Page 68 of Shadows In Paris
Apparently, there was a dramatic increase in Wehrmacht trains being blown up, rail tracks and bridges destroyed, and enemies of the Reich escaping just before the Gestapo arrived to arrest them. They concluded it was no coincidence and someone was leaking intelligence to the Resistance. The Gestapo detested members of the Resistance almost as much as they abhorred Jews, and they wrought agonising vengeance on them at every opportunity. They meant to stamp out all opposition to the Reich. Hans heard rumours about the inventive torture methods being introduced at Avenue Foch, and an increasing number of political prisoners, influential Jews, and captured agents were subjected to the most barbaric treatment.
The general had dismissed Hans like a naughty student who had made a mistake in his homework, and Hans fumedwith resentment. When he returned to his office, it was late, and Collette had already left for the day. He poked about her desk, looking for anything incriminating. He hadn’t suspected her because she seemed so dedicated to the work, despite her obvious reluctance to service his sexual appetite. She was the most efficient secretary he had ever had, and it was such a shame she wasn’t more amenable to his physical needs. Collette was as punctual and polite as a German and didn’t fall foul of some of the slovenly habits so typical of the French. She didn’t smoke, she prepared his coffee in just the way he liked, and she responded to his frequent and often angry outbursts with a calmness that restored his focus.
He’d concluded she would be the perfect secretary if itwasn’t for her unwillingness to have sex with him. Not that he’d asked her in so many words because it was clear she would refuse, and Hans did not bear rejection well. He had pussyfooted around her for some time now, hoping to wear her down gradually until she understood how beneficial it would be for them both if she were to come to his bed at night and not just sit in his office by day.
A moan escaped her, and he swallowed hard at the sight of her writhing on the chair, her blonde hair escaping her plaits and falling seductively onto her shoulders. He wanted to part her legs and push into her over and over until she screamed for mercy, but he warned himself to slow down. There was no rush. He had as long as he needed, and his greatest erotic fantasy was that she would beg for it rather than him forcing her into submission.
The truth was, he had become obsessed with his French secretary, even to the point where he fantasised she would fall in love with him, and they would be together after the war. The vision of returning to his former life with his wife was unpalatable, and he intended to avoid that future at all costs. Still, how would he reconcile a French wife with the glorious career he had mapped out for himself? The Reich would look down on such a match, especially if he abandoned his German wife, who was from excellent stock and a wealthy family. It was a problem he had tussled with ever since he’d become consumed by Collette.
But now even the possibility of a life together was ruined.
‘Why couldn’t you be a good girl? We could have avoided all this unpleasantness if you’d only behaved as you should.’
Hannah fired daggers at him with her blue eyes and if such a thing were possible, he would have keeled over at the intensity of the hatred in their depths.
‘My beautiful Collette. Life could have been so wonderfulfor us, but you had to wreck it, didn’t you? Now tell me who you work for, and I’ll show you some mercy if you’re a good girl and see the error of your ways. Will you do that for me?’ Hans reached out and trailed his fingers across her bruised and bleeding face. The sight of her distress only inflamed him more, and he lowered his hand to unbuckle his belt and lay it to one side. That would be useful soon. Hans couldn’t hold himself back anymore—he wanted her too much to think straight. He would take her hard and fast, and then he would continue the torture to squeeze the information out of her. He hadn’t reported his suspicions to the general or the Gestapo yet.
They would take her for themselves. Why should he let those incompetent fools have all the fun? Hans dropped his trousers and pulled his pants down, releasing his throbbing member so it waved in front of his helpless prisoner’s face.
Hannah clamped her thighs together. But Hans had other plans.
As he ripped the tape off in one swift move, she gave an involuntary cry. He hardened again at the vulnerable sound, and he was close to bursting. He must take his pleasure before it was too late. Hans shoved his shaft between her pink lips, forcing her to take him in her mouth with the weight of his body. Her hands were tied, and she couldn’t move.
Hans lost himself in the touch of her on his flesh and the nightly fantasies he’d been having for what seemed like forever carried him far away from his private rooms on Avenue Kléber. He steeled himself to hold back. A deep sense of victory that she had seen the error of her ways and was complying with his desires overcame him.
‘Good girl,’ he said, his throat thick with lust as he gripped her hair. Hannah pulled away, and he groaned, the sense of loss devastating.
‘I was wrong to resist you, Major General. It’s just that I didn’t want you to think I was easy.’
‘You’re far from easy,’ he growled, almost ready to erupt into the sweetness of her. He was losing his mind. Even in his wildest dreams, he hadn’t experienced delight such as this. His wife did nothing for him, and although he’d frequented the Paris brothels out of sheer desperation and loneliness, the whores didn’t do it for him like this.
‘Untie my hands, and let me touch you,’ Hannah gasped, as if she was as turned on by the violent scenario as him. ‘I didn’t know it could be as exciting as this.’
‘Don’t stop,’ Hans ordered, and he thrust back into her as he untied her hands. ‘Here,’ he said, ‘now you can touch me properly with those small, delicate hands of yours.’
Hannah moaned seductively, and then she took her opportunity and bit down hard, her teeth searing into his bulging flesh. He let out a blood-curdling scream as his whole body jerked and hummed in agony and he couldn’t think straight.
Before he could say another word or make a move, Hannah kneed him in his groin, causing him to emit another haunting noise. Then, as he hunched over, she took full advantage of his weakened state and reached for a heavy brass ornament on the table and slammed it into his head with all her strength.
He screeched like a wild animal and as he clutched his bleeding head; he tottered on his feet as though he were about to lose balance. His large body drooped, and Hannah pushed him onto the blood-spattered chair and he collapsed. She cast her eyes around the dimly lit Nazi horror chamber for the cord and tape he had used to tie her up. Hastily, she cut a new length of cord and bound his hands to the back of the chair and peeled fresh tape to seal his slack mouth. Forgood measure, she secured each of his legs in their shiny black leather jackboots to the chair.
Only then did she sit back on her heels to take stock of her handiwork. ‘How do you like it when the shoe is on the other foot, Major General?’
Hannah gazed with satisfaction at the suffering she had inflicted on the Nazi officer.
Hans grunted in pain as he slipped in and out of delirium.
CHAPTER 35
Lizzie arrived at the service entrance of German High Command at 6 p.m. wearing a cleaner’s outfit and a headscarf like Celine’s, who stood waiting for her outside, shifting from one foot to the other.
Lizzie beamed a smile and greeted Celine. ‘Act natural like I’m one of your team,’ she said out of the side of her mouth as they mounted the steps.
The security wasn’t as tight at the back, which Lizzie thought stupid because that was the weak spot someone like her would exploit.
A young soldier with a rifle slung over his shoulder moved towards them. ‘ID,’ he said, looking at Lizzie, stifling a yawn. He’d been on duty all day, and guarding the service entrance was known as one of the dullest jobs in the building. The guards only admitted cleaners, delivery workers and maintenance people, and didn’t get to meet anyone important like the guards at the main entrance did. The soldier gave the ID card a cursory glance and his eyes flickered from the card to Lizzie and back again. ‘Why are you later than the rest of the cleaning crew?’ he asked, now more alert.
Celine leant closer and said in a hushed tone. ‘She was unwell with a cold but is feeling much better now and there’s a lot to do. We need her.’
