Page 211 of Before Dawn

Luci:appreciate it,fratellos162.

Reyes:Drinks to celebrate?

Luci:I’m in Egypt.

Reyes:Egypt? What the fuck?

Luci:vacation days.

Dill:I should’ve retired that early too.

Luci:you should’ve. and yeah, Marina broke the news while we were in the middle of the desert.

The group chat exploded with arguments over who’d be the better uncle. Arnoldo claimed it was him, Dillon and Alex called it bullshit, and Ronan, as usual, declared himself the obvious choice. Lucio barely entertained them, definitely used to the chaos by now.

I smirked, leaning back and shaking my head. I was happy for Lucio—fatherhood was a big deal, and Marina would be an incredible mom. Once they got back from Egypt, I’d make sure to send them something meaningful.

Tuning out the chat, I refocused on work—finalizing the acquisition documents, reviewing logistics, and signing off on reports. I checked in with my team, ensuring smooth operations, then analyzed a fleet check report. Expansion meant nothing without a solidfoundation.

I was just wrapping up when a familiar voice cut through the office.

“The only time I see you is in tabloids, Suarez.”

I looked up, already knowing who it was. “Ronan Romano. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I missed my best friend.”

I let out a laugh, rolling my eyes. “Love you too, sweet face.”

He poured himself a drink before sinking into the chair before me. “I’m in the area with a developer surveying some buildings.”

I raised a brow. “You’re buying a building?”

“Thinking about it.”

We went back and forth for a bit—him asking about my current projects, me prying into his real estate plans—until he finally headed out.

Not long after, I grabbed my keys, picked up dinner, and drove to Abigail’s.

She was curled up on the couch, completely absorbed inAnora, barely glancing up as I set the food down. I leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips. She hummed softly, her fingers brushing my jaw for a fleeting second before turning back to the screen.

We settled into a comfortable silence. I stretched out, resting my head between her thighs as she absentmindedly ran her fingers through my hair. Nothing in the world felt better than this—the drag of her nails against my scalp, the way her touch soothed something deep inside me. Every so often, her hand drifted to my face, fingertips brushing over my lips. I kissed them each time, and even without seeing her face, I knew she was smiling. I felt it in the way her body jerked slightly, and in the quiet happiness radiating off her.

For a while, there was nothing else. No meetings, no acquisitions, no weight of expectations. Just her, just us.

Then she shifted beneath me, sitting up with a sigh.

I groaned, tightening my hold around her waist. “Stay.”

“I know,” she said softly, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. “But I need to take my hair down. I’ve had them in for too long.”

I eased up, watching her carefully. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah, just a slight headache.”

I sat up straighter. “Show me what to do, and I’ll help.”

She stared at me, blinking, like she hadn’t heard me right.

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