Book 3: Chapter 26

Morales mansion

Esmeralda was already settling into bed, ready to call it a night, when her phone screen lit up with an unexpected call. She squinted at the number, noting immediately that it was unfamiliar. For a second, she considered ignoring it, it was late, and she didn’t want to deal with anyone outside her close circle right now. But her curiosity got the better of her. She swiped to answer, pressing the phone to her ear.

“Hello?” she said cautiously.

There was a pause on the other end, and she almost thought the caller had hung up, but then she heard a voice she recognized immediately.

“Did I wake you?” Santiago’s tone was soft, almost hesitant. 

“Santiago?” Esmeralda’s surprise was genuine. She adjusted herself on the bed, switching to sit up. She remembered he said he would call her while they were in the toilet. “I was just about to sleep, actually.”

“I thought you would be.” He sounded almost relieved to hear her voice, like he’d