Köhler (Book 9 of the Köhler Series)

𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

"X, it would help if you could talk some sense into your sister." There was nothing else left to say. Talia wanted what she wanted, and Xerxes wasn't going to try and stop her. If she and Alexei wanted to fly to Berlin for their wedding, he tried to talk some sense into her about the situation. Talia's words to him were I'm the oldest and know what is best for me. You may be the Don, but that is about it. After that, he laid his cards on the table; whatever happened afterward was of her own accord.

"What do you want me to do, Ma? I tried talking to her... Dad tried talking to her. Shit, even Konstantin and Nikolai tried talking to her. The asshole has her brainwashed, and Talia's been weird since she returned. I hate to say this, but Russia changed her.... Mhm. Let them do what they please. She will see Alexei for who she is, hopefully soon. Although, I don't care at this point because what I see is we wasted a year in a half looking for someone that didn't want to be found. My focus now is on my little brother and why he has went ghost."

"It's been two days, baby. You still hadn't heard anything from Elijah."

Xerxes slowly shook his head with a sigh. He knew it bothered his mother, but she was putting on a brave face. If she thought that he needed it, she was wrong. In his gut, he knew Elijah was alive. He just needed that proof.

"No, RJ, Josie, and their crew landed a few hours ago. I told them two days, and if they don't find anything, I'm sending Reese and Nicole...."

"Not to overstep, but I think Takahiro and Kamaria's crew will be best for this job. Reese would stick out like a sore thumb in Nigeria. He and Nicole barely know the language. Plus, he's more of a shoot first ask questions later type of person."

"And you think Hiro is any different." Xerxes scoffed with a small laugh. Takahiro was just as hotheaded as Reese, and Jeremias was, if not worse. But his mother was right Hiro was the better opinion when he actually thought about the situation.

"What about Alexei's men? I thought we all concluded that you were sending them in." Rodney spoke, walking into them without knocking. Both looked up at the man as if he had lost his mind until Adele laughed, hugging the man before turning back to Xerxes, smiling.

"I am, but I don't trust him to look for my brother. I rather for someone I trust to do that. Novikov still needs to earn my trust and the way he is going. I trust his little brother Nikolai more than him. Yeah, he has a smart mouth, and we got off on the wrong foot, but I realize something. The fool likes older women. He's been eyeing Sabrina since meeting her, and their mission is slightly different. I want him and his team to go in and kill as many of those muthafuckas as they can. After I have my brother and other men back home safe."

"Good thinking and I come with more news from the states. Some that you may like, Dele... some you may not." He spoke, handing X a paper. Carefully he read over it, realizing quickly it was more bullshit. No matter how much they seem to do, more shit always comes back to bite them in the ass.

"It's more of them...."

"And it's not what you think. Sean was paid by whoever the new leader of the Abdullahi family is. They weren't on board. Funny story though... they reached out to what used to be my father's little gang in Peterburg looking for you." He slowly said, looking over to Adele as Xerxes handed her the paper. He knew she wasn't like what she was seeing.

"The bastard had more family we didn't know about. They thought I was married to you? Where the fuck did they get that shit from?" Rodney laughed, shrugging his shoulders as she continued to speak.

"If they are true to their word about working for us, Xerxes. I say we set up a video chat and see what we can do. Maybe they know more about who's behind this shit, and it's time for me to stop running from the past. Charles is dead and has been for a long time. There is no reason for me to hate my family. I have cousins that are still living, and I think it is time to cross that bridge."