Page 24 of The Sinner’s Son (Sawyer and Royce: Felonies and Fatherhood #2)

The lovebirds couldn’t seem to tear their eyes off one another over dessert. Royce didn’t expect them to stay much longer, until Eddie scraped the bottom of his bowl and looked longingly at Jo’s.

“I’ve never eaten mousse before,” he said. “It’s light and fluffy. Not too sweet.”

“Would you like seconds, Eddie?” Sawyer asked.

“Could I? I mean, should I?”

“It’s likely free of dairy and probably low in fat and carbs.” Royce licked his spoon and set it in his empty bowl. Sawyer assessed him through narrowed eyes, looking for a hidden insult. “And delicious. Eat up.”

“Okay, then,” Eddie said.

Royce stood up with his bowl and collected Eddie’s. “Be right back.”

“Me too,” Sawyer said.

Behind them, Eddie chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” Jo asked.

Eddie told her about Royce’s “mostly tastes good” comment, which made her laugh.

“Ouch, buddy,” she said. “What time is the funeral?”

“I like you, Jo,” Royce called over his shoulder. “Almost as much as my husband’s cooking.”

“Nice try.” Sawyer took the serving spoon from his hands and heaped a generous helping into Eddie’s bowl. “And yes, it’s dairy-free and low in fat and carbs.”

“Don’t forget delicious,” Royce added.

Sawyer opened his mouth to respond, but the doorbell rang. “Who could that be?”

“I’ll find out,” Royce said with more casualness than he felt.

Unexpected guests rarely brought good news.

Royce’s assumption was confirmed when he found Alec standing on his front porch.

His light green eyes were bloodshot, and his face was pale with a gray tinge.

“I thought Sawyer discussed boundaries with you.”

Alec’s lips trembled for a few seconds before he could respond. “Yes, he did. And I’m sorry to show up at your door like this.”

Sawyer joined Royce at the door. “Alec, what’s wrong?”

“I might be in serious trouble, and I didn’t know where to turn,” Alec replied.

“Come in.” Sawyer grabbed Royce’s sleeve and tugged him to the side so Alec could enter their house. “Do you want something to drink or eat?”

“No,” Alec said. “But I might need a lawyer.”

“Christ,” Royce muttered. The last thing he wanted to do was boot his dad and Jo out, but they shouldn’t witness whatever this dipshit was about to confess. Royce headed toward the kitchen, leaving Sawyer and Alec to talk as they followed.

Eddie and Jo were rinsing the dessert bowls and loading them in the top rack of the dishwasher. “We’re about to head out, and, oh—” Eddie’s brow furrowed as he took in Alec’s distraught appearance. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s fine. Sounds like the cop shop isn’t closed for the day after all,” Royce told him.

Eddie dried his hands and set the towel on the counter. “Sounds like our cue to skedaddle.” He and Joyce took turns hugging Royce and Sawyer, not bothering to hide their curiosity about Alec. “Walk us out?” Eddie asked.

Royce slapped his dad’s shoulder and followed them to the front door. “I’m glad you guys came over for dinner. I hope we can do it again real soon.”

Jo held up the binder Sawyer made. “Thank him for me, will you?”

Eddie handed Jo the keys to his car. “Can I have a minute with Royce?”

“Of course,” she said. “We’ll see you soon.”

“Bye, Jo,” Royce called.

Eddie watched her walk away and spun back around to face Royce once she was out of earshot. “Son, you have a fox in your henhouse.” Eddie shook his head. “Rooster house?”

“I think it’s just a coop,” Royce said. But he understood his dad’s message loud and clear.

“That’s the podcast guy who wants to take up all of Sawyer’s time, right?”

“He’s the podcast guy, but I don’t know about the rest.”

“Why’s he here, looking all aflutter and in need of smelling salts?”

Royce was speechless for a few seconds. “All aflutter? Smelling salts? What have you been watching? It’s Bridgerton , right? Or some other period drama.”

Eddie ignored him and said, “Is he into men?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Royce told his dad. “Sawyer loves me and would never betray our vows.”

Eddie sighed and looked past him. “I know that, but I don’t like the guy. He’s trouble.”

“You don’t know him,” Royce said.

“Something is off. Keep your eyes on him.”

“I will, and I can start sooner once you join your lovely lady.”

Eddie gave him one more hug before leaving.

Royce’s faith in his marriage was strong, but he still didn’t like Alec in his home.

He found Sawyer and the interloper sitting outside at the patio table.

Alec’s eyes seemed out of focus, and he’d somehow grown paler in the brief time Royce had said goodbye to Eddie and Jo.

He didn’t appear catatonic, but Royce worried he wasn’t far from it. What the hell happened?

“This isn’t good, Alec.” Sawyer held a phone that wasn’t his and stared at something on the screen. “What time did he leave your rental house on Thursday morning?”

“I am not my father.” Alec’s words came out in the barest whisper, but they packed the punch of a heavyweight champ.

“When who left?” Royce asked, though his twisting gut told him he already knew.

“I am not my father,” Alec repeated, rocking back and forth in the chair.

“When who left?” Royce demanded, unable to keep the frustration and fear from his voice.

Alec flinched and blinked his surroundings into focus again. He turned pleading eyes to Sawyer first, then to Royce. “I didn’t hurt him.”

Sawyer turned the phone around before Royce could ask again. Dane smiled at him from the missing person post Cayden had put on all the social media platforms. Royce’s heart sank with the confirmation.

“I am not my father,” Alec said through gritted teeth. “I am not. I am not. I am not.” Was he trying to convince himself or them? “Please help me.”

As much as Royce wanted to toss him to the curb, he couldn’t. Killer or not, Alec Bishop could be crucial to uncovering what had happened to Dane. “Pull yourself together and start from the beginning, Bishop,” Royce commanded.

Alec tried to speak, but nothing came out. He licked his lips and tried again, and Dane’s name came out in a dry rasp. Royce pushed an unopened bottle of water toward him, and Alec accepted with a hoarse, “Thanks.” He drained half the bottle while Royce and Sawyer engaged in a silent communication.

Royce’s gaze said “I told you so,” while Sawyer’s glower replied “don’t start.”

Alec set the bottle down, but he didn’t put the lid back on it.

He closed his eyes and pulled a deep breath into his lungs.

His exhale was long and shaky, but he seemed steadier when he spoke.

“I saw Dane at the open house, and I thought he was hot. He left before I could introduce myself, and I was so disappointed. Then Sawyer introduced me to Cory Sands, and Dane slipped to the back of my mind. At least temporarily.” Alec took another drink of water, cycled through another deep breath, and picked up where he left off.

“I was anxious as hell on Wednesday night. Amped up with a mouth running unchecked. The energy pulsed through me until I felt like I was coming out of my skin. Cory was cool and very flattering, so when he offered to show me a few nightspots, I accepted. A few drinks and some conversation felt like a good way to relax, or at least try to. Cory was into me and wasn’t remotely subtle about it.

I wasn’t feeling a spark and wanted to find a kind way to turn him down. ”

“How big of you,” Royce said, earning a kick from Sawyer under the table. Ouch . “I’m sorry. Please continue.”

“I’d already made enough mistakes to last a lifetime that night,” Alec said.

“So, I told Cory it was a bad idea for us to start anything since I was working with the police department. We’d run into each other at work, and I didn’t want there to be any awkwardness.

He was upset but put on a friendly face.

And that’s when Dane showed up. Our eyes connected across the bar, and the interest I’d felt at the precinct multiplied a thousand times.

But Cory was there, and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. ”

“Let me guess,” Sawyer said. “You excused yourself to use the bathroom and hoped Dane would follow.”

“I did.”

“And?” Royce prodded.

“Dane followed.” Alec rubbed the back of his neck.

“He said he was supposed to meet somebody there, but they’d stood him up.

I figured their loss was my gain. Dane asked about the guy I was with, and I told him Cory was a colleague.

We kissed, and it was like fireworks exploding in my brain.

So I asked if Dane wanted to come back to my place, and he agreed.

I racked my brain for a kind way to disentangle myself from Cory that wouldn’t hurt his feelings, but he was already gone when I returned from the bathroom.

He’d left me a note on a napkin that made me feel this tall.

” Alec held his thumb and forefinger an inch apart for emphasis.

“What did it say?” Sawyer asked.

“That he’d paid for the drinks and would see me around at the precinct.

I double-checked with the bartender to make sure Cory had settled the tab, and then we left.

Dane came back to my place and stayed there until about two in the morning.

I offered to drive him home, but he said it wasn’t necessary. I ordered a ride for him instead.”

“Did you see him get into the car?” Royce asked.

Alec shook his head. “I walked him to the porch, and we kissed a little longer. Dane said he hoped to see me again before I left town and then headed down the driveway. The car was due to arrive within five minutes. I should’ve waited with him.”

“At least we now have a good place to start our search,” Royce said. “Can you pull up your account and look at your history to see who the driver was and confirm he picked Dane up?”

Alec straightened in his chair. “Why didn’t I think of that?” A little color returned to his cheeks as he removed his phone from his pocket and tapped his screen a few times.