Christmas Conspiracy. Robin Perini

my babies?”

      He held her and she clawed at him, trying to get past.

      “Be quiet. If they’re still here, they’ll hear you.”

      Tears of terror filled her eyes. Logan flicked his earpiece, signaling Rafe. “We have trouble. I need you inside.”

      In seconds, Rafe appeared behind them, his movements stealthy.

      “Guard her,” Logan said. “Don’t let her follow me.”

      Despite her protests, Rafe firmly took Kat’s arm. Logan turned away, his Glock ready. Slow and easy, he entered the house, his movements silent and careful. They were safe. Nothing was wrong. He repeated it like a mantra. Life couldn’t be so cruel to take away the innocent children he hadn’t met yet.

      Kat moaned softly. “Hayden. Lanie.”

      Logan whipped his head around and held his finger to his lips.

      She nodded, tears streaming down her face.

      His entire body on alert, Logan rounded a corner and scanned the tiny kitchen. The remains of two tiny bowls of soup and a nearly finished grilled cheese sat on the table. Two small glasses of milk were half empty. He opened a sliding closet containing a stackable washer and dryer. Nothing. He eased down the hall checking out a small bathroom—clean and vacant. Only two more doors, both closed.

      Logan put his ear to one. A grunt and sniffles sounded from behind it. His movements cautious, Logan eased it open, trigger finger ready.

      A grandmotherly Hispanic woman sat in a rocker, her eyes closed, toys scattered all around the nursery. In a crib, a small girl lay sleeping, snuggled in a pink blanket. A towheaded boy hung over the edge of the crib, dangling. Before Logan could even speak the little one dropped to the floor, turned and stared up at Logan.

      His eyes grew wide and serious. “Are you a bad guy?”

      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