Page 71 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

“It was the oldest building on the perimeter, so we started there. We found what was left of the tunnel within minutes of entering the crypt,” Gray explained as his gaze dropped to Logan’s hand and turned curious.

“Where the old tavern was located?” Logan asked, thinking about everything that he’d learned about the church when he looked into the Pack’s history.

“The old tavern’s dirt cellar was converted into a crypt when they built the church,” Gray said while Logan absently nodded, thinking that over.

“What was the family name on the crypt?” Logan asked since that was the one thing that he hadn’t been able to find out when he looked into the church’s history.

A tavern was built on the site in the 1630s to cater to the shifters in the area. In the early 1700s, the tavern burned to the ground and the land was sold to a banker who’d planned on giving his son the property as a wedding gift only to end up donating the land to the catholic church instead after his son died unexpectedly before the wedding. He had his men take a closer look at the church to see if it had been used by the Pack over the years, but they didn’t find anything. He also checked to make sure the Sentinels didn’t have any connection with the church before he dismissed it as a concern.

“Clemmons,” Gray said, letting Logan know just how badly he’d fucked up.

“What’s the status of the tunnel?” Logan asked, regretting his decision not to have Gray’s men take a closer look at the church sooner.

“Completely caved in.”

“Can it be cleared?” Logan asked, hoping like hell the shifter was able to clear it since it would give him another advantage.

“It shouldn’t be a problem, but it will take time. The tunnel connecting the two brownstones should be easier to clear out, but it’s a risk even without an Alpha watching over the Pack,” Gray explained while Logan sat there, absently nodding since the last thing that he wanted to do was alert Pierce that his men were close by.

“We need to find out where the tunnel from the church ends,” Logan said, sighing heavily as he took his time straightening the rest of the teacups on the small tray.

“I’ll have my men start on the tunnel immediately,” Gray said as he pushed his chair back. “What do you want me to do with the tunnel between the brownstones?”

“Get it ready,” Logan said, watching as the shifter moved to stand up only to pause. “Is there something else?”

“You cut through Hudson Street on your way here,” Gray said, making Logan go still.

“Keeping an eye on me?” Logan drawled, meeting the shifter’s gaze as he leaned back in his chair.

“I didn’t have to,” Gray said, making Logan frown, that is, until he added, “I caught your scent,” making everything in Logan go still.

“How long ago?” Logan asked, knowing that his scent should have been masked by a thousand competing scents within minutes. It was one of the reasons why shifters, vampires, and demons preferred living in the city since it made it easier to blend in.

“Ten minutes ago,” Gray said, letting him know that there was another complication thanks to the small woman that he was struggling to stop thinking about. “Your scent is getting stronger,” the shifter pointed out, watching him curiously. “Why is that?”

“Nothing that you need to worry about,” Logan said, watching the shifter as he stood up.

“I do when it interferes with the plan,” Gray said evenly as he allowed his eyes to turn silver. “We had a deal.”

“We still do,” Logan said as he watched the shifter’s gaze flicker to the pink tea set on the table between them.

“Are you sure about that?” Gray asked as he met his gaze.

“Positive,” Logan said coldly, watching as the shifter slowly nodded.

“Then, you need to make a choice,” Gray said, making everything inside Logan go still.

“And what choice would that be?” Logan drawled, stretching his arm out across the table and began absently drumming hisfingertips against the smooth tabletop while he considered the shifter.

“Playing house or finally ending this,” Gray said as he leaned back in his chair. “You’re distracted.”

“I’m cautious,” Logan said, feigning boredom as he continued drumming his fingertips against the table while he waited to see where the shifter was going with this.

“Not this time,” Gray said, making Logan’s fingers still against the table.

“Meaning?” Logan asked, watching Gray carefully for any signs that the shifter was about to fuck him over.

“I wasn’t the only one that caught your scent.”

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