Winter Soldier (2019 series) #4

Winter Soldier and Sharon Carter investigate the man who claims to be RJ’s father: he’s Richie Boyle, an ex-con who just served time for bank robbery and DNA shows that he is RJ’s dad. Now Bucky is spying on Boyle and RJ as they try to reconnect over a restaurant meal; it goes rather awkwardly for them. Leaving the place, Boyle is confronted by some thugs who work for a loan shark Boyle owes money to. When they threaten Boyle, RJ takes action, hitting the hoods where they don’t expect it. Then Winter Soldier appears and chases them off. Boyle is angry that Bucky was spying on them and stalks off. RJ asks Bucky to give him a chance at a fresh start….

Bucky goes to Philadelphia and confronts the gangster Boyle is in debt to, clouting his bodyguard, tossing him some cash, and telling him to leave Richie Boyle alone. Though the gangster doesn’t believe Richie Boyle will ever change, he agrees to Bucky’s demands….

Soon, Bucky sets Boyle up in an apartment and gets him a job as a bartender. The next day, Boyle tells RJ that he has a plan to rob a high-stakes poker game and needs RJ to be his partner. RJ rejects the idea so Boyle backs down….

Bucky confides in Sharon that he thinks he’s losing RJ while Sharon points out that RJ isn’t his to lose…and then Sharon gets a text….

That night, Boyle is leaving work when Bucky confronts him in an alley; the text Sharon received shows Boyle with Colt, RJ’s Hydra handler and he knows Hydra has paid Boyle to get the boy back for them. Boyle denies it and, enraged, he attacks Bucky. Bucky steps aside and Boyle hits his head against a dumpster and dies of a broken neck….