Prologue

Istand in the doorway of Sadie"s room and watch her pack her bags for college. Her room is a freaking disaster, with clothes strewn across the bed and the floor and stacks of books and supplies piled on the desk. I can't believe she's leaving already. It seems like she came into my life just yesterday.

"You"re going to do great things in Tennessee," I say with a smile.

Turning around to face me, Sadie"s expression softens as she returns the smile. "You think so, huh?"

I slowly nod in agreement, trying to hide my sadness. Even though I would have loved to spend more time with her, I understand it"s time for her to move on and achieve her dreams. "Yep. I sure do," I reply, pushing off the doorframe and stepping into her room. "After all, we are related." I smirk and plop on her bed, grabbing a stuffed Care Bear and holding it in my hands.

I lift the teddy bear to her face, a mischievous grin spreading across my lips. "What are you, five?" I quip teasingly before tossing the fluffy toy in her direction. She catches it with ease, a playful laugh escaping her.

"Shut up," she says, swatting playfully at my shoulder. "We're still on for tonight? You didn't come here to cancel, right?" Sadie asks as she places the Care Bear back on the bed, then walks into her closet to grab more clothes.

I lean back on my elbows. "Yeah, of course we're still on for tonight." Sadie rummages through her wardrobe, then turns to face me. "And you're bringing my baby niece, right?" she asks, her gaze fixed on my face.

"Yes, ma'am."

Sadie nods, giving me a content smile. "Good."

We have dinner plans at Fransico"s Pizzeria, which happens to be Sadie and Jo"s favorite hang-out spot. We're going to celebrate Shorty"s acceptance to college in Tennessee.

I watch as Sadie fights with the tape dispenser. "Do you need help?" I ask with a lighthearted chuckle. The tape seems to cling to the roll, making it impossible for her to cut a piece without it sticking. I can"t help but grin at her adorable scowl.

Sadie looks up at me, her scowl slightly easing a bit. "Here," she says, tossing the tape dispenser toward me. "Damn thing is annoying as hell.

With a smirk, I catch the tape and rise from the bed. I start taping up the cardboard boxes that are scattered around the room. Silence fills the air as we continue to pack, with the only noise coming from "Adicto" by Anuel AA Ozuna playing in the background.

I pick up the last box and turn to Sadie. "So, are you excited about college?" I ask, quickly sealing the box.

With a heavy sigh, she replies, "Yes and no. It"s just so hard to leave everything behind, you know? Mom, Abuela, Jo, my crew... and you." She pauses, her voice catching in her throat.

Sadie"s eyes become misty and she gives me a wistful smile.

"I"m going to miss you too, kiddo," I say, putting my arm around her. "I know it"s hard, but this is an important step for you. You"ll meet new people and have unforgettable experiences. And it"s not like we won"t stay in touch."

Sadie"s head bobs up and down slowly as she takes a deep breath. "Yeah, I guess so," she says.

"I"m so fucking proud of you, Sadie," I tell her.

She lifts her gaze to me. "That means a lot to me Javi," she says softly as her tears finally flow freely. "Thank you for coming into my life at the right time. Thank you for being my brother." She chokes out the last words.

I look down at her, my lips curving into a smile. Gathering my composure, I speak calmly yet resolutely. "That"s what big brothers are for, right? You can always count on me, no matter where you are. Whenever you need me, I"ll always be there."

"Yo, Sade! Are you here?"

As we turn our heads to the door, Jo walks into the room, holding Sophia in his arms. It is impossible not to notice how he has transformed in the past few months. He is more toned and muscular, his arms bulging slightly under Sophia"s weight. He looks healthy and happy.

He sits at the desk and greets us with a smile. "Wassup?"

"Hey, Jo," I respond.

Jo"s gaze shifts from me to Sadie, a concerned expression on his face. "Is everything alright?" he asks.

"Yeah, everything"s fine. Where's Elisa?" Sadie asks.

"She"s with her counselor."

Elisa and Jo committed themselves to intensive therapy for several weeks, investing hours each day addressing their trauma. But their efforts paid off as they gradually began to reclaim their old routine that they thought had been lost forever. Elisa has already taken the first step toward her dream career by initiating the application process for social work courses.

To see Jo rise from the ashes of his broken past and take a leap of faith is truly remarkable. The pain of losing someone he thought he would never see again haunted him. He has a new beginning, a fresh start, and I couldn"t be prouder of him.

The sudden sound of Sophia blowing a raspberry catches my attention. I turn to find her playfully reaching out to grab Jo"s hat from his head. However, her attempt fails as Jo instinctively pulls away. Sophia"s frustration boils over, and she smacks Jo in the face.

"Sophia!" Sadie scolds, causing Sophia to turn her head toward her mom. "Stop hitting people," she says gently as she takes Sophia from Jo"s arms, who is shaking with laughter.

"Now that you and Elisa are doing better, you can give Mom more grandbabies and Abuela great-grandbabies," Sadie teases.

Laughter spilled from Jo"s lips as he looked at Sadie, incredulous. "Are you high?" he asked.

With a playful shrug, Sadie retorted, "Well, I can"t be the only one popping out kids, can I?" She winked mischievously at Jo, reveling in their banter.

Jo shook his head, a smile curling up on his lips. "Jesus, Sade," he said. "For now, I"m happy with being the best uncle."

"The best uncle?" I chuckled. "You do realize she has two uncles, right? We all know I hold the title of the best uncle in this duo."

Sadie didn"t miss a beat. "Technically, she has six uncles," she said with a sly grin while bouncing Sophia in her arms.

But Jo wasn"t fazed by her remark. "Pff," he laughed. "We"re blood, they aren"t." Then he turned to me and jokingly claimed, "I will always be the best uncle. You showed up late to the party, bro."

Before I could respond, Sadie spoke up. "It doesn"t matter if they"re blood-related or have the same last name," she said, ignoring our exchange. "When you accept someone for who they are, that"s family. When they always want to be around you, that"s family. When they have your back, no matter what, that"s family."

We fell silent for a minute, soaking in the depth of her words and how true they rang. Her crew was always there for her whenever she needed them, no questions asked. It was no wonder she had survived some of the most challenging times in her life because of her family, who came in large numbers.

Jo couldn"t resist teasing her and slowly clapped his hands in mock appreciation. "Wow, sis. Very poetic," he said with a grin, and she playfully stuck her tongue out at him.

Sophia squirms and wriggles in Sadie"s arms, making it difficult for Sadie to hold her when Sophia throws her head back and lets out a high-pitched squeal, which makes me smile.

I extend my arms to take Sophia from Sadie as I ask, "Jo, have you thought about joining the police academy?" I ask as Sadie hands Sophia over. She looks adorable in her matching unicorn two-piece outfit and her sparkling Nike shoes.

"No, I haven't," he says, leaning back on the chair while I sit on the bed.

"I think you would make one hell of a cop," Sadie says, a small smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

Jo gave a little eye roll and scoffed. "Yeah, I was quite the protector, wasn't I?" He said it in a way that made him doubt he was.

"Jo," Sadie's voice was soft and devoid of humor. "You were always there when I needed you. You were my protector then, and you are still here now," she says, smiling at him as Sophia chimes in with her usual baby talk.

Jo's expression turned serious, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "I would do it all over again, Sade."

"I know," she responds.

The room"s atmosphere has fallen into tense silence, and I feel the weight of unspoken emotions lingering in the air. After a few moments of hesitation, I decide to speak up.

"I really think you should consider looking into it more, Jo," I suggest, my voice breaking the stillness. "It couldn"t hurt to explore your options."

"Yeah, I"ll think about it," Jo says.

Sophia continues to babble, and I softly kiss the crown of Sophia"s curly hair. She looks over my shoulder, and her little face lights up with joy. Her grin stretches from ear to ear, revealing two tiny, perfect teeth.

Sadie"s eyes sparkle with adoration as she turns her gaze toward me. "You"re getting pretty good at this uncle thing, huh?" she remarks.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say, giving Sophia a little bounce on my knee. "I love spending time with her when I can." Sophia giggles, and I smile down at her, feeling a warm glow of affection for my niece.

"But I'm still the best uncle," Jo reminds me, with a wide grin plastered on his face.

I throw my head back and laugh.

Looking back at my life, it"s incredible how much it has changed. I never believed I would gain a new family, let alone siblings. I remember the first time I met them—it was like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly into my life.

Even though Sadie is leaving, she and Jo will always be a part of my life, and I am excited to see all the amazing things that are ahead for them.

As for me, I am committed to being present in their lives, even if we are not physically together. I don't want to miss out on any more than I already have. I want to cherish every moment, whether it"s through phone calls, text messages, or video chats.

Looking at each of them, I feel relieved that they have finally found the happiness they deserve. Despite their tumultuous pasts, they have managed to forgive each other and move forward themselves, mending the present and fighting together for a brighter future.