Heavy.
Tired.
But still sharp enough to recognize me.
“Ares…” he said, voice rough as he took off his mask.
I nodded once. “I need to talk to you.”
He didn’t respond right away.
Just looked at me like he already knew it wasn’t small.
I didn’t waste time.
“I need permission to kill Laurent. He put a hit out on me.”
Marcel’s breathing shifted.
He reached up weakly and grabbed my hand.
“If he is out to get you,yes. That boy has always been jealous of you when he could be standing next to you.”
I studied him for a second, making sure he meant it.
He did.
“I started the list,” I added. “Sir was first.”
A flicker passed through his eyes.
“My brother…” Marcel said slowly, his voice thin but steady. “…has done evil in this world. I always told him… he had it coming.”
He shifted slightly in the bed, like even speaking was taking something out of him.
“Hold this family down,” he said. “Run it with an iron fist.”
I nodded. “I will.”
His eyes stayed on me. “And don’t let people with our last name manipulate you… just because they’re blood.”
That hit different.
Because I already knew exactly who he was talking about.
“I won’t,” I promised.
He studied me one more time, his expression shifted slightly.
Softer.
“Your mother… She’s stronger than you think,” he continued. “More tactical than you’ll ever know.”
That didn’t surprise me.
Not even a little.
“She hates me,” he added.
