34. Theodore
Chapter Thirty-Four
THEODORE
It’s only been two days since meeting The Reaper, but he doesn’t waste any time. The death of someone in Father’s orbit is already on the news cycle. We know it’s him because he branded his victim with the grim reaper ring I saw him wearing the other night. He must have confirmed Andrea’s theory quickly. If he’s true to his word, he’ll continue to kill his way to the top. I hope he succeeds.
I enter Andrea’s room with a smile. I’ve seen Andrea in some sort of suit most of his adult life, but I’ve rarely seen him in a tuxedo. This is the third time, to be exact. The other two times were on my behalf, but this time it’s for him. It may not be the romantic story that I’d want for him, but this somehow fits his chaotic lifestyle. Sure, crime bosses have fallen in love the traditional way, but Andrea loves being different. Plus, I’ve noticed lately that he regards Delaney differently than he’s looked at any other woman.
This is beyond her being good on paper; it’s something else. He chose her for a reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if his unconventional ways led him to love. What if he saw something that none of us can see yet?
“You’re thinking too hard again,” Andrea says with half a smile.
I shake my head with a shrug. “I was just thinking that, despite you always being calculating, you’re really about to get married on a whim.”
“Just say you’re jealous that someone else will have my attention,” he teases.
I’m aware that our marriages change things, but I’d never deny him the joy of being in love. Still, I give him one of my serious looks.
“Are you sure about this? You plucked her out of her life to have your baby. I want you to have a bride absolutely in love with you.”
Andrea drops both of his hands on my shoulders and looks me in the eyes. “I’ll be fine, brother. Your concern is touching. I know what I’m doing.”
I nod, agreeing with his statement. Andrea is usually doing exactly what he intended, but I’ve been able to see the path of his plan in the past. I can’t see the other side of this union. This is where blind faith comes into play. He didn’t interfere when I married Helena, so I won’t interfere further now. The difference is I don’t dislike Delaney, and Helena at least pretended to love me. This is a stark reminder of how Andrea and I differ. I would have never considered a forced marriage, yet it somehow works for him.
“Okay,” I concede, pulling him into a hug. “I support you.”
I could be reaching, but the other night Delaney seemed more disgruntled than terrified. I don’t know what happens between them when I’m not around, but I feel in my gut that she’s not in distress. I would have interfered if she were in any real danger of being hurt.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” The way he casually moves to another subject tells me what he’s about to say next will be anything but casual. “We found out who purchased River.
His declaration immediately shifts my brain into protective mode, and I’ve already packed at least three weapons in my mind.
“Good…”
He cuts me off before I can finish. “But we can’t kill him.”
“That sentence is really starting to piss me off, Andrea.”
He grins like he’s amused watching me become flustered. “Relax, I said we can’t kill him. I didn’t say he couldn’t die. He’s a notable figure so his death has to look a certain way.”
“But I want to rip out his fucking throat,” I growl, hating having to play politics.
“We don’t rip out the senators’ throats unless we like federal investigations.”
“Ugh! These fucking politicians.”
I want to break something. No. Someone. I want to break his fucking spine.
Andrea walks me over to a table where he has a paper with two names scribbled on it. “I know two ladies who’ll eliminate your problems without anyone ever knowing.”
“Luci specializes in poison. She can come up with a concoction that won’t be traced unless someone knows where to look. Luci is a petite Afro-Latina who looks so damn innocent that he’d happily take one of her tainted cupcakes. She's on Founder’s Island and works for Andres Bishop." He taps the other name. "Then there's Kinnie." He laughs the way he always does when he has a fond memory. There is only one kind of fond memory Andrea has with women.
"You've fucked her before."
He doesn't confirm it right away. He just keeps talking.
"Remember when I went to Dallas a couple of years ago because someone named Bobbi was interfering in my business."
"Yes. You said Bobbi was a victim of identity theft."
"Yeah, I got there ready to kill her, but I was greeted by this petite black woman with wild curls. She looked me in the eyes and told me that if I fucked with her big sister, I'd wish I was never born." He chuckles to himself. "Crazy recognizes crazy. We fought, fucked each other’s bruised bodies, and then called a truce."
"Truce? The sex was that good?"
"It was good, but I'm not an idiot. She introduced me to Bobbi, and she seemed so innocent that she's almost afraid of her own shadow. Kinnie’s boss/mentor Emerik used his contacts, and we narrowed it down to the son of one of dad's old enemies. In his head, we were nemesis. I killed him quickly, so he'd know that this wasn't some comic book."
"If Kinnie is crazy, how is she a good fit for this job?"
Andrea snaps since he realizes that he's veered off subject.
"Kinnie has a special hate for men of power who mistreat women. Luci doesn't seem like she feels anymore. She'll get in and out, but Kinnie will make it personal. Emerik is a pathologist and has taught her the art of perfect murder. Her husband is a hacker. Newlyweds. He pulls medical records, and she uses them to find the best way to kill him. Not only will he die, but she'll make sure he knows why. And the world also happens to find out who he was before he died, thanks to Huxley."
"Huxley?" I ask.
"The hacker husband."
Making my decision for me, Andrea makes a video call.
A very pretty woman answers the phone. Curly hair, big brown eyes, long lashes, and brown skin…in a hospital bed?
"Oh, the sexy boss is in a tux. What's the occasion?"
A blond man moves his head in view to see who she's talking to on the phone.
"Who in the hell are you?" He speaks like a man ready to fight for his woman.
"Relax, baby. Andrea is the head of the Tesio family. You don't want those problems."
"Andrea Tesio, 41, leader of Labrama and surrounding cities…"
"Hi, Kinnie," Andrea says, ignoring his portfolio being read off by Kinnie’s husband. I'm impressed he got his information so quickly. "Tell your husband not to hack me unless he wants me to come hack him."
Kinnie pouts prettily. “Don’t threaten my future baby daddy.” She looks to her left. “Knock it off, Hux. We had one fun weekend at least a year before I met you and haven’t spoken since. This isn’t a booty call.” Her eyes find us again. “This is business.” Kinnie’s eyes float over to me. “You must be Mr. Kelly. Hey, sexy bestie.”
I chuckle because I can see her crazy, but it’s somehow cute. Huxley is back in the camera with his head leaning on his wife’s.
“Don’t you dare,” I start, but he smiles.
“Too late. Theodore Kelly. Congratulations on your nuptials.”
I simply shake my head because I’m impressed, but I hate how everyone is ignoring the obvious.
“Why are you in a hospital bed, Kinnie?”
She rolls her eyes like it’s not a big deal. “I’m almost as good as new. Emerik stabbed me.”
Kinnie says it so nonchalantly that I let out a bark of laughter. “I’m sorry. It’s not funny. I'm just surprised that you said it so calmly.”
“You,” another man’s voice from off camera says, “killed my brother.”
She waves him off. “Let’s not split hairs right now, Emerik. Besides, I'm not speaking to you until I can speak to my sister.”
“A sibling for a sibling.” He calls her “doll” in Croatian before I hear a door close.
“Wait, the sister you were about to kill me over is your boss’s hostage?” Andrea probes.
Kinnie gives us a tight smile. “It’s complicated. Why are you in a tux, and why are you calling?”
Kinnie has officially dropped into business mode. “I’m getting married in less than an hour.”
The watts return to her smile. “Congratulations. Should I be offended that I wasn’t invited?”
“No. I didn’t invite anyone.”
It’s true. He had the planner arrange the food, decorations, and outfits, but outside of River, Kennedy, and me, the rest of the attendees are his men. Andrea doesn’t really have friends, and Delaney’s parents are deceased. Andrea is keeping the rest of the Tesio family in the dark about his nuptials until he’s ready to share, and my parents are somewhere in the middle of the ocean by now for one of their excursions.
She nods. “That tracks. Now tell me about the sick sonofabitch I’ll have the pleasure of exposing to the world.”
“He’s a senator,” Andrea informs her.
Kinnie’s smile is back to full capacity. “Even better.”