Robin Perini - Christmas Conspiracy

Logan blinked. “No.”

“Why do you look scawy?”

Flummoxed, Logan scanned the closet, trying to concentrate on finishing the security check and not grabbing his son and holding him tight. “I’m looking for bad guys. Have you seen any?”

“No. Just you.”

Logan turned back to find the kid holding a toy gun on him.

“Reach for the sky!”

Logan couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing and lowered his weapon.

Paulina’s eyelids flew open and she screamed, struggling to get out of the rocker.

So much for keeping things quiet.

“Clear,” Logan called into the other room. “I’m not here to hurt you,” he said softly to Paulina. “Kat’s with me.”

She raced into the room.

“Mommy!” The little boy leaped at Kat and she hugged him tight.

“How’s my big boy?”

“I caught the bad guy—” he pointed to Logan “—wif my gun.”

“Hayden, he’s not a bad guy.”

“He’s not?” The little boy stared at Logan, a little disappointed. “He’s on my side?”

Logan froze, his gaze meeting Kat’s. “You bet. I’m definitely on your side.”

“Hayden.” Kat swept his blond hair off his forehead. “He’s a very special man. He’s your daddy.”

Hayden turned around and glared at Logan. “Bad Daddy. Where’d you go? You’re s’posta live with us.”

KAT COULDN’T GET Logan’s devastated expression out of her mind. Hurriedly, she zipped up her son’s puffy blue coat while Hayden squirmed in her lap. Lanie, on the other hand, stood quietly, staring at Logan, her thumb in her mouth. Kat’s daughter had an old soul. She watched everything. Unlike her brother who found trouble no matter how safe Kat tried to make things.

While Rafe patrolled outside, Logan stood guard at the window, his hand near his gun, his entire body alert and stiff. Tension vibrated in the room. Every look he gave her shot daggers, even while his expression softened and a smile tilted his lips when his gaze lingered on Hayden and Lanie.

“I’m so sorry, Katerina,” Paulina repeated for the tenth time. “They’re so … lively. They chased each other and Hayden rammed his fire truck into the tree. It just toppled over. I had hoped a nap would calm them. And me. The only time to rest is when they do.”

“Believe me, I understand, Paulina. They’re a handful.” Kat pulled out her last twenty and placed it in the woman’s hand. “Thank you for watching them. We’ll be away for a few days.”

“Longer.” Logan strode over to Paulina. “Do you have someone you could visit out of town?”

The babysitter looked surprised. “I have a sister … in Mexico. Why?”

“It might not be safe in this neighborhood for a while.” Kat didn’t know what else to say without explaining too much.

“I cannot afford a visit,” Paulina said, her look uncertain. “Do not worry. I’ll be fine.”

“Go see her.” Logan handed her a thick envelope. “This will help. I never meant to scare you, and, after today, you could use a vacation. Merry Christmas.”

Paulina opened the packet, shocked as she thumbed through the bills. She looked to Kat, who smiled and nodded her agreement. “Thank you,” the woman said quietly. “I have missed mi hermana . It will be a good surprise to see her.”

“Leave today.” He gave Paulina a serious look and she agreed nervously. Logan picked up the kids’ bags. “We need to hurry, Kat.”

At his deep voice, Hayden twisted around. The boy couldn’t stop looking at Logan. Kat understood. His intensity commanded attention, and despite their lives being in danger, Logan’s presence made her feel protected and safe. But every cool glance flayed another layer of her heart open.

Kat grabbed a diaper bag from the floor and quickly added the three small stockings hung on the wall near the tree. Three. Not four. Would that change this year?

The babysitter hugged Lanie, then Hayden ran over and Paulina kissed the top of his head. “Goodbye, niño . Be good if you can.”

She hugged Kat and hobbled out the door.

Hayden grabbed his white-and-red engine from next to the fallen Christmas tree. He raced over to Logan, stared at him, then offered him his treasured toy.

“I can’t cawwy it to the car. You do it. Don’t let the bad guys get it.”

Kat’s heart jolted at the gesture. “Logan, I think you’ve been forgiven.”

She recognized the wonder in Logan’s eyes as he whispered into his earpiece that they’d be out in a minute. Slowly he knelt to take the fire truck from his son. His movements were hesitant, wary, so very different from the certain, decisive moves he’d used against the men who’d attacked them.

“I’ll make sure it gets to the car, Hayden.”

“Me, too?”

“Yeah, buddy. You, too.”

She’d known Logan as a sensual man and she’d seen him as a warrior today, but she’d never seen him like this … open … vulnerable … awed by a little boy’s trust. He ran a trembling hand over her son’s blond head. She’d never imagined Logan’s touch could be so achingly tender. Kat swallowed back tears. She hadn’t expected Logan to connect with Hayden so quickly—or to be so cautious with and amazed by Lanie.

Logan looked up and she pretended not to notice the sheen in his eyes, but she lost part of her heart to him then and there.

Or was that the part that had always been his?

“We need to leave now.” His voice broke a bit.

She lifted the diaper bag with the stockings, then remembered the kids’ presents. “Will we return in time for Christmas?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll be right back.” Kat handed Lanie over to Logan and raced into her bedroom.

She tugged a small bag from her closet, filled with a few toys and clothes she’d collected at yard sales over the summer. It wasn’t much, but at least they’d have something for Christmas. She hurried back to the living room where a panicked Logan held their screaming daughter, tears raining down her face. Hayden ran in circles around them.

Logan tried rocking Lanie, his movements awkward, but she just wailed louder. “She won’t stop.”

Rafe knocked on the door, then stepped inside. “Hunter called. Sergei and three men are heading this way. ETA fifteen minutes.”

“Take the bags and put them in the SUV,” Logan ordered Rafe.

His certain tone stopped Lanie’s tears. She blinked up at him.

Logan stroked her cheek. “You like your men more decisive, huh? Okay, we’re out of here.”

She cocked her head sideways and plopped her thumb in her mouth.

He held out the baby to Kat, who had grabbed a kicking Hayden. “Trade you.”

“Gladly.” She took Lanie, and they ran out the door. “We need car seats.”

“Done. Rafe put them in the backseat.” An identical SUV idled behind the black monstrosity Rafe had driven.

She sent him a questioning glance.

“Decoy.” He put Hayden into the backseat, nearly smacking his son’s head on the underside of the roof in his rush, then fumbled with the latches. “These are not meant for fast getaways, and we’re out of time.”

Kat shoved him aside. “Give Hayden his toy. I’ll do it.”

She settled the kids and slid into the front seat. Her heart raced. “How far away are the king’s men now?”

“Ten minutes.”

Logan quickly pulled out and took an indirect route back to the highway. He glanced at the kids. Hayden’s eyes had closed almost as soon as they started driving.

“He’s already asleep?”

“Hayden has two speeds. Dangerous and comatose.”

Lanie snuggled with her blanket and stared out the window at the passing winter landscape. Eventually, her head started to nod, too.