Page 33 of They Found Us
“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.
