Page 69 of Daddy's Heart

“No, you stay in Chicago. Randall is still here, stuck just like me. If you come down here, he could see it as you trying to stop his appeal.”

“Do we want to stop it?” she asked, lifting her gaze back to Ryder.

“The reasons you came forward in the first place haven’t changed. He’s bad news, and it was the right thing to do.”

“So I should come down and try to help keep the appeal from going through.”

“I don’t know…that’s really you’re call, Sam. It looks like he’s greasing the right palms, it might put you in danger for nothing.” A pause. “I want you safe more than I want him behind bars.”

“If she lets it go through, doesn’t testify again or give a statement, you think he’ll leave her be?” Ryder asked, his brow wrinkled.

“I do. But it’s up to Sam. Whatever her call is, I’ll stand with her.”

“We agree on that,” Ryder said, though worry still creased his brow.

“I’ll think about it later,” Samantha piped in. “Let me just get through the interview tomorrow. Besides, Anderson may not need me at all.”

“True…I’m gonna let you go. I have to get ready for work. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Sure.” She sank into the couch as Ryder ended the call.

Silence filled the room.

“You okay?” Ryder perched himself on the coffee table in front of her. His warm hands cupped her knees.

“Jerri wouldn’t have done this for no reason,” she said firmly. “I mean, she’s always been selfish and self-centered, but not like this. She wouldn’t do this to him for no reason.”

“Well, some people take breakups hard. She could just be acting out.”

“Trying to send him to jail? Having him arrested?” She shook her head. “No, there’s more to it than that. He could be blackballed at the dungeon he belongs to. He mentioned she was distant before, but they weren’t fighting. It’s not like they hate each other.”

Ryder lifted a shoulder. “Well, it’s not going to stick. Especially if those marks were made at the dungeon. He’ll have witnesses that she consented…I’m sure it won’t get anywhere.”

“Yeah.” She agreed with him, but the sinking sensation in her stomach wouldn’t shake. There was more there, but what?

“Now.” He clapped his hands and rubbed them together briskly, drawing her attention to him. “About my little girl’s punishment for disobeying her Daddy.”

Chapter 26

Sammy’s eyes went wide.

“You didn’t think we were done discussing that, did you?” He leaned back on the coffee table.

“I thought you were keeping secrets.” She went back to the old defense.

“We just went over that, didn’t we?” he asked, running his hands up her thighs, beneath the skirt of her dress.

“Yes, Daddy.” A pout pushed the words from her lips.

“Now, since you couldn’t wait for my explanation, and you had to hurry off, I think we should work on that.” He got to his feet. “You waiting.”

She tilted her head back, a bright blush already forming on her cheeks. Too adorable for his own good.

“Come on, Sammy. Daddy’s going to teach you a new lesson.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the couch, then led her to his bedroom.

“You’re not going to make me use the pacifier again, are you?” she asked, only a slight ribbon of concern in her voice.

“No, not this time.” He brought her to the corner of the room. “This time, you’re learning to wait and do as your told. Go ahead and take off your clothes. You don’t need them for this.” He let go of her hand.

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