Christmas Conspiracy (17 page)

Sarbonne stepped closer. “Is he dead?”

“N-No, Your Grace.”

“What is your name?”

“P-Pierre Thomas, your Grace.”

The man bowed low, then moved uncertainly toward the door. “May I go now?”

“
You
may come with me,” the duke said, pulling his whip from his belt. “We need to have a chat.”

Daniel sent up a prayer for the man who may have forfeited his life to bring that message of hope. Hope. Something Daniel had given up on a dozen beatings ago. He had to stay alive.

He heard the crack of the whip and the old man’s agonized cry.

Daniel flinched, and a strange warmth stung his eyes as he lay his battered cheek against the cold stones. Twenty-four more hours. Somehow, he had to stay alive.

He didn’t know what Noah’s escape plan would entail, but Daniel prayed the old guard and the prisoner down the hall could survive one more day.

Daniel didn’t intend to leave anyone behind.

* * *

K
AT LOOKED AROUND THE
living room that Logan had turned into a Christmas postcard and smiled through happy tears. An enormous tree filled one corner of the room, and the twins ran back and forth carrying the latest ornament to hang on its branches. The joy in their faces stunned her. She had never seen them this happy, and watching Logan lift them in his arms to reach the highest spots melted her heart.
This
is what she’d dreamed of, and never believed she could have. Logan had made it all possible. Her heart swelled with love and she wished that life could always stay this happy.

She carried the bowl of popcorn to where Gretchen and Blake’s wife, Amanda, sat stringing popcorn and cranberries. Kat crossed her legs and eased down onto the floor to join them. She placed the bowl in the center, where they all could reach, and grabbed a needle already threaded with string.

Across the room the sheriff and his five-year-old son, Ethan, helped Hayden place snowflake ornaments on the large evergreen tree. The room was filled with laughter. Egg nog and hot chocolate flowed freely, and Christmas carols played from the stereo.

She grabbed a handful of popcorn and tossed it in her mouth.

Amanda nudged her. “Hey, stop eating the decorations.”

Kat laughed, relaxing fully for the first time since coming back in the house with Logan. “I can’t tell you how much it means that you and Blake and Ethan came over. It just makes tonight that much more special.”

Gretchen smiled at her and lifted her hot chocolate in a toast. “To smart women. It’s nice to find three of us all in one room.”

Kat blushed, knowing Gretchen had played a big part in this family gathering becoming a reality. Kat blessed the woman’s Irish temper.

Amanda nodded toward Lanie and Logan. “Your little one doesn’t leave his side for an instant, does she?”

“He’s her hero,” Kat said softly, watching the picturesque scene.

“Logan’s a good man,” Amanda said. “I watched him sacrifice almost everything for me and Ethan when we were in trouble. He didn’t even question Blake when he asked for help. I don’t know what we would have done without him.”

“They grow them good in Carder, don’t they?” Kat said, staring at Logan inspecting the latest ornament Lanie brought him.

Gretchen sighed. “That they do. You young ladies would know more about that than most as you’ve snagged two of the best for yourselves. And, from the heated ways they’ve been looking at you two tonight, I’ve no doubt there will be more wee ones running around here in the future.”

Amanda flushed and met Kat’s gaze. She lowered her head. Logan did know his way around a woman’s body, and from Amanda’s expression as she smiled at her husband, so did Blake.

Hayden giggled as he showed Ethan how to work the siren on his toy fire engine. They flicked the siren on and off until Kat suggested they find something different to play with for a while. The boys hunkered down with a couple of toys Ethan had brought with him.

Blake and Logan walked over to the group of women, and Blake leaned down to kiss his wife. “It’s getting late, and I have an early start tomorrow. Are you ready to go?”

Amanda nodded and added her completed cranberry strand to the pile ready to go on the tree. “It was nice meeting you, Kat. You have a beautiful family.”

“So do you,” Kat said, as Blake helped his wife to her feet.

They called to Ethan.

Lanie came over, too, and held tight to Logan’s leg, her shyness still in evidence as she watched the other family prepare to leave.

“I’ll let you know when I hear something,” Blake said to Logan when everyone had donned their coats and hats.

“Thanks,” Logan said, sending Lanie back to Kat before turning toward the door.

Blake hesitated. “By the way, how’s that intuition doing?”

Their gazes met.

“Still screaming louder than I’d like,” Logan said quietly. “You notice all the blinds are pulled down tight and the lamps strategically placed to not throw shadows on the windows? The ranch is on lockdown after you leave. The men will escort you out, but even with extra patrol, I’m not taking chances. Zane picked up some irregularities in the security system that I don’t like.”

Blake nodded. “Take care of your family.”

“I intend to,” Logan said. “You do the same.”

A few minutes after, the Redmonds left, the house was locked and the alarm set. Gretchen headed to her room, and Logan sank down into the leather sofa next to Kat. The children played on the floor.

Logan tried to keep his mind off the report he’d received from Zane. Noah Bradford suspected Daniel may be held captive by terrorists. The story gave credence to the theory that his captors had used Daniel’s explosives expertise to frame him. The worst part, though, made Logan’s stomach turn. If Daniel had been held all this time, then Logan had left him to die by not searching for him. Just like his mother. He shuddered and pinched the bridge of his nose. So many variables. Hopefully Noah would have the answer. And soon.

Kat leaned against the warmth of his body and cuddled closer. “What are you thinking?”

Logan welcomed the distraction of her softness. He kissed her lips gently.

That I won’t let anything happen to you.
You or the kids.

“I’m thinking that a pair of almost three-year-olds have utterly exhausted me,” Logan lied, hugging her to him. “That I never thought I’d be here with you. With them. And, I never thought I’d have this.” He swept his hand across the idyllic scene. “All of it.”

Kat tilted her head and stared into his eyes. “But are you truly happy?”

“Yes.” He pushed the hair back from her face. “I’ve always wanted a family, but I never imagined it could be this good. I am truly happy.”

She smiled and leaned closer. “Me, too.”

Lanie tugged at Kat’s jeans. “Mommy, we forgot the shiny horseshoe for the tree. It’s in my pocket.” Lanie pulled the treasured ornament out.

“Oh, no, what shall we do?” Logan cried dramatically, sweeping Lanie into his arms with a flourish. “We can’t forget the most important ornament of all.”

She giggled.

He lifted her high. “Should it go at the top?”

“No, Daddy. The tree’s too big. I wanna see it.”

He set her down in front of the tree. Carefully, Lanie hung the generations-old ornament between two candy canes on the lower branches. She stepped back, proud.

Kat crossed the room. “That looks perfect, Lanie.”

Hayden rolled his fire engine across their feet and flipped the siren on again.

“I think it’s time for two kids to go to bed,” Kat said.

The twins protested and Lanie ran over for one last visit to the tree, but soon Logan and Kat had them bathed and in bed. After a story and water and a bit more whining, Kat closed the door behind her. “Lanie will be out like a light in no time. Hayden, on the other hand—”

“Yeah. I get the impression he’s going to be a night owl. I can’t believe he dismantled the baby monitor after his nap. Zane said he’d have it back to us tomorrow,
if
we can find the rest of the pieces.”

“If not, we’ll buy another one. I need to know what’s going on with Hayden at all times.”

“He won’t get up and get out, will he? Isn’t he afraid of the dark?”

“Hayden,” Kat insisted, “is not afraid of anything.”

“I guess you’re right. After supper, Gretchen found him hiding in the wood box attached to the house. The shed opens to the outside and to the kitchen.”

“I never heard of anything like that.”

“It’s great for storing wood in winter. You use the outside door for loading wood, and the kitchen one for getting firewood without having to go out in the cold. The outside door is kept locked, but the wood box is still pretty dark and scary.”

“Why would Hayden go in there?”

“He was trying to jimmy the outside lock to visit the kittens. Apparently, he wanted to play with them. Gretchen said he almost had the door open. I’m going to have to get a dead bolt to keep him in.”

“God, he really is a little Houdini,” Kat muttered in frustration.

“Okay, enough kid talk. It’s time for a grown-up question.” Logan held out his hand. “What’ll it be? Stay here or my room?”

“What a sexy proposal.” She laughed. “Do you have to ask?”

“You want sexy? How’s this?” He swept her in his arms and carried her the short walk to his bedroom. Once inside, he kicked the door shut. After sliding her down his body, he started removing her blouse. “Better?”

“Much.”

When his lips caressed her shoulder, Kat sighed. “I think we’d better lock the door. We’re going to be doing some things that little eyes should not see.”

Logan laughed. “I promise we will be.”

Logan’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and cursed. “It’s King Leopold.”

Kat sighed. “Do you think he’s decided to leave us alone?”

“If he hasn’t,” Logan said with a growl, “then Zane’s information about Leopold’s rare earth metal dealings ought to make him think twice.” Logan pushed the speakerphone. “Your Majesty.”

“Get my daughter on the phone now,” Leopold barked.

“Kat’s right here and you’re on speakerphone. She can hear every word.”

The king huffed. “Katherine, I’ve had enough of your stonewalling. The situation here is growing desperate. You must listen to me. Come to Bellevaux now and bring your son. It’s imperative you leave immediately. I sent my private jet back for you. You could be here by morning.”

“No.”

“Dammit, woman. I’ll give you whatever you want. Houses, cars, jewelry. Anything you desire, but you
must
come now. This week. We’re out of time.”

“Why won’t you listen to me? I’m
not
a princess, I never wanted to be and I never will be.”

“Katherine—”

She cut him off. “And one more thing, Your Majesty, I have two children. A son
and
a daughter, and I have a life in this country. Find someone else to be your heir.”

“There
is
no one else! This country will cease to exist if you don’t become my heir before Christmas.”

“I’m illegitimate. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be accepted by your people.”

The king cleared his throat. “My great-great-grandfather was a bit adventurous. When he had a child out of wedlock, his father changed the law. All you have to do is agree for me to adopt you, and you and your children
will
be legitimate.”

“If that king could change a law, then you do it, too. Make up a law that will work. I’m an adult. I’m not going to be adopted by a man who doesn’t want me.”

“I didn’t know you existed until your mother sent your birth certificate and some photographs in the mail.”

“What? She would never do that.”

Leopold cursed. “I don’t have time to argue with you about it. I don’t know whether or not she had second thoughts, but by the time I tracked her down, she’d passed away.”

Kat’s head swam. Her mother had lied all that time, then sent Kat’s birth certificate to the king when she realized she was dying? “How did you find me?”

“I hired Logan three years ago.”

“Three years?” Her gaze met Logan’s. “I was your…
assignment?
” She hissed. “The chance meeting? The instant attraction? It was a setup? All of it?”

Oh, God. It was true. She could see it in his eyes.

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. “Has everyone been lying to me all along? My mother. My father…and you? Was any of it real?”

Logan reached for her, but she stepped away from him. Oh, God, she couldn’t breathe. Her knees shook. “Did he hire you to sleep with me, too, or were the extra heirs a bonus? I hope you got paid.”

“Katherine, don’t be crude. We don’t have time for this.”

Logan grabbed the phone. “She’s not coming back, Leopold. And if you call again, that secret deal you’ve set up with your friends from Russia and Yemen will become public knowledge. I’ll make sure the right people hear about it. Do I make myself clear?”

The king sputtered and Logan hung up.

He thrust his hand through his hair. “I was going to tell you—”

“When? Obviously not before we went to bed and had hot sex for a week. It’s amazing how that never entered into our discussions about your job description. I believe you said you were a rancher?”

“I am.”

She shook her head. “You’re so much more than that, though. Aren’t you?”

“It didn’t bother you a half hour ago.”

“And, it wouldn’t have mattered now if you’d told me the truth when we met, Logan. But you didn’t bother. You just lied.”

“I can’t change what’s happened.”

Why didn’t he tell her it was all a mistake?

Logan stepped toward her. She backed away. “I need room. I can’t breathe.”

He stilled. “I didn’t know you were his daughter, but he did hire me to find you.”

She stared at the ground. “We didn’t just run into each other. You knew who I was. You were paid. Whatever you told him must have been impressive. He never contacted me.”

“I told him where you worked. What you did for a living. That’s it, Kat. What happened between us was real.”

She snapped her head up and glared. “Nothing was real about that week, Logan. Nothing.”