Page 64 of Before Dawn

Alex smirked. “You could ask Arnoldo to do a little deep digging. Or hire a PI.”

I gave him a dry look. “I’d rather get to know her myself, Alexander.”

He laughed. “Always the better one of us.”

I arched my brow. “Did you hire a PI for Mara?”

His grin turned sheepish. “She’s my best friend’s sister. I knew what I needed to do.”

“Yes or no?”

Alex exhaled. “Yes.” Then, with a smirk, “Even Lucio had someone look into Marina, and they’re high school sweethearts.”

I shook my head, chuckling. “You all are some possessive sons of bitches.”

Alex lifted his glass in a lazy toast. “Women love it.”

I huffed a laugh. “Maybe. But I like to think it’s more about showing you care.”

He nodded. “Touché. Always the better one of us.”

I smirked. “So, what’s the plan for the weekend?”

“Not much. Just spending time with Mara before the baby comes. You?”

I shrugged. “Catching up on work. Talking to Abigail.”

Alex studied me for a second before taking a sip of his drink. “It’s good to see you taking things slow with your redhead. Shows respect.”

I nodded. “I don’t want her to feel rushed.”

Alex’s lips quirked. “Just don’t wait too long. Someone else might sweep her off her feet.”

I chuckled, but the thought sat uneasily in my chest. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

A glance at my watch told me it was time to go. I downed the last of my whiskey and stood. “I should head out.”

Alex stood, clapping me on the back. “Thanks for stopping by. Gym tomorrow?”

“Definitely.” I moved toward the door. “Take care of Mara and the baby.”

His expression softened. “Always. And good luck with your girl.”

I smirked. “You know I don’t believe in luck.”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. See you soon.”

People often wondered why I prioritized my friends, but the truth was simple: when I had nothing, I had them.

Dillon, especially, had done more for me than I could ever repay. He never made me feel like I owed him, but I still found ways to show my gratitude. That’s why, without hesitation, I took Azzaria to the beach for their date. It was rare to see Dillon like this—calm and collected on his wedding day but now jittery over every last detail.

“Thanks, Suarez,” Dillon said as I brought Azzaria over to him.

“Anytime.” I smiled, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.

With a final nod, I got back into my car. The engine roared to life just as my phone buzzed with a text from Abigail.

@abi_asher:Hey, I just woke up.

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