A few days have passed. Despite my desire to begin training, Andrea insisted that I rest and fully regain my composure before starting.

But today, it's the breaking point, the last day I can spend aimlessly circling my thoughts, reliving the past or imagining the future. I need to act, to live in the present instead of fantasizing about what lies ahead. I must stop torturing my mind with increasingly absurd scenarios. I can't bear to feel vulnerable any longer; I want to leave that feeling behind once and for all. I want to suffer for a purpose. I want that suffering to be the catalyst for something greater; I want to transform it into a formidable energy. I am finally ready to metamorphose, no matter the price I must pay. I have nothing left to lose; the only path is forward, to evolve.

"I'm ready. I want to start today. Where do we meet ?" I ask Andrea over the phone, my determination evident.

"I'll text you the address. Let's meet there in half an hour."

I hang up and prepare to meet him. A beep notifies me of his message, displaying the address as promised. I launch the GPS and set off towards the location.

After about twenty minutes, I arrive at a desolate place with only an abandoned hangar in what seems to be an old quarry.

Blinded by the sun's rays reflecting off the pristine white marble, I shield my eyes with one hand. With narrowed eyes, I stay alert as I approach the hangar, my other hand on the gun Andrea gave me, which hasn't left my side since. I reach the door and kick it open with force. The door slams into the wall with a thunderous metallic clang. The echo in the hangar tells me it's empty. I step inside cautiously, confirming it is indeed deserted—a simple rectangle with a roof and sand on the floor, nothing elaborate.

"So, do you like our new playground ?"

Andrea's rough, amused voice makes me spin around, gun aimed at him.

"Damn it, Andrea, don't ever do that again !" I gasp, a hand over my heart, which feels ready to leap out of my chest. "How did you find this place ?"

"I wouldn't be a good mafia right-hand man if I couldn't find a place like this. It's basic—finding an isolated hideout for our business."

"I have a lot to learn, don't I ?"

"You have no idea. But remember, you'll need to delegate; some things will never be your responsibility. That's why a right-hand man is so important, and that's what I'm here for."

His words make me frown slightly. His statement triggers a realization within me, a question that had never occurred to me but now burns on my lips, demanding an answer.

"Andrea, before anything else, why are you doing all this for me ? I mean, okay, I was Ezio's wife, but that doesn't mean you have to stay loyal to me. Especially since I was never involved in your business. You could easily take control of some pseudo-mafia yourself, or leave this life altogether. Why don't you seize that power for yourself instead of remaining a right-hand man, especially to a slightly crazy, overly ambitious woman who doesn't really seem to know what she's doing ?"

My words provoke his laughter as he lowers his head to look at the ground. Then he looks up, his expression much more serious this time.

"Because I learned a long time ago that I'm not meant to be the one making the heaviest decisions. I've never had the soul of a leader. I was more the kid who got bullied in the schoolyard," he confesses, his gaze distant.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"You don't have to be. It helped me build the resilience that saved me later. The beatings didn't stop at school; it was the same at home. My parents divorced early because of my mother's alcoholism, which worsened after their split. Unfortunately, I had to live with her and my stepfather, who was a real piece of work. He was involved in all sorts of shady dealings until one day I came home and found him practically wetting himself in front of two thugs who were threatening him. When they saw me, they tried to intimidate me. Basilio—I'll always remember him and his flower tattoo on his face..."

"A flower ?" I interrupt, laughing, lightening the mood a bit.

"It wasn't really a flower, but that's what I thought back then, and the name stuck," he replies with a half-smile, his eyes reminiscing. "Anyway, I didn't back down—I didn't cry or beg. Apparently, that impressed him because he declared in his booming voice that could shake walls, 'You've got guts, kid; we could make something of you.'"

"It seems that man left quite an impression on you. You speak of him with pride and nostalgia."

"He was the first to believe in me. He taught me to harden my heart and mind, to become the trusted man, the one sent to handle delicate situations. He taught me how to fight, defend myself, and protect those I considered my new family. But despite my loyalty and effectiveness, I knew from the beginning that I never wanted to be in the place of the one being protected. The ambition for power never drove me."

"Why not ? It could have been a great way to get revenge on your past."

"I'm a man of action, the one in the shadows who is feared but not dreaded. Being in charge involves a lot of sacrifices that I'm not capable of making. I like feeling useful by helping the leader shine, guiding them, protecting them, but in this role, the biggest decisions aren't mine. Their consequences aren't my responsibility. I'll be there to face them with you, to deal with them with you, but I won't be the one to initiate them. I need to keep that peace of mind. Our world is brutal and unforgiving, and I don't want to be responsible for decisions that can change the course of many lives. That's my limit, and even though I have several deaths on my conscience, I know why I did it—to protect my leader at all costs. I'm in the action, not the reflection. So yes, I could have left and let you deal with your mess alone. First, Andy would never have let me. Second, you were everything Ezio cherished most, and I owe it to him to protect you in his memory. Third, even if you're a crazy, impulsive, and reckless woman, you're my friend, and I see a lot of potential in you. So helping you take flight and realize your capabilities is a challenge I gladly accept. And besides, it's a way for me to protect myself from your wrath—I don't want to end up on your bloody list someday."

He ends with a wide, teasing smile, which makes me smile in return.

"You won't escape it if you hurt Andy," I threaten, locking eyes with him.

"It's more likely to be the other way around. She's too precious to me," he admits, his gaze distant and his cheeks slightly flushed.

I suppress a smile at the sight of such a vulnerable Andrea when Andy is mentioned.

"Where is she, by the way ?"

"She stayed at the apartment. Her task is to get rid of Paola's things. We've managed to transfer everything we needed and secure it. Now, we just need to dispose of the computer and the phone."

"Did the phone reveal anything new ?"

"No, nothing different from what we already knew. She simply kept the files on two separate devices in case Isabella managed to steal one of them."

"Won't that put her in any danger ?"

"Don't worry, I would never have her do anything that could compromise her safety. I personally went through every step I gave her to make sure she wasn't at risk."

"Yes, I know, sorry."

"Don't apologize. I know you only want what's best for her, just like I do. I know you two are very close, but let me look out for her as well. I'm not joking when I say I love her—I'm truly sincere."

"I believe you. It's just that I don't want her to be unhappy, and to be honest, your past scares me."

He sighs and nods, understanding what I mean.

"It took you a while to bring up my past," he says with a smirk.

"True, but I think it's finally time," I reply, my tone serious.