Page 48 of They Found Us
Katie
The feel of this grotesque man’s mouth on my neck has me shivering with revulsion. I close my eyes, trying to escape the nightmare that is my reality, in which my husband is saying he will take his life in return for ours. But I know this man would not let me and my boys go if Leo were to do that.
A shot is fired in front of me, and I know it was from Leo’s gun. My scream comes out choked from my lungs. I cannot breathe. My chest restricts, and I buckle forward, my legs giving way. I hang loosely over the man’s arm, still restrained. I feel him groan in pleasure at my pain. The gun releases from my head, but he still bites my neck painfully.
How could Leo do this? How could he leave me and our boys still in this hell and torture? Another shot is fired. My body plummets to the floor. The heavy weight of the man crushes me from behind. I lie there waiting for his next move, for him to strangle me, smash my head into the floor, anything. But it doesn’t come. And then I hear it. The muffled voices around me become clear, and my heart feels like it begins to beat again.
“Get him off her!” Leo. His voice is like music to my ears. The weight is removed from my back, and I’m lifted into the arms of my husband. Relief fills me.
“I thought you were dead.” My words come out as a cry.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Leo’s stride has a limp as he walks us over to the bed and sits down. He cradles me into his chest, his mouth resting on the top of my head while he rocks slightly.
“Is he dead?” I ask, not wanting to look up.
“Yes.”
“Mummy?”
Oh no. Both Leo and I jump up and dash to Mark’s bedroom. Thankfully Mark is still in his wardrobe, just peeping through the door.
“Found you,” I say through tears, trying to be as cheery as I can. “Well done Mark, you did so well.”
I pick him up and take him to his bed. I climb in beside him.
Leo closes his bedroom door.
“Oh no, Papa, your foot!” Mark points to Leo’s limp. Small spots of blood stain the white carpet where Leo steps.
“I’ve just stepped on something sharp. Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll get a plaster on it soon. You go back to sleep.”
I cuddle up to Mark and Leo covers us both. He kisses Mark and then me. “Stay here while I go and help clear up.
“Zander?” I sit up quickly, panicking.
“He’s fine. He’s with Van. I’ll go and check on him.”
“Mummy, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. I just thought I heard Zander crying, but Papa is going to check on him, and I will stay here with you.”
Holding my son while he falls asleep feels like the most special thing in the world. I will never take these moments for granted. Children are precious. My heart pings with thoughts of what might have happened, how the night could have been heartbreakingly different. I stay in my little bubble with Mark until I hear the familiar sounds of his little snore, and I gently make my way out of his bed. I need to see Zander and check he is okay.
When I reach his door handle, I suddenly freeze. Alga. The last time I was in our room, her body lay lifeless on the floor. She has given her life for my children, for me.
“Sergio.” His name leaves my mouth in a quiet gasp as I think about what he must be feeling.
I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what comes next. When I open the door, I am surprised to see the room empty. The carpets are gone, the furniture all removed. All that is in the room are two cleaners, who are disinfecting the floors and walls.
Leo appears in the doorway. “Is he asleep?”
“Yes. Where’s Zander?”
“In the spare bedroom with Van. I’ll carry Mark in there too.”
Leo goes into Mark’s room, carefully picks him up from his bed, and carries him down the hallway and into another bedroom. Zander is in the corner in his cot with Van stood on alert by his side.
Leo places Mark in the middle of the large bed. “We will all sleep in here until things are resolved.”
