Page 41 of They Found Us

When we arrive at our mutually chosen location, myself, Marco, Alex, and Vanna wait in the car while the guards check the safety of the building and do their pat-downs. Only five members from each organisation are allowed in the meeting. When our guards have retrieved the weapons from the Martelé, they enter, and we exit the car and receive the same treatment from the Martelé. The Martelé guards give snide remarks when they see me alive and well. They do not comment on Alex or Vanna. They clearly don’t recognise them after all these years.

Van, Marco, and I enter the disused restaurant first, with Alex and Vanna following close behind us but out of their line of sight.

Vanna’s mother and uncle face us, sat at a large round table with three men stood behind them. Van introduces us on entry as Leonardo Guerra and Marco Guerra.

“We know who you are,” Vanna’s mother spits. “You should have stayed dead. We will come for you and your little family. Both of you. We will murder your children while you and your wives watch, and then we will kill you.” Vanna’s uncle adds.

Marco lunges forward, but I put an arm out to stop him. Each member of the Martelé laughs.

“You killed my husband and my son. Do you really think I will let you live?”

“Your husband was a sick, twisted man, and he deserved to die. Your son raped and trafficked women. He deserved more than death.”

Vanna’s uncle stands, banging his fists on the table. “Enough. What is it you want, Guerra, or have you just come to gloat?”

“We have come to take over your organisation,” Marco states matter-of-factly.

More laughter comes from the Martelé. We stand in silence and wait for them to finish.

Vanna’s mother stands. “We have torn down the Guerra before, and we will do it again. Stop joking around and get to the point, or we are leaving.”

Alex speaks from behind me. “We have come to take over.”

“Who are you? Make yourself known,” Vanna’s uncle protests.

Alex and Vanna walk out from behind us.

“Hello, Mother. Bea Martelé.”

I watch as the reality hits Vanna’s mother, Bea. It takes her a moment, and there’s a strong frown on her face as her eyessettle on Vanna’s. She gasps, putting her hands over her mouth, and sinks back into her chair. Tears stream from her face. “It can’t be.”

“Uncle Joe,” Vanna greets her uncle coldly. “He’s not the only one who can come back from the dead.” She gestures in my direction.

“You!” Vanna’s mother looks at Alex and stands again angrily. “You took her away.”

“No, you all pushed me away. Dad had him killed. Well, almost. Luckily my husband is made of tough stuff.”

“Your husband?” Uncle Joe growls in protest. “You married a Guerra.”

“Yes. Now that the introductions are over, I’d like to get down to business.” Alex pulls up a chair at the table, and Vanna takes a seat. Alex stands behind her and passes her the documents, which she places on the table in front of them.

“’My final will and testament…’” Vanna begins to read her father’s will and the conditions upon which he has left everything to her on his passing.

“Is this some kind of joke? You don’t think you can just walk in here and take over everything.” Uncle Joe laughs.

Vanna’s mother picks up the documents and slumps back in her seat while reading, the penny dropping, Vanna’s words clearly hitting hard. “It’s true,” she says.

Uncle Joe snatches the documents from her hands, rips them up, and throws them back at Vanna. “You have nothing. For all we know, you are an imposter. And even if you are Vanna, you are a Guerra now. Guerra cannot be Martelé.”

“I am still a Martelé. It just doesn’t mean the same as it used to.”

“Well, you are married to a Guerra. Our men will never work under your control.”

The guards behind him nod and grunt in agreement.

“Oh, but you see, Uncle, my husband married me, so he is a Martelé.”

Alex quickly picks Vanna up just as the table is thrown by her uncle. Marco, Van, and I quickly step into action, standing between Vanna and her uncle, whose guards are also stood beside him, ready for action.

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