35. Theodore
Chapter Thirty-Five
THEODORE
Kinnie Rae Quinn struts in on stilettos, which elongate her leg that is exposed by high split in her floor-length, body-contouring formal gown. Each step makes the diamonds on her shoes sparkle as she dedicates herself to her model walk. She's a vision in rose gold. Her brilliant smile belies how dangerous she is to those on her shit list. I would have never pegged her as a killer in any capacity. Her curls were wild when she arrived, but they have been tamed, twisted, and pinned up into an event-worthy hairstyle.
“You look beautiful,” I confess as I hold up the last piece of her outfit, a multi-million-dollar diamond necklace.
She does an excited squeal and turns to give me her neck. Her fingers toy with the necklace once it’s in place.
“Oh, Huxley,” she whispers. “This is what it’s like to be a rich man’s woman.”
Huxley Quinn frowns at his wife as she tucks her arm into mine. “Kinnie Rae Rogers-Quinn,” he growls. “Don’t start shit in front of company.”
His jaw ticks as he looks to where our arms are locked as he approaches. He grabs his wife by the throat and gives her a rough kiss.
Kinnie smiles when he lets go and licks her lips like she’s trying to savor the taste of him. In the little time I’ve known them, I can tell they’re a wild couple.
River appears, pregnant and glowing, as she checks out Kinnie’s outfit.
“Wow, you two look so good.” Her eyes linger on me, feeding me every dirty thought.
“Behave, Mr. Kelly.”
I let Kinnie go for a moment to hug my wife. “Of course, Mrs. Kelly.” After another sweet kiss, I pull back
River and Kinnie had hit it off from the moment Kinnie arrived. They gushed over each other’s curls since they’re completely different types. Delaney had joined the girl talk for a bit, but then we had to get to business.
It took a moment for Huxley to relax around Andrea and me. It wasn’t an expectation from us; we can tell that he’s closed off and doesn’t trust easily. It’s something we fully understand. As the day went on, he started to offer more than grunts as responses. Now, we’re preparing to leave for Senator Arnold Camper’s 50th birthday gala.
To keep a low profile, Andrea is not going. I’m going with Kinnie as my date. Hux sulked as Kinnie plotted out the event with Andrea, but we needed him behind the computer. I’d be more than happy not to go because I’m still not convinced that I wouldn’t kill him my way once I saw him.
Kinnie’s play seems very simple and quick. Mingle, set him up, and be home by the time he dies. Since Kinnie and I are both married and therefore have our own rings, it won't take much to be accepted as a couple.
Kinnie, Hux, and I leave Andrea’s complex and head to the private jet. It's only an hour flight. Hux will pose as our driver but be his hacker best when we arrive. She and Hux reviewed his medical records again, to make sure she'll trigger the right reaction to kill him.
It’s interesting to hear them create such interesting and detailed plots. For Andrea and me, it was simple; kill and hide the bodies. This is a prime example why I’m just a prop in this plan.
“Our good senator has a newfound love for herbal supplements since he’s trying to adapt a more holistic lifestyle since he had a near death experience,” Kinnie informs me, but she looks as if she just considered something. “Today is his actual birthday. It’s kind of poetic.”
“What is?” I ask, curious at how her mind works.
“He’s going out the same day he came into the world. Symmetry.”
I nod with a smirk and take a sip of whiskey. Huxley beams at his wife like she isn’t talking about murder.
I understand. Andrea and I have had such conversations, but I’m trying to imagine River being a killer. While I know she’s too sweet to the core—and it’s one of the things I love most about her—it’d also be hot to see us dressed in her sexiest outfit for a deadly reason. Huxley thinks so too because they disappear while I chuckle to myself.
The crossword puzzle on my phone kept me occupied while Kinnie and Huxley worked out their passion in my backroom. She returns and grabs her compact to fix her makeup as she picks up the subject like she’s been sitting there the entire time.
“I have two hemlock-filled capsules designed to look like his herbal pills. He’ll take them before bed, so we’ll be back home by then.”
“How will you ensure he takes the pills?”
“Rumor has it that his staff has a stomach bug working its way through them.” Her smile tells me she’s had something to do with that. “He’s even more diligent about taking his supplements. As with anything, timing is golden. He’s down to the end of his bottle. They are the only two left. All evidence will be ingested. He should already feel like he already has the stomach bug due to his Tea of the Month. It’s labeled as dandelion, but it’s a mild laxative.”
I nod. “So you already did this?”
“Yes, I have to swap the tea with the real stuff.” She points at the “gift” she brought. “We’ll laugh, dance, and swap the tea. The key is not to have anything suspicious happen. A smooth night equals an undetectable murder.”
“So I can’t kick his ass?” I joke as we land.
Kinnie claps happily. “I’d love to watch that, but no. Too public and messy.”
The party would be top notch if it wasn’t funded for a man who buys and imprisons women. It’s a caliber I’m used to, and while my family provided the wine for the event, we do not support Senator Camper or his stance on many political issues. It is a business deal for us and nothing else. That is also how I scored the invitation.
My polite face is on while Kinnie clings to me like she’s so in love with me. My wedding is a secret and no one outside of the people in my ceremony knows that I’m married or the identity of my wife. With everything that’s happened lately, I prefer it that way. I’ve done the public relationship and I’m over it.
I shake hands of the high-powered people I’ve met before but work to keep my face straight when I’m introduced to a Spanish dignitary, Joaquín Falcó. His title was much longer, but I didn’t feel the need to retain it since The Reaper and I simply nodded at each other and pretended that we aren’t there for nefarious reasons.
He melts into the crowd and is off to do God knows what. I know he’s not there for the senator because he doesn’t go anywhere near him.
“That was interesting,” Kinnie whispers to me.
“You and him have the same job,” I tell her in code.
“Ah, that’s why it was interesting. I could tell.”
She waggles her brows at me and moves away while shimmying. “I’ll get us a drink,” I tell her in case anyone is paying attention to us.
“Great, I should be back from powdering my nose.”
We split up, both doing our part. “This night is bigger than expected.”
I look up to see who’s talking to me. Senator Camper stands next to me, smiling like I’m one of his friends. Those gray eyes do not soften with his smile. His politician smile hides a lot from the world, but I know what it’s like to look at a man who doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
“It’s always great to be celebrated. I say take each party like it’s your last.”
The bartender hands me the drinks, and I tip mine to him. He clanks his glass to mine, and I look just above his balding head so I can maintain my smile. It’s damn hard doing things this way.
“Have the happiest birthday, Senator.”
His smile grows from being the center of attention. He’s not much older than me, but we look so different. He’s damn near completely gray and his skin is wrinkled like he’s spent entirely too much time in the sun. His cologne is suffocating. Too strong and musky.
“Thank you for coming to my party.”
The knowledge that it’ll be his last makes me smile even bigger. “It was my pleasure.”
“Darling, there you are with the drinks,” Kinnie says like I’m her long-lost lover.
“Yes, I was talking to the man of the hour,” I explain and press a kiss to her temple for show.
“Senator Camper, this is my wife.”
“Nice to meet you.” Kinnie says it so smoothly that I almost believe her.
He shakes her hand, lingering longer than he should. His eyes fall to her full breasts, and if I want to punch him, I know Huxley would have been arrested.
“Very nice to meet you,” he admits with too much seduction in his tone.
Capitalizing on his weakness, Kinnie lightly cups her right breast. “You’ll have to forgive us. I must enjoy the party before it’s time for me to pump my breast milk. Otherwise, I’ll be a leaky mess.”
He absently licks his lips like she offered him some, then looks at the drink in her hand. “But your drink will ruin it.”
She waves her hand. “I have a freezer full of it. Tonight is a pump and dump night.”
His eyebrows furrow in sadness. “Hopefully, you don’t do that often. Breast milk is liquid gold, as they say.” He looks at me like we have the same kink. “Enjoy it while you can.”
“I love that it allows her to bond with the baby since that’s who drinks it.” My tone is slightly sharp so Kinnie tugs me away.
“Come on, lover.” She flirts with her eyes like we’re a real couple as she sips the drink slowly. “Dance with me, hubby.”
She giggles as we walk away, but I’m sure Huxley is talking shit in her ear. “All powered?” I ask as I pull her to me to dance.
“Yes. My makeup is worth every penny.” She bats her eyes at me like we’re really talking about her makeup. “Don’t you think, Mr. Kelly?”
“We’ll find out soon enough.” I twirl her and pull a genuine laugh out of her that calms me.
“We will and you’ll love me even more since you were just so eager to…fuck just now.”
I laugh since fuck was the only replacement for fight in her head. I’m sure it’s synonymous for some.
I can't wait to hear about his untimely death.