News reached Giovanni through Marco, who would go to the headquarters and recount every new idea and plan to his father. Giovanni felt a deep sense of satisfaction ever since he had rebuilt the gang.
Marco gave final instructions to the soldiers he had prepared for the mission, then headed with them to the abandoned house.
Marco arrived to find Matteo, Leonardo, and Maria seated and finalizing the plan. He entered and said: "Let's go. There's no time to waste. Adriano is about to arrive, and I brought the soldiers."
They talked for a bit, then Leonardo said: "The plan is ready. Now we'll all go into the room. Don't worry, Maria. He won't get to you."
Shortly afterward, Adriano and his soldiers reached the front of the house. He saw a few guards who didn't look very strong, and indeed, it was easy for Adriano's soldiers to overpower them.
Adriano broke down the door and entered, feeling confident. He started calling out Maria's name. But suddenly...
The place filled with soldiers, and a fierce battle broke out between Adriano's men and the gang. Adriano felt fear. When he sensed defeat, he abandoned his men and slipped away swiftly cowardly, as always.
Matteo waited until the gang soldiers had finished off Adriano's men. Some were killed, others fled. Matteo searched among the fallen for Adriano, but he wasn't there. He stormed outside and shouted in anger: "How did he escape? Why didn't you kill him?!"
Marco replied calmly: "Calm down, Matteo. He's a coward. When he realized he'd lose, he ran to save himself."
Maria, saddened, said: "What a pathetic coward. I didn't think he was this weak. Anyway, he'll come back broken and no one will force me to marry him again."
At the Altieri palace, the family was waiting at the breakfast table for Adriano to join them. But he was late. Francesco sent a servant to check his room, but he wasn't there. The servant searched the garden and asked the guards, who told him Adriano had left early and didn't say where he was going.
The servant returned and informed Francesco. A short while later, Adriano entered the palace, looking upset and disheartened.
Francesco asked: "Where were you?"
Adriano replied, annoyed: "I was looking for Maria. I found out where she is and went there, but I couldn't defeat the guards. I came back with nothing."
Francesco shouted in fury: "You ran away?! You ran, Adriano?! Is this what I taught you?!"
Adriano replied with regret: "I'm truly sorry. I'll bring her back no matter what it takes."
That evening, Maria said: "I want to tell you something important."
Everyone turned to her as she continued: "I've made my decision I'm joining the gang."
Everyone was stunned. Matteo asked: "You'll work with us against your father?!"
She nodded. Marco interrupted: "I'm sorry to say this, but we're not sure we can trust you."
Maria replied: "I understand and expected that. Don't worry I'll give you proof that I'm sincere. But I want to leave now."
Leonardo, surprised, said: "Leave? But you just said you want to join the gang!"
Maria smiled: "Because I can't do my job from here."
Matteo asked: "What's your job?"
She whispered: "I'll be a spy."
She continued: "I'll prove this to you. When I return to the palace, I'll begin my mission."
Marco said: "Alright. I'll go inform my father."
He went to Giovanni and told him the latest developments. Then he returned to the abandoned house and told them Giovanni approved the plan.
Maria rubbed dirt on her clothes and gave herself a few scratches so she'd look like she had really been kidnapped.
Blushing, she said: "I have a small favor to ask. It's very late, and I'm afraid to walk alone. Can someone walk with me to the edge of the district? I'll go the rest of the way alone."
Matteo smiled and said: "Alright, come with me. I'll walk you to the gate. We'll go through an abandoned path so no one from the island sees us."
Maria went with Matteo, chatting with him until they reached the gate.
Matteo said: "There's the gate. You go the rest of the way. I'll head home now."
Maria said: "Thank you for everything, Matteo. I really enjoyed the days I spent with you. I'll miss all of you."
Meanwhile, Leonardo and Marco returned to the headquarters and told Giovanni that everything was going smoothly.
Leonardo added: "I'm heading home now I have to prepare to answer all my father's questions."
To be continued...