Köhler (Book 9 of the Köhler Series)

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Luca laid back in the bed as his head stoked Adele's cheek. It didn't matter how old they got. He still loved pleasing her, but tonight he could tell something else was on her mind. Of course, it was on his as well. Their children were out and about, and yeah, they were adults, but after Talia went missing, it's been almost a full year. Yes, they were worried. Especially not knowing the reason behind it.

"Luca, the fingers were not Talia's. AJ thinks I didn't see the results, but I did. Baby, I'm starting to think she ran off with this man...."

"So you have seen it too? I asked Dimitri if Dominick was gay long before they married. He promised me that the boy was straight. Not that I cared, but he forced his child to marry a woman, and he wasn't interested. I'm surprised that Lia stayed in this relationship this long. But to run off with another man." He said, shaking his head. That was the only other explanation that Luca could think of. No one else had anything against them at the moment, and it seemed that Talia didn't want to be found.

"I don't know anymore, but we need to get Nick to talk. And what if this is an enemy Luca? Our babies are clubbing tonight while we are just lying in bed."

"Our babies can handle themselves, Liebe. That much we know. Plus, no one will fuck with them out and about like this because they know the Stadt (city) is behind us." Luca spoke before kissing Adele's forehead with a sigh. He hoped it would ease her mind, at least for that moment.

"Speaking of enemies... someone in the states thinks they can control South Carolina. Our connections there have told me they are trying to ruin our name... my name, and our son. I wanted to handle this shit with Lia first, but it's getting a little out of hand."

Luca hummed, nodding. No matter how bad they wanted to, there was no way they were leaving this mafia shit behind. The mafia in the states wasn't their only threat. The Nigerians were starting up again. Apparently, Emmanuel had another child that none of them knew anything about, as his father would call it. A fallback child. One that would continue what their parents started, and he was out for his brother's blood.

There was no way Luca was about to let that happen. He hated to sound picky, but Chance was the only thing he had with a connection to both of his parents. Yeah, he loved his other siblings. That would never change, but as some would say, he and Chance shared something different than the others.

"I'll tell X or one of the others to take care of it. I know they are starting to think that we are not going to step down. Truthfully, Liebe, I am done with this shit. We need to lay back and do something that we would like for a change. I say you, me, Paris, Rodney, Nova, and Victor go on vacation, just us...."

"You forget about my siblings. What about Chance and Ife?" Adele asked as she played with Luca's nipple ring with one hand and traced his tattoo with the other. "Unless you don't want them to come."

Luca chuckled as she shook his head. "You know I care nothing about that. I was just naming a few of us, Liebe. Of course, they can go, and you know we are not leaving here without Vi, Rylee, Erick, Emma, or the others. Plus, your sibling needs to find her a damn man...."

"Father Thomas has been hitting that." Adele laughed, which caused Luca to choke on his spit. She had to be playing, but the look in her eyes told him otherwise.

"Well, be damn.... That man is going straight to hell with the rest of us." He laughed as he turned back to her. "There is something I've been meaning to tell you, Dele...."

"Please tell me it has nothing to do with what Xerxes was talking about earlier. I know you wouldn't let me check you because apparently, I overreact, but baby, I cannot lose you." She spoke, hugging him close to her.