Adelaide wanted to run. She wished she could grab Oscar and disappear, but as she eyed the pistols all three men carried, she knew she’d never be able to get away.

“Sir, a word in private,” one of the soldiers said, as the other stared at her, his eyes as cold and hard as ice.

She knew then it was over, that there was no chance she was ever getting away from them unless she could somehow convince Wolfgang that his own men were lying to him.

“Just say it,” Wolfgang ordered. “Where were they seen?”

The soldier coughed and then stared straight into her eyes. “It was the men hidden, keeping watch. They were seen leaving from her house,” he said as he pointed at her.

No. No, no, no!

“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 she knew 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 it had been him who’d given the order; she could see it now, her imagination immediately putting a face to the man who’d yelled fire.

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.