December 31, 2025 – Waukegan Sterling MansionTime: 10:45 PM
Rising above Waukegan's deserted coastline, Thomas Sterling's mansion resembled a fortress more than a home. But tonight, that fortress was about to become a graveyard. Michael, under the guise of "Adrian Vane," felt the weight of the silenced Glock in his hand as he slipped through the bushes at the back entrance of the mansion.
Inside, there was no post-Christmas quiet, only the tension of an approaching storm. Sterling was panicking over the leaked autopsy report and was about to face Luca D'Angelo's dogs, burning with vengeance, instead of the "cleanup crew" he was expecting.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the screech of tires in the front yard, followed by the sound of shattering glass.
"Attack, damn it!" a roar was heard. Luca's right-hand man, the hugeEnzo, had smashed down the mansion's door with his shotgun. "Get Hale and that Sterling bastard out here! We'll send them all to hell!"
Michael smiled as he slipped through the ventilation shaft of the storage room. Ivy had done her job well. Luca's men had taken the bait, attacking, thinking Sterling was there to kill them.
Time: 11:10 p.m.
Inside the Mansion – Study
Sterling was in the study, trying to empty his safe with trembling hands. "Come on, come on, open the damn lid!" he yelled.
The door kicked open. When Michael entered, Sterling pointed the gun at him. "You... Vane! What are you doing here? Are those your men outside?"
Michael slowly removed his mask and hat. When he stepped into the light, Sterling's eyes widened. "Michael Hale? But you... You died in the explosion!"
"I died, Sterling," said Michael, his voice as cold as ice, as deep as the whisper of an angel of death. "But I came back to take bastards like you with me."
"Look, Michael, we can work this out... I had a deal with your father! Take the money, get out of Chicago!"
Michael walked up to Sterling, grabbed the man by the throat, and slammed him against the wall. "My father is dead, Sterling! Vince wasn't the only one who died on Dawson Bridge that night, my future died too! Now tell me; who is Asher Burke? Where is that bastard?"
"I don't know... I swear I've never seen his face! He's just a voice, a shadow! He controls me, he leaks everything!"
Just then, the windows of the room shattered. Luca's men opened fire inside. Michael threw Sterling to the ground and took cover behind the table. "Fuck!"
Time: 11:30 PM
Mansion Garden – Natalia's Raid
Natalia Reyes, accompanied by the SWAT team behind her, stormed into the mansion's garden. The place was a complete war zone. Luca's men and Sterling's private security were shooting at each other.
"Police! Drop your weapons and get down on the ground, or we'll open fire!" Natalia shouted.
But no one had any intention of stopping. Natalia spotted Officer Stevens, one of the moles in the police force. Stevens was helping Luca's men. Natalia didn't hesitate. She took aim and shot Stevens in the forehead.
"Sold-out bastard," Natalia muttered. "The rest of you are next."
Time: 11:50 p.m.
In the Middle of Chaos
Michael dragged Sterling by the arm down the back stairs. "You're going to show me the way to Asher, Sterling, or I'll throw you to the wolves outside."
At the bottom of the stairs, someone was waiting for them.Luca D'Angelo.He had a gold-plated Beretta in his hand and that disgusting, sadistic smile on his face.
"Look who's here," said Luca. "Dr. Hale. I'm starting to believe the ghosts really have returned."
"Luca," said Michael, shielding Sterling with his body. "Your brother's blood may be on my hands, but where were you when your father sold this city to Asher Burke? Asher is using you and your family like pawns, don't you understand, you stupid bastard?"
Luca's face contorted. "Shut up! I was in exile in Italy while my brother's body was buried in concrete. Now we're going to settle the score for that concrete."
Just as Luca was about to pull the trigger, the massive crystal chandelier on the mansion's ceiling crashed to the floor with a loud bang. A voice echoed through the dust and smoke. A mechanical, cold voice that belonged nowhere...
"Enough."
Michael, Luca, and Sterling all looked up at the same time toward the balcony above, where the voice had come from. There stood a man holding an hourglass, his face hidden behind a mask.Asher Burke.
Asher tossed a small black device down. "No one dies tonight," Asher said. "Because this part of the game is over. Michael, Natalia is at the door. If you want Sterling to live, you need to leave now. Luca, we'll talk later."
A thick gas from the device filled the room in seconds. Michael felt his vision darken. He heard Sterling slip from his grasp and Luca curse and open fire, but his body was failing him.
The last thing he saw was Natalia breaking down the door and entering, and Asher disappearing into the shadows.