Page 31 of Before Dawn

Dillon raised a brow. “Law student?”

Arnoldo smirked. “You don’t know your friend as well as you think.”

I leaned back, recalling something. “He had a thing for my sister last year.”

Arnoldo’s expression flickered—just for a second. The smugness faded, his face going a shade paler. “He had a what?”

I watched him, noticing how the mention actually seemed to bother him. Not just irritation—something deeper. But I didn’t think much of it.

Arnoldo pretty much hated everything Bryce did.

Dillon, ever the pragmatist, shrugged. “As long as Bryce doesn’t screw up a business deal tied to any of our empires, I couldn’t care less.”

Arnoldo and I exchanged a glance and nodded. “Fair enough.”

But just as quickly, Arnoldo’s attention drifted—his gaze locking onto the journalist again, lingering without shame.

Dillon chuckled, shaking his head. “I cannot wait for the day you fall flat on your ass in love, Reyes.”

Arnoldo adjusted his jacket with a smirk, confidence unshaken. “Very low chance of that happening.”

I was about to throw in my own jab when a flash of red curls near the bathroom caught my eye.

The color and volume seemed different, but maybe she’d changed it. My pulse kicked up—a sharp mix of hope and nerves tangling together.

“I’ll be back,” I muttered, already moving before they could ask questions.

As I closed the distance, anticipation crackled through me like a live wire. If she was here, this would be the fourth time our paths had crossed—and this time, I wouldn’t let her slip away without learning her name.

“Hey there,” I greeted, keeping my tone easy.

She turned.

And my breath caught—for all of one second before realization hit.

Not her.

Fuck me.

“Oh, I—I’m sorry,” I stammered, heat creeping up my neck. “I thought you were someone else.”

She let out a warm laugh, amused rather than offended. “No worries.”

A relieved chuckle escaped me, and we shared a brief nod before parting ways.

I rejoined Dillon and Arnoldo just as their debate over Arnoldo’s nonexistent love life reignited. The conversation only paused when the seminar shifted to awarding scholarships, then picked up again once the formalities were over.

By the end of the day, we had celebrated with the recipients, participated in a panel discussion, and capped it off by writing additional $20,000 checks to further support the program.

“Let’s get out of here,” Dillon said as we walked to the parking lot.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I glanced at Arnoldo. “Home or your office, Reyes?”

“My office,” he replied. “I need to go over a case with Melissa for tomorrow.”

Dillon leaned back in his seat. “Equinox for me.”

That caught me off guard. He rarely went there—too many memories of his grandfather. I didn’t push, just nodded and drove in silence, respecting whatever was on his mind.

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