Köhler (Book 9 of the Köhler Series)

𝐋𝐈𝐗

"Elias...."

"Nigga shut up and come get high with me," Elias said, cutting Xavier off from whatever he was about to say. They were a few days away from the new year and had just buried their aunt and Mark. It surprised Xavier because he was looking for Noemi to leave, dragging Shanice along with her, but the woman chose to stay as she talked about not having anything to go home for.

Silently Xavier took the seat next to his cousin, taking the blunt from his hand and smoking. Both sat there looking out at the frozen lake until King walked in, taking the seat next to Xavier. Without a word, Xavier passed it over to the man as he listened to him inhale and exhale.

"I don't understand why it had to be my mom. Why the fuck did they target her? Damn, punk ass muthafucka always pulling bitch ass moves, man.... Always! Why can't none of them can be a man and talk face-to-face? It always has to be some fucking bullshit. Now, my little brothers, dad, and I have to live without her. You know how hard it is listening to your youngest brother ask where's mom. Or when she is coming back?"

"Yeah, I do, but our situations are different. My mom was an ass. She fucked up everything herself. Auntie didn't deserve to die. She kept my dad sane and knew how to make everyone happy when we were down. Always talking with sense even when we thought it wasn't. They'll pay King. Unc and the rest will make them wish they never fucked with us... we are going to make them wish they never fucked with us."

"Ja, but at what cost? How many more of us have to die because of someone else's stupidity? I'll tell you if I lose my dad, Opa, Oma, another one of my Aunts, or Uncles. I'm going to go fucking crazy. Losing her was enough." Zay spoke as his phone dinged. Sighing to himself, he stood, knowing he shouldn't keep his dad or the other any longer.

"I gotta go. We can chill later." He said, patting his cousin's shoulders before making his way to the main house. For some reason, he thought all of the other mafias would be gone, but Barkley and Paz were still there as he and his sister walked in. Xavier noticed how the man's eyes followed her to her seat until his father started to speak.

"Sit; Don Wright and Fredrick were just about to leave. I'll call y'all when I have an update. If you need me, you know what to do. And if you see any of those asshole, don't hesitate to kill them." X stood as he gave both men a handle shake before turning to him.

"Dad..."

"You're not in trouble, Xavier, but you are not going to like what I'm about to say. Mark's untimely death made things a little complicated. Mafia laws, if a Don shall fall, their next in line shall rise. Mark was under the law that a male must be next in line. Son is dead, and his daughter is unmarried. The American Cartel doesn't play about that, and if we don't want another problem on our hands, you and Shanice have to announce your engagement and marry. I hate myself for this, but I have come to love Shanice like she was my daughter.... You have five months after your birthday to marry."

Xavier stared at his father, looking around the room at his mother, grandmothers, Rodney, Noemi, sister, and Shanice. He also noticed that his Opa Luca was missing something he had been doing lately, and they were all worried about him.

"Okay." He said as he watched Noemi let out a sigh as she stood and walked over to him, hugging him tightly.

'My husband died protecting you because he saw the good you in. He knew that you would care for and love our daughter and family. Once you marry her, I want you to announce we are now The Oni. Wipe away, Parker Mafia. I never want to hear of it again... thank you.'

Xavier nodded, kissing the side of the woman's head as he pulled away to see Shanice and his mother smiling over at him making Zay shake his head. He understood Shanice, but it was unusual with his mom. She was about to say something crazy he could never tell, but when she opened her mouth to speak his, Opa walked in, sitting in the corner alone.