Christmas Conspiracy. Robin Perini

      “I’ve discovered you work for Logan Carmichael. You shouldn’t keep such secrets from me, but I guarantee you won’t keep many more.”

      Heavy metal clanged on the iron table beside Daniel’s chair.

      Oh, God.

      The interrogator trailed the leather grip of the whip across Daniel’s cheek. “Give me what I want, my friend, and maybe you’ll live. Right now, you are the suspected terrorist who bombed the Bellevaux throne room and killed Prince Stefan. I produce your body and I’m a hero. No one will question what shape you’re in when found dead. You’re assumed dead now.”

      The man leaned closer. “Only I can clear your name. Now, where is Carmichael going and who is this princess?”

      “Go to hell.” Daniel braced himself. The whip came crashing across his face and the force of the blow sent the chair toppling. Daniel’s head slammed into the floor. Logan, be on guard. Protect her.

      “Prepare him!”

      The guards grabbed Daniel’s shoulders. Knife blades of pain shot through his arms as they cut the ropes binding him to the chair. They rammed him against the stone wall, face-first, then tethered his wrists to metal rings high on the wall. Daniel arched in agony as the whip slashed his already raw back.

      “Where is Carmichael and who is the girl?” The man’s voice was deadly cold.

      “I don’t know.”

      “Bring the wrench.”

      Daniel went cold inside, then laughed bitterly. At least if the guy stuck to this line of questioning, Daniel wouldn’t betray Logan. Daniel didn’t know where his boss was or who the princess could possibly be. The first blow of the wrench smashed his left hand. His tortured scream filled his mind and body like an air-raid siren set at the highest decibel, but no sound ever escaped his clenched lips.

      Please, God, let me die fast.

       Chapter One

      Logan Carmichael catapulted into the fiery barn, sparks and large embers singeing his leather bomber jacket and burning through his jeans. He could barely see through the black smoke billowing from his right, but its heat scorched his lungs. Desperation clawed his insides as he raced toward the woman who had broken his heart three years ago. Now that he’d finally found her, he wouldn’t lose her again. Not this way.

      “Kat!” He grabbed her bare arm. “What are you doing? The barn won’t last much longer.”

      She spun around, her eyes frantic at first, then widening in shocked recognition. “We’ve got to save the horses,” she yelled over the roar of the fire and the shrill sounds of the frantic animals.

      “I’m getting you out of here.”

      “We can still rescue them.” She tugged against his hold. “Take your shirt off and cover their eyes. If they can’t see the fire, you can lead them out safely. Please, Logan.”

      The inferno exploded through the roof on the far side. More sparks rained down. It wouldn’t take long to engulf the entire building.

      Barely visible through the thickening haze, two horses whinnied in fear. Logan cursed. They were running out of time. “I’ll do whatever you say if it gets you out of here.”

      Kat twisted away and dove into the first stall. She stripped down to her tank top, then tied her plaid flannel shirt around the filly’s head. Offering words of encouragement between hacking coughs, Kat backed out of the stall, hauling the terrified mare with her.

      Logan took the reins and shoved Kat toward the barn door. Heat seared his hands and face the closer he got to the fire. He fought with the huge animal every step. “Call for help. I’ll get them both out.”

      For the first time since he’d met Kat three years ago, she didn’t argue. He stripped off his jacket and shirt, then went back for the second horse, while she ran to the open door. When he glanced up, he could barely make out the blue winter skies through the smoke-filled opening. The fire was moving fast.

      Just before she reached the barn door, it slammed shut.

      She skidded to a halt, then tugged at the door. It didn’t budge. “It’s locked!” Kat shouted over the roar of flames. “We’re trapped!”

      She pounded on the wood, screaming for help, then dissolved into fits of coughing as the toxic smoke swirled thicker.

      Logan knew no one would come. This fire was no accident. That was clear the moment the door closed. Someone wanted them to burn.

      “Cover your mouth with your bandana and come with me,” he shouted across the large room. He used his black T-shirt to filter the sooty air and squinted through the roiling flames that licked the back and side of the wooden structure. They couldn’t risk going out the front now, anyway. No telling who waited.

      Logan cursed King Leopold as he threw his jacket on and pulled the two horses to the intact side of the barn. He tied them off. The conniving ruler had obviously kept more than a few secrets from Logan when he hired him to find Kat for the second time. This one might cost them their lives.

      The blindfolded horses reared, then stomped down, panic-stricken, but Logan couldn’t calm the animals now. Kat would have to take care of them. Fortunately, she had a mesmerizing effect on animals, because the two were crazed right now. The fire had engulfed the front of the barn in the past few minutes. He didn’t have long to break through the side of the structure and get Kat and the horses out before the place collapsed or became one giant inferno.

      He grabbed a sledgehammer from a stack of tools in the corner and swung the heavy mallet against the siding. Wooden boards shattered and a small hole yielded daylight. Fresh air streamed into the foggy barn. Again and again, he cracked the old beams, then kicked them free until the resulting gap was big enough for Kat and the horses to pass through. The large cool rush of air fed the fire. Flames licked closer and hotter. The horses screamed in fear as burning rafters and boards toppled and crashed closer and closer.

      “Kat, the barn is going! We have to leave now!”

      Coughing violently, Kat grabbed the two horses and dragged them toward the opening. At the last minute, she yanked off their blindfolds and the animals bolted through the ragged gap to freedom.

      Logan had just reached for her when, with an ominous creaking sound, the metal roof directly above Kat’s head gave way and a heavy sheet fell.

      “Watch out!” Logan dropped the sledgehammer and leaped at her.

      Kat ducked, but the metal slammed her head and knocked her to the ground. Logan lifted the hot corrugated sheet and shoved it aside.

      She lay still. Far too still.

      Logan scooped her into his arms and held her close against his chest as he carried her to the opening that he could barely see through his blurred vision. He tried to convince himself that his eyes only watered from the heat and smoke, and not from the sheer terror he felt at the limp form of the woman cradled in his arms.

      She couldn’t be dead, but she would be if they didn’t escape. The fire was nearly on them now. He yanked his Glock free and almost rushed outside, but an odd sound made him hesitate at the last instant. Was that an engine? Was the person who trapped them leaving, thinking they were dead? Or had the killer seen the horses escape and moved closer?

      Another rafter fell, just missing Logan and Kat, and setting the area next to them on fire. No choice. They had to leave or die. He hauled Kat over his shoulder, then palmed the gun and edged through the opening.

      He didn’t see anyone, but every instinct screamed imminent danger. A grove of oak stood a few hundred yards away. They’d provide cover. If he could get her there.

      Just as he rushed out of the barn with her in his arms, a bullet thwacked into the wood over his head.

      Hell.