Free Christmas Conspiracy by Robin Perini Page A

don’t want to be.”
    Her soft curves fit against him, evoking oh-so-sweet memories of beach breezes, waves breaking outside their door and endless days of passion. His body hardened in response as her familiar floral scent encircled him, but he’d promised.
    He cupped her cheek and her ice-blue eyes stared up at him. “Shhh, everything’s going to be all right.”
    “I want to believe that.”
    He did, too. He’d make it be all right…somehow.
    He pulled her to the bed, but just sat on the side, not expecting anything more.
    She joined him and ran her hand over the dark suede coverlet on his king-size bed. “I didn’t think I’d ever be here,” she said, her voice sounding almost awestruck.
    He took her hand and twined their fingers. “I imagined it more times than you know.”
    Logan’s heart raced at the flaring passion in her eyes. A look he knew all too well.
    “What’s going to become of us, Logan? Everything seems against a happy ending. Can I really just walk away from the king?”
    “I have a few suspicions about King Leopold’s dealings that I doubt he would want made public. I could use the information to ‘reason’ with him. If that’s what you really want.”
    “I don’t want to be in his life.”
    “Think hard, Kat.” Logan couldn’t believe he was saying this. “Leopold is family.”
    Her body stiffened. “That man is not my father. He was a sperm donor. He left my mother struggling to fend for us.”
    She froze at the flinch crossing Logan’s face. Kat could tell hurt rode hard on his shoulders.
    “Kind of like me.”
    Kat gasped. “No. Nothing like you! You cared about the kids as soon as you knew they existed. The king never cared enough about my mother and me to even check on us.”
    “He didn’t find out about you until your mom died.”
    “Almost four years ago!” Her eyes flashed again. “He’s known for all that time and he didn’t so much as try to find out about me until he decided I might be useful to him.”
    Logan’s hand stilled. The king had been interested in her. A little over three years ago, after the king’s son Max had been killed, he’d ordered Logan to track her down. That’s why he and Kat met. That’s why Hayden and Lanie existed.
    The unspoken lie rose between them and doused his desire like a plunge in a frozen lake. How would she react to the truth? “Kat—” he began.
    She shook her head. “You don’t understand. You have a place you call home. I don’t care about that. All I want is to give my kids a chance at a better life. I don’t care where. But it won’t be with someone who wants me just because my DNA happens to be half his.”
    A sharp knock sounded at their door.
    “Come.”
    Rafe cracked open the heavy oak, a frown on his face. “We need you downstairs. Hunter just contacted Noah regarding the terrorists. He’s in Bellevaux tracking a rumor. Daniel might still be alive.”
    * * *
    T HE CEMENT TRUCK SAT in the corner of the construction site. Deke Powell slammed his hand on the steering wheel. He’d tracked the transmitter to its final destination. Damn, Logan Carmichael. This was the second time they’d lost him.
    Victor wouldn’t be happy. His partner Hans had nearly turned that big knife he carried on him .
    Deke’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the number and felt the blood drain from his face. Victor Karofsky ran his organization without tolerance or mercy.
    “Powell.” Perspiration beaded on his forehead.
    “Are they dead?” The Russian accent never failed to give Deke chills, or perhaps it was the cold efficiency behind the words.
    He swallowed. “Not exactly, sir.”
    Silence reigned over the phone.
    His hand shook.
    “Your orders were to kill the princess and her children, not to mention Logan Carmichael,” Victor spat.
    The cold, quiet voice sent a chill of foreboding skittering up Deke’s spine. “I will find them.” He prayed the vow was true.
    “I don’t give second chances.”
    “I know