21. Theodore
Chapter Twenty-One
THEODORE
“Get the attitude out of the way. You’re walking into my house,” Andrea says, only half joking.
It’s a testament to how well we know each other. I haven’t said a word, and he already knows this isn’t the usual social visit. The moment I cross his threshold, I fold my arms and look at him.
His eyes are a lighter blue than mine and somehow add to his menacing nature, but we’re not scared of each other. He turns to lead me to his office so we can talk.
“I haven’t said anything yet,” I respond to him, causing him to look over his shoulder with his signature threat in his eyes.
Andrea closes the door once we’re in his office and folds his long body into his chair. “What brings you into my business, Theodore?”
His frosty reception makes me chuckle. “Save this for people who fear you, Andrea. No one lives in my business as much as you do. Turnabout is fair play.”
He smirks briefly, but drops back into business mode. “True, but you didn’t answer my question.”
Fair. I didn’t. “I’m here to see Delaney.”
Sitting back, he rubs his stubble while he squints his eyes. “What do you need from my bride-to-be? The baby isn’t here yet.”
“You’re forcing her to stay here,” I point out.
He shakes his head smoothly. “No, I gave her an all-expense paid trip to my house.”
I scoff. “No matter how you word it, she needs to call her sister.”
“Sister? Your appointment was today?”
“Yes,” I confirm with a nod.
“Well,” he prompts with a smile dusting his face. “What are we having?”
“A boy.”
Andrea’s smile is huge and genuine. It’s amazing how one little thing transforms his face. He picks up his phone and calls his assistant.
“Tell the designer to go ahead with the boy’s theme for the nursery.” He listens into the phone with a frown. “The Kelly nursery! Not mine.” He hangs up the phone with an eye roll like he’s the sane one. “I can’t wait to meet my nephew.”
I smile because I know it’s true, but that’s not why I’m here. “I was trying to have a good appointment with River and meet my child the only way I can right now, but the tech was ruining it with her attitude.” I hold up a hand when he reaches for his gun. “I handled it. It made the OBGYN scared to approach me. When she got the courage, you know what she asked me?” He gives me a bored look because he knows what I’m about to say. “She wants to talk to her sister.”
Andrea tilts his perfectly styled head and glares at me like I asked for some of his territory. When he has a clear plan, he hates when someone tries to alter it.
“We’re still in negotiations.”
It’s my turn to tilt my head. I hate using this example, but I have to illustrate my point. “Andrea, imagine if your dad decided to pluck me out of my normal life and you had no way to contact me.”
Andrea’s eyes flash with fury. The dynamics of a powerful family aren’t always pretty. His dad constantly reminded Andrea how he’d be powerless against him. Frankly, he was a bully who made us his enforcers, not realizing that every man his son brutally murdered favored him. Like I said, it’s the only way to explain how Delaney’s sister feels.
“I would have fought to find you.”
I nod to acknowledge the truth. He would have started a war with his dad, but he should know it’s not the same.
“Yeah, you have a following now. I’m sure you could have turned some of the men to your side then, but Dr. Porter has no such resources. She only wants to talk to her sister.”
He nods tersely and sends a message to summon Delaney. I stand as he rises from his desk. I know what’s coming before he reels back and punches me hard in the stomach.
“That’s for bringing up that miserable bastard.”
I cough through the pain but crack a smile at him. “That’s your one and only hit, asshole.”
“Oh, yeah?” he taunts, stepping closer. “Want to take this back to college, Kelly?”
“Anytime, Tesio.”
We once got into a brawl, both of us intent on beating the shit out of each other. It was a double knockout, but we both maintain that we won the fight. It’d be easy to say it was over a girl, but it really was both of us thinking we’re invincible and refusing to back down.
We’ve matured greatly since then, but the refusal to back down from our beliefs is still very strong. The door creaks and pulls us out of our stare-down. A tall yet timid woman, several shades darker than River, walks into the office, looking around. Just like her sister, she’s stunning, with a cute button nose, wise but scared eyes, and curves I know Andrea craves. She’s dressed simply in a soft yellow sundress that shows off her long legs and her curly hair is pulled back into a ponytail.
“Delaney, this is Theodore, my best man.”
Her bottom lip trembles, but she bravely shakes my hand. “Nice to meet you,” I tell her although I know her feelings aren't mutual yet.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone and dial her sister’s number. Once she answers, I pass the phone to Delaney. The tears she was holding back spill once she hears her sister’s voice.
“Let’s give them a moment,” I suggest as I tilt my head towards his door.
Andrea shakes his head and points at the study connected to the office. He refuses to leave anyone alone anywhere where they can snoop. It looks like it extends to his future wife as well. She walks off while being bathed in his threatening glare.
“Ten minutes,” he tells her before she closes the door. “Happy now?”
His eyes narrow at me as he waits for my response. “Was that so hard?” I mock him, glad that I have something on him this time. My words earn me another evil eye. “Best man? Bride-to-be? You’re going to marry her?”
His expression softens some and catches me off guard. “Soon.”
I doubt that they’re on the same page about that, but I know Andrea is a force when he wants something and, unfortunately for her, he wants Delaney.
To prove my point, his phone rings with a call from a wedding planner. “Yeah? Next week? That sounds good. I’ll round up the wedding party.”
“Next week?” I almost yell.
“Yup. She needs to have the Tesio name before I fuck a baby into her.”
I can tell by the way he absently licks his lips that he hasn’t touched her yet. I just don’t know how long his patience is going to last. Andrea is not used to resistance. This should be interesting.