Köhler Lies and Deception Book 11 of The Köhler Series

Laid Back

Elijah couldn't lie; he actually liked Ephraim. The man was laid back and could put up with their shit without whining like most people did. Still, he was mad at his sister for what she had done. He understood she had to make her death look real, but after some time, she could have let him know the truth. At least it would have let him sleep better at night. Then again, that's why she was allowing him to see her before completely leaving. She didn't understand the hell he had gone through over the last four years, but hopefully, this was the start of a better outcome for him.

"Tell me what you're thinking about, bighead."

"How mad I am at you. I understand how you felt I needed to act the part, but I want you to tell me why." Melody stared at him for a long moment before sighing and taking his hand into hers with a small smile. Normally this meant she was about to make up some crazy ass story Elijah didn't want to hear, but that was who Mel was.

"Promise to keep this between us." Elijah glared at his twin, confused, as Xerxes's eyes caught his. Just from his look, he knew X knew the truth before him, but he wasn't mad. "Okay."

"Xavier got himself into some trouble, and I offered my life for his. You know I would do anything for my nieces, nephews, and kids, and they will do anything for me. Xavier and the others refused to let me put my life on the line for them, so they came up with this plan to help fake my death, which I shared with Ying. It was supposed to be for a few months, maybe a year, but I was enjoying my time stress-free and cut off my communication with them after a year and a half. Then I met Ephraim and finally had my baby girl."

Elijah nodded, watching Ephraim laugh and talk to his brothers and some of the others. Knowing the truth behind why Melody faked her death gave him comfort, but it didn't make up for all the time their family missed with her. "What happened between you and Valentino? You were so sure the two of you were in love. You seemed in love, or did I miss the signs?"

"I was the one that missed the signs. I thought we could recreate our parents, but my mind kept slipping back to how he treated me and his drunken fits. I always put on a smile, but Val knew how to—"

"He was still beating you, and you didn't tell me."

"You would have killed him if I told you."

"Damn right, I would have. What the fuck were you thinking? You were protecting a man who was fucking abusing you!"

"Elijah, lower your voice! I don't want Xerxes to know this." Lower his voice... she wanted him to lower his voice after finding out she was getting abused by a man that he thought he could trust. A man he thought had changed for the better, but he was wrong. How did they miss this? And why was Melody protecting him?

"I'm not going to sit here and say I was right or Val. He was a good man when sober, especially to the kids. He raised King like he was his own, but over time, you get tired of being beaten. Then I met Ying Lee; he was sweet, loving, and everything Valentino wasn't, but I didn't know his plan to come after our family or that he was married. However, he showed me how a man should treat a woman, and I knew I had to leave him. Xavier's plan gave me that way out."

"A good man, don't beat his wife... I don't have the room to speak because I was that man under other circumstances, but this is different. You should have come to me or X. I know he would have given you a better way out both ways. How about Ephraim? How are you two together?" Melody glanced over at the man still talking to Xerxes, Lucas, and AJ with a smile. Slowly, she nodded, taking his hand again, laughing to herself.

"He's good to me. I remember the first time we met; he was stumbling over his words as he tried to deposit money into his account. Every time he came into the bank he would make sure I was his teller for six whole months before working up the nerve to ask me out. He's two years older than me but a little boy at heart. Our first date was a trip to Disney, and he won my heart with that. He always wants to know about my day and how I'm feeling. He does the most to keep me happy, and I do the same with him. Before you ask, he has never laid a hand on me unless we are fucking."