Köhler Lies and Deception Book 11 of The Köhler Series

Secrets

Ephraim was confused about Melody's true identity. He would have never thought she was a part of a mafia. It was wild to learn she was Melody Köhler, besides Kinsley Jenkins. He would have never guessed she was German or a Köhler. Once she revealed the truth, he wanted to run, but he loved her and decided to do whatever he could to protect her even though she didn't need him to. He was a drug dealer and kept a gun for protection, but he never ran with a gang or anything above. All this was new to him, but he planned to help her family with whatever it was to come. However, they looked like they wanted to kill him, and it frightened him.

"We need to talk."

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Valentino Bianchi, Melody's husband." Ephraim nodded, waving his hand for the man to sit. Like him, he had questions of his own. He loved Melody, but she had a whole life that he knew nothing about. It made him wonder if she still loved her husband or if he loved her. He didn't follow her around the world for a year and a half to be thrown to the side.

"Fine, let's talk, but I'm going to let you know that off the jump, I will fight for her."

"Understandable, but Melody never really loved me. Our relationship was forced on her. I'm here to see what type of man you are and whether you will be a good person to leave my sons around. "He nodded, but he had nothing to worry about in that area. Eph loved children, and his daughter was the world to him. He wouldn't treat her sons any different than their daughter.

"What you want to know."

"He wants nothing. Valentino, I believe I told you I would handle this. Go before you miss your flight, and make sure you sign those papers." Quickly, Val stood bowing to the man Melody said was her brother and one of the Dons in their mafia. He had never been in the presence of one, but he assumed he needed to do the same. So, he stood and bowed as he cleared his throat.

"You don't need to do that. I was giving him an order, and he addressed them. I don't have all day, so I'm going to get to the point. I know you were a small-time drug dealer, and you were arrested, which led you to spend some time in jail. This you see here isn't a gang or the streets you ran back in Florida. We are a mafia, which means everyone here is a family. You go against it, you die. It's simple as that, but I'm here to see what you know about us and what you are looking for."

That was the point. Ephraim didn't know anything about them other than they were multi-billionaires who owned businesses around the world. He would have never guessed they were a mob and thought it was a coincidence that his girlfriend looked like the model Melody Köhler. Once he knew the truth everything in him told him to take his daughter and run, but he loved her. Three years was a long time to be together just to walk away.

"I knew nothing about your family until Melody dropped the bomb saying she was a Köhler, and she faked her death and changed her name. Before then, I knew her as Kinsley Jenkins, an account manager from Detroit, and the only thing I knew about your family was you were multi-billionaires. I'm not looking for anything but to support the woman I love. However, I do wonder why she would run away from this. She had it good here, and from what I can see, she had a great family."

"We are all wondering why, but she's not telling us much. Frankly, I was hoping you would tell me that, but I guess she hasn't shared it with you either. How did you meet my sister?" Ephraim smiled, thinking about the first time he met Melody. She was waiting in line at a Walmart, and as soon as he saw her face, everything else disappeared. It felt like they were the only ones in the store, and once she spoke, he couldn't help but smile and ask for her number.

It was funny because Ephraim felt like he was back in high school trying to find the courage to call her. Once he did, it became the best time of his life. She made him want to do better, and he did. Eph found a good-paying job and turned his life around. He was rewarded when she gave birth to his daughter, something he couldn't walk away from.