Chapter 108

Lake POV

“And you,” Samuel said, addressing Ollie now. “Oliver. You love your mama very much, don’t you?”

Ollie didn’t respond, just pressed harder against my back.

“That’s fine. You don’t have to talk to me yet.” Samuel’s hand reached out, and I tried to shift to block him, but he was faster. His fingers brushed through Ollie’s hair, and I felt my son flinch. “But you will eventually. You’ll learn to be respectful to your grandfather. To be grateful for everything I’m going to teach you.”

“Don’t touch him,” I said, my voice low and dangerous despite my helplessness.

“Samuel, I’ll cooperate. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t touch Ollie. Please.”

“Whatever I want?” Samuel repeated, and his hand moved from Ollie’s hair to my face, tracing the line of my jaw where he’d gripped it so hard moments before. “That’s a dangerous promise to make, Lake. Are you sure you’re ready to follow through?”

I knew what he was implying. Knew what “wh