Page 77 of Daddy's Heart

“If I sign them, you’ll leave?” She couldn’t keep the waiver from her voice.

“Sure, baby girl. You sign and I’ll go. So long as you understand you’re on deck. If Anderson calls, you come running.”

Samantha stared at Randall, taking in the anger seeping from him.

“Fine,” she agreed.

“That’s a good bitch.” He grinned and stepped back. She gulped in a breath. Anderson opened his messenger bag, pulled out the papers, and produced a pen for her.

“Here you go.” He stepped in front of Randall and handed Samantha the papers. “You sign the last page.”

“Let me read it so I know what I’m signing.” She grabbed the document and scanned it. Apparently, her broken heart had made her lie to the police and jury about Randall’s involvement in the planning of the robbery.

“If I say this, I would be admitting to perjury. I could go to jail.” She flicked her gaze to Anderson. Why would he ask her to switch places with Randall behind bars?

“You won’t. I have it handled. It’s just a formality. I’ll get this into the right hands and make the case against Randall go away,” Anderson assured her. His calm demeanor sent a cold spark over her. Couldn’t he see how far away from the good side he’d gone?

“Sign it,” Randall spat at her. Patience had never been his strong suit, and she suspected it was already pretty damn thin considering he’d driven up to Chicago just to get her to scribble on the line.

She took the pen from Anderson. “Paul is going to find out, Anderson. Why would you betray him? How could you?”

Guilt played on Anderson’s expression, but he didn’t comment. What could be said about such horrific behavior?

Samantha placed the document against the wall and scribbled across the line above her typed out name.

“You did the right thing, Sam You shouldn’t have to make an appearance, but I’ll know for sure tomorrow after I file your statement.”

“Jerri needs to drop the charges against Paul.” She held the document against her chest.

Randall laughed. “Fine. Once the appeal goes through, she’ll drop it all. But you do anything to stop this from going through, and she’ll find a few more pictures to turn over.”

Samantha bit down on her lip. Pissing him off wouldn’t get him out of the apartment, and she needed him out.

“Okay.” She handed the papers back to Anderson.

“Good. We can go now, Randall,” Anderson said firmly. “We got what we needed.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right.” Randall took on a more casual stance. His eyes narrowed slightly; she caught it when Anderson turned toward the door. Randall wasn’t there just for her signature.

He wanted his revenge.

“You know, a guy betrays me like you did, he’d end up with a bullet in his head.” He stepped closer. “No. Stay the fuck out of this,” Randall snapped at Anderson when he tried to move between them.

Samantha swallowed hard and firmed her stance.

“But I promised this asshole I wouldn’t take you out.”

Words failed her. She wouldn’t apologize for doing the right thing, and she wouldn’t beg him. He didn’t deserve the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

“Randall, let’s go.” Anderson opened the front door. “We got what we came for.”

She should run. She should jump away, get around him, and get to the living room. But while the thoughts were tumbling through her mind, Randall acted.

His fist struck her across the jaw, knocking her to the ground. Her stomach lurched with blinding pain when his foot connected.

“Randall!” Anderson thundered.

Another hit to her head drowned him out and sent everything into blackness.

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