Page 130 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

Shaking her head as though she didn’t have a single care in the world, Elizabeth said, “I’m afraid I’m going to need to recoup some costs. Hiring mercenaries isn’t cheap,” Elizabeth said as he felt Caleb’s trembling hand grab hold of his shirt as they began slowly making their way up the stairs.

“You’re planning on selling them,” Logan said as his gaze flickered to the men moving to surround them as they stepped onto the patio.

“To the highest bidder,” Elizabeth said with a heartfelt sigh as she gestured between the two of them, watching them as they kept Caleb between them as they moved. “Do you really think that’s going to save him?”

“You’re not touching him,” Logan murmured, knowing that he’d fucked up.

He never should have let his guard down, never should have stopped until Pierce was dead, but once he’d held his angel in his arms…

He never wanted to let her go.

She gave him the one thing that he’d always craved, would have happily died for, and would do absolutely anything to protect. He-

“You sent the human to kill her,” Logan said, feeling Jill go still behind him. “Why?”

“What was it that you called her? A means to an end,” Elizabeth said mockingly as the realization of just how far the bitch had gone hit him.

“You were listening,” Jill said hollowly as Elizabeth’s lips pulled up into a smug smile as a wave of anger tore through him.

“And watching,” Elizabeth said, looking really fucking amused for someone that was about to die.

“How long?” Jill demanded, sounding furious as Logan realized that every lingering glance, touch that was never fucking enough, and private moment with his angel had been stolen.

“How long have I been watching you? Since the beginning,” Elizabeth absently said as she met his angry gaze. “I have to admit that I miss the late-night talks.”

“Gray,” Logan said, wondering just how far the mutt’s betrayal went. “He gave you control over my system at the penthouse.”

“And her chain,” Elizabeth said, letting Logan know that his angel had kept something from him as well.

“You shocked her,” Logan said flatly, feeling sick to his stomach.

“Every chance I got,” Elizabeth said with a satisfied sigh.

“Why did you try to kill me in the first place?” Jill demanded as Logan moved them away from the pool.

“I was finally ready to get what I wanted from Kale and I needed Logan to hire him to find out who killed his precious human so that he could avenge her death,” Elizabeth explained, sounding bored with the conversation.

“Why didn’t you try killing her again when you found out that she survived?” Logan asked, needing to keep her talking even as he couldn’t help but wonder where Jill’s father was.

“The same reason why I allowed you to keep the children. I needed you distracted.”

Absently nodding, Logan said, “You never did tell me how you found me here.”

“Didn’t I?” Elizabeth asked, sounding amused as her men took aim.

“No, you didn’t,” Logan murmured, watching as two of the men shifted back so that they could keep their weapons aimed at Caleb.

“The tea set,” Elizabeth said as she glanced back at the doors before looking back at him. “I told you that your weakness was going to be your downfall.”

“You had the mutt put a tracker in our little girl’s tea set,” Logan said, watching the men herding them towards the wall. “Speaking of the mutt, looks like he abandoned you.”

“It was only a matter of time,” Elizabeth said, not really sounding all that concerned that her mate just fucked her over.

“And my mate?” Logan asked, moving back only to feel his heart break when Caleb mumbled, “Daddy,” as he pressed his forehead against his back.

“Is as good as dead, which reminds me, I don’t think I’m going to need both children and since I already have this one…” Elizabeth said, letting her words trail off as her men aimed their guns at Caleb.

“Close your eyes, min swete sunu,” Logan said as he reached back and covered Jill’s hand where it held their baby boy.

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