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Hattie screamed in surprise, elbowed the guy in the gut, and tried to yank herself from his embrace.
Cold metal pressed to her neck. Sharp, cold metal.
She froze.
“Don’t move or I’ll slice you apart,” Franz whispered.
“F-Franz.” Her teeth chattered and her body trembled. “What are you doing?”
He kept the knife to her neck but knocked her headlamp off and into the lake. Then he wrapped his other arm tight around her chest.
“I know you’re there,” he hollered into the darkness. “If any of you get close, I’ll slice her pretty neck open.”
Then he dragged her back into the trees. Hattie wanted to fight and struggle, but the knife pricked her flesh and hot blood trickled down her throat. The knife was sharp, and Franz was obviously unstable. Her heart raced out of control.
For the first time since her parents had died, she didn’t let herself overthink it. Hang-ups be darned. She humbled herself, and she prayed. She prayed desperately.
Please help me. Please help me. Please help me.
Steffan, Jensen, Ray, and their men would be following her. That was comforting. If Franz didn’t slice her neck open before they could get to her.
It seemed like forever but somehow much too quick that Franz dragged her into a small clearing, through a door, and into a wood-framed cabin. She couldn’t make out any details in the dark except a wooden floor and no windows. The door banged closed behind them.
Suddenly Franz’s free hand was patting her everywhere. She resisted the urge to scream at the intrusion. How could she get away from that knife at her neck? How soon would Jensen’s men come?
“What is this?” He grabbed at the pin on her shirt.
“N-nothing,” she lied. “A souvenir.”
He moved the knife from her neck and sliced the pin out of her shirt. She tried to elbow him in the neck, hoping his knife wouldn’t spear her.
“Don’t fight me,” he yelled. “I’ll kill you so fast.”
Hattie panted for air. Fear made her throat tight and her hands tremble, but she had to keep fighting. She remembered Steffan’s beautiful words about her being brave and fearless.
Movement from her side confused and terrified her worse. She felt and heard, but couldn’t see, another person.
Please, Heavenly Father. Please help me. I’m so sorry for not turning to You before.
“Here, take this, and take care of her,” Franz yelled. “I’ve done what you asked. I’ve earned every euro!”
Something slammed into Hattie’s forehead.
Before she could process what happened, darkness consumed her.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Steffan, Jensen, and Ray trailed Hattie and he assumed Franz. Jensen’s men were closing ranks around them, but Steffan’s gut was still churning. What was Franz’s play? What if he cut her throat? Steffan had clearly seen the glitter of the knife as her headlamp went spinning, and the threat rang in his mind.
Slice her pretty neck open.
He shuddered with revulsion and anger. As soon as they got Hattie safe, he’d have his hands around that spineless wimp’s neck. As a doctor, he’d always tried to adhere to the Hippocratic Oath and do no harm. Today, he was ready to break that mantra.
Fear for Hattie’s safety made him want to make sure Franz knew to stay far away from his girl. Even when the loser got out of prison, Steffan wanted Franz to feel a healthy amount of fear getting anywhere near Hattie.
Was Hattie afraid? She was so brave, but she had to be scared. He prayed in his mind for her to feel safe and soon to be safe. Safe and in his arms.
“Hold,” Jensen said in a harsh whisper.
