Page 32 of Hidden By His Side

The baby’s father groaned as he stumbled to his feet. He spit onto the sidewalk, blood mixed with the saliva. “It’s not the baby I don’t want. It’s you.”

Summer flinched.

Ramiro stalked toward the prick, but she scrambled for his arm, stopping him from leveling the fucker out.

To his surprise, her eyes were dry. “I asked,” she said.

Ramiro’s hand cupped her cheek as he shifted in front of her, blocking her view of the man who never should have been allowed to touch her. “You didn’t ask for this. Let me take care of it.”

Derek let out a drunken laugh. “You still want what I’ve already had? Trust me, it’s not worth it. She’s a lousy lay. Can’t even suck dick.”

Ramiro watched Summer’s face grow pale as her eyes dulled. His body shook from the effort to hold back. “Please, Summer,” he begged. The anger writhing inside him needed an outlet.

She closed her eyes. “He’s just drunk. Don’t kill him.” Then she turned away.

Ramiro waited until she was back in the lit lobby before he faced his prey.

Alcohol had dulled the man’s sense of self-preservation, but he must have read the promised pain to come in Ramiro’s eyes. He tried to run. Ramiro had him on the ground before he could take two steps, dragging him by his broken wrist far enough away that Summer wouldn’t be able to watch. The shadowed garage seemed appropriate.

Then he let go, driven by his own guilt. He should have watched out for Summer better. He should have never let this man touch her.

The crying and moans of pain had long since faded away by the time he stopped. The man’s chest still rose, proving he wasn’t dead.

When Ramiro looked up, Seb leaned against the short wall, smoking a joint.

“I thought you’d left.” Ramiro inspected his hands. The blood wasn’t too bad. He used Derek’s shirt to wipe the most obvious streaks away before standing.

“And miss the show?” Seb blew smoke out with a chuckle. “You told her you wouldn’t kill him.”

Ramiro studied the unconscious man. “He’s not dead.”

“Close enough. You want me to dump him?”

If they dumped him, the rattling breaths would slow. It would solve the problem, but she would know it was him.

Ramiro sighed. “Take him to the clinic.”

Seb snorted before taking another drag. “You’re soft on her.”

Suspicion weaved inside Ramiro. “Guzman thought the same.”

Seb’s smile faded. “I didn’t tell him. I only realized today.” He shrugged. “It’s nice, people falling in love.” He let his blunt hang between his fingers. “It’s not for me, but I don’t mind watching the fallout. Naz was especially sweet when he fell.” He studied the barely breathing body. “You have a different take on romance.”

“Fuck off. This wasn’t about romance.” Ramiro stared down at her broken ex, still wanting to kill him. He needed to bepatient. Once she forgot about Derek, he could kill him. “Summer and I aren’t like that.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Seb tapped out the blunt against the wall, pocketing what was left.

Even stiff and unconscious, Derek was more trouble than he was worth, but they stuffed him into the already lined trunk of Seb’s nondescript sedan. Sebastian Guzman didn’t do flashy, despite appearances.

Ramiro felt calm by the time he rode the elevator up to Summer’s floor. He sent off a quick text to Hayes as the doors opened.

‘Need a camera sweep.’

Approaching her door, his phone vibrated.

‘Already done. Entertaining.’

Ramiro shook his head. Hayes was getting out of hand. He’d have to drag him out of the house again soon.

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