Page 10 of They Found Us (Found #5)

Katie

Watching my husband play with our eldest son makes my heart burst with love.

Lying in my bed, cradling our sleeping youngest—who we still haven’t officially named yet, and I’m not sure how to bring it up, given the Alex revelation—makes me appreciate so many things.

It’s scary to think that I almost died a few days ago.

I almost lost this bundle of joy in my arms. I almost left Mark without a mother and Leo without a wife.

It’s strange how being a parent makes you feel so differently about life.

Before children, my fear of dying was for myself.

Now when I think about dying, my worst fear is leaving my children without a mother.

Feeling their pain of losing a parent. A pain I hope they never have to face until they are much, much older.

It’s been a few days now since we found out that Leo’s brother Alex is in fact alive and well.

Leo hasn’t wanted to discuss it, so I haven’t pushed.

At first I was shocked, but now that I’ve thought about it, it’s not that shocking.

We have done exactly the same thing. Considering the world that Leo and Alex have come from, it’s not that much of a surprise.

I’m actually excited about what the future will hold.

“Leo, we really need to decide on a name.”

“Not yet.”

“Yes, yet. He’s three days old now. We need to talk about this.

“You think of something, then.”

“No, Leo. This not how we name one of the most precious things in the world. We both decided on Alex, and that’s what I think we should stick with.”

Leo leaves Mark playing happily with a jigsaw and comes to stand beside me.

Leo stumbles over his words. “I-I can’t….”

“Look, I know you’ve just had the shock of your life, but you’re thinking about this all wrong. It’s a wonderful thing that your brother is alive.”

Leo’s face grows angry, his expression hurt. He puts his hands at my sides on the bed and leans in. He speaks quietly, but his voice is laced with annoyance. “A good thing? My brother has lied to me for all these years. He caused me horrendous pain. Made me blame myself. Is that a good thing?”

“He has only done what we have. Other than Marco and your mother, the rest of our friends and family think we are dead.”

My breath catches when I think of the pain I have caused my parents.

When we first left, Leo asked if I wanted them to know.

But the risk of them knowing was too high.

It would put them in danger. My mother has a big mouth and would have definitely told someone.

If they had seemed at all suspicious in their grief, the Martelé would have come after them, tortured them until they told them the truth.

I couldn’t bear that. I had to protect them.

“You made me do this, Leo. I had no choice in the matter. You left me with no option but to put my parents through the worst pain imaginable.”

Leo stands, his face softening. Taking my hand in his. he speaks more calmly, but matter-of-factly.

“I’m sorry. If there had been any other way, we would have done it differently. But we had no choice. There was no other option.”

Squeezing his hand back, I answer, “Exactly. So don’t you think Alex had no other option either? Do you think that he made this decision lightly?”

Leo’s eyes leave mine, and I can see him processing my words.

“You need to speak to him.”

Leo sighs. “I need to take care of you.”

“And you are. But sorting this out will stop me from worrying. Please?”

There’s a little tap at the door, followed by the nurse entering. “You have visitors. Is it okay for them to come in?”

Vanna’s head pops over the nurse’s shoulder.

I look at Leo pleadingly.

He nods. “Yeah, sure. Send them in.”

Vanna rushes over to my side. But Alex stays in the doorway.

“Can I have a word?” Alex gestures for Leo to follow him from the room.

At first, I think he is going to decline, but he kisses my forehead and promises to be back soon. Once they both leave, I turn my attention to Vanna.

Her face full of smiles and emotion as she looks at my son in my arms. She strokes the top of his head. “He’s absolutely gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” I beam.

“And how are you?” Vanna pulls up a chair at the side of me and takes a seat.

“I’m fine. A little tired but just grateful to be here. Thank you so much for everything you have done for us, Vanna. I don’t dare think what might have happened if you weren’t around.”

“Don’t mention it. We’ve been so worried about you all. We are just glad you are okay.”

There’s a silence for a few moments, and I’m sure Vanna is thinking the same thing I am. So I decide to break the ice.

“It seems you are my sister-in-law. How’s Alex taken the revelation?” I ask and then wonder whether he knew we were here.

“Well, he wouldn’t speak to me about it at first. He needed to get his head around it, I suppose.”

Sounds familiar.

“But we had a long talk last night, and I think he is doing better. Today he seems different. Like a fire has been ignited in him. One I haven’t seen in years.”

“So, you had no idea we were living here?”

“No. But we have a theory. Who arranged for you to come here?”

“Well, Leo, Marco, and Maria, Leo’s mum.”

Vanna smiles. “Maria. She is the one who helped us come here.”

Wow. A million things run through my mind. Flashbacks of our wedding day. The explosions. Saying goodbye to Maria and Marco and getting into the boat. She planned this. She sent her only sons away. She saved them both. She knew they would find each other.

“I can’t get my head around it all,” I admit.

“It’s definitely a story to tell the grandchildren.” Vanna smiles.

“Here, would you like to hold him?”

“Love to.” Vanna beams as I pass her my son. “Have you named him yet? I see his wrist band still says Baby Smith.”

“Not officially. We have a name, but we are keeping it to ourselves for now. I’m sure we will be ready to share it soon.”

Leo

“We need to talk.” Alex’s tone is matter-of-fact as I follow him out of Katie’s room and down the hallway.

“Yes, I have a lot of questions.”

“They will have to wait. We have an issue.” Alex opens a door and looks inside. “In here.” He beckons me into the empty storage room.

“What issue?” My adrenaline picks up, and I know I am not going to like what comes next.

“My contact at the airbase phoned me this morning. They found an unarranged stowaway in the todays cargo plane.”

“Where are they?”

“Being detained until I arrive.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“There’s no doubt you will be coming with me. He is demanding to speak to Leo Guerra.”

My blood runs cold. “Who is it?”

“How the fuck should I know? We will go now and find out. And on the way, you can justify this shit show.”

Once we are alone in the car, I begin to talk. At first, Alex doesn’t say much as I explain recent events He nods and cracks his neck, taking in the information. Mid-sentence, he cuts me off.

“Why the fuck did you have the phone in the first place?” he groans, rubbing his forehead.

“In case of emergencies such as this.”

“You were supposed to be dead. Dead people are not resurrected when there is a crisis, Leo. They stay dead.”

“I couldn’t leave my family without knowing they were safe.

I knew if that phone never rang, everything back home was in order.

It meant I could get on with enjoying my life without feeling guilty for being happy.

” I turn to look at the side of my brother’s face.

“I guess that’s how we differ, you and me. I still cared.”

Fury builds in Alex’s face. He doesn’t speak, so I continue. “You left your eighteen-year-old brother, who was never trained or brought up to be a leader, to deal with the mess you left. To stand on the front line of the Guerra. I blamed myself for your death.”

Alex bangs his fists against the steering wheel. “Do not talk to me about guilt. You have no idea what I have felt. How hard it was to leave you.”

I laugh. “You didn’t think twice about me. All you thought about was yourself.”

Alex abruptly swerves and pulls into the side of the road. The force of the brakes throws me forward.

“Shit!” I hold the dashboard to prevent myself from flying through the window. Probably should have fastened my seat belt.

“Did you even think about how convenient it was that we died when you were out of the country?” Alex grabs my shirt at the neck and pulls me to towards him.

I don’t fight. I stare into his eyes, which are full of rage and emotion.

“Everything was planned so you wouldn’t be anywhere near us.

You would be safe. The Martelé wanted me dead.

But they couldn’t get to me. They wanted to hurt me.

I had taken one of theirs. Vanna. So, they wanted to take one of mine.

” He presses his forehead firmly into mine before throwing me back into my seat.

Lost for words, I stare out of the window beside me. He did this to protect me.

“Don’t you dare say I didn’t care. The only way we differ is, I wasn’t stupid enough to have a phone. And I wasn’t stupid enough to go back.”

After a moment or two, Alex puts the car in Drive and sets off again. “Now let’s go and sort your mess out.”

When the cars pulls to a stop at the airbase, Alex turns to me. “How did the Guerra get in such turmoil? It’s unimaginable. I can’t get my head around it. Marco is solid.”

Having no explanation, I shake my head and sigh.

We are met at the car by Alex’s contact, who leads us into an underground hangar. Two combat aircrafts stand pristine, men working underneath them.

“Has the detainee said anything since he arrived?” I ask the short bald man as he leads us through a door into a hallway.

“No. He refuses to speak to anyone. Just asks to see a Leo Guerra. So unless you are the man in question—” He looks to me. “—I doubt he will say a word.” He then stops outside another door. “He’s in here. The transport is ready for his departure whenever you are ready, Alex.”

Alex nods, and the bald man leaves.

As I’m about to open the door, Alex stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll do the talking. We find out who he is, who sent him, and if anyone else is with him. Then we escort him off the island and dispose of him.”

Now is not the time for a battle of egos with my brother, so I shrug his hand off my shoulder and enter the room.

I’m surprised to see who is restrained to the chair in front of me.