Chapter Twenty One: June

The shrill ring of my phone dragged me out of a restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and I squinted at the clock on the wall—4:00 a.m.

Who calls at this ungodly hour?

With half-closed eyes, I fumbled for my phone and answered.

"Hello?" My voice was thick with sleep.

"Hello, sis?" The shaky voice on the other end jolted me awake.

"Javier?" I shot upright in bed, my heart pounding. His voice alone told me he was in trouble.

"I need your help," he said, breathless and panicked.

My grip tightened around the phone. Of course, he’s in trouble again. Javier—my stepbrother who’d gone from being a sweet kid I once cared for to a selfish mama’s boy. Our relationship hadn’t ended well.

"Did you not read my last text, Javier?" I said, struggling to contain my irritation.

"I know, sis. I know we ended things on a bad note. But I’m begging you—just help me this one last time," he pleaded, barely able to catch his breath.

I rolled my eyes. "What did you do this time?"