Chapter 146

Lake POV

“Me too,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Baby, I’m so glad. And I’m sorry—I’m sorry Samuel told you those lies. I’m sorry you had to be scared and confused. But it’s over now. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Because Papa killed the other bad man,” Ollie said, and there was something almost like awe in his voice. “I don’t remember it, but everyone keeps saying Papa saved us. That he found us and stopped the bad men. Is that true?”

“It’s true,” Ramon said, his voice rough. “Ollie, I would do anything to protect you and your mama. Anything. I will always keep you safe.”

Ollie looked at Ramon with such trust, such love, that it made my chest tight. “I know,” he said. “You’re my papa. That’s what papas do.”

Ramon had to look away, blinking rapidly. I reached across the bed and took his hand, squeezing gently.

We were going to be okay. All of us. It would take time—therapy for Ollie to process the trauma he couldn’t remember, therapy