Page 206 of Before Dawn

“Gonna let him talk to me like that, Abi?” He smirked, his arrogance radiating from him like a noxiouscloud.

She opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off, my expression hardening. “I suggest you keep your distance from her.”

“Or what?” He leaned forward, his bravado faltering.

I narrowed my eyes, letting a cold smile creep onto my lips. “That depends on how much you value your limbs.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Oh, God no.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “What kind of man do I look like? That’s apromise, and I keep my promises.”

His face paled, anger—or maybe sheer bewilderment—overtaking him as his jaw tightened. Ignoring him, I took her hand, her warmth grounding me as we walked away.

“I knew I’d run into him,” she whispered, worry flickering in her eyes. “I just didn’t ex—”

I silenced her with a kiss. “He wasn’t worth a response, but I wasn’t going to stand by in silence after everything he did to you.”

She huffed a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “You make it sound so simple.”

I squeezed her hand. “It is. He doesn’t get to take up space in your life anymore.”

She didn’t say anything right away, just exhaled and let her fingers tighten around mine. Then, as if shaking off the last of the moment, she nudged me. “Come on. I want a churro.”

A smirk tugged at my lips as I led her toward the stand. “One churro? I was thinking at least three.”

Chapter Forty-six

Abigail-Ann

“The best proof of love is trust.”

~ Joyce Brothers

One minute, my mom was talking about spending the day in Chinatown—something about wanting to see the markets and try new foods. The next, Mikkel was telling them to get ready. By the time they were, a car was already waiting, and he’d arranged an entire tour.

Mom, Dad, and Aurora stood there, stunned, their jaws practically on the floor. I couldn’t blame them. He had pulled it all together in less than an hour. But I wasn’t surprised. I knew Mikkel all too well.

“You really didn’t have to go through all this trouble,” my mom said as we piled into the car.

Mikkel adjusted his glasses with an easy shrug. “It’s no troubleat all, Alicia.”

Her smile was warm, appreciative. “Still, we appreciate it.”

The day unfolded in a blur of vibrant sights and rich aromas. We wandered through Chinatown, snapping pictures in front of colorful storefronts, tasting dumplings from a tiny, bustling shop, and exploring the markets. At one point, we stopped in an antique store, and as I admired a display of old teacups, I felt Mikkel’s gaze settle on me.

He didn’t even ask, just walked over and, without hesitation, bought the whole set, clearly catching the owner’s eye. I stared at him with a knowing smile on my face. “Thank you.”

He just smiled, handing me the bag with the teacups. “Always, baby.”

We kept browsing, and when we talked with the couple behind the counter, Mikkel switched to Mandarin with ease. My mom’s eyes widened, and my heart skipped a beat. I knew he spoke Mandarin, but I’d never actually heard him use it.

“I didn’t know you speak Mandarin,” my dad said, clearly impressed.

Mikkel flashed a grin. “I learned it a few years ago.”

Aurora’s eyes widened. “I definitely didn’t see that coming.”

We continued down alleyways with hanging lanterns, Mikkel joking with my dad and effortlessly charming everyone. My mom was drawn to a tea shop, where she and Mikkel spent an hour tasting blends and chatting with the owner. After a fun morning, we stopped for lunch at a cozy restaurant, enjoying baozi and spicy noodles, the kind of comfort food that made everything else fade away.

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