Marcel pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "Let's start making plans. There is not much time left. The group that seemed so unserious just now suddenly got into work mode. They loved joking around and bickering, but once it was time to work, they were focused.
Six hours in, Marcel received a call. He took out his phone and glanced at the screen. When he saw it was Archie calling, he was suddenly filled with worry.
Something must have happened at home, otherwise why would he call when he had especially told him to only call this number if there was an emergency? He stepped outside and answered the call.
"Ahhh, boss, save me," came Archie's screams as soon as he picked up. It was as though someone was hitting him and he was running away, but the beating couldn't have been that serious because he could still speak.
Marcel already knew what was going on. Before he could say anything, a familiar angry voice demanded, "Give it to me!"
As soon as she got her hands on the phone, her angry voice echoed in his ears. Her tone was fierce, her body trembling with rage. "YOU ASSHOLE!!!!" she roared, and Marcel trembled involuntarily. It was not that he was afraid of his sister, but when they were young, she yelled at him more than their mother did the few times they were together.
"Is that how we do things now, huh? We lie to each other now?" she said, firing at him rapidly, so much so that he didn't have time to defend himself. "What the hell is wrong with you? You should have told me you were going for a job. It's not like I could stop you. Have you ever considered what I would have to tell Leo should something happen to you?"
Marcel was at a loss as to what to say. When she asked, he had told her that he was going to go and meet up with some old friends and that he needed a change in scenery. He thought she wouldn't look further into it. Who would have thought that she would beat the information out of Archie?
He sighed softly, looking at the starry sky, and said, "I just didn't want you to worry. It's a quick job. I will be back in two weeks max."
Lira wanted to believe his words that it was just a simple and easy job, but her gut was telling her that it wasn't so simple. She said, "Does this have anything to do with those bastards?"
The so-called bastards she was referring to were their estranged families. After they severed ties, Lira didn't want him involved with them ever again, and Marcel had promised her that he would never contact them, even when they reached out first. But this was something he had to do. His voice firm, he said, "This will be the last time, I promise."
The confirmation added fuel to the fire. She spat out, "Marcello Lucius Verrochi," through gritted teeth. Being called by his full government name made Marcel feel like he was in big trouble. "What could those monsters possibly have that you want so badly?"
He lowered his head, kicking a pebble subconsciously. He wasn't sure if he should tell her what was really going on. Considering that Thalia was her mother too, and she spent more time with her than he ever had. Thus, he decided to tell her.
On the other hand, Lira was truly afraid, and now that she knew who he was working for, her intuition was telling her that something bad was going to happen. Countless times, she had seen her brother riddled with bullets, standing right at death's door for that old man and his evil spawn. She wasn't a religious person, but now she had the habit of getting on her knees and praying to whichever god would answer, praying for her brother.
For the past years, she had been more relieved seeing that he wasn't in life-and-death situations anymore. She thought he would never go back to that life again, yet here he was jumping straight into the fire.
"Tell me why you would risk your life again?" she demanded with a tremor in her voice.
"Mum's ashes," he said, his voice barely audible, but Lira heard it.
Those words shot straight into Lira's chest, and she froze. She had been ready to tell him that it wasn't worth putting his life on the line, but when she heard what it was, she couldn't utter those words. The emotions and terrible memories she had buried deep for years resurfaced. Memories of her finding their mother in that pond belonging to the Varcano family. Tears streamed down her face unknowingly.
Their mother was the kindest and gentlest person she had ever met. Beautiful, funny, sweet, she was perfect in every way, but she had one flaw. She was loyal to a fault. She was loyal to the family that exploited her. They gave her anything she needed or wanted, but in return, they wanted her full obedience. This meant that if they told her to jump, she was never to ask why but how high.
They told her that it was her duty as their daughter to repay them by marrying whoever they chose and living the life they dictated for her. She never thought of defying her family and did everything they asked of her until the day she was driven to her death.
Lira had always believed that she didn't commit suicide. Weeks before, her mother had excitedly whispered her plans to take them both away from the Varcano family. Her mother had been afraid that she would suffer the same fate as her, thus she wanted to flee. But weeks later, she turned out dead and Lira was the one who found her body.
Hearing her soft sobs and sniffles, his voice softened as he said, "I really want us to lay her to rest. That family shouldn't keep her. They made her suffer in life; she shouldn't keep suffering in death, too."
She wiped away her tears and her voice brittle, she said, "I-I understan... just be careful. I really can't afford to lose you, too."
Marcel's eyes stung. Her words sounded like a fearful plea, and they weighed heavily on his heart. He smiled slightly and said, "You worry too much, it's just a simple job. How about this? I will try to get it done fast, and as soon as I am done, I will take the first flight home."
Lira was still reluctant to let him do this, but she knew he had to, so she said, "You promise?"
He said, "I promise, so don't worry too much." Eager to change the subject, he asked, "Where is Leo?" Leo was completely unaware of the situation. He was busy kicking the punching bag with his little, short legs, with Toni instructing him.
Lira didn't want her son to know that she had been crying, so she handed the phone to Archie and said, "Give him the phone."
Archie offered her a box of tissues while saying, "Okay." He took the phone and walked over to Leo. He crouched down to match his height and said, "Your uncle wants to talk to you."
Leo's eyes brightened as he grabbed the phone and exclaimed, "Uncle! You went on vacation without me! I am stuck here doing math, and you're out having fun."
Marcel chuckled softly and said, "I will take you with me next time, that is, if you get an A on your math test."
Leo's smile fell when he heard him mention getting an A. He was quite self-aware when it came to his ability in math. He slumped his shoulders and said, "If you don't want to take me with you, just say so. I will never get an A, not even a C."
Hearing his self-deprecating tone, Marcel couldn't stand it. He said, "You have to at least try. Only if you have put in your best can you say I really can't do it."
His voice small and obviously sulking, he said, "Fine, I will try. But uncle, it's soooo harrrdddddd."
"It is, but it doesn't hurt to try," replied Marcel, in a coaxing tone reserved only for his nephew.
Leo knew it was pointless fighting it, so he said, "Fine, but I get to choose where we are going. I want to go somewhere with snow."
How could Marcel say no to him? He hummed in agreement, the smile on his face growing brighter. "Listen, while I am away, take care of your mum for me, okay?"
Leo nodded earnestly. "I will. Just come back soon. She is too much work! Last night she made me watch that cooking show with her. She was screaming at the TV the entire time. Uncle, I can't take it anymore."
Leo nodded quickly, but when he realized that his uncle couldn't see him, he said, "I will. Just come back soon. She is too much work! Last night she made me watch that cooking show with her. She was screaming at the TV the entire time. It's torture."
Marcel let out a throaty chuckle before saying, "She means no harm. She is just a little passionate." He had seen how emotional her sister was when watching one of those shows. You would think she was one of the judges the way she yelled.
Leo grunted with a flare of drama and said, "I get it. I will try to be more tolerant... I love you, uncle."
"I love you too, Le Le. Take care of your mum, okay?" he said, his heart aching. He promised himself that this was the last time he would ever be apart from his family.
Leo smiled like a sweet little angel and said, "Okay, I will."
Marcel reluctantly hung up and looked up while sighing. Lila, who had come out to smoke, walked towards him and asked, "Le Le?" He glanced over at her and nodded.
She smiled as she lowered her head to light the cigarette between her lips and said, "He must be a big boy now."
"He has grown big, but he is really bad at math," he said with a throaty chuckle.
Lila arched her brow and took the cigarette from her lips before saying, "Really? I was bad at it too, and I turned out fine."
Marcel smirked as he said, "Didn't you get fired as a waiter for failing to calculate change?"
Lila groaned, recalling the embarrassment she felt that day. She said, "Why bring that black history back up? You know, if you didn't stop me that day, I would have broken his nose."
That was the day they first met. She was being kicked out of a restaurant after insulting the manager for calling her a dumb bimbo. Lila was so angry that she swung and showed him who between them was the real bimbo. Marcel had stepped in to stop her.
He took her to the park a few feet from the restaurant and bought her a hot dog. At the time, she was penniless and had been kicked out of her father's house after coming out. Marcel offered her a job, and ever since then, her life headed in a better trajectory.
"I told you to never use cash," Marcel teased. "You will get robbed."
She rolled her eyes, saying, "My girlfriend said the same thing. Trust me, I stay clear of cash now."