Chapter 222 Chapter 222

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.

"1 will protect you at all costs, Ella," he said, kissing my head. "I will not let him hurt you. Not again."