Chapter 139

Ramon POV

“I’m here,” I said, moving to kneel beside Lake. “Ollie, it’s Papa. I’m here too. Mama and I are both here, and we’re not going to let anything happen to you. But we need you to come out from under the bed so the doctors can make sure you’re healing properly.”

I could see movement under the bed—Ollie shifting, maybe trying to see us better. “It’s really you?” he asked. “It’s really Mama and Papa?”

“It’s really us,” Lake confirmed. “We’re right here, baby. We’re not going anywhere. Please come out.”

More movement, and then slowly, so slowly, I saw small hands appear at the edge of the bed frame. Ollie was crawling forward, emerging from his hiding spot inch by careful inch.

When his face came into view, my heart broke.

He looked so much worse than when he’d been unconscious. His eyes were wild and unfocused, pupils dilated unevenly. His skin was pale except for the angry bruises covering his face and the bandage wrapped around his