Page 7 of Ruthless Son

Following the redhead, but with far less strut in my step, I walked over to the group of men, intent on giving him my two-piece. But with each step, that bravery dissipated, and nerves coiled in my gut as every single pair of eyes watched.

“Good morning, princess.” My mouth dried as I finally saw Rex in all his sun-lit glory. The artificial lights of the hospital did nothing for the specimen in front of me. But here, the morning sun shining through the wall of windows and lighting up his face, he was like a Greek hero from those stories of old. Hercules and Achilles all rolled into one giant glorious statue. His azure gaze was unblinking, and the dark patterns of his tattoos finally had shapes to them that I could make out. His hair was shaved on the back and sides, a long upper-cut of dark brown strands tied on top of his head. His man-bun outshined my messy one piled on my own head and I felt more like a frump than a 32-year-old woman who was a regular Pilates goer.

The scrape of wood on tile assaulted my ears as Rex’s foot kicked out, pushing a chair toward me. “Take a seat.”

Sly patted the cushion. “Come on, sugar. We’re starved and want to order, you’re holding the waitress up.” He gestured behind me to the old woman wearing a green apron the same color as the sign above the door.

“Oh, sorry,” I muttered to her, sitting down to give her space to move to my side, her wrinkled lips stretched in a warm smile as she waited for the men to tell her their order.

Calls from each man with their order didn’t faze her at all, didn’t matter how quick they told her, she wrote everything down with a nod and a smile, which spoke of her experience dealing with big groups. The amount they ordered was enough to feed a small army, and my eyebrows locked into my hairline as the food requests kept coming.

“What about you, princess?” Rex asked. “What you eating? Mary makes mean pancakes.”

My eyes cut towards Rex, “It’s Mia…not princess. And just coffee for me, thanks.” I smiled at the waitress, expecting her to move on.

Her barely there eyebrows, plucked to within an inch of her life, lowered over the pad. “Ya sure? You look like you could do with a good feedin’.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or an insult, but her eyes shone with concern so that initial pang of irritation at her comment softly withered. “Um,” as I considered whether I wanted to tie myself to this table with a meal, my stomach answered for me. The traitorous organ letting out a rumble loud enough to startle a laugh from the woman. “Guess I’ll take the pancakes,” I mumbled around my embarrassment.

“So, you off to see your sister this morning?” Rex questioned, leaning back against the cushioned booth. My chair sat kitty corner to him and the rest of the table and I felt like a spectacle tagged on the end, especially with the woman and baldy staring at me.

“Yes.” My watch read 09:20, I had 40 minutes until visiting hours started and I intended on being there as soon as those doors opened. I had no intention of hanging around longer than to refuel.

The friendly woman chimed in, “Rex mentioned you had a time of it with Missy last night, sorry about that.” Her comment sounded genuine. “I hope you don’t hold it against us, we’re not all assholes.” Her green eyes glittered with mirth. “Except Rex, he’s an asshole all the time.” The men around us laughed with her, the big bald man smiling down gently at her as she cracked jokes at Rex’s expense.

“I’m not arguing with her,” Rex agreed, while returning her smile. “People are just pricks.”

I snorted in return, in total agreement whilst cutting my eyes at the man of the hour. His smile broadened, a small chip in his front tooth adding an extra layer of ruggedness.

“You agree, princess?” Rex smirked, his blue eyes twinkling as if he could read my thoughts that were currently in accord with the redhead.

“I think if you give a woman a business card with a funeral home number on it when her sister is seriously injured in the hospital, then you’d definitely be classed as an arsehole.” Mary placed steaming pots of coffee in front of us, the heat a hazy mist between us, but I saw the shock on his face. His bright blue eyes widened, his gaze shooting around the table at the men who chuckled at the surprise written all over his face.

“Oh honey, don’t mind him, he had good intentions,” Redhead started, pouring out two cups of steaming black goodness, adding heaps of sugar to her man’s full cup. “He probably gave it to you and totally expected you to understand the context behind it. Everyone around here would know, but we forget that you’re not from around here.”

“Hell, sugar, you aren’t even from the same country. You wouldn’t get it,” Sly chimed in.

A large cup was slid in front of me, filled to the brim, the dark liquid burning, mimicking my embarrassment. Shamed-faced, I looked at Rex, his tattooed hand still on my cup in an act of thoughtfulness. Had I got it wrong?

“Princess, we run a funeral home; there’s two things in this world that are absolute, and that’s death and taxes. So, we sell insurance because every motherfucker is gonna die at some point, could be tomorrow, could be in 50 years—but death is certain.” He placed the milk jug down gently in front of me. “That means any insurance problems you have, Jenna here will know it.” He gestured to the friendly redhead. Jenna winked, before lifting her mug to her lips, steam curling around her pretty face.

“Shit, I thought?—”

“It’s my fault, I should have explained, and considered that your sister was in hospital that you may take it badly.” Cutlery was passed around, Rex placing a knife and fork on a napkin beside my hand. “And don’t worry about thinking I’m an asshole, because I am.”

Stunned into silence, I watched as the men and lone woman tucked into their breakfast that was slowly being brought out, the clink of cutlery the only sound around the table for a short time while they ate. A stack of pancakes appeared before me, and my eyes widened at the portion size. At least six golden rounds sat on top of each other drizzled with a sticky honey that dripped off the sides and pooled on the plate. “Jesus,” I muttered to myself, picking up my fork and wondering where the hell to start.

Conversation picked up around me, a mundane chatter of what their day consisted of. I listened with one ear while trying to make a dent in my meal, the soft fluffy pancakes breaking apart easily on my fork. The sweet treat practically melted on my tongue, and I moaned out loud, Rex’s low chatter swiftly coming to a halt as he glared at me over his own fork.

What?

Ignoring him, I stuffed more into my mouth, washing it down with the hot coffee. The bitter drink filled to the brim with milk and sugar in harmony with the sweet food. Although it was absolutely delicious, I could feel myself getting full, though I’d barely got through half of it. Releasing my fork, I leaned back, rubbing my stomach. “Oh my God, that was so good,” I said to no one, not expecting anyone to reply.

“Told ya, Mary makes mean pancakes. Though she might be offended that you haven’t finished.”

Rex slid my plate toward him, shoving his empty one to the side. I cringed a little inside when he picked up my fork and started eating. Didn’t he know that I'd just used that? He shoveled the food away, polishing off my leftovers. The man was a bottomless pit, he’d had his own full plate mere minutes ago and was still going.

The rest of the men had similar full plates, now mopping up the dregs with slices of bread. I couldn't imagine being able to put that much food away, especially in one sitting.

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