Page 18 of They Found Us (Found #5)

Leo sits down in the chair beside us just as the pilot announces the need to put our seat belts on.

He’s in his tailored black suit and crisp white shirt and tie.

His hair is styled to perfection, he is clean-shaven, and his scent meets my nostrils and instantly makes me quiver.

I may be mad with him, but he still turns me on.

When the aircraft comes to stop, I gather our things to get them ready to be collected and make sure our boys are wrapped up for the cool night air.

When the plane door opens, two tall, large men enter. Marco and Van.

I can’t help but dash to Marco and put my arms around him. “Just Marco.” I squeeze him tightly, and he returns the gesture. “I’ve missed you,” I say, letting him go and enjoying the softness and emotion on his face that took me a long time to earn.

Marco will always have a special place in my heart. He saved my life by risking his, and I will never forget that. Without him being willing to give up his own life for mine, I would not be here.

Feeling Mark at my legs, I pick him up and introduce them. “Mark, this is Marco.”

“Hi, Marco. That’s like my name but with an Ooo.”

“Yes, it is. This is who you are named after. He is a very special friend of ours.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mark.”

Marco holds out his hand to Mark, and he takes it. Emotion flutters in my chest at the sight.

“Me, too, Marco. I’m just Mark,” he replies.

Both myself and Marco laugh at Mark’s innocent yet perfectly hilarious “Just Mark,” a nickname I gave Marco all those years ago when we first met.

Leo joins us and shakes Marco’s hand. “How’re the legs?” he asks.

Marco brushes off Leo’s concern. “Good as new.”

“Mrs Guerra,” Van greets me with a nod before breaking eye contact.

The Guerra’s foundation is built on a code of honour, loyalty being the main law or commandment.

No one should ever look at the woman of another Guerra, especially one of such a high level.

I feel Van is being a little extreme, seeing as we do know each other, but the whole situation is very unusual for all of us.

I expect Van is apprehensive about his current position in the hierarchy now that Leo has returned.

“Ready, boss?” Marco asks Leo.

He nods. “Here, put these on.” Leo hands me my sunglasses.

I look at him in question. It’s gone 1:00 a.m., and it’s pitch-black outside.

“No eye contact, no emotion. Remember who you are, Mrs Guerra.”

Marco directs us to the door of the plane. “Van will exit first. Then you, then Katie. I will follow behind. Stay close. The car is a few steps away from the end of the stairs. Your pathway is lined with guards. Let’s go.”

Leo holds Zander, and I hold Mark’s hand and take a deep breath.

Here we go. I can do this. My heels clink loudly on the metal stairs that take us from the jet to the tarmac, or apron, as it’s officially called.

Six guards, three on either side, line our way to a black SUV.

Each guard stands with a gun in his hand, a sight I don’t think I will ever get used to or feel comfortable around.

The guards look alert but do not look at us, apart from one, whose eyes I can feel following us.

I don’t look directly at him, but I can see him in the corner of my eye.

Once my boys are safely fastened in the seats in the car, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s one thing being married to a Guerra, but having children who are Guerra is on another level of worry.

“Does everyone know now that we are alive?” I ask Marco, feeling uneasy about the guard who watched our every move.

“Well, they probably do now. It’s been on a need-to-know basis. Everyone knew something was happening, and I’m sure some guessed.”

Yeah, the guard was probably just shocked to see us.

It’s not long before we are through the manned security gates of the Guerra house and driving down the familiar pebbled driveway.

Lights on either side lead us to the house.

It’s a beautiful building even in the dark.

I have some very happy memories of being here.

But would I say I’m glad to be back? I’m not sure.

One thing I am looking forward to is seeing my parents. The thought of seeing them fills me with emotion. I feel a stab in the heart over what I must have put them through, but I put it to the back of my mind for now. I need to focus on getting in the house and the boys settled.

Alga and Sergio are waiting at the door to greet us. They each wear big, beaming smiles.

“Mrs Guerra.” Alga puts her hands out for a second, but then retracts them, unsure.

But I wrap my arms around her and give her a big squeeze. “It’s so good to see you. And you, too, Sergio.” I wrap an arm around him, as well, and pull us all together. We have a giggle for a moment, our eyes filled with emotion.

“Katie,” Leo shouts from car.

“Oh, the boys.”

Alga and Sergio follow me to the car and make a fuss over Mark and Zander.

The house is as beautiful as always. I’m still as much in awe as the first time I saw it. The hallway is bright and airy. It smells floral and a little of paint. They must have spruced it up for our arrival. The marble floors shine impeccably, and the vases burst with colourful floral bouquets.

“I’ve made the two back bedrooms up for you and the boys.

I hope that’s all right? They’re adjoining rooms, so I thought would prefer that,” Alga says as she rocks little Zander in her arms. “Come on, I’ll show you.

Sergio, bring up the children’s bags,” Alga instructs her husband.

“We only found out you were coming this morning, so it’s been a terrible rush.

But whatever we haven’t got, we can get tomorrow. ”

Alga opens the door to one of the bedrooms, and it’s been painted a lovely shade of turquoise blue.

There’s a single bed on one side of the room and a cot on the other.

There’s a changing table and a rocking chair in one corner and a little table and chair in another.

Then there are piles of new toys. The carpet looks brand-new as well, and there are little rugs dotted about with trains and cars on them. It’s a little boy’s paradise.

“Wow, Mummy, look at this. Is this for me?” Mark runs around the room, taking everything in.

“It’s perfect, Alga, Sergio. Thank you.”

“Mummy, what is that?” Mark stands at the floor-to-ceil window and points outside.

Walking over, I know exactly what he is pointing at. “That, Mark, is a swimming pool.”

“We have a swimming pool?” Marks eyes are wider than I’ve ever seen them. His mouth is wide open, too, as he jumps up and down with joy, making a squeaking sound.

“If you’re a good boy tonight and go straight to sleep, you can go for a swim tomorrow.”

“Oh yes!” He runs around, punching the air.

I think Mark is going to be happy here.

“Why don’t I get the boys ready for bed?” Alga offers. “I’ve run them a bath, and I’ll read them a story. I’m sure you have lots of things to be doing.”

Alga is already opening a wardrobe full of brand-new clothes. She selects the boys some pyjamas. Seeing as Mark has only just met Alga and he isn’t used to being with anyone other than me and Leo, he has really taken to her, but she does give off a very motherly, kind aura.

“Well, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. I’d love to. And here.” Alga passes me a monitor. “It’s video, so you can see exactly what they are doing in here and their bathroom. And if you need to speak, you just press this button here.”

“Thank you.”

They have thought of everything. Feeling happy my boys are in good hands, I go downstairs in search of Leo. I find him in his office with Marco and Van.

Leo

“Alex will arrive tomorrow afternoon. Gather everyone at the west shore warehouse in the morning. All Guerra men must be there, apart from a couple of guards who will stay at the house with Katie and the boys. Van, do you think you can manage to explain the situation?”

“Yes, boss.”

Katie enters as I speak. I see that Marco and Van expect me to end the conversation with her arrival.

But I don’t. I continue, “Immediately after, we will have a meeting with the Martelé. We do not want them to be prepared for their ultimatum, so it is imperative that the meeting is right after and they do not find out about Alex and Vanna’s return until then. ”

“What is their ultimatum?” Van asks, but I ignore him.

“Get it done now, Van. Let me know when it is arranged.”

Van nods but doesn’t leave the room.

“Fucking now, Van.”

“Oh right, yes.” He shuffles out.

How Marco has tolerated him as his right-hand man for all this time, I do not know.

Marco frowns, and I can tell he has something on his mind.

“What is it? Just spit it out, Marco.”

“What is the ultimatum?”

“We get the Martelé to call a truce.”

“And if they don’t agree?”

“We take them over.”

“How?”

“With Vanna. Alex has it all worked out. He will explain it thoroughly tomorrow.”

Then Marco surprises me. “And what if I don’t agree?”

I crack my neck and look at him. Reading his expression, I can see he isn’t happy. He has his almost-ready-to-explode face on.

“Then we have a problem. Do we have a problem, Marco?”

“No, boss,” Marco says, then leaves the room and closes the door a bit harder than needed.

Katie states the obvious. “He’s not happy.”

“No, he’s not.”

“So, let me get this straight.” Katie walks around my desk and perches on the edge with one leg crossed over the other. “You are going to ask the Martelé to call off the war. And if they say no, you are going to take their territories?”

“It’s a bit more complex than that.”

“Why would the Martelé give you what you want?”

“Because we have Vanna. Vanna is their true bloodline leader.”

“Vanna is a woman. Vanna is supposed to be dead. Do you really think the Martelé will actually care that she is alive?”