Clearly troubled, Ezio puts his hands in his pockets and lowers his head. I understand that my response isn't what he wanted to hear.

"May, I admire your courage and determination. As I said, I'll support you, but the moment the plan is set in motion, I'll do everything to protect you and keep you safe. So please, don't take unnecessary risks blinded by your desire for revenge."

"I won't take unnecessary risks, but I will take risks. If I want to succeed in my mission, I'll have no other choice."

Helpless, Ezio sighs and nods.

"I'm well aware of that, unfortunately."

I move towards him and wrap my arms around him, resting my head in the crook of his neck. I reassure him in a soft voice.

"Everything will be fine, my love. I'll be careful, and I know you'll do everything to have my back."

I place a gentle kiss on the crook of his neck and pull away. He takes my head in his hands and looks deeply into my eyes.

"Promise me, May."

I take his wrists and, after kissing the palm of his hand, I reply.

"I promise, Ezio."

He embraces me again, holding me tightly as if it's the last time we'll touch.

The ringing of my phone interrupts our tender moment. I look at the screen displaying Andy's name. I step away from Ezio and head to the terrace to answer.

"Hey Andy, how's it going ?"

"So, Sleeping Beauty ! Was it your prince charming who woke you up with a tender kiss or the slimy kiss of the wicked witch ?"

"Neither, it was the cold breeze of emptiness," I joke, "but Ezio was there when I woke up."

"Oh really ? Tell me everything !"

"Turns out I was wrong. He didn't leave because he couldn't accept the baby, but because he was hurt that I kept it from him for so long. He took it badly, didn't know what to think, and needed time to reflect and sort things out, so he left out of anger."

"He's a slow thinker, that one... How are things between you now ?"

"Better. We talked it out, and he's really happy about becoming a dad, genuinely very happy."

"Great, but why do I sense you're not as enthusiastic?"

"It's just... I feel so terrible for hiding it from him."

"May, it's done. Stop beating yourself up. First of all, you found out late yourself. Second, even without the shooting, he would've known sooner, but you would've still taken some time before telling him. You did what you thought was best at the moment with the information you had. Of course, knowing the outcome, you'd want to change things, but at the time, you didn't know, and you had your reasons for not telling him right away. Now he knows, and he's happy about it. That's all you need to focus on. There's no point in dwelling on what you did because it won't change anything. The important thing is that today you're together and happy about the future ahead."

"You're right, I need to forgive myself and think about tomorrow."

"Speaking of tomorrow, I guess I'm excluded from seeing my little peanut ?"

"Your peanut ?"

"Yeah, I decided your baby is my peanut. Got a problem with that ?"

"No," I replied, amused, "and yeah, Ezio takes your place, sorry."

"Betrayal, disgrace ! No seriously, it's normal. He's the dad, his presence is more legitimate than mine, but you'd better bring me some photos !"

I laugh at her response, and we continue talking for a few minutes before Paola interrupts us to announce her arrival.

"Paola ? Hi ! How are you feeling ?" I ask after hanging up.

"I feel like I'm living a second life, I'm in great shape !" she replies, hugging me. "Are you alone ?"

"Uh, no, didn't you see Ezio in the living room ?"

"No, there's no one there."

I leave her arms to search for the missing husband. I scour the ground floor and finally find him in his office.

"Ezio, Paol..."

The sight of the yellow-cased phone in his hands clouds my mind, breaking all communication with the rest of my body.

"I'll be right there," he announces, shoving the phone into his desk drawer.

Still staring at the spot where the mystery disappeared, I barely feel the kiss Ezio leaves on my forehead as he passes by.

"May, are you coming ?"

"Y-Yes," I reply, tearing my gaze away from the desk with difficulty. 

Mind fogged by the discovery, I sit with them in the living room. The ensuing small talk distracts me, allowing me to address the reason for our friend's presence.

"Paola, I need to ask you a favor."

"Oh dear, May, you're making me nervous. I don't like hearing that from the Madini."

"I'm not a Madini," I retort brusquely.

"It's as good as," she counters with a smile, her gaze lingering on my belly.

I hadn't noticed how much it showed under my T-shirt, which makes me decide to wear looser clothes from now on.

I sit up and continue.

"I know you've done a lot for the Madini family and the mafia in general, but let me explain."

"I admit, you've piqued my curiosity. I didn't expect you to adapt so quickly to the mafia life."

"I didn't really have a choice; it was either adapt or wallow in self-pity."

"I'm all ears, but that doesn't mean I'll agree."

I nod and start explaining, detailing our chase from the restaurant "Chez Nonna," the bullet wound as we escaped, the arson of my apartment, Nonna's murder and the reason for her death: saving Ezio's life six years ago, and finally, the attack in the street outside the bar.

"They're still after me, and it will only end when I've wiped out their family."

Paola's eyes widen in shock.

"Wait, you want to kill the Condore family ? Do you realize the magnitude of what you're saying ?"

She turns, stunned, to Ezio, who looks at her seriously.

"And you, Ezio, you agree with this ? Did you really make her aware of the risks and what this entails ?"

"You don't know May; nothing stops her. She's more determined and stubborn than anyone I know. Nothing will dissuade her, so I'd rather be with her than against her. And she's right; this won't stop until someone is dead."

Paola shakes her head, bewildered, still grappling with what's happening.

"And what do you want me to do in all this ?"

I clear my throat and respond.

"We know Mario is in intensive care at home, and we know you're his nurse."

She doesn't even let me finish before getting agitated.

"Oh no, May, don't even think about it. There's no way I'll kill him !"

"No, that's not what I want. I want you to help me get in so I can kill him."

"But that's the same thing! I'd be an accomplice, letting you in knowing full well what you're going to do. Have you lost your mind ? I'm a nurse; I save patients, not kill them !"

"Stop the theatrics, Paola! You're a mafia daughter; you've done dishonorable things too. This wouldn't be the first person you've killed, and you wouldn't even have to do it yourself," Ezio intervenes, irritated.

I watch Paola withdraw. Hurt, she goes to get a glass of whiskey, perhaps to better digest the conversation or to forget past ghosts, I'm not sure.

"That was before, Ezio. I became a nurse to atone for my sins."

"If that's the case, you'll need to do a lot to atone for your sin of homosexuality," Ezio retorts harshly.

Mouth open, eyebrows raised, I glare at the impassive Ezio before seeing Paola turn pale.

"H-How do you know ?"

Ezio scratches the back of his head and clears his throat, knowing he's about to revive a painful memory Paola is all too familiar with: grief.

"Before executing Valentina, I was examining her phone for proof of her betrayal when she received one of your suggestive messages."

Paola sinks into the couch, stunned and blushing at the revelation. Suddenly, her eyes darken, and she asks Ezio menacingly:

"Did you kill Valentina ?"

I don't give him time to respond.

"I was supposed to, but I couldn't do it. I felt she was sincere, and even now, I believe she was innocent."

"Then who the hell killed her ?" she spits, eyes reddened with tears.

"Isabella," I reveal.

Her breath catches, and her face freezes. After a few seconds, she rises from the couch and lifelessly heads to the bar to pour another drink. She downs it in one gulp and pours a third. She turns to us, her gaze vacant and distant, and downs her last glass before slamming it on the bar.

"I'll help you, but afterward, you'll help me get my revenge."

We don't even have time to respond before she disappears into the elevator.