A wild chase ensues through the city's steep streets. Ezio drives at top speed, as fast as a scooter allows. He takes stairs, narrow alleys. Nothing stops him, not even the pedestrians in the streets who leap aside to avoid the fury. After some time, we manage to exit the city.

In an effort to remain discreet, he leaves the main road, driving along dirt paths. A few minutes later, we find ourselves in front of an old, ruined building. Ezio turns off the engine, silencing the Vespa's roar, allowing the starry night to regain its apparent calm. We dismount the scooter, and he goes to hide it in part of the adjacent building that looks like a barn.

"What the hell was that ??!"

"Come on, we can't stay outside; they could quickly spot us !" he orders in a measured voice, grabbing my arm and guiding me inside at a brisk pace.

Once sheltered, I sharply pull away from his grip.

"I didn't need an escort; I could have made it back alone." I fume, annoyed.

"You weren't moving fast enough." he declares calmly, never taking his eyes off me.

"Can you explain now ? What kind of "family business" are you involved in ? And why do they want me ?!" I barrage him with frantic questions.

"It's complicated."

"Complicated ?! You dragged me into this, the least you can do is have the decency to explain !"

Despite his apparent reluctance, he sighs, resigned, before speaking.

"Do you know the Madini family ?"

"By name. I know the more you avoid them, the better off you are. Or the longer your life will be, as Nonna used to say."

"Well, prepare your grave then, because you're neck-deep in shit since you helped one of them hide and heal."

"You don't mean..."

"Yes, I am Ezio Madini, a purebred mafioso." he reveals, cutting me off, his eyes scanning our surroundings.

"But I want nothing to do with all this crap ! We each go our separate ways, and that's it !"

"It's too late. You made a choice that night, and that choice will follow you for the rest of your life."

"So what, I'm supposed to live as a fugitive because I helped someone not to die ?!"

"That night, you lost to the mafia. They got you, but you gained an ally. I owe you one—you saved my life, and now it's my turn to repay the favor."

I laugh bitterly before replying:

"And that's supposed to reassure me ? I'm supposed to be grateful to you ? My gallant knight ? Oh, thank you for watching over me and helping me not get killed !" I spat, seething. "Why were those guys after me ?" I add.

"You'd make a good mafiosa with your fiery temper. You have an ally now, whether you like it or not. Believe me, in your situation, you should be happy and grateful. Yes, those guys were after you. A life for a life. You saved me six years ago when they tried to kill me, and now they want yours to restore the balance. That's how it works in our world."

"Why don't they just kill you then ?"

My question makes him laugh softly, which only intensifies the tension in my fists and jaw.

"Darling, they've tried, and failed. Our two families have been enemies for a long time, in perpetual conflict. Today, they have a new reason to come after us and a considerable advantage—they can finally avenge themselves without declaring a war because you're not part of our family."

"You're pathetic, thinking you're untouchable ! You prefer to go after those weaker than you rather than settle your differences once and for all—some mafia you are !"

His gaze suddenly flares with rage.

"We don't think we're untouchable, we are ! You know nothing about the mafia and the harm a vendetta could cause ! Each family wields its power as it sees fit, and despite everything, we're all aware of our strengths and weaknesses against our enemies. So, we don't declare a war if we know we'll lose !"

His anger is so intense that the vein in his neck looks ready to burst from the pressure. Not knowing what kind of man he becomes when anger imprisons him, I control myself and let the silence create a pause in our heated exchange.

"You didn't answer my question earlier." I risk in a distant voice.

"Which one ?"

"About Nonna, how do you know she's dead ?" I ask, my skin prickling.

"You mean when the guy who wanted you dead and whom I saved you from interrupted us ?"

"Answer !"

His eyes blaze with anger again. With fists clenched and jaw tight, he struggles to regain his composure. Glaring at me, he sighs before replying in a measured tone.

"I could tell you it was simple deduction, that I recognized her old house turned restaurant with her name. But you know enough not to believe me, and you'd be right."

Tears start to well up, and my throat tightens as I await the rest. Deep down, I fear I've already guessed the truth.

Suddenly calmed by my rising emotion, Ezio clears his throat and looks away.

"There's no easy way to say this, so I'll be direct. The mafia killed her."

At these words, I break into tears, my legs giving out as I fall to my knees, raising a cloud of dust. With my face buried in my hands, I'm wracked by uncontrollable sobs. Nonna's death far from healed, this news feels like a fresh stab wound in an already gaping hole. As if learning of her death all over again, I can't control my emotions and let them overwhelm me.

After a few seconds, I feel Ezio move closer and kneel in front of me. He tries to take my hands, but I push him away and slap him before turning my back on him.

After a while, between sobs, I finally manage to stammer:

"Why ? She was innocent and had nothing to do with any of this !"

"The mafia doesn't care about innocence. To them, anyone involved, even peripherally, is part of their game. A game with rules written in blood and loyalty. Your grandmother's death was a message, a brutal reminder that no act of kindness goes unpunished in their eyes. The three men tonight are from the same family: the Condore. When I returned that night, my father informed me that the man I fought before ending up on your terrace—one of the brothers—had succumbed to his injuries. Then, their father told mine that if I survived, it was because I had help, and that help would be sacrificed in memory of his son."

"So you sold out my grandmother ?!"

"No, I would never do that! I'm no snitch, especially not to those who helped me !"

"Then how did they find her and know you were at her place ?"

"The Condore men searched the houses, spreading terror and fear for weeks to break the residents. Your grandmother never gave in, she was strong and wise."

"How do you know if you weren't there ?"

"In our world, information flows faster and more precisely than you can imagine. They didn't need me to find out—they discovered it themselves. Surveillance, informants at the hospital, the police, even among civilians, there are eyes and ears everywhere. My family followed the situation closely and had contacts who informed them of developments. They told us that until the end, she wasn't suspected. Even in her last moments, she revealed nothing. They even doubted she was truly involved."

"So how did they figure it out ?"

"A neighbor betrayed her, saw us at the boat and realized you were helping me escape. He went to her, saying he couldn't take it anymore, that he was too scared and would turn you in. So, your grandmother gathered her courage and asked him to protect you and turn her in instead—her life was behind her, and yours was ahead. Knowing you were under my protection, taking that secret to her grave allowed her to die in peace. She made me promise to find you and protect you before turning herself in. The neighbor did what he did, and the Condore men took care of her."

"Did you see her before she died ?"

"Yes, when I learned what was happening, I returned to her one night, and we talked. That's when she asked me to watch over you."

I realize I've been holding my breath since he started his story. Slowly, I begin to breathe again. Silent, the information swirls in my head.

I eventually realize I'm missing something.

"I don't understand. If Nonna was guilty to them, why are they after me ?"

I see Ezio thinking, his eyes searching the distance, his brows furrowed.

"Somehow, they must have learned the truth."

Once again, I retreat into a pensive silence, so much so that I don't hear Ezio's footsteps moving away.

Words fail me. The memory of Nonna haunts me. Until her last breath, she protected me, proving her unconditional love one final time. The whirlwind of my emotions makes me dizzy. I can no longer think or find words for anything except this feeling that seems to have accompanied me for too long: the pain of mourning Nonna.

Paralyzed by my thoughts, I remain immobile and silent. Isolated, with only the memory of Nonna for company, I let myself be engulfed once more by the darkness of my emotions.

Then, Ezio's distant cry of alarm pierces through as he rushes toward me.

"Damn it, May, move—they've found us !"