Page 133 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

With a nod, Caleb wrapped his arms and legs around her. Releasing a shaky breath, Jill adjusted him in her arms as she stood up and made her way back to the door. She paused by the door, listening for the sounds of footsteps or a heartbeat coming from the hallway. When she didn’t hear anything, Jill slowly opened the door and peeked out, making sure the hallway was empty before she kissed Caleb’s forehead and quickly made her way down the long hallway, pausing by each door and made sure that it was safe before she moved on.

When they reached the basement door, she placed Caleb down and reached above the door for the key and-

“It’s already open, Mommy,” Caleb said, making her frown as she looked down in time to watch him open the door.

“No, Caleb, wait-” Jill began only to have Caleb throw the door open the rest of the way.

“It’s okay, Mommy. I can help!” Caleb said as he raced down the stairs before she could stop him.

Jill opened her mouth to yell for him to stop only to be forced to bite back a scream as searing pain tore through her back, letting her know that Logan was hurt. As she was forced to reach over and slap her hand against the wall when her legs threatened to give out, Jill reminded herself that pain meant that he was still alive. It also meant that she needed to get help. Wondering where her father was, she stumbled towards the basement stairs and went after Caleb, hoping to stop him before he-

“Mommy, I found Shane!” Caleb yelled, making her swallow hard as she grabbed hold of the banister with her good hand and quickly made her way down the stairs to find Caleb standing next to Gray outside the first cell, where Shane was curled up in the fetal position in just his boxer briefs.

“Shane!” Jill said, damn near sighing with relief as she stumbled towards his cell, the pain tearing through her back, threatening to drop her with every step and-

“I killed him,” Gray murmured absently as soon as she reached them, making her swallow hard as she took Caleb’s small hand in hers and pulled him behind her.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Jill demanded as a pained groan drew her attention, making her heart break for Shane, knowing that there was nothing that she could do to make this better for him.

“The man that tried to kill you,” Gray said softly.

“Why?” Jill asked hoarsely as she watched Shane release a pained whimper as he mumbled, “Mom,” and-

“That’s what I would like to know,” came the bored announcement that had Jill going still before she glanced back to find Elizabeth standing behind them.

“Shouldn’t you be running for your life?” Jill asked, swallowing hard as her gaze dropped to the knife pressed against Emma’s throat.

“Probably, but then, I would miss Gray’s tale of woe, now, wouldn’t I?” Elizabeth said, once again looking smug, which meant…

She thought Logan was dead.

He was alive, Jill told herself as the pain continued to radiate through her back and down her arm. Whatever happened, she knew that as long as Logan was alive that he would do whatever it took to save their babies. She kept telling herself that as she watched Elizabeth turn the knife over and press the flat side against Emma’s neck and-

She was going to kill her, Jill decided when the move tore a scream from Emma that had Caleb crying as he grabbed onto her wet shirt and had Shane begging Elizabeth to stop.

“Let her go,” Jill said, giving Caleb’s small hand a reassuring squeeze as she met Emma’s terrified gaze.

“That’s not really an option,” Elizabeth said, glancing over her shoulder towards the stairs before she took in the cells lining the wall and the closet door on the other end of the large basement.

“And why is that?” Jill asked as she struggled to ignore the excruciating pain tearing through her back.

“I want to know why Gray would do something so unbelievably stupid when he knew exactly what I would do if he betrayed me,” Elizabeth said instead as she looked pointedly at her mate.

When he only stood there, glaring at her through silver eyes as a muscle clenched in his jaw, Elizabeth released a heartfelt sigh as she sent him a pitying look. “Did you really forget what I would do to her after this was all over?”

“You’re not fucking touching her,” Gray bit out, making Elizabeth’s lips twitch.

“Unless you’ve found a way to get around the mating mark, I really don’t see how you’re going to stop me,” Elizabeth said as she considered him. “I am curious, though, how did you see this playing out.”

When he didn’t say anything, Elizabeth slowly nodded. “The next time you ignore me, I’ll slit this adorable little girl’s throat,” she said, turning the knife back over and placed the edge of the blade close to Emma’s throat as she moved back against the wall so that she could keep the stairs in her sight while she waited. “Now, you were helping us pass the time with that tale of woe?”

“Where do you want me to start?” Gray asked as he released the lock on Shane’s cell.

“We could start by you telling me what happened to the men that I had guarding the rest of the house,” Elizabeth said with a pointed look at the knife held against Emma’s throat.

“I have no idea,” Gray drawled.

Nodding slowly, Elizabeth said, “Lying’s really not going to work for me, but for now, I’m willing to overlook it while you explain why you betrayed me knowing what I’m capable of,” while Jill took in her smug expression.

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