept crossing paths in New York, and the rest is history.”

His brow lifted slightly. “A rough morning?”

I nodded. “She was stressed. I could tell.”

“And you decided to step in.” His voice was even, but there was something in the way he said it—like he was trying to see if I’d slip, if I’d say the wrong thing.

“She looked like she needed a moment to breathe,” I said simply. “So I gave her one.”

Alicia hummed, her lips curving. “Sounds like fate.”

Daniel didn’t comment. He set the water down with deliberate care before leaning against the counter. “Abigail mentioned you own a luxury car service?”

“That’s right. Elite Rides specializes in high-end transportation.”

“Quite the venture. Didn’t you just expand to Chicago?”

I inclined my head. “We did. The market was tough, but the expansion was worth it.”

“Chicago isn’t an easy city to break into,” he mused. “What made you choose transportation? It’s a competitive business.”

“I’ve always been drawn to logistics and efficiency,” I said. “But more than that, I saw an opportunity—people crave convenience, luxury, and security all in one package. So, I built an empire that delivers just that.”

His expression didn’t shift. If anything, his scrutiny sharpened. “Ambitious.”

There was a weight to the word, something between respect and skepticism.

“What’s next after Chicago?”

“Miami and Seattle,” I replied. “Then working through the East Coast.”

Daniel nodded slowly. “You have a solid plan.” He tapped his fingers against the counter, his gaze holding steady. “That brings me to my next question. You’re obviously busy; how do you balance all this with a relationship?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Abigail is my priority. We understand each other’s responsibilities, and we make it work. Communication is key, and no matter how demanding things get, I always make time for her.”

His silence stretched for a beat too long. His stare didn’t waver, didn’t give anything away, but it was pressing in its own way. Searching.

Then, finally, he exhaled, nodding once. “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

The conversation shifted after that, easing into business, life, and family. But even as Alicia’s warmth softened the moment, Daniel’s presence remained like an unspoken test, each question measured, each response dissected.

“So, what do you do in your free time, Mikkel?” Alicia asked.

“Mainly the gym,” I admitted. “It helps me reset.”

Daniel nodded. “Balance is important. I’ve seen too many men lose themselves in their careers.”

“My friends are my family, and Abigail is the most important part of my life.”

His gaze lingered, thoughtful, but something about his posture shifted. It wasn’t approval exactly, but it wasn’t rejection either.

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