Chapter 38

Ramon POV

The lie was transparent, but beautifully delivered—hitting all the right notes of grateful omega wanting to please his alpha provider. Anyone who didn’t know Lake as well as I’d come to know him might have believed it.

“A surprise,” I repeated slowly, studying his face for any crack in the facade.

“Nothing major,” he said quickly, perhaps sensing my skepticism. “Just something I’ve been thinking about. A thank you gift.”

The phone sat between us on the table like evidence at a crime scene. I could pick it up, could check what account information he’d entered, could trace exactly what he’d been attempting.

But doing so would force a confrontation that Lake clearly wasn’t ready for, would push him into whatever corner he was trying to avoid.

“I appreciate the thought,” I said carefully, “but you don’t need to thank me with gifts. Having you and Ollie safe and happy is more than enough.”

Something flickered across Lake’s face—g