Disorganized Minds *Book II of the Köhler Series*

Lost

Five months passed, and that's how long Axel has been missing. Every turn they made was a dead-end, and Luca felt like he was going crazy. By now, he hoped to have gotten something out of Ryder, but the man was an asshole who refused to talk. He thought the whole thing was a game. He laughed at every question and didn't care how bad Luca, or the others beat his ass. He was over it and needed to catch a break... He only wanted his father back where he belonged.

Luca knew he may have sounded like a little child, but for so long, it was just him and Axel. Yeah, his mother was in the picture now, and it wasn't fair for her to finally get the man she loved dearly, even if they were having problems, to lose him again. He didn't know what else to do. Even now, as he showered, he had one thing on his mind, thinking of his next move and how to get his father back as the water ran off his body. It was traumatizing, especially with Josie asking every single day when Opa would be home.

To make things worse, Sophia and Ansel were looking for their Dad while Gabriella looked sick. His mother was trying to be strong for the four of them, but she was hurting, too. However, Luca didn't know what to tell them. It was as sad as it was for them to lose their mother because of something stupid. Now, their dad was missing. He wanted to break down and cry and could feel his body going through the motions as he rested his forehead against the cold wall, holding back his tears.

Luca needed to hit something but couldn't afford to break his hand again since he had broken it twice in the last five months. Plus, it would have been another broken hand Adele had to nurse. He knew she'd been having a hard time with him, but he was broken and lost without his father. Yeah, he had the rest of them, and the only thing keeping him sane was her and the children. He had to stay strong for his family, especially the kids.

But he didn't know how much longer he could put up with this act. However, Adele always knew when he needed her. Like now, her arms wrapped around his waist as she rested her head on his back. It relaxed him, causing Luca to lean into her touch... into his safe place. She knew him like no other and was the only one besides him and his mother who didn't believe Axel was dead. All of the bastards had given up on finding him alive— even Sibylla. His own damn mother.

He knew she was trying to cope, but believing he was gone wasn't the answer. Luca was tired of hearing her say he had been gone for too long. There was no reason for them to keep him alive. There were many until he found a body. Luca had his faith, but he wasn't going to lie. The day his father's body turned up dead, Germany would fall. Without a thought, he would burn the whole country to ash if he had to for revenge and to burn out the assholes who murdered him.

"Baby, relax. We will find him alive. I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, but you know Axel is a fighter. He won't let that bitch kill him without a fight... it's strange but something about this doesn't scream danger."

"I know, I can't wrap my head around it, but if she wanted him dead, they had a chance to kill him there. It doesn't make sense to kidnap him, but it's been five months with no leads. That shit bothers me, and I'm starting to lose hope, no matter how hard I try not to." Adele understood him like no other as she turned him to face her. Gently, she brushed his wet hair back and cradled his face. He felt like anything was possible in her hands, causing him to give her a small smile while she rubbed his cheek, staring into his eyes.

"Don't you dare give up, Luca! Do you hear me? Don't you dare fucking give up? I don't care what the rest may say. I feel it here." Quickly, she brought his hand to rest on her chest, allowing him to feel her heartbeat. "I feel it in my heart he's alive and will come home to his sons, daughter, grandchildren, and the woman he loves. He won't stop until he's home. So, you don't get to give up... do you understand me? Because he wouldn't give up on you, and you know it."