Page 45 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

“Don’t let go,” Caleb whispered as he wrapped his tiny arms and legs around Logan.

“I won’t,” Logan promised as he kissed the top of Caleb’s head like it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

“The water’s warm,” Caleb said, shifting his hold around Logan so that he could place his fingertips in the water.

“Do you like it?” Logan asked with a warm smile for the little boy as he slowly moved them through the water.

“Yeah,” Caleb said, raising his hand so that he could watch the water drip from his fingertips.

“Do you want me to put you down?” Logan asked, only to chuckle when Caleb frantically shook his head and wrapped his arm back around him.

Jill glanced back to find Shane watching his brother with something close to terror before her gaze dropped to Emma, who was worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she watched her twin brother.

“Do you want a turn?” Jill asked as she moved closer to the edge.

After a slight hesitation, Emma nodded and gestured for Shane to put her down. When he didn’t put her down fast enough, she wiggled until he sighed heavily as he put her down only to swallow hard as he watched her make her way to the edge of the pool and held her arms out.

Smiling, Jill reached up and pulled Emma into her arms as she glanced at Shane to find him sending her a look that told her what he would do if she hurt his sister. “It’s okay,” Jill said as she kept her gaze locked with Shane while she gave him a moment.

Releasing a shaky breath, Shane reluctantly nodded. Returning the nod, Jill shifted her attention to Emma. “Ready?” she asked with a warm smile.

When Emma nodded, Jill slowly moved back, moving Emma through the water as the sounds of her chain sliding into the pool accompanied the move. Ignoring the reminder of the reason why she was here, Jill focused on the little girl in her arms. When Emma relaxed, Jill moved faster only to slow down again when Emma’s arms tightened around her.

She was such a sweet little girl, Jill thought, kissing the top of her head as she glanced back at Logan to find him holding Caleb away from him so that only his legs were in the water as heslowly turned in a circle, making the little boy smile as he yelled, “Faster!”

Chuckling, Logan moved the little boy faster through the water, earning an excited squeal that ended with laughter as Logan pulled him back into his arms. When she turned around, she saw Shane slowly making his way to the pool, and after a slight hesitation, he sat down and moved to lower himself in the water only to rethink the move and yank his feet back.

“Let me help your brother,” Logan said, kissing the top of Caleb’s head before handing him to Jill.

“I’m not scared,” Shane said, swallowing hard as he kept his terrified gaze on the water.

“I know you’re not,” Logan promised him.

“I just don’t want to get my pants wet,” Shane said hollowly.

“They’ll dry,” Logan promised him as a tiny gasp drew her attention to the little boy in her arms.

“I need to take my pants off!” Caleb said, wiggling in her arms as he gestured frantically to the spot next to his brother.

“Hold on,” Jill said with a warm smile as she carried Caleb over to the edge so that he could climb out of the pool and-

Quickly stripped down to his undies and threw his soaked pajama pants at his brother, who shifted that glare on him. As soon as he was left in his teddy bear undies, Caleb held his arms back out for her. She barely had a chance to reach for him when he was jumping into her arms and earning a grunt from his sister, who sent her twin a glare that he easily ignored as he released a satisfied sigh.

“Better?” Jill asked, her lips twitching when the little boy nodded.

Smiling, Jill moved back in the water as she watched Logan turn around and give Shane his back. After a slight hesitation, Shane dropped Caleb’s pajama pants on the floor and lowered himself into the water as he reached for Logan.

“Please don’t let go,” Shane whispered, squeezing his eyes shut and held on as Logan’s silver eyes locked on her and-

“I promise.”

CHAPTER 23

He had a plan, Logan reminded himself as he sat there watching his angel sleep when the only thing that he wanted to do was to walk into that closet and pull her into his arms, but…

That wasn’t a choice.

Slowly exhaling, Logan forced himself to focus on the only thing that mattered.

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