Christmas Conspiracy. Robin Perini

way. I gave up tiaras for cowboy boots when I was six. Find someone else to play dress up.” Kat shoved Logan aside and stalked to her scuffed boots, propped against an elegant mahogany dresser. “I’m not putting my children’s lives in danger for anyone.”

      “Children?” Both Logan and the king shouted at her.

      Kat whirled around. “Yes. My children. And I need to get to them now. If a killer came after me, he could go after them, too.”

      Kat grabbed her Ropers and stuffed one foot in, then the other. She ignored her shaking hands. She had to get to Lanie and Hayden. She needed to see her kids, hug them, hold them, make sure they were okay. They were her family. Her only family.

      Her eyes stung. She didn’t need some father who didn’t bother coming around until she was full grown, bringing danger into her life. She didn’t need anyone.

      She chanced a glance at Logan. His expression had turned stone still. She wouldn’t have been able to recognize how badly her words had shocked him if she hadn’t watched his index finger scratching against his thumb. She recognized the sign. She’d seen it the last time while she’d hidden from him. He’d come to her house right after she’d run. He’d cursed the empty building, then left. Kat had wanted to move, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t let herself hope.

      A few months later she’d learned the hard way that she’d been right. Logan didn’t really want her.

      The king interrupted her thoughts.

      “Your offspring. Do you have a son?” A small smile tilted his lips.

      She didn’t like the predatory gleam in his eye. “What does it matter? This facade is over. Go back where you came from, and leave me and mine alone.”

      She stalked to the door, grateful the sedative had worn off so she didn’t resemble a drunk on a Friday night bar crawl.

      “Stop her,” the king ordered his flunky.

      Sergei lunged at Kat. She stumbled away from him.

      Logan stepped between them, cutting the man off. “I don’t think so.”

      “You dare—”

      “I dare a lot,” Logan said. “Move away. Now.”

      Sergei didn’t stop coming. Kat braced herself. She’d fight. For her kids. With a single swipe Logan laid the man on the ground with a Taekwondo move. Logan pressed his arm against the man’s windpipe. “Don’t think about crossing me. You won’t win.”

      Sergei’s eyes bugged out. He coughed and nodded his head.

      Kat had never seen Logan this way. He was swift and deadly. She had no doubt he could maim or kill Sergei if he wanted to. The muscles in Logan’s arms tensed as he pressed against Sergei’s neck once more, then let him go with a warning glare.

      “You’ve made your point,” the king announced. “Which is why I didn’t fire you when my son was murdered on your watch.”

      Kat gasped.

      “Yes, young woman. Both of your half brothers were assassinated. Now do you see why you need protection?”

      Kat’s body went numb. “Logan?” She looked toward him, wanting nothing more than reassurance, but seeing none in his gaze.

      “I’m sorry. You do need protection. This morning proves it.”

      She couldn’t listen any longer. “We have to get my kids now.”

      “As my heir, you are coming with me,” King Leopold commanded, his face and voice stubborn. “Logan, retrieve the children and meet me at the plane. We’ll leave for Bellevaux at the earliest opportunity.”

      “No!” She’d fought too hard to take control of her life—for her and her children. She raced across the suite, yanked the door open and bolted down the hall.

      “Kat!” Logan bolted after her, jamming the door to the suite. A spew of curses rose as Sergei and his men slammed against the wood. She didn’t know how long it would hold.

      Kat threw open the door to the stairwell. She had to get away. She’d go home, grab the twins and disappear. Someway, somehow. She’d never let her children around the man who claimed to be her father.

      Heavy footsteps pounded after her, getting closer and closer. Within two flights Logan caught her by the arm and pulled her against him.

      She shoved at his chest. “Let me go.”

      He pressed her to the wall. “Calm down. I just want to talk for one second. We need a quick plan.”

      She stilled. “We?”

      “Yeah,” he said, touching her cheek. “We.”

      “I’m not going with the king.”

      “We’ll work something out, but you need to listen to me.”

      She gritted her teeth. “Why should I trust you? You drugged me.”

      “I didn’t know about your children. If I had, I would have done things differently. I would have taken you to get them first.” Logan dropped his forehead against hers. “Please, Kat. I won’t let anything happen to you or them. I promise.”

      She took a deep breath. “You’ll get me out of here?”

      Logan lifted his head and met her gaze. “I’ll find a safe place for you and your kids.”

      The truth of his words hung in the air between them.

      She finally nodded. She needed help.

      He kept his Glock ready. “Let’s go. We have to keep moving.”

      They raced down the stairs. “If the king finds us, you won’t just hand over my kids?”

      Logan stiffened beside her. “How could you ask me that?”

      “I knew you for one week three years ago and you said you were a rancher, but you work for a king now.”

      “I am a rancher. One who’s done some jobs for King Leopold over the years,” Logan conceded. At the next level, he checked the small window to the hallway, before moving on. “I own a private investigation and security firm.”

      Kat’s breaths came harder, but a flicker of hope glimmered. “Can you take us where I don’t have to worry about him coming after us?” She grabbed his wool sweater. “I won’t take any chances. Not with my children.”

      “I understand needing to protect your family, Kat.” He helped her round the next level. “We’ll have to make preparations. How old are your kids?”

      Kat hesitated. She’d never thought to face this moment. Not after he’d had his ranch hands turn her away. “They’re two and a half,” she whispered softly, not wanting to meet his gaze, but knowing she had no choice.

      Comprehension flashed across his face, and he tightened his grip on her arm. “They’re mine?”

      “I tried to tell—”

      Above them, a door slammed open, and he cursed. “Save it. We need to get you out of here.”

      He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs before she could argue. She’d tried to tell him when she’d found out. He was the one who hadn’t wanted her.

      When they reached the second to the last landing, a masked figure, pistol in hand, rammed through the door beside them. He aimed directly at Kat.

      Logan tackled her and twisted his body to shield her. Both men’s guns went off.

      Logan sucked in a sharp breath. “Stay back,” he snapped.

      Faster than she could comprehend, he twisted his legs into a scissor lock around the assailant’s knees and ankles and tripped