POV: Nova

I called my brother seventeen times before he finally answered.

"Nova?" Jake's voice was rough, scared. "I saw the news. I swear I'm trying to stop, I just need a little more time to—"

"How long?" I cut him off. "How long have you been dealing?"

Silence. Then, quietly: "Two years. Maybe a little more."

My heart shattered. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you ask for help?"

"Because you were busy being a star. Because I didn't want to be another problem you had to fix." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry, Nova. I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to—"

"It's not your...