The heroes gathered together. Marco looked at Giovanni and asked: "So, what's the next step?"
Giovanni calmly replied: "The post office. We need to take full control of it."
Leonardo asked: "And why is that so important?"
Everyone waited for Giovanni's answer, and he finally said: "Because the post office is the only means of communication on the island. If we control it, it will be as if we control the entire island."
Leonardo interrupted, saying: "I'm really sorry, but I have to go now. I need to head to the shop. Let's go, Matteo, we're late."
Matteo said nervously: "I'm not going to the shop today. I took the day off yesterday."
Leonardo left for the shop. Matteo then said: "Alright, we'll continue with the plan later."
Matteo and Maria went home. Maria said to Matteo: "I'll stay here for a while. I'm tired of my family and the palace. Besides, I want to spend some time with you."
As Matteo and Maria headed home, someone was watching and following them from a distance...
That evening, a man arrived at Antonio's place and reported all of Leonardo's movements. Antonio dismissed him, then sat thinking: "How did Leonardo find that place? And why does he keep going there? Could it be that he's discovered something? That would explain his recent behavior."
Meanwhile, one of Adriano's men reported that Maria had gone to her private home, then left with an unknown young man, exited the district, and later returned with the same man. They both went inside and she didn't return to the palace.
Jealousy burned through Adriano, and rage filled his heart at the mere thought that Maria might love someone else. He said to himself: "So that's why she rejected me? Because she loves him?" His anger exploded, and he swore revenge on both of them.
The next day, Leonardo left the palace. Antonio secretly followed him. Leonardo arrived at the base, followed shortly by the rest of the heroes. Antonio was surprised to see Maria there. He waited until everyone had left, including the soldiers, leaving only a few guards at the door. He then saw a young man leaving the base Marco. Marco locked the door and hid the key nearby, then left.
Antonio snuck past the guards, sedated them, retrieved the key from its hiding spot, and entered...
Antonio thought the base was empty. He didn't know Giovanni was inside. When he saw him, he froze in shock. The same shock showed on both their faces.
Antonio had thought Giovanni died in the fire with Lorenzo. He was wrong. With sarcasm, Antonio said: "Still alive, Giovanni? I can't believe I'm seeing you again, my dear friend."
Giovanni replied in disgust: "You're vile, Antonio. Betrayal runs in your veins."
Antonio asked bitterly: "How do you know my son? Why does he come here every day?"
Giovanni smiled and said: "Your son is nothing like you. He's a real man. Thankfully, he doesn't take after his father. He helped us revive the gang."
Antonio replied, shocked: "The gang? FALCO?!"
Giovanni said: "Yes, FALCO, Antonio. The dream you shattered through betrayal I revived it with the help of your son, Lorenzo's son, and my own son."
Antonio asked: "How? Where is FALCO's heir?"
Giovanni answered: "He's here. It's Matteo, Lorenzo's son."
Antonio couldn't take it anymore. With a tone Giovanni knew too well, he said: "I'll destroy this dream again, and no one will bring it back this time."
Giovanni grew worried. Antonio did the unthinkable he threw a lit match onto the furniture, and the base started to burn.
He repeated the same treachery from the past, fleeing the scene and returning to the palace unnoticed...
The heroes returned to the base only to be shocked by the sight. The base was burning. They rushed inside and found Giovanni lying on the ground, breathing his last breaths. Giovanni said: "Antonio did it again... he burned the base like before." These were his final words before he died.
Everyone was stunned especially Marco, who stood frozen, unable to process what he saw. Matteo rushed to comfort him, but Marco pushed him away and shouted: "Leave me alone! Leave me now!"
Then Marco screamed: "You filthy criminal, I'll find you and kill you! I won't let you escape. I'll avenge my father!"
Marco stormed out of the base. Matteo wanted to follow, but Maria stopped him and said: "Let him be. He's not thinking straight. Don't worry, Marco is wise. He won't harm himself."
Leonardo, meanwhile, was overwhelmed with guilt. His own father was responsible. He said angrily: "This is all my fault. If I hadn't come here, none of this would've happened. I should've known what that criminal was planning. How could such a man be my father?!"
Matteo said firmly: "Enough, Leonardo. You're not responsible for your father's actions. He alone bears the blame."
Maria added gently: "Stop blaming yourself. You're not like him. It's not your fault he's a criminal."
Matteo asked: "So what do we do now?"
Maria replied: "I have a plan. Matteo and I will go back to the house. Leonardo, you'll return to the palace and pretend nothing happened. Don't let your father know you're aware of what he did. We'll try to trap him, but we can only do that if you stay close."
Leonardo said: "Alright, I'll go now. I'll do as you say, Maria. I'll help in any way I can to get justice for Giovanni."
Leonardo headed to the palace. Matteo and Maria went to her house. Adriano was watching from afar. When he saw them enter together, he was ready to explode his suspicions were confirmed. Maria had a relationship with Matteo. She spent that night in the house with him again.
Maria told Matteo: "I'm really scared, Matteo. I feel like the gang's end is near. If Antonio discovers us, you'll be in great danger. You're FALCO's heir, and they'll try to kill you. I'm terrified for you I can't live without you."
Matteo replied: "Don't be afraid, Maria. As long as you're with me, I won't be in danger. Your presence makes me feel safe and not alone. Ever since my father died, I've felt isolated. But after I met you, that feeling vanished."
Maria gazed at Matteo as he spoke, unable to take her eyes off him. When he finished, she said softly: "I have to go back to the palace now so my father doesn't notice I'm gone. I wish I could stay here, but I'll leave now. Goodbye, Matteo."
Matteo sensed something strange in her tone. He felt Maria was becoming deeply attached to him. Then he went to his room and fell asleep.
To be continued...