Page 63 of Day

“Aaron?” she whispered, and I followed her gaze to AJ, who was looking at her with complete bafflement.

“Oh, God.” She let go of my hand and brought her fingers up to her mouth.

“Mina?”  AJ muttered in a stunned tone. Okay, I was officially confused here.

If it was possible, both of them moved at the same time, arms open wide. They collapsed on the ground in a big embrace.

“You guys know each other?” Rose asked, just as confused as I was.

Phillip however, was grinning, watching them hug, like he had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and it was finally here.

“You sneaky son of a—” I laughed. Phillip’s eyes moved from the two on the floor to me with a wink.

“He’s my brother.” Mina was crying, while holding onto AJ like she couldn’t believe he was there.

Brother? Mina, say what?

“Okay, I think we are going to need to hear this story.” Rose read my mind as she spoke. I was so intrigued to hear about what was happening here.

Mina and AJ pulled back to face each other, and she continued to touch his face, his hair, and shoulders, making sure he really was in front of her.

We made some room so they could sit next to each other. The waitress took our order for pizzas, and then they launched into their story.  Mina and AJ, or Aaron Jax, were brother and sister. Two years separated the two.

Their parents were shitty, and didn’t like them playing with computers so much. They forced AJ to play sports, and Mina to take dance. They fought the kids tooth and nail to make them into something they preferred.

The pizza arrived, and everyone took their slices as the sibling story continued.

AJ’s cheeks blushed pink when the conversation moved into the topic of him being bisexual, but we all just smiled at him in return. No judging here.

Their parents couldn’t handle having a kid that liked men too. So they tried to get the gay out of him, and his sister couldn’t stop any of it.

He ran away a few years ago, becoming a hacker. Phillip found him and gave him a job. AJ had wiped everything about Aaron Jax, and became just AJ.

Mina had been looking for him since he left. She left them shortly after he did, and started her empire.  Two computer geniuses in the family, and their parents hated them for it. What a waste.

“Now you guys have each other again.” Rose had a small tear trickling down her cheek.  I can’t remember the last time I had cried.

“Yep. Now you guys are never getting rid of me, as long as my little brother is around.” Mina grinned, wiping her running makeup away with a napkin.

Everyone sat back, feeling full from the food.

“You knew all of this, didn’t you,” I accused Phillip in a light manner.

“Yes,” he answered honestly, and I heard Mina suck in a gasp.

“How could you not unite us sooner? You made me wait three years before I saw my brother again?” She was angry.

“Everything has to happen when it’s supposed to in order for the best outcome to happen.” He looked off toward the city behind us, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for him.

“All the dots had to connect to get them together,” I added, merely just trying to understand him and maybe help the others, too. He nodded.

Phillip found AJ, kept him safe and taken care of. Started the Society.  I had to find Leon, and with Leon came the Society. So through me he would get Mina. But why focus on these two kids?

They must play a bigger part that no one knows but him. Reuniting them was just the beginning. It was my only thought.

I looked around, and then it was like I got smacked in the head.  Leon and Charles still weren’t here. With the excitement of Mina and AJ, we had forgotten that they were supposed to be on their way.  I pulled out my phone and shot him a text, checking in. Leon probably got caught up in conversation like we had.

Lilith- You guys on your way?

A minute later he replied. I smiled seeing his name, until I read the message.

Leon- Step up, little bird, fly fast, fly alone. Come back to the place of your caged home.

Lilith- I swear I will kill you if you hurt him.

Leon- Then you better hurry.

I looked up into the staring eyes of Phillip. He had keys in his hand, ready for me to take.  He knew what was happening and knew I had to do it alone. I grabbed the keys and my purse and left for the door. I vaguely heard Phillip making an excuse for me as I walked into the cold air. I pushed the button on the key remote and a sleek black SUV’s lights flashed.

The car was quiet as I drove out of the city, to the one place I never wanted to see again.

The lights were on, and it looked just like it had when I left. Any damage from the fire I’d set off was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately it looked like the mansion everyone loved and feared.

An immaculate prison. Coveted by the rich and paid for by the blood of others.

It was large, but knowing Ezra and his cruel mind, I knew where they would be. This was between me and him, and Leon was now in the crossfire. I pulled out my music player from my purse and put the little buds in my ears.

It was the time for this firebird to fly home and burn it to the ground.