Page 7 of The Sinner’s Son (Sawyer and Royce: Felonies and Fatherhood #2)

Sawyer shrugged and added another slider to his plate out of spite.

Stress often triggered the negative eating habits that had caused him to be overweight during a huge part of his adolescence.

Sawyer stared down at his plate while battling other unhealthy reactions, like guilt and shame.

He’d already eaten a huge lunch and didn’t want to think about the number of calories he’d consumed.

Fatty finger foods were the last thing he needed, and he’d regret eating them later.

His mind went into a spiral of what to do with his plate.

He couldn’t throw it away without looking like a dick, but he couldn’t put the food back on the platters after touching it.

He’d have to eat it, but then he’d feel awful later—physically and emotionally. “I, uh—”

Royce suddenly appeared by his side and took the plate from his hands. “I’m starving. Thanks.” Tension pinched Royce’s features, but his gaze softened when it landed on Sawyer. “Make yourself a plate.”

Sawyer glanced over his shoulder and noted that Mendoza was nowhere in sight. “Where’d the chief go?”

“As far away from here as he could get, I suspect.” Royce leaned into Sawyer’s personal space and lowered his voice. “He told me I had to deal with you, and I shall.”

Sawyer recalled the vibrating butt plug Royce used for his last punishment and had to fight off a shiver.

“Gross,” Tara said. “I’m out of here.”

“Hey!” Royce called out. “You can’t leave me here all alone.”

Tara pivoted and held up both hands with her palms out. “I’m not leaving the building, just the conversation.”

Royce cackled and turned back to the table to pile on more sandwiches and cheese sticks. He glanced up and caught Sawyer watching him. “What? I’m eating for two.”

Sawyer’s laughter broke the anxiety gripping his chest. “God, I love you.” Movement in his periphery caught his attention, and he turned to see Cory and his cohorts enter the community room. Instead of joining the conversation, they hovered around the perimeter of the group.

“What the hell is that about?” Royce asked, gesturing to the newcomers with his half-eaten slider.

Sawyer tried not to wince but failed. “The Alec Bishop Fan Club.”

Royce set his sandwich on the plate. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

Glancing at Alec again, Sawyer said, “That makes two of us.”

“What’s he even doing here?” Royce asked. “How’d he even know about this event?”

“This whole thing is my fault.”

“Yeah,” Royce said. “It kinda is. You just had to make nice with him in Denver. Still doesn’t explain what he’s doing here tonight though.”

“I’d mentioned the open house as the reason I couldn’t meet him tonight. And then I told him I had too much going on to meet with him before Monday morning.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And you see how well that worked out for me,” Sawyer said. “There’s tenacious, and then there’s this guy.” Sawyer was already in over his head, and the joint project had barely gotten underway.

Royce emitted a low growl. “I don’t want him interfering with our lives. I don’t want him showing up places he doesn’t belong.” Royce’s growing frustration was palpable, and Sawyer wished they were alone so he could assure him with more than words.

“I don’t want those things either. I’ll try being more assertive with Alec.” He’d handled dangerous criminals easier than this wannabe investigative podcaster.

“Guys like him don’t respond to authority and assertiveness,” Royce said.

“You draw a line, and he will cross it. You draw boundaries, and he will crash them. Start thinking outside the box before this guy tramples your career.” Royce leaned into his space.

“You’re a Locke now, so start thinking like one. ”

Sawyer smiled despite the tense situation. “I am, and I will.”

He had so much more to say, but it would need to wait because one of the male cadets broke free from the pack and strode toward them.

The kid was on the shorter side, slender, and moved as if the weight of the world rested on his narrow shoulders.

He had black hair, fair skin, and light blue eyes.

The cadet stopped abruptly a few feet away from them, as if he’d just registered their presence.

He darted an uncertain glance between them, so Sawyer waved him over and maneuvered Royce out of the way.

“This is Cayden Sutton,” Royce said. “Cay, this is my husband, Sawyer.”

“It’s good to meet you,” Cayden said with a short nod.

“It’s good to meet you too.”

Cayden grabbed a paper plate and glanced over his shoulder at the group surrounding Alec. “Why’s everyone got a boner for that guy? He’s a douche.”

Royce’s brow furrowed in disapproval, but his eyes radiated pride that his cadet saw through Alec’s veneer.

Sawyer had to bite his bottom lip to keep from laughing.

“Though I can’t fault your assessment of Mr. Bishop, I must insist you use more appropriate language inside the facilities or while wearing your cadet uniform. ”

Cayden’s cheeks turned pink, and he lowered his head. “Sorry about that.”

Sawyer leaned toward him and lowered his voice. “But you’re not wrong, my dude.”

“Says the man responsible for Alec being here,” Royce said. “You should’ve said no.”

Sawyer choked down a frustrated growl and bit hard into a naked carrot stick.

“No ranch?” Cayden asked, sounding more upset by the missing condiment than by Alec crashing their open house.

“He likes kale too,” Royce said in mock horror. “And not just blitzed and blended with fruits and yogurts. He eats it raw in salads and stuff.”

Cayden looked pityingly at Sawyer and added another slider onto his plate. “Dude.”

Sawyer shrugged and picked up a celery stick. “I like what I like.”

“Celery is for decorating a plate of chicken wings,” the cadet declared.

Royce fist pumped the air dramatically. “You show promising leadership, Cay.”

A young man hurried through the community center doors, halted, and searched the room until his gaze landed on Cayden. A look of relief washed over his face as he started in their direction. The guy had strikingly similar features to Cayden and was obviously an older brother.

“Dane!” Cayden’s entire demeanor changed when he saw him. His shoulders straightened, and happiness sparked in his eyes. Cayden gave his brother a one-armed hug since he still held a plate of food. “You made it.”

“Of course I did. I’m so proud of you.” He sounded slightly out of breath when he reached them, like he’d run into the building.

“Thought you were going to be a no-show.”

“Sorry I’m late. Work ran over.” Dane had swooped his black hair off his forehead, highlighting his gorgeous eyes and chiseled bone structure.

He was dressed in business-casual attire, a polo shirt, and fitted dress pants that many would find distracting in an office setting.

He was only a few inches taller than Cayden and wore more muscle on his frame.

Sawyer got a whiff of a spicy cologne that smelled expensive when Dane stepped back from hugging his brother.

He held Cayden at arm’s length, scrutinizing him up and down. “You good? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Who’s this, Cay?” Royce asked.

“This is my big brother, Dane,” the cadet replied proudly, looping his free arm around his brother’s shoulders.

“Dane,” Royce said, extending his hand. “It’s good to meet you. I’m so glad you could make it.”

The kid plastered a smile on his face when they shook hands, but it seemed forced since Sawyer had seen the real thing when he hugged his brother. “Cay was so excited when he got accepted into the Explorer program. I know he’s going to do great things. I’m really proud of him.”

Royce smiled and said, “He’s already shown early signs of leadership and excellent character assessment.”

Dane looked at his brother, and the genuine smile returned. “That’s great to hear.”

Royce introduced Dane to Sawyer, then offered the guy something to eat. “We ordered so much food, and I don’t want to take home the leftovers.”

“Thank you, but I already have plans.” Dane turned to his brother and said, “Can we talk for a few minutes?”

Tension rose between them, but Cayden shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”

The brothers moved to the far side of the room, and it was impossible not to glance in their direction every few seconds. “What’s their story?” Sawyer asked.

“Their mother is battling late-stage cancer,” Royce said. “Her prognosis isn’t good, and I get the impression that the boys only have each other to get through it.”

“Damn, that’s awful.” Sawyer knew all too well what kind of havoc cancer could wreak on a family.

He looked at the brothers in time to see Dane hand his younger brother an envelope.

Cayden shook his head, not wanting to take it, but Dane shoved it in his hand and closed his fingers around it.

The cadet tucked the envelope inside his uniform jacket. “Did Cayden tell you this?”

“No, but Jason did.” Royce’s oldest nephew had just graduated from high school.

He’d talked about becoming an Explorer cadet at one point but had changed his mind when he got serious about his art.

Jason’s hard work had earned him a coveted spot at Savannah College of Art and Design.

“Jason is best friends with Dane, even though he’s a little closer to Cayden’s age,” Royce explained.

“Is there anything we can do to help them?”

“I don’t know yet. Jason said the brothers are a little prickly about accepting anything they perceive as handouts, so I will have to tread carefully.”

“Male pride will be the ruin of us all,” Sawyer teased.

Royce looked over Sawyer’s left shoulder and narrowed his eyes. “I think we have bigger concerns to contend with right now.”

Sawyer angled his body and noticed the gathering around Alec had grown to include the groupies he’d seen lingering in the hallway.

Just freaking great . Alec’s gaze strayed from his flock and landed on the Sutton brothers.

Someone asked a question that yanked his attention back to the group, but Sawyer noted his gaze kept straying back to Cayden and Dane.

But why? Was it because they weren’t enamored with him?

The brothers hugged quickly before Dane left, and Sawyer observed Alec tracking his movement until someone thrust a book at him to sign.

“Last one,” Alec said. “I didn’t mean to hijack the night.” He smiled apologetically in Royce’s direction, but then his eyes widened when he spotted Sawyer. “Excuse me, everyone. I need to speak to my new crime-solving partner.”

Royce growled when Alec started toward them. The sound made Sawyer’s heart flutter, but he desperately wanted to avoid a confrontation.

Leaning into his husband, Sawyer whispered, “Save that for when we get home, hot stuff.”

Royce’s gaze glittered with dark promise when it shifted back to him, and Sawyer hoped he’d headed trouble off at the pass.

Alec reached them, a friendly smile on his face and a hand outstretched to Royce. “You must be the husband Sawyer can’t stop talking about.”

Royce gripped the hand hard enough to make Alec wince. “And you must be the one who can’t take no for an answer.”

Sawyer chuckled uneasily. So much for his efforts to prevent a confrontation.

Alec pulled his hand back and tried to look sheepish, but he just looked like a pompous asshole.

He sucked air through his teeth, then said, “Yeah, guilty. I was just so excited to be here, and then Sawyer mentioned the Explorer’s open house.

I just thought it would make perfect material for the podcast. SPD will play a major role in our investigation, so why not tell the world about the amazing opportunities here for future LEOs? ”

“That’s not a decision for you to make,” Sawyer said before Royce could respond.

Alec was his problem, and he needed to take firm control of the situation before he caused actual damage.

“Our contract outlined what access you would have at the precinct, and that didn’t include the Explorer Academy. ”

Alec threw up both hands in surrender. “You’re right. I apologize for intruding, even though open houses are public events.”

Did this guy want to challenge Sawyer to a duel on semantics?

Fine. He opened his mouth to refute Alec’s arrogance, but he got a better idea when his gaze snagged on Cory the Super Fan lingering nearby.

“Hey, Cory,” Sawyer said, waving him over to join the conversation.

The guy practically bounded over like a puppy.

“Have you met your hero yet?” Okay, Sawyer worried he’d laid it on too thick until Alec straightened his posture and beamed a smile so bright that Cory tripped over his own two feet.

He stumbled into Alec, who caught him by the shoulders and held him upright.

“I haven’t had the pleasure yet,” Alec said. “I’m always happy to meet a fan.”

A hot blush crept up Cory’s neck. “So sorry about that. I’m not usually this clumsy.”

“We all trip up sometimes,” Alec said.

“This is Cory Sands, and he’s one of our finest forensic science technicians,” Sawyer said before turning to Royce. “Cory has given presentations to your students before, right?”

“Every year,” Royce replied. “Cory is engaging with the kids, and he makes forensic science look exciting.”

“Because it is,” Cory said. “And I have amazing material for the students this year.”

“I’d like to hear all about it.” Alec’s gaze traveled the length of Cory’s body, appreciation darkening his gaze.

Cory’s eyes widened. “You would?”

“Absolutely. Maybe you could give me a tour of the academy’s facilities too?” Alec looked at Royce for approval.

“Go right ahead,” Royce replied, gesturing with his hand for them to proceed. “The event is open to the public, after all.”

Alec and Royce locked gazes, but luckily, Cory’s enthusiasm drew Alec’s attention away before he could clap back and make things worse. “I’ll catch you later.”

“You’ll catch me Monday morning at eight thirty and not a minute before,” Sawyer told him firmly. “Have I made myself clear?”

Full lips formed a smirk. “Crystal.”

Cory led Alec out of the community room, passing by the little fan club without so much as a wave or an introduction.

“Looks like Cory forgot all about his groupie friends now that he’s rubbing elbows with the celebrity,” Sawyer said.

“We have bigger fish to fry,” Royce replied. “Or steam for those more health-conscious.”

“I know.”

“That guy is trouble,” Royce stated.

“I know.”

“This won’t end well.”

Sawyer wanted to deny it. He truly did, but only a heavy sigh escaped his lips. He met Royce’s loving gaze and said, “I know.”