Page 11 of The Sinner’s Son (Sawyer and Royce: Felonies and Fatherhood #2)
Cayden pulled in a deep breath and stepped out of Royce’s embrace. He wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and assessed the room. “Okay. One step.”
Royce nodded. “What have you done to find Dane so far?”
“I called every hospital in a seventy-mile radius and talked to Dane’s friends,” Cayden said. “Struck out every time.”
“Friends other than Jason?” Royce asked.
“Jason and two others,” Cayden replied. “Dane didn’t have time to maintain friendships, so the other guys hadn’t talked to him in several months.”
“He tried to blow me off too, but I wouldn’t let him,” Jason said.
“Do either of you know if Dane worked independently or for someone else?” The guys exchanged a glance and shrugged. “Do you know if he developed friendships with other escorts?” Royce asked. “They often form buddy circles and develop safety protocols to look out for one another.”
“He’s mentioned someone a few times,” Jason said, not looking up from his task. “Only by a nickname, but I think I know a place to start.”
“See if you can get them to talk to me,” Royce said. “Be clear that I’m not looking to make any trouble for anyone. I just want to find Dane.”
“Okay.”
“What about Dane’s electronics?” Royce asked.
“Phone, tablets, or a computer? Would you know any of his passwords? We might be able to trace his steps. We won’t be able to get a warrant just based on the little information we have right now, but if we could get into his accounts, we could track his movements. ”
“Dane doesn’t sleep here every night,” Cayden said. “I think he feels weird being around mom after he spends time with clients.”
“Any idea where he’s crashing?”
“Probably with the same guy I’m going to talk to,” Jason said. “If Dane left stuff behind, it would be at his place.”
“Can you try to get in touch with him now?” Royce asked.
Jason put the trash bag down and retrieved his phone. He nodded toward the hallway. “I’ll step outside and call him.”
Once they were alone, Royce switched the conversation to the dishwasher.
He’d already taken the bottom rack and the rotating sprayer out and identified the problem by the time Jason returned.
A metal rivet from a steak knife had come loose and jammed up the circulation pump housing, causing the mechanism to burn up.
“Easy fix. I just need to grab some replacement parts from the hardware store tomorrow.” He looked at Jason. “Any news?”
His nephew shook his head. “I left a voicemail on his phone and tried to reach him on the socials. He’ll get back to me as soon as he gets my messages.”
“There’s got to be more we can do,” Cayden said.
“Have you put the information out on social media?” Royce asked.
Cayden shook his head. “Dane would be so pissed.”
“Cay,” Jason softly chided. “We can’t afford to worry about that right now.
Not if we hope to find him alive.” Jason shot Royce a pleading look that begged him to promise it wasn’t too late.
While it was possible Dane was still alive, the odds weren’t in his favor, and Royce wouldn’t give his nephew or Cayden false hope.
“You start on the social media posts while Jason and I clean the kitchen,” Royce instructed.
“Yes, sir.”
It took almost two hours to wash and dry the dishes, empty the refrigerator of expired leftovers, and take out the trash. It was after eleven by the time Royce and Jason climbed back into the SUV.
“I wish we could’ve done more,” Jason said. “This is so frustrating.”
“Missing person cases are tough, especially when we don’t even know where to start.”
“What’s next?” Jason asked.
“I’m going to make sure someone at the precinct starts an official missing person investigation for Dane.
” But Royce knew that wouldn’t be nearly enough to help the family in crisis.
“My classes don’t start until Tuesday afternoon, so I’m going to take tomorrow off to handle Cayden and Nina’s most pressing needs.
Then we take things day by day.” But how much time did Nina have left? And what would happen to Cayden?
“Dane’s dead, isn’t he?” Jason whispered.
The question hadn’t caught Royce off guard because his nephew had always been mature for his age. Jason expected honesty from Royce, and he wouldn’t let the kid down now. “I don’t know.”
“But you think so,” Jason pushed.
Royce swallowed hard and met his nephew’s wounded gaze. “It’s the most common outcome in cases like these, but let’s not lose hope.”
Jason lowered his head and cried. Royce wished he could do or say something to make him feel better.
When Jason was little, a trip to the ice cream parlor could fix most things.
Two scoops of Cookie Monster ice cream on a sugar cone couldn’t mend this kind of hurt.
He blew out a shaky breath. “Thanks for being honest with me.”
“Always.” Royce glanced over at him before starting the vehicle. “I want you to feel safe to come to me with anything. I’m always going to be here for you.”
“I know.” Jason sniffled. “I love you, Uncle Ro.”
Dru had done an amazing job of raising her sons, and Jason’s willingness to express his emotions and show vulnerability was the greatest testament to that.
She’d been the first to break the Locke mold and had done so at an early age because she had little people depending on her.
It had taken Royce twice as long and required Sawyer’s influence before he’d fully broken the chains holding him back.
“Love you too, kid.”
Royce pulled away from the curb and headed home.
The silence enveloping the vehicle was a palpable passenger with its own pulse.
If what Jason said about Cayden’s circumstances was correct, the kid was staring down a double barrel of heartbreak that Royce couldn’t fathom.
If someone didn’t step up for Cay, he could end up in the foster system, and that didn’t always work out so well for juveniles.
Royce halted his catastrophizing before it turned into a downward spiral.
There was no need to get ahead of himself.
Get the facts first and then freak the fuck out.
“What’s going to happen to Cay?” Jason asked when Royce pulled into his driveway. “You know, when this is all over.”
“I don’t have all the answers right now, Jaybird, but I promise he will not get lost in an overwhelmed system.”
Jason’s brows drew together. “How can you say that?”
“Because I will flex whatever clout I have to ensure it doesn’t happen.” Royce shut off the SUV and faced his nephew. “I’ve got Cayden from here on out.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you good?” Royce asked. “You’re more than welcome to stay here tonight.”
Jason’s mouth quirked into a wry smile. “I think I’ve already crashed your plans enough for one night.
” He shook his head. “And I might be permanently scarred by what I saw.” Jason’s reference to Royce’s Beastie and the Boys seemed like it happened a hundred years ago instead of a few hours.
“But that is a sweet setup you have by the pool.”
“Because I’m a smooth operator, kid.”
“Gross,” Jason grumbled as he removed his seat belt and reached for the door.
Royce chuckled as he exited the vehicle a moment later. He followed Jason to his car and pulled him into a hard hug. “Everyone should have a friend like you. The world would certainly be a better place.”
“Thank you.”
Royce stayed put in the driveway until Jason’s taillights disappeared down the street.
The house was dark and quiet when he went inside.
Sawyer had likely gone to bed soon after he’d left with Jason.
Flickering light spilled into the hallway from their bedroom, along with a familiar whirring sound.
Royce shook his head and smiled when he walked into their room to find Sawyer, Bones, and Dolly sprawled across the bed while James and Dirt Reynolds worked their magic on a filthy rug on the television.
Royce let the video play while he took a shower and repositioned his husband and fur children to reclaim a small strip of the bed.
On the screen, James emptied the final bucket of water he’d vacuumed from the rug. It looked as clear as drinking water.
“Well, James, at least one of us had a happy ending tonight,” Royce mumbled before turning the television off.