1997 - Maria is twenty-two years old. She is leading the Bright Skies Agency, an anti-terrorist/mercenary group, which combats human trafficking around the world. Barry Thomas, a government intelligence agent, working with Maria and her father MoJo objects to her tactics of letting herself be captured, then using the GPS within her to direct the BSA mercenaries to their target.

Maria is driven to finding Sgt. Warren whom neither her nor MoJo is convince died in the rocket attack on D.C. MoJo tells her and Barry the only way to be certain of death is to look a man in the eye and shoot him in the head. Maria takes control of the businesses which includes arms dealing, money laundering, kidnapping/rescues.

Nicky tells Maria he is stepping down as the Godfather and she is going to head both organizations. She has plans to rebuild the mob as a legitimate business after the Commission Trials had decimated the five families. At her request, Nicky puts out a contract hit on her as if she is performing a hostile takeover. She thinks it will bring Sgt. Warren out of hiding. It brings out more than they bargain for. Maria kidnaps Warren's daughter to use her as bait, as he had kidnapped her, to force him to face her.