“I’ll accomplish the task,” I assured him.
“Yes,” he said, approvingly. “I believe you will. I can’t imagine a man in his right mind ever denying you.”
And then he pulled me to him and kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. There was a desperation in his touch I couldn’t decipher. But I wanted more of it. When he pulled us apart, we were both panting for breath.
“Hurry,” he said, hitting a hidden switch so the bookcase creaked open. “You have time to fix your lipstick before the car arrives.”
Chapter 4
I hadn’t expected Wagner to be driving the car when it parked in front of the Smithers’ home.
I’d been watching from the parlor window, and my eyes had widened when he’d gotten out of the vehicle, dressed smartly in his uniform and cap. He pulled off his leather driving gloves and laid them over the steering wheel and then he came to the door. He didn’t look like a man who was ready to kill me.
The bell rang and I inhaled a nervous breath before exhaling slowly. I’d decided the best course of action was to be anxiously awaiting, as if I couldn’t stand to be apart from him one more moment.
When the butler answered the door, I made sure Wagner was able to see me immediately.
“My dear,” he said, bowing sharply.
“Friedrich,” I said, somewhat breathlessly. “I’m so glad to have received your letter this morning. And the flowers. The flowers are so beautiful. You spoil me so.”
“You deserve to be spoiled,” he said, kissing my hand. “You look stunning.” I blushed prettily and gazed deep into his soulless eyes. “I hope I’m not being too forward, but I thought a drive might be nice. I’d like to spend more time with you. Private time. It’s hard for a man in my position to have much privacy. I have to make it when I can.”
“I understand,” I said. “You’re very important. So many people rely on you.”
“It’s true,” he said, taking my hand and tucking it beneath his arm. “I’ve been working too hard. But seeing you makes me want to pursue other things.”
He led me out of the house and down the steps to his car, and I fought the urge to turn back and look at my sanctuary. I thought Graham probably watched me from afar and wondered if I’d ever come back to him. I had to wonder the same thing myself.
I could see the strain on Wagner’s face, despite his best effort at joviality. He opened the car door for me and then hurried to the other side, pulling on his gloves and slipping behind the wheel. It wasn’t a military vehicle but a beautiful Delahaye in bold navy with silver trim. The seats were tan leather and the top was down.
“The afternoon belongs to you,” he said, starting the engine. “I’ve taken the liberty of having some cheese and wine packed in the back seat.”
“It sounds lovely,” I said, scooting subtly closer to him on the seat. I crossed my legs and made sure the hem of my skirt came high enough to show a hint of the top of my stocking. His eyes were immediately drawn there, and then his head snapped up and he swerved to avoid hitting the sidewalk.
“I feel so free with you,” I told him boldly. “So comfortable. As if we could just keep driving and sneak away so no one knows where to find us.” I lifted my arms in the air and tilted my face toward the sun, knowing it put my body on display. When I looked over at Wagner with laughing eyes, I knew I had him right where I wanted.
“You are too young and innocent to know what you do to me,” he admitted.
I blinked several times, looking perplexed. “What do you mean?”
“Not everyone deserves the freedom you crave,” he said. “The need to sneak away and escape whatever ails you.”
It was then I realized where he was driving us. He’d taken the turn to go down the avenue, and I smelled the blood before I saw the bodies. I gasped in horror and put my hand over my mouth, fighting to keep the anger out of my eyes and make him believe I was new to this kind of revulsion.
“What’s happening?” I asked. “I don’t understand.” I moved closer to him, as if I trusted the monster would save me from himself.
His eyes hardened and he slowed the vehicle, making sure I saw his handywork, and enjoying my reaction more than any sane person should have. But we already knew he was anything but sane.
It was then I wondered if he was showing me my fate. As if he were giving me the opportunity to select where I wanted him to display me.
“Oh, Friedrich,” I said, clutching his knee. I needed to get him back on track. Focused on the fantasies and possibilities.
“Pardon me, my dear,” he said. “I should have realized you were much too sensitive to see horrors such as this.”
“Who…who were they?” I asked, letting a single tear fall prettily from the corner of my eye.
“Traitors,” he said simply. “You might even recognize some of them. They worked for me and my officers in one capacity or another. They left me no choice. Traitors must be dealt with harshly, and their bodies send a message to anyone else who has delusions to follow in their footsteps.”
He looked at me coldly, and for a split second I wondered if he knew who I was and that I would gladly slit his throat if given the opportunity.
It was only seconds, but the madness passed from his eyes and he pressed harder on the accelerator, leaving the horrors in our rearview.
“Please accept my
