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“Supportively.”

I watch Charm absorb the fact that I know about the building, the deed, and the business she created after treatment. Surprise moves through her expression before she realizes I paid enough attention to know more about her life than I admitted.

“You looked,” she says quietly.

“Occasionally.”

“How occasionally?”

“Don’t become greedy.”

Her smile deepens. “You looked.”

I slide my hand around the back of her neck and pull her close enough to kiss her temple. “It’s amazing where you are considering what you came from.”

The table falls quiet for half a second.

Everyone closest to us understands the words are aimed at her father.

Charm’s gaze holds mine as she reaches beneath the table and threads her fingers through mine.

Lance leans toward us. “You’re one to speak about overcoming where you came from. We all know what the gutter looks like, Decker. That is where your roots remain, regardless of how much money you make.”

The warmth beneath my ribs freezes.

I turn in my chair.

Lance lifts his wine as though he has said something worth celebrating. “Garbage, violence, addiction, criminality. Some environments leave permanent marks. Clothing, education, and an athletic contract can only disguise so much.”

Charm’s hand closes tighter around mine. “Lance, stop it.”

He glances at her. “I’m speaking to Ryan.”

“No, you’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Charmagne.”

I squeeze her hand. “I don’t need you to handle him.”

“I know.” She keeps her eyes on her father. “That doesn’t mean I’ll let him speak to you that way.”

Her response should settle me.

It doesn’t.

Lance’s words have already dragged East Harlem, foster homes, Lance’s body, and my mother’s blood into a garden built to celebrate love. I recognize the strategy without becoming immune to it. He wants the violent Mexican kid from whatever file he paid someone to build.

I give him my smile instead.

“You’re right about the permanent marks,” I tell him. “The streets taught me to recognize a predator before he finished pretending to be respectable.”

Lance’s expression changes.

I lean back and put my arm around Charm’s shoulders. “Turns out the expensive suit doesn’t hide as much as you thought.”

Cade lowers his glass. Briggs goes still across from me.

Lance looks at Charm. “This is what you consider impressive now?”