Page 81 of Daddy's Heart

Ryder’s jaw clenched. A silent death was a gift Randall didn’t deserve. He gave the nurse a solid nod, hoping he came across as concerned. She finished fiddling with her tablet and left the room again, pulling the curtain closed once more.

After several minutes filled with the steady beeps of the machines, Ryder moved to Randall’s side. He wasn’t overly large, at least not lying in the hospital bed.

“Big man beating on a woman.” Ryder gripped the rails of the bed.

Randall’s eyes fluttered gently.

“Came all the way up here to scare her? To lay your hands on her?” Bricks of anger built on top of each other, filling Ryder’s chest. Samantha should have been safe. She’d done all the right things, she’d been a good person, she’d been a good girl. Yet, she laid in her own hospital bed down the hall, in pain, broken, and scared.

Randall opened his eyes, the dark orbs locking on Ryder.

“You’re awake. Good.” Ryder leaned over his face. “Do you know who I am?”

“I doubt he does, but I’m aware.” A thick voice came from behind Ryder.

Spinning around, Ryder found two men in sharp suits standing near the curtain. The glass door slid shut, and the curtain pulled tight again to hide them from the hallway.

“You’re Ryder Welding, right? Samantha’s been shackin’ up with you?” The shorter of the two shook a finger. “Sam, now she was a good girl. Sweet. Too sweet for my nephew.” He stepped forward, the solid soles of his shoes clicking on the linoleum floor.

“You’re his uncle.” Ryder fisted his hands at his sides. It had been a long time since he’d gone up against two men, but he wouldn’t count himself out.

“Yeah. That asshole belongs to me.” His gaze darted to the injured Randall, disgust dripping from his expression.

“And that one?” Ryder gestured toward the muscle standing behind him.

Randall’s uncle laughed. “Yeah, this one too. But that doesn’t concern you. What does concern you is that lovely lady in the next unit over.”

Ryder’s chest tightened. “If you fucking touch her—"

“Hey, no!” He put his hands up. “I’m gonna be honest with you, I don’t much care about what she did. She snitched, that’s not great for my family, but you know what? My nephew here has been a fucking wart on my ass since the day he was born. I get him out of prison, and what does he do? Jumps the border and comes after Samantha.” He shook his head and tsked. “We’re family, and for that reason, I can’t let you hurt him.”

Ryder’s jaw ticked.

“I know what I was walking in on here. Your girl’s hurt, and my asshole nephew did it. I don’t blame you. Someone laid a hand on my wife—” He dragged his thumb across his throat. “But like I said, he’s my family.”

Muscle man moved around the uncle to the side of the bed across from Ryder. Randall made a small noise.

“From what the docs tell me, that tube is keeping him breathing. Should it fall out…” Randall’s uncle shrugged.

Ryder stepped back, watching as the muscle man leaned over Randall and wiggled the thick tube from the breathing machine.

He should stop them. Call for help. Something.

Randall’s uncle stepped up to the bed, locking eyes with Randall as he gasped for air.

“You’re a fucking prick. If it weren’t for your mother, I’d let this guy tear your fucking throat apart,” his uncle said with disgust.

Randall struggled for breath, his fingers wiggled, but he had no use of his arms. He was completely helpless, laying there praying for air that wouldn’t come. And Ryder watched with a clear conscience and wanting heart.

Machines started beeping, but Muscles was prepared. He flipped off switches and folded his arms over his chest, staring down at Randall’s last breaths.

“The guy with him? Anderson?” Ryder said after Randall’s chest stopped rising and falling, and his eyes glassed over. He was gone. Too nice of an ending for him, but he died knowing his uncle—his own family—couldn’t tolerate him living another minute.

“One of my guys. He informed me of my nephew’s stupidity. He’s the reason you’re walking out of here right now, so I wouldn’t get too curious about anything else.”

Ryder nodded in the silence of the room.

“You should get out of here before the nurses come in to check on this dirtbag.”

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