Vinson woke when the bus was already humming along the road, fifteen minutes away from the Rodrigo ranch that had once been their whole world. The boy blinked hard, his gaze darting from seat to window, as if trying to understand how the morning had changed without him.

“Where are we, Big brother?”

“We’re on our way to our new home.”

To Felix’s quiet surprise, Vinson didn’t cry or protest. He simply turned toward the window, pressing his small hand against the cool glass. Tall ...