Chapter 35

Lake POV

“I’m not stealing from Ramon,” I said, trying to inject some firmness into my voice despite the fear making my hands shake. “He’s been nothing but good to us. He’s given Ollie a real home, a real chance at a normal life—”

“How touching,” Samuel sneered. “The whore with a heart of gold, loyal to his rich john. But let me remind you of something important, Lake. Ramon Navarro might have bought himself a pretty little omega and a convenient cover story, but that doesn’t mean you’re safe from me. It doesn’t mean I can’t reach you whenever I want.”

The threat was clear, and Samuel’s hand moved from my wrist to my throat before I could react. His fingers wrapped around my neck—not quite choking, but applying enough pressure to make breathing difficult, to remind me of exactly how vulnerable I was in this moment.

“I gave you life,” Samuel hissed, his face so close I could see the broken capillaries in his eyes, smell the decay on his breath.

“I