Next in Line (Monarch of the Kohler Mafia) Book 5 of the Köhler Series

𝔼𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥y-𝕊𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟

"I guess I have some explaining to do," Axel said, watching as his daughter-in-law and niece passed out. Everyone else pulled their guns beside the younger ones, who were trying to figure out what was going on.

"Son..." He said, walking up to Luca, who held his gun straight for his head, ready to pull the trigger. "Put down the gun."

"Fuck no! What is this fucking bullshit, Ma? Did you get somebody to plastic surgery to look like my Father? This is fucking sick! You know that, right? It's not going to bring him back. Eighteen years Mother, it's been eighteen years," Luca said, taking a step back as Axel quickly disarms him then handed the gun to Obioma.

Cautiously he touched his son's face and neck. "This scar no one knows about it but me and your wife. The tattoo hides it well. Doesn't it? I remember when I found you... The metal rod was sticking through your neck right here. I was sure you were dead... Remember when I asked you about the skull and the tiki tatt? You told me you wanted it to be the thing your enemies feared before death and the last thing they saw before dying, and if they didn't, the thing that haunts their dreams."

"That means shit any...."

"Luca, who the fuck knows about you being a shell of yourself for almost six years? How I had to let, you sleep in the bed with me from the time you were four until you were about nine years old when I was finally able to convince you to sleep on your own. Only for you to be taken a year later by a woman I should never trust. Not the mention the day you bought your wife home and beat the shit out of her. How happy you were when Adele told you she loves you and your firstborns until you found out about Talia. Now tell me who knew about all this because you sure the hell didn't share your feeling with any of them idiots. Did you?" Axel said, making Luca shake his head.

"Why?"

"It's either my life or my family. I told you I would rather die a thousand times over before I let anybody hurt you or any of them. Now, if you want, beat the shit out of me because I know you want to." Axel laughed, holding his hand out, but to his surprise, Luca hugged him. It was the first time any of his children saw him act upon any type of emotion without yelling first.

"Opa..." Josephine whispered, walking up to him, touching his face. Talia did the same as Luca walked over to his wife, who was staring, daggering through the back of Axel's head. Vi had left the room, and the rest was in shock.

"Jos..."

A loud smack echoed through the room. "I BLAMED MYSELF FOR MONTHS! AND YOU WERE ALIVE! YOU COULD HAVE TOLD US! YOU COULD HAVE TOLD DAD, MOM THEY WERE HURT TOO! NOW, AFTER ALL OF US ARE GROWN! YOU COME BACK! WHAT KIND OF SHIT IS THAT? DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKING MUCH YOU HAVE MISSED? DO YOU? MY WEDDING, T'S WEDDING, XERXES, TOMMY, ELI'S, AND HEAVEN! OUR CHILDREN BEING BORN, AND NOW YOU COME BACK! FUCK YOU, AXEL!" Josie yelled, shoving him storming out the room with RJ running behind her.

"I hope you weren't hoping for a happy fucking reunion," Adele said sourly. "Cause you won't get it. Josie, right you could have told one of us... You knew. You knew Obioma, and you watched you grieve. You and his skinny white ass watched us. Who the fuck pretend to grief? We could have handled this together, but once again, you told matters into your own hands. You weren't Don Axel. It wasn't your fight to handle. It was your sons and mine, and we handle it. You should have stayed dead because we were better off without you."

"Adele..."

"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME, OBIOMA!"

"Let her go, Ma. I will talk to her," Luca said, walking out behind her. Victor and the rest quickly left two, making Axel sigh, then looking to his grandson and Riley, the only ones left in the room.