37. Theodore
Chapter Thirty-Seven
THEODORE
I whistle as I head down the hallway to the nursery. Our honeymoon was a relaxing, sex-filled two weeks in Maldives. If I were ignorant, I’d say I’ve gotten River more pregnant, but I know it’s just our son getting ready to escape her body.
I’m happy despite the reminder of all the darkness in the world. The news has been filled with The Reaper’s killings to the tune of him being a serial killer. Yes, he’s killed multiple people in a short succession, but he’s not a serial killer. He’s a man on a warpath. He seeks vengeance as I imagine any of us would. Besides, I know the people he’s eliminating weren’t making the world a better place.
Just this morning, though, I did feel some level of sadness when the news broke that Inaya Wójcik had been abducted. We expected he’d do something to Father’s daughter, and while the video footage of her abduction doesn’t look like his style, I know he had something to do with it. The picture the news keeps flashing of her is one of her looking happy with the biggest smile that glows from within. Her brown eyes are big and ooze a sweetness you wouldn’t expect from a monster’s child.
My gut tells me that she’s made it to adulthood without being anything like her dad. I hope that sweetness she seems to possess will cut through The Reaper’s armor. Hopefully, he'll find another way to enact his revenge.
Redirecting my attention to the happier part of life, I refocus on the task at hand. River went into what they call “nesting” mode and worked day and night after she was randomly inspired with a theme for the nursery. I, however, was not allowed to see it until she was done, bringing me back to my little trip down the hall.
I chuckle to myself once I realize the door is closed. River squeals with excitement once I knock, reminding me how cute she is with stuff like this. I’m smiling, something I’m not used to doing so much, by the time she peeks her head out.
“Hello, Mrs. Kelly.” I greet her with a kiss on her nose.
She giggles like she didn’t ride me like it was her calling earlier.
"That greeting always makes my heart flutter," she admits with her hands on her cheeks.
The light bounces off her wedding ring, giving me yet another wave of possessiveness. My wife.
"I love greeting you that way. "
We stare into each other's eyes for a bit, lost in each other until she shakes her head to pull us out of our trance.
The tint on her cheeks makes me love her more. My sweet wife. River steps back and sweeps her hand to show me the space.
I stare at the nursery for a moment, amused and surprised. I thought she'd go with a teddy bear theme or something unrelated to me, but the gray theme with pops of soft yellow and baby blue is a pleasant surprise.
Playful baby elephants are highlighted throughout the space. I love it and I tell her.
River's expression is a mix of relief and pride as she claps happily.
"Good! I'm glad you love it because I do as well."
"I'd thought you picked teddy bears so it really is the big reveal you wanted."
She waves me off. "The last thing I need is for Andrea to think I copied him in any way. Besides, Trunk got us here."
Tucking herself against my body, I wrap my arms around her.
"Interesting," I murmur, not quite sure what to say.
"Is it?" she challenges me while looking up at me. "Your reputation is the reason why I ran straight to you. You've saved me more times than I can count. Just like what the elephant represents, you are a loyal, noble, and wise protector. If our son grows up to be a fraction of the man you are, I'll be proud."
Fuck. She makes it so easy to be obsessed with her. I kiss her tears away since I should be the one crying. I still can't believe I was blind to how much I was missing this kind of love and support.
"I swear I would have proposed right now if you weren't already my wife."
She giggles while I'm thinking about how I'm so in love with her it should be scary. I should be concerned that it'll consume me like a fever meant to drive me insane, yet I'm happy to fall into madness.
"Seriously, River. I love you and can't wait to see you as a mother."
I kiss her a few more times as I lace our fingers together.
"Same," she whispers. "I can't wait to see you hold him, Teddy."
I want the same thing so badly that I feel almost anxious. We still have a ways to go. Everything has happened so fast since she's returned that it almost makes my head hurt.
My divorce, River’s abduction, The Reaper’s appearance, our weddings and respective honeymoons all happened within a couple of months. A whirlwind.
“Eight more weeks,” I say, reflecting on how far away it still feels. “Let’s go shopping.”
River smiles big and turns towards the door. “Those are sexy words, Mr. Kelly. Be careful how you wield them.”
I chuckle at her flirty mood, because I’m not sure River actually likes shopping. “So if I say lunch and shopping?”
She peeks over her shoulder and bats her eyelashes as she pushes her shirt aside to give me a glimpse of her bare skin. Hugging her from behind, I guide her towards the front door. I pull my shades into place once the sun greets us on the other side. River turns to walk back into the house, but I grip her hand and pull her towards the car.
“My purse,” she protests, but I open the back door for her anyway.
“You don’t need it. You’re with your husband.”
She snorts when I pop her on the ass as she climbs into the backseat. “I don’t know how you make overbearing sexy.”
I look at her with fake surprise. “Are you saying I’m too much for you?”
I’m always looking for a reason to make her laugh because it’s my favorite sound in the world. Her eyes sparkle with amusement and a hint of challenge as she gets in my face. “Bring it on, Kelly. I’m tougher than I look.”
River knows I love it when she calls me Kelly. It appears she’s trying to get fucked in the back seat. I simply grunt and move to a safer topic.
“I know,” I admit with a kiss to her nose. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”
River opens her mouth to speak, but her eyes blink rapidly as she looks past me out of the window. The surprise and low-level confusion marring her face has me turning my head to see what she’s looking at so intently.
Surly’s old meeting spot is on fire. Black smoke swirls, filtering into the sky as the firefighters set up to douse the flames. A bark of laughter escapes, causing River to jump as I call my friend.
“Yes?” Andrea answers.
“So I’m riding down Main Street.”
He chuckles before I can finish my sentence. “I’d gotten so caught up in weddings, honeymoons, and all that shit with Father that I forgot my threat had two promises. I only wish I had burned it down before he died.”
Andrea’s antics has us laughing all the way to the shopping center that holds a lot of boutiques and one of my favorite places to eat. We stroll past the lake, hand in hand, taking in the scenery just happy to be out.
Things may have been a little hectic, but now that we’re settled, I want River to have a normal existence and part of that is having couple outings where we live. She takes a picture of us with the lake behind us, then another with me hugging her from behind as I kiss her temple.
My phone rings with a call for Donovan, who has really stepped up to help run Illicitus since I’ve been distracted with my personal life. He’s been a great asset and the raise I just gave him reflects how much I appreciate his initiative, but he still can’t make major decisions without talking to me.
River points at a boutique she wants to go into, and I nod as I follow her to remain close by. Once I wrap up my business outside, I enter the boutique, looking around to allow my eyes to adjust to the dim light.
I don't see River at first but hear her before I can start my scan.
"Stay the fuck away from me!"
My heart rate kicks up as I jog towards her voice. I run through a checklist in my head, thinking of anyone I haven't killed who could be a threat to my wife. My feet scuff the ground when I come to a full stop to find the person bothering my wife.
"Helena?"