Page 27 of The Sinner's Son
Nina searched his eyes, possibly sizing him up to see if he was truly tough enough to take on the job. Royce must’ve passed muster because she nodded slowly a few times and dropped her hands to her sides. “Good. I’m going to eat breakfast while you explain how you’re going to help my Dane.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’d suggest we go eat at the kitchen table, but the room was a disaster the last time I was in there.” Nina ran a trembling hand over her thin hair and looked around the room. “In fact, the entire house…” Her words trailed off as she took in her surroundings. “Is clean.” She looked at Cayden with wide blue eyes. “Did you do this?”
“Yeah,” he said sheepishly. “Sergeant Locke and Jason tackled the kitchen last night. I couldn’t sleep after they left, so I kept going.” Cayden’s cheeks turned pink, and he grimaced. “I got a little carried away with the bleach. I’m lucky I didn’t kill us both with the fumes.”
Nina crossed the room to her son and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “What a gift you are.” She straightened back up and faced Royce. “God blessed me with two incredible sons, and I know damn well Dane did not run away. My boys have never backed down from tough times.”
“They’re like their mother,” Royce said.
She clutched her robe’s lapel in a tight fist. “And that’s why I’m going to stay alive until I know what happened to my son.” She looked down at the drink selection. “Do you mind if I have the orange juice?”
“Of course not.” He lifted the drink carrier and bag of food. “Let’s head to the kitchen table to eat and talk.”
Cayden swayed slightly when he stood up. Nina grabbed his forearm and guided him back down to the couch.
“Not you,” she said. “You’re going to stay here and finish your breakfast, and then you’re going to get some sleep. I need you to be clear-eyed and strong for the coming fight.”
“I’m fine, Mom.” Cayden’s protest was as weak as his limbs.
Nina arched a dark brow, and her son surrendered. “Fine. But I’m only taking a short nap.”
Royce figured Cayden would be down for the count if he could shut his brain off after he closed his eyes. “I’ve got this, Cay. You can trust me and rest easy.”
“Maybe it’s not you I’m worried about,” he said, shooting his mom a dark look.
She rolled her eyes and waved him off. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Fine,” Cayden replied. “Can I have another sandwich and a hash brown?”
Royce extended the bag to him. “Help yourself. I’m going to put all the leftovers in the refrigerator so you can tuck into them after you crash.”
Cayden squinted at Royce like a gunslinger at high noon. “I’m just going to close my eyes for a few minutes. Thirty at most.”
“Okay. The food will be there when you wake up.”
Nina chuckled but quickly covered it with a cough.
Cayden bounced his steely gaze between his mother and Royce. “I’m not sure I like this new crime-fighting duo.”
“Only one of us will do the crime fighting.” Royce looked at Nina for backup. When none came, he said, “Under no circumstances will you take this matter into your own hands.”
“I make no promises,” Nina replied. “I am a desperate woman who is running out of time, so you better wow me.”
“Understood.”
They left Cayden in the living room and went to the kitchen. Either the open windows and breeze had completely pushed the overwhelming chemical smell from the house, or he’d just gottenused to it. Royce set the bag of food down, and Nina sorted through it until she found a container with biscuits and sausage gravy. She removed the lid on the gravy, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. Royce looked in the bag but couldn’t find plastic cutlery, so he retrieved a fork from the silverware drawer.
“You really got acquainted with the kitchen last night,” Nina said as she split the biscuits in half. “I can’t believe I slept through it.” She emptied the gravy on top of the buttery biscuits and sighed happily. “I have very few regrets in my life.” She picked up the fork and pointed at her breakfast. “Except that I didn’t eat this as often as I wanted to, always choosing a healthier option.” Her lips twisted into a wry smile. “And I’m still dying way too young. I should’ve just eaten the damn biscuits and gravy.”
Royce wondered if he could use that same argument with Sawyer and immediately nixed the idea. Sawyer’s first husband had died from cancer in his thirties, so that remark would be absolutely cruel. And Royce knew more people died from heart disease than cancer without his husband throwing out irrefutable facts. But were there things he put off for a rainy day because it never seemed to be a good time? Were there simple pleasures he denied himself that he’d regret later? Did he tell Sawyer he loved him enough? Royce slammed the brakes on his rambling thoughts because this conversation wasn’t about him. He could revisit all these things at a more appropriate time.
“You’ve gone awfully quiet,” Nina said, her forkful of food frozen in front of her. “Have I upset you with my talk about dying?”
“No. I just got caught up in introspection that feels selfish at the moment.” Royce took a sip of soda and added, “I find your honesty refreshing.” He tilted his head to the side. “And maybe a little intimidating.”
She gave him a wolfish smile before forking the biscuits and gravy into her mouth. She did a little shoulder shimmy as she chewed and immediately went in for a second bite. “Tell me your plans.” She pointed at his half-eaten sandwich. “And finish your food. You’re going to need your strength too.”