Chapter 45

**ARIA**

Leila and Cassius are mates. Leila and Cassius. I don't know if I should be happy that my brother is going to go through what I went through with Adam and Austin because it's an amazing thing and at the same time, Leila is not exactly the warmest person I know. She has made no effort to get to know me and the few times I have tried to talk to her I have hit a wall in my face. As for Cassius, he scares most of the people he sees so I'd say they might be a good fit.

"Leila... my sister." Adam says to Cassius and they come out of their trance.

"Nice to meet you, Cassius... Aria's brother." he introduces himself and holds out his hand.

She shyly shakes his hand and tucks a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father. I wish I had the chance to know him."

Okay, so who is she and what has she done with Leila?

"Shall we go back to my place? We need to let everyone know and talk about what's next...the funeral." He tells me more seriously.

I get in the car with Cass and the others get in Austin's car.

"I didn't know Adam had a sister." He tells me as soon as we pull out of the parking lot.

I snort, "How could you have known? You made no effort to get to know him." I sigh. "What happened with Dad? You said something about an accident, but you didn't say anything else."

"He got hit by a van on the way out of the gym." He clenches his hands on the steering wheel. "They were driving over the speed limit. The cops had just left when you arrived. They're going to try to find the car and its owner."

Tears well up again and I sniffle, "I hope they catch the asshole who did this and he rots in jail."

"He'd be lucky if they find him before I do."

We get to my brother's house before anyone else, start making a list of who to tell when the others arrive.
They all sit in the living room, while I go make tea and coffee.

"You should sit down. I'll take care of it." Adam tells me as he puts his hands on my shoulders.

"It's good for me to get busy." I pause. "He got hit by a van...they didn't even stop."

He turns me around and hugs me. "There is an investigation going on from what your brother just told me. They're going to find the person who did this."

"You what it's bad that part of me wants to hurt him? I want him to suffer like my father suffered."

"That's normal." He tells me simply.

"I can handle it, if you want." Austin says behind us.

"Thanks but I don't know if that will be necessary."

I hold out my hand and he grabs it without hesitation. The three of us walk back into the living room where Leila and Cassius are sitting side by side on the couch. They are deep in conversation and don't seem to realize we are back in the room.
I'm so tired, I've just had one of the worst days of my life and all I want is for it to finally stop, to fall asleep and wake up tomorrow morning and for this bad dream to be a bad memory.

"Where can I lie down? I'm exhausted."

"In my room."

I nod and head for the bedroom, Austin behind me.

I lie down on the bed and he wraps his arms around me from behind, stroking my hair. I close my eyes and see my dad pushing me on the swing, my head tilted back feeling like I'm flying away. Mom calls us for lunch and he leaves to join her, I want to join them but I am unable to move.
I sit on the damn swing while daddy joins mommy, he takes her in his arms and spins her around. I can't hear his laughter, I've forgotten it. I watch the scene from further and further away, still unable to join them.

***

I wake up even more tired than before I went to bed. I am between Austin and Adam who are asleep. I try to get out of bed without waking them up and I succeed not without effort.
In the living room, Leila is sleeping on the couch and I head for the kitchen.
Cassius pours himself a mug of coffee and brings out a second one for me.

"Sleep well?" He asks as he hands it to me.

"Not really. How about you?"

"Not at all." He takes a sip of coffee. "I told everyone about Dad. The news will get around quickly I think."

I sit down in a chair. "The only thing that comforts me is that now he's with Mom."

"That's what I'm holding on to. They are together and we are together." After a few seconds of silence he adds. "Leila doesn't look anything like Adam. It's hard to believe they are brother and sister."

"They were adopted." I give him that answer for now. It's up to Leila to explain everything to him when the time comes. "They have a younger brother, Sasha."

"She is..." He pauses and shakes his head. "You know I've never been the romantic type, I don't give a shit about love at first sight and all that other crap but.... fuck. I swear Aria, when I saw her ... I've never felt like this in my life. I don't even know how to explain it. It's like..."

"Your whole being was drawn to her. Like your souls were communicating and bonding with one look." I cut him off.

"Yeah." He looks at me with a frown. "Don't tell me that's how you felt about those two over there?"

"Okay. I'm not saying anything."

We finish our coffees in silence and Leila joins us in the kitchen.

"Sorry I could only leave you my couch." Cass tells her and she blushes. Leila blushing is something I never thought I would witness.

"I'm going to go tell Riley about Dad." I say simply as I walk out onto the balcony pulling my phone out of my pocket.