Köhler Lies and Deception Book 11 of The Köhler Series

Woke

Luca hated hospitals, but he knew there was no way he could go home. Sadly, he failed to tell his son about the pains he was having, and Melody popping up out of the blue put too much stress on his heart. However, he was happy to be alive. Xerxes had a great team behind him, and he couldn't ask for anything better than that. He wasn't ready to leave his family, and he knew they weren't ready to lose him.

"Mr. Köhler, I'm glad to see you awoke. Could you tell me how you feel?"

"I'm glad to be awoke, but I feel pain every fucking where." The man laughed as Xerxes walked through the door with a stern look. He hated how much his sons acted like him, especially in times like this. He knew he was about to fuss, and Luca didn't want to hear it.

"I'm not in the mood for your—"

"And I'm not in the mood to argue. Shit, I'm happy to see you sitting up and talking... How is he doing, Bruce?"

"We have a few more hours to see if he's out of the red zone, but the way everything is looking, it's great. Your Father should make a full recovery with a healthy heart." Luca was confused. He knew he had a heart attack and had to have open heart surgery, but he was confused by the healthy heart. Xerxes informed him there was no improving the parts of his heart that were failing.

"Healthy heart—"

"Oh damn. Dad, I don't know what Ma told you, but we had to do a heart transplant. It was the only way to save your life."

"How did you get a heart?"

"Don't worry about that. It's a healthy heart, and your body accepts it. That's all that matters." Luca wasn't a fool. His son used the black market for a heart. He knew it was something he would have done to save one of them. At least, that is what he wanted to think he did. Xerxes and Elijah had a dark side, and there was no telling what the two of them did to save his life.

"Stop looking at me like that. The heart came from a nearby hospital. Will that make you feel better?" Luca didn't say a word because the only thing he was thinking about was how grateful he was for his family. "Where's your Mother? She was here when I fell asleep but gone when I woke."

"She had to take care of something at work. Therefore, she sent me here to be with you." Luca felt like this was a setup. Adele always did shit she knew would bother him, and sending a heart doctor in to sit with him was one of those things. He could see it in Xerxes's eyes as he told Bruce he could leave while he pulled over a chair.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been cut open and toyed with. Go on, get your shit talk done with because I don't want to hear it later." Instead, Xerxes took his hand into his, squeezing it with a sigh. "Dad, we almost lost you. Six minutes is a long time to go without breathing. Shit, I know we don't live forever, but I would like for you to stay around long as you can. What if that would have happened when you were alone? You wouldn't be here. So don't do that shit again. You scared us half to death... I love you, Dad, and I can't lose you. Not now."

"I wasn't planning to leave you, son. Things happened, and my stress levels were up... there are no excuses. Are there?" Xerxes shook his head as Luca squeezed his son's hand. He knew he never showed his feelings because he couldn't, but today was the first time he had seen him cry. It broke his heart.

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'll do everything I need to do to ensure it. I love you, son, and I know I scared you, but I'll try my best never to do it again."

"Ja, I bet I look like a fucking idiot sitting here crying over my Dad—"

"No, you don't. Do you know how it feels to see you show any type of emotion besides with your eyes? Seeing you cry sitting here with me tells me I have something to live for. I know the pain of losing a Father and Mother. I don't wish that on you, and I never meant to make you hurt, but I'm okay. I will continue to be okay." X nodded, wiping his tears as Luca ran his fingers through his hair when Adele walked in. She stopped looking at the two, and without a word, she walked over, hugging Xerxes.