A shadow was lurking in the dark living room, but Marion didn't flip the light.
Even in the pitch-black, he automatically navigated to the kitchen and poured a glass of water.
"Spill it. What brings you here?" he said calmly.
Solomon had slipped into the house without setting off the alarms, not because he was that slick. He had just inherited Randy's tech tricks.
Marion added, "Nothing to say? Then leave."
"Uncle Marion, I want to train with you," Solomon said firmly.
"I don't take students," Marion responded.
Solomon caught a glint in Marion's eyes despite the darkness, but he didn't back up.
"I want to protect Lillian. I need to get stronger," he said.
The challenge set by Juan at school let him see the gap between him and these old pros. To guard those he cared about, he had to level up.
Only Marion could help.
He sheathed the knife and headed upstairs. On the attic balcony, he lit a cigarette but didn't smoke. The ember glowed faintly, just like 20 years ago, though bloodshed was long past them.
That night, Marion dreamed of his life overseas. Killing had been the theme, and he had gone numb. It had been a path to doom.
His phone rang, waking him up.
William's ecstatic voice came through. "I did it."
Marion shot up from the bed, and William added, "Come try it, buddy. You'll love it."

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