Page 209 of Before Dawn

His eyes blazed with an anger I hadn’t seen before. “I’m going over there.”

I quickly grabbed his arm. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

He turned to me, his expression softening just enough to remind me why I loved him so fiercely. “I’m sure. He raised the idiot who hurt you, played a part in it, and now he’s staring you down like a fucking creep.”

I hesitated, torn between stopping him and letting him fight the battle I never could. Finally, I exhaled. “Okay.”

And just like that, Mikkel’s grip tightened on my hand and he strode toward the man, every inch of him radiating the kind of power that made people think twice about crossing him. Joshua’s father straightened at the sight of him, his smirk slipping into something more measured.Did they know each other?

“Mikkel Suarez,” he greeted, his voice dripping with feigned cordiality. “This has to be some form of sign. I just re-sent a proposal to your company. I’m hoping we can—”

Mikkel chuckled, interrupting him. The sound was low and sharp, sending a chill through me. “What makes you think I’d ever work with you?”

His smile faltered, confusion flickering across his face. He glanced at me briefly before snapping his attention back to Mikkel. Recognition dawned in his eyes, but he acted as if I weren’t there.

“I’m not—”

“Cierra la puta boca,161” Mikkel snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. His expression hardened as he stepped closer, his frame towering over the man.

The man blinked, his mask slipping just enough to reveal the cracks.

“Your son,” Mikkel continued, his voice calm but seething with rage, “humiliated her, treated her like nothing. You and your wife played a part in breaking her down, making her question her worth. And then you have the audacity to stare at her. Do you even realize the damage you’ve caused?”

“Mikkel, I—”

“It’sMr. Suarezwhen you address me.” Mikkel’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. “Don’t flatter yourself by thinking we’re on the same level.”

The man swallowed hard, his confidence wavering. “Mr. Suarez, I’m sure there’s been some misunderstanding—”

Mikkel let out a bitter laugh. “Misunderstanding? No. I understand perfectly. You and your son are nothing but cowards—pathetic little men who thrive on tearing others down because it’s the only way you can feel powerful.”

My breath caught, tears stinging my eyes. His words—his unwavering defense—hit harder than I’d imagined. No one had ever stood up for me like this.

“Please,” the man tried again, his tone shifting to desperation. “This doesn’t have to affect the proposal—”

“There is no proposal.” Mikkel’s voice was ice. “I wouldn’t let you within a mile of my company, let alone entertain doing business with you.”

The man’s face paled, his mouth opening and closing like he wanted to argue, but Mikkel had already made his judgment.

Without another word, Mikkel wrapped his arm around my waist, his grip firm, protective. As he led me away, the world blurred around us, but I didn’t care. I clung to him, my heart pounding. For the first time, the battles I fought in my mind weren’t mine to fight alone.

Chapter Forty-seven

Mikkel

“True love stories never have endings.”

~ Richard Bach

As much as I wanted to stay a bit longer in San Francisco, work called.

But my mind wasn’t entirely on business—not yet.

As soon as we boarded the jet from San Francisco, I called Arnoldo, my voice tight with anger. I briefly filled him in on Abigail’s history with Joshua Milton and his father Joseph’s vile role in enabling it. Arnoldo didn’t need a second to read my tone.

“Find everything you can on them,” I told him. “I want every crack, every weak spot.”

By the time we were preparing to land, he’d delivered.

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