Chapter 68 Chapter 68

Two months later...

It was a sunny Sunday morning. The sun shone into the library and

there was a gentle breeze through the open windows as I sat on the

carpet playing with Stefano and Zacharias. Leo was out working but

Max sat on the other side of the room with the twins on his lap reading

to them as we listening to the crashing of Cato, Mathias, Silas and Lili

playing in one of their bedrooms.

But even still it was peaceful.

I felt like myself again and I was happy. I could be a mother to my

children again and just simply enjoy life. The nightmares were fading

and every day the hugs and cuddles with Leo grew longer as the

memories of Andrea being touched could trigger became less painful.

My progress and recovery was slowly and predominantly made up of

the occasionally little step but we'd both agreed there was no need to

rush it.

Just then the doorbell rang. Max looked up and stopped reading.

"Don't stop the story,” I said. "I'll get it."

I left Max and the kids upstairs before heading down to answer the

door.

There was nobody stood on the doorstep, just a small white envelope. I

picked it up to see my name written in an elaborate hand on the front.

Except it wasn't my name. Not the name I went by anyway.

Ella Martinez

I looked up into the forest. Everything was as still as ever. I then ripped

open the envelope and tipped out the contents.

A silver ring fell out onto my palm with a large glistening diamond. It

shone beautifully in the daylight yet I shuddered at the sight of it. It was

a ring that had belonged to me that I had discarded into some

Venezuelan jungle months ago, thinking I'd never have to set my eyes

on it again.

The accompanying note read:

We'll be back together soon enough, Blanca.

My hands began to shake and I slammed the door, locked it and ran

upstairs.

"Frannie, Marie, why don't you go and play in your room. Max will finish

the story later,” I said

He looked at me confused as there were a couple of disappointed

wines from the twins but they soon left after a little encouragement

and I thrust the letter towards Max.

"This was on the doorstep,” I said.

"Ella Martinez?" he questioned.

"Read inside," I ordered.

He did and his face dropped.

"And this was with it," I added presenting the ring. "It's the ring Andrea

gave me when he proposed.”

"And it just showed up on the doorstep?”

I nodded.

He stood up and marched down to the front door where he looked out

into the forest. There was still nothing.

"I should search the area. Whoever it was can't have gone far,” he

began. "But I can't leave you alone in case they really haven't gone far."

So instead, he phoned Leo who on hearing the news was a terrible mix

of angry because somebody had managed to get so close to me and

into the pack, concerned about the sudden reappearance of Andrea's

threat and shocked at the news that he actually still does exist.

"Are you okay, Ells?" Max asked me as we sat in the living room,

awaiting Leo's arrival home.

I shook my head.

"No," I replied. "I was beginning to believe he was gone. I was

beginning to move on. Now this has brought it all back and it feels like

poison in my veins."

"It could be nothing,” Max suggested.

"You don't know Andrea like I do," I replied. "He's got something

planned and it will be the most flawless, clever and wicked scheme in

existence. This was just the warning.”

Twenty minutes later, Leo was home and staring motionlessly at the

letter as he spun the ring in his fingers.

"I don't understand. How did he get it to our front doorstep without

the border guards or anyone else noticing a thing?" he said.

"I don't know," Max replied. "But at least he did. We wouldn't have had

a warning otherwise.”

"You're right. He's sacrificed covertness for grandiose," Leo concluded.

"Now we will see him coming. I need to go and prepare my army. Max,

stay here until I get back. I'll send Luca too, just in case.”

"Leo, wait," I said. "Andrea wouldn't have just blown his cover without

meaning to. You know what he wants you to know, remember? He

clearly wants you to know he's coming.”

"I don't see how that could ever be a disadvantage to us,” Leo replied.

I sighed, "Neither do I but just be wary. Try not to fall into any of his

traps, okay?"

He nodded and pulled me into a hug.

"I will protect you at all costs, Ella," he said, kissing my head. "I will not

let him hurt you. Not again.”