Page 81 of The Secrets We Left Behind
“Adelaide’s house?” Wolfgang asked, sounding incredulous. “You must be mistaken.”
He’s had men watching our house! How could we not have known? Not have seen them?
“They were with two women too, one blonde, one brunette.”
Adelaide swallowed, trying to stay calm, to not react outwardly as Wolfgang’s eyes went from warm to hard and narrowed in a split second. That description had sealed her fate. It was most certainly Elise and Cate.
“Adelaide? Is this true?”
He stepped toward her and she stumbled back, frightened. The Wolfgang she’d so hesitantly fallen in love with was gone, and sheknew then what a mistake she’d made in ever trusting him. Every step, every flash of anger in his eyes as she cowered away from him took her back to that day, watching him and his men in horror from their parents’ bedroom window. Only this time, she was the one in his sights, like an animal being hunted with nowhere left to turn. And she knew in that moment that ithadbeen him who’d given the order; she could see it now, her imagination immediately putting a face to the man who’d yelledfire.
He lunged at her then, grabbing her by her hair, gripping it so tight she cried out in pain.
“Wolfgang! You’re hurting me!”
“Tell me, is it true? Were you hiding soldiers all this time?”
His breath was hot on her face, spittle landing on her cheek as she tried to twist out of his grip.
“Why are you even asking me?” she cried. “Of course I wasn’t!”
“Is that why you asked me to meet you? To draw me away? I’m no fool, Adelaide.”
She was crying now, unable to stop, sobbing as he twisted her hair around his fist even harder, so tight she thought it was going to rip clean off her scalp.
“You’re certain it was her house? That it was her sister?” Wolfgang yelled.
“Yes, sir,” they called back in unison.
“You bitch!” he spat, backhanding her so hard that she went flying, landing on her elbows on the hard-packed dirt.
“Wolfgang, please!” she begged, scrambling to her knees and trying to get up. “I can explain!”
“Leave us!” he roared, as his polished black boot lifted and connected with her cheek, the crack of her bone shattering so painful it sent her reeling. “And hunt those bastards down. Now!”
She clawed at the dirt, on her knees again. “Stop,pleasestop!”
This time he was reaching for Oscar, and she fought against him, trying to stop him as he lunged for the little dog.
“Tell me the truth or I’ll shoot him!” Wolfgang snarled.
“No,” she cried. “Oscar, run! Go!” She threw a fistful of dirt at him, letting go of his leash as she screamed at him. “Go!”
But Wolfgang had his sights set on her again, forgetting the dog, hauling her up by her long hair as she cried and pleaded for mercy, his eyes wild as he sneered.
He was going to kill her.Oh my God, he’s actually going to kill me!
“I would have done anything for you, Adelaide.” His lip curled. “And what did you do with my trust? You used it against me. You bitch.”
She braced for another blow, but it never came, and she squinted up at him, her eye swelling already from the kick to her face, pulsing with pain.
“Please, Wolfgang, you know how I feel about you. Why would I lie to you?”
He ran a hand through his hair as it fell over his forehead, and he looked like a madman. “I’m going to ask you one last time. Were there other survivors that you kept hidden?”
She swallowed, defeat crushing her as she staggered in front of him, slumping to her knees.
“Sit up and answer me!” he screamed.
