Köhler Lies and Deception Book 11 of The Köhler Series

Back from the Dead

Luca still couldn't believe he was sitting across from his daughter. Four years ago, he swore they put her body in the ground, and now he was looking at an empty coffin and Melody. He needed answers. They all needed answers. Neither of them could think of a good reason for her to fake her death unless there was something she wasn't telling them. Melony left her twin and made him go through hell, only to turn up four years later alive and well.

"I need another blunt—"

"Eli, you have smoked enough." Adele sighed, taking the blunt out of their son's mouth causing him to start tapping his foot and playing with his hands. He was trying to stop himself from going off on his sister, but it probably would be best to let out his anger. Elijah had been through so much over the years, and this could have been another breakdown they didn't need to go through. It was bad enough when he had his mental breakdown when Xerxes was in a coma. Now, they have to deal with this.

"Mel, baby, please help me understand why you would do something like this. Was there someone after you? Problems with you and Valentino? Please, because right now, I want to kill you myself."

"None of that—"

"THEN WHY MELODY?! FUCKING WHY?! I HURT FOR YOU! THE SHIT MADE ME GO FUCKING CRAZY, AND NOW YOU'RE STANDING HERE ALIVE AND FUCKING WELL!"

Melony started to cry as Elijah picked up the closest thing and threw it across the room. Luca, on the other hand, sighed as he watched his son rage out while their other children stared. They were all lost for words. "Melody, you can't sit there and say nothing. We need to know why would you do something like this. Were you unhappy with your life here? Or did you want a way out?"

"I did somethings, Dad, that I'm not proud of—"

"Pumpkin, we have all done some things we are not proud of. It doesn't make you any different than the rest of us." Melody nodded, wiping her tears, but Luca could see something was wrong since her eyes kept shifting around the room, and it caused him to become curious until Val ran into the room looking lost. He left before Melody showed, and they all knew he was just as surprised as they were.

"I have questions. You were stabbed... cut open, and I saw it with my own eyes. You can't fake something like that."

"With a little makeup and a lot of pig's blood. You can—"

"Okay, I'm fucking tired of the small talk. Tell me, why the fuck did you fake your death? Did you know this fucking shit, Val?" Valentino shook his head, walking over to his wife and touching her face as Mel quickly turned away. Again, Luca sighed, rubbing his hands through his hair.

"Talk because I'm starting to get frustrated."

"I don't know where to start. I need a few days to...."

"No, no, no. You don't get a few days to sort out shit. Melody, do you not understand you fucking made your family think you were dead. You left your children and husband broken— your twin broken and your parents. There is no time to sort out shit. I want answers, and I want the now. Or you can walk your ass right back out that fucking door and never look back." Adele was harsh, but Luca understood her feelings. Mel had four years to think about how she was going to explain this shit to them. Now, she was asking for more time as if everything was okay. It was enough when they sat here hurting while she hid away, watching their pain. It was time to talk; she had three days to get her story together.

"Ma, you don't mean that—"

"Yes, the fuck she does! Mel, you can sit there and lie to yourself by saying everything is okay but it's not. If you want us to be fine with this shit, you need to talk, or you could have stayed fucking dead." Melody's head dropped as she took a deep breath, looking back at Luca, who was breathing heavily. He wasn't ashamed to say this was beginning to be too much for him.