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

𝕆𝕟𝕖 ℍ𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕆𝕟𝕖

Today Xerxes finally made it down to the basement. It's been a little over three weeks since Jocelyn first showed up at the front gates, and X has been avoiding her since that day. It wasn't like he didn't want to talk to his cousin. He was dreading the fact they were still stuck, knowing nothing.

"Bout damn time X. I've been asking for you, and all the fucking guarding keep saying is you were busy. I could help you told you where they were."

"Jocelyn, you couldn't have done or told me no more than I already know. Vince traced your car's GPS back to your mother's hideout. They were long gone, so where they are now, I have no idea," Xerxes said. The bullshit was starting to wear him down. The shit with Riley, who finally had her surgery, and thankfully she was healing great.

Then it was Melody, who neither of them had heard from in almost three weeks. It worried him. Valentino would answer his sister's phone, saying she was asleep or in the fucking bathroom every time he called. Shit Eli even when to Itlay to their home, and she refused to see him. He knew something was wrong, but it wasn't like he could demand another Don to do what he pleased.

"What you mean gone? You own Germany. How did they get out of the country without you knowing?"

"It's called a car, Joss. People can drive through the borders without me knowing, especially when they know all the ins and outs of the country. Look, there is a room ready for you upstairs. Go get clean up because your ass smells, and your grandfather wants to speak with you in his office," Xerxes said to point to the door for her to leave.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Not killing me. You will find them, and whatever is on your mind with be resolved to," Jocelyn said, making him nod as he made sure to tell the guard where her room was before going to check on his wife and babies.

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"X, will today be okay for Oriah to come? Grandpa Axel said he was going to cook on the grill, and I thought it would be a perfect time to invite her and her mother over," Peyton said, making Xerxes look up from his papers. No one told him shit about a cookout, and he didn't want to be bothered with people he didn't know.

"Let Leah run that background check once more on her and her mother...."

"No offense, but I don't trust Leah. She's still mad at me," Peyton said, making Xerxes shake his head.

"That's not true. I think that Leah is just a little hurt because she allowed herself to love someone, and they hurt her. You two need to talk like you and Gen did. Both of you need that closure. It the only way you both can move on."

"I understand that, and Leah didn't love me. It was all fun and games for both of us... but in a way, I feel that it was my fault what happened to her. If I weren't so fucking stupid obsessing over Gen and Luke, I wouldn't have driven her to that man. I-I just want my cake and eat it too. For some reason, I didn't want Gen to be happy." She said, looking down at the floor.

"What Phillip did was his doing. That man came here with his sights on one of you and planned to rape whoever when he got the chance. Leah and her fun, caring self fell into his trap. Akira knew that, and she bought him into our home. That is why Vince dealt with her and the rest."

"He killed her?"

"He did. Problem?" Xerxes asked, making Peyton shaking her head as Duke walked up, stopping in front of Pey. He was waiting to be petted as she hesitated, looking at X.

"Nope, no problem. How is Riley today?"

"Good, she's in the sunroom with your mother, mines, and our aunties," Xerxes said, still noticing how she hasn't touched Duke, as Max sat on her other side, placing his head on her leg.