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“This one is different, Nix! There’s just something about her.”
Phoenix grumbled, frowning as he walked over and knocked his brother’s legs off the cushion to sit down. He didn’t get Porter’s obsession with finding the perfect girl. The only relationship Phoenix entertained was with the fictional characters on his favorite television show—Phoenix Hospital. I had a hypothesis he only loved it because his name was in the title, but I couldn’t prove it.
“Oh, yeah?” He lifted his hand, and a classic Phoenix debate loomed on the horizon. “In just the past month, there’s been Luna who smelled like cinnamon rolls but, in the end, didn’t get your humor.” He dropped a finger, lifting his eyebrow as Porter started to deny. “Then there was Jeanne who had eyes like the sunset, whatever the fuck that meant, but liked lemon in her water, which was a grievous error on her part.” Phoenix dumped another finger as Porter cringed.
“But—” he started, stopping when Phoenix glared at him.
“Cathy, whose smile made you silly but didn’t know the difference between ketchup brands.”
“I think we can all agree there is only one true ketchup,” Porter interjected, raising his own finger. Phoenix ignored him, dropping the third digit before continuing.
“Mimi, who’d been wearing your favorite band’s t-shirt, but actually had no clue who they were, and oh, yes, let’s not forget the disaster that was Gina with her collection of toenail clippings.” He put down his last finger, glaring at his brother, who’d gone from gleeful to downright sad with a pillow covering his head.
I cleared my throat, grabbing Phoenix’s attention and raising a brow. Porter might be quick to love, but it was one of the best parts about him. I knew Phoenix was trying to protect his brother, but killing his spirit wasn’t how to do it.
His green eyes glared at me, but I refused to back down. Being a brotherhood meant we cared about one another’s well-being. Not to mention, if Porter was distraught, it made him sloppy and reckless. We couldn’t have that going into a job. But I cared about his feelings more, of course.
Phoenix dropped his eyes, his shoulders sagging as he rubbed his hair, the ends sticking in a different direction now.
“I can feel you guys talking with your eyes,” Porter huffed.
Phoenix lifted the pillow off his brother’s face, moving to lean against him, their shoulders pressing into one another. “What’s she like?” he asked, tilting his head to Porters.
“You’re right. I’ll drop it,” he said, his voice low.
“No. I was mean. I’m tired and cranky. But that’s not your fault. So, tell me what she’s like. Will I like her?” Phoenix asked, nudging his brother. Porter’s head turned toward his brother, their foreheads pressing together now. They made a perfect mirror reflection of one another when they did that. Porter’s smile lit back up, his shoulders dropping as he returned to his usual sunshine self.
“She’s tiny, like I could fit her in my pocket, but with all these curves I wanted to touch.” His body contracted as he talked with his hands, squeezing imaginary air. Porter couldn’t tell a story without moving and demonstrating what he was saying. “She wore a Jurassic Park tee with a skirt. Her legging things had dinosaurs on them too, and she had on Converse. It was nerdy and relaxed but cute at the same time. She’s literally my dream girl,” he sighed, dropping his head back to the couch. “Her hair is long and wild with blue streaks in it. She had on these cute glasses; her eyes were the same shade of blue as the stripes in her hair.”
“She sounds pretty. What else?” Phoenix asked, his voice quiet, his eyes fluttering closed. Porter didn’t mind talking to him while he was sleeping. He was just happy to share with his twin. I also wasn’t convinced they couldn’t mind speak, so maybe Phoenix did hear him with his eyes closed.
“She was funny, a little sassy, and kind of shy. She made it out that she was awkward, but I didn’t think so. Do you think she liked me?” he asked.
“Everyone likes you, Porter. I’m sure she did,” Phoenix mumbled, proving my earlier point.
Standing from my chair, I left the main area and searched for our quietest member—Rueben. I passed the small kitchen and bathroom, not finding him, leaving only the two bedrooms. This town was so small the amenities hadn’t been the greatest, but it was luxurious compared to some of the places we’d all grown up in.
I pushed open the door, spotting Rueben going over the equipment. He laid it out on the mattress and meticulously checked each piece to ensure it was ready and safe. He was the tallest of us at 6’4” with broad shoulders and a menacing glare that scared off most people. His brown skin was peppered with tattoos on both arms and his torso, covering his scars. His dark hair faded on the sides; the top kept close to his scalp. His beard was just as dark and full, covering most of his face. His black shirt and pants were his usual attire, contrasting against the twins and their ever-changing wardrobe.
“How’s it going?” I asked, leaning against the wall.
“Good,” he replied, his voice deep and thick. He wasn’t a man of many words, his past not being kind in that regard.
“Phoenix has the surveillance done, and I’ve reviewed the blueprints. I’ve identified the weak points and best places for entry once Phoenix disarms the alarm.”
Rueben nodded, continuing on his mission. We’d discovered our unique skill sets early in our time at the group home, allowing us to join together to create the Loxley Crew and later, PROP, our network of businesses.
Phoenix was a whiz with technology and computers and could lift a wallet from a pair of skinny jeans, with the wearer none the wiser. Both of the twins were nimble, giving them unique access to places.
Porter preferred to be active, allowing Phoenix to stay behind if he wasn’t needed. Porter had a knack for locks and could crack safes, and had an uncanny ability to escape any room he wound up in. He was a jack-of-all-trades, able to schmooze his way into any place with his charisma.
Rueben was pure muscle, using his strength to dispatch guards and shield the others from discovery. He excelled in defensive driving and knew the ins and outs of most vehicles. Most shocking, despite his size, the man was silent on his feet and could almost match Porter in the acrobatic escapes.
So what did I do? Outside of being the mastermind strategist and researching our marks, I fenced the goods and did some creative bookkeeping. My affinity for math came in handy to help the ones harmed by our marks, funneling money through PROP and our charitable foundations.
Most of our jobs consisted of Rueben and Porter going in, leaving Phoenix and me behind to monitor. Phoenix because he preferred not to interact with people unless he had to, and me because the less stress I put myself in, the better with my condition.
Each of us knew our roles, and we performed them flawlessly. We’d yet to be caught, though there were a few close calls, and had given back millions to those who deserved it more. The only thing missing was her—our little bird to share it with. The one who inspired it all.
