We arrive at a wrought iron gate with a booth on the side housing a guard who, recognizing Paola's car and driver, grants us access. As planned, he stops the car far enough forward to hide from the cameras once the hood is opened, and just far enough back to prevent the gates from closing. The driver lowers his window and tells the guard he has a problem with the car and can't move forward. We all get out, and when the guard sees me, he asks who I am. Paola introduces me as an intern, and he asks no further questions. The driver opens the hood and asks for help from the guard.

"We'll walk to the manor, I don't want to be late for Mario's care." says Paola.

The guard and the driver don't even lift their heads as we head towards the mansion.

"May, walk at a normal pace, the cameras are still watching you. When the gunshot sounds, do not flinch or speed up your step. From where they are, the other guards won't hear anything. They only have the visuals from the cameras, not the sound. So stay calm and don't turn around. Our behavior must not raise any alarms."

I meticulously follow Paola's instructions. We continue walking when the gunshot rings out. I desperately want to turn around to make sure it's the guard who's been shot, but I do nothing to avoid raising suspicions. I tell myself that if the driver had been shot, we would be in the same danger.

We walk for five minutes, and then a large mansion with red and white stones, pointy and menacing roofs comes into view. A round tower on the side serves as the entrance. The rest of the mansion sends shivers down my spine, with its blackened stone balconies and the dead ivy climbing in this season, giving it the look of a haunted manor. It is imposing and far from welcoming, making us want to run away.The croaking of the nearby crows only accentuates the hostile feeling emanating from the estate.

We finally reach the front door, and Paola is about to knock when the door swings open to reveal a stout maid, with drawn features and a pale complexion. The wear of all those years of labor serving the Condore family is etched on every wrinkle of her face.

"Miss Paola, you are exactly on time, which means you are late for Don Mario, hurry up."

"Sorry, Agnès, but our driver had a problem with his car and we had to walk here."

"I know, it's regrettable."

I follow closely behind Paola as she enters, but the maid blocks my way.

"Who are you ?"  she asks me coldly, contrasting with the warm tone she used with Paola.

"She's my intern, Mina, she's here to help with the care today."

Skeptical, she lets me pass but keeps a watchful eye on me.

I catch up with Paola, who leads me through the dark spaces of the mansion, where the light is desperately lacking despite the numerous windows. The walls are in dark wood. The only color I can discern is red, whether it's the walls, the carpets, or the furniture. Everything is luxurious, with a few touches of gold elegantly paired with the dominant red. We take a grand staircase, the creaking of our steps echoing our approach to Mario's apartments. The atmosphere is heavy and unsettling. The closer we get to his room, the more a scent of illness and disinfectant fills the air.

It's impossible to miss his door, a massive bodyguard stands in front of it. Seeing him, I tense up, realizing that it will be more difficult than I thought to carry out the killing. We approach, and once in front of him, I hold my breath for fear that the beating of my heart might betray the reason for my presence.

"Hello Leo, I'm here for Don Mario's care. Please let us through. This is my intern, Mina, who is here to help me."

"You, yes. Her, no." he says in a cold tone, remaining impassive and unmoved.

"But I need her to show her my work."

"I said no, she will have to wait outside." he commands, impassive, without moving.

With that, the door opens and two men whom I immediately recognize come out of the room. They are the Condore brothers who assaulted us outside the bar with Andy. I tense up at the sight of them, fearing they might recognize me. They walk past us without really bothering to look at us, and as they go down the stairs, they say:

"Paola, we're counting on you to take care of him. Father is not in great shape today."

Then they disappear, leaving the echo of their creaking footsteps behind them. Paola enters after Leo has frisked her. I try to follow, but he blocks me with his arm.

"What don't you understand about no ?"

A weak but deep voice calls out.

"Leo, what's going on ?"

"Nothing, Don Mario. I came with an intern, but Leo wants her to stay outside."

While they talk, I notice a French door on the left side of his room that probably leads to a balcony.

"Leo is right. I only want to be treated by someone I trust. The intern stays where she belongs. That is to say outside."

Paola turns back to me, disheartened, but I manage to catch her eye and subtly indicate the window with my gaze. She turns to look, then nods slightly to show she understands.

Leo closes the door, and I step back. I wait several minutes to avoid arousing suspicion, minutes that pass very slowly under the watchful eye of the bodyguard.

I clear my throat and dare to ask where the restroom is.

"In the bathroom, first door on the left."

I thank him and follow his directions. Once inside, I'm relieved to see a window. I open it, stick my head out, and realize that Mario's room is right next door. It's located in the tower on the second floor, above the entrance. However, I need to climb over the window's guardrail and then reach and scale the balcony railing of Mario's room. This plan alteration is quite risky, but I have no other choice. I climb over the railing and hold onto the guardrail to avoid falling. There's very little room to maneuver, and the balcony railing is farther than I thought. I try to reach it by holding onto the guardrail with one hand and reaching for the balcony with the other, but my arm is too short. I cling back to the barrier, gather my courage. After a deep breath, I leap for the balcony railing, but the edge of the window sill crumbles under my foot, causing me to slip. I barely catch the guardrail with my left hand but fall against the wall with all my weight, causing severe pain. Thanks to Salva's training, I manage to pull myself up using both hands onto the window ledge. I hold onto the guardrail and realize it's impossible to try again with no room left to maneuver. I decide to go back to the bathroom. I pace back and forth looking for an idea, but all that comes to mind is high-risk. I close my eyes to recall Leo's posture. He's standing in front of the door, hands clasped in front, about six feet tall. Despite concentrating, I see no weapons. I open my eyes, look at myself in the mirror.

Speed and precision.

I nod knowingly, then take a deep breath in and out. I cock my pistol and tuck it into my pocket. I calm my breathing and, after a deep breath, I take the weapon from my pocket. I step out of the bathroom quickly. Without thinking, I point the pistol at Léo's head and fire.

The gunshot rings out, and in the next moment, I see Leo's body collapse to the ground. I hurry back to the room, firing once more into his head.

Just in case.

I burst through the door and find Mario in his bed. Despite his illness, a glint of rage shines in his eyes. He sits up and looks at Léo's body at my feet. At this sight, a mix of fear, surprise, and fascination lights up his face.

"Look at this, who do we have here ?" he formulates with a sly smile.

I remove my wig and hold his gaze.

"Imelda Torre, remember ?"

"My dear, I've seen so many women in my life, I couldn't tell you."

He plays with my nerves, and his superior air irritates me intensely. I walk up to his bed and press the barrel of my gun against his temple.

"And I'm sure you remember her." I assert, looking down at him.

"May, hurry up ! The gunshot earlier has alarmed everyone in the mansion. They'll be here any minute !" Paola urges me.

"You mean that old fool who thought she was cleverer than us by lying to us? You're no better than her, regardless of whether you manage to kill me or not, we will always be untouchable. If not me, then my sons will come after you, and if not them, then my allies. Your life is over, May. Ezio won't be able to protect you forever. Whether you like it or not, you are weak and will remain so. You will never measure up to the mafia, and you'll have even less control over it. You're only good for ending up with a bullet in your head and a blank stare, just like your dear grandmother."

His words fan the flames of my rage so intensely that it takes over my body. Its heat spreads and seeps into every cell of my organism, igniting them with the irresistible urge to end his miserable life. Completely possessed, my eyes blaze with this rage which envelops its impulsive hand over mine. Unaware, in a blazing detonation, the rage dissipates. Back in control of my body, I remain stunned, as if awakened from a dream. Before me lies Mario, lifeless, a gaping hole in his forehead from which a broad stream of blood flows. 

Who has a blank stare now ?

The continuous beep of the cardiograph, accompanied by Paola's voice screaming my name, snaps me out of my thoughts.

I then turn to face Fabio, one of Mario's sons. He is holding Paola from behind, his revolver pressed against her temple. Instinctively, I aim my gun at him.

"Don't do anything stupid or your friend dies. Drop your weapon and surrender. It's the best thing you can do, you won't get out of here alive."