AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Somewhere behind us, the final container lies exposed, and the other members of the reception party are loading the weapons into the lorry. Have the Germans stumbled across those men as well?
Or have the men escaped, leaving Pierre and me to fend for ourselves?
It’s the risk we all were willing to take when we signed on to defeat the Germans. We know each mission we go on might be our last.
I allow a small amount of hope to float to the surface, pray the German soldiers believe my pleas, pray they think Pierre and I are lovers, pray they let us go.
Pray they don’t rape me.
The older soldier drags his leering gaze over my body, and my chest tightens, my stomach churns. “Don’t let us see you out after curfew again.” The harsh-growl command in his tone sends a shudder through me.
I look at the younger soldier, waiting for the translation I don’t need.
“You can go. But you won’t be so lucky next time if you ignore curfew again.”
“Thank you. We won’t.” My voice trembles, but I don’t know how much of that is real and how much is for show.
If this had been daytime, I have no doubt they would have dragged us in to be interrogated. If they had seen the Lysander or witnessed the parachutes, we would not be leaving this field alive or without escorts.
The soldiers wait for us to start walking and follow a few yards behind us. We lead them in the opposite direction from where the rest of the reception party took the boxes.
I let out a shaky breath and whisper, “Bloody fucking hell, that was too close. Thank you, for reacting so quickly.”
One side of Pierre’s mouth kicks up a fraction of an inch, as it normally does when I swear in such an unladylike manner. “Thank you for not slapping me and getting us killed, Carmen.”
The soft laugh that slips out, too quiet to be heard by the soldiers, is genuine. “You’re welcome. Let’s hope no more bloody Germans show up while we lead these two away.”
Let’s hope these two don’t change their mind about letting us go free.
23
JESSICA
March, Present Day
Maple Ridge
Monday morning,I arrive at Picnic & Treats at 6:00 a.m. There was a time when I couldn’t imagine getting up so early, but marriage to a monster and prison changed that. But this morning, when I got up, dread didn’t fill me at the prospect of the day and what I’d be facing. I woke up excited. And a little nervous.
Today is the first day of my new job.
I lock up my bike and hurry down the alley to the rear of the building. The alley is clean and empty, other than the dumpsters, but there’s still something creepy about the place. My eyes and ears and gut are alert to anything that shouldn’t be here. But there’s nothing. Not even the squeak of a scampering mouse or the purr of a prowling cat.
I knock on the back door that belongs to the café.
The door swings open a few seconds later, and I’m met by a young woman’s smiling face. Keshia. She’s just as Zara described, squeezing a few inches past five foot. Her black hair is cut short, the textured curls framing her face and her warm brown skin.
Her gaze briefly drops to the scar on my face, and I can imagine all the scenarios as to how I got it now crowding her thoughts. “You must be Jessica.”
I return her smile. “Call me Jess.”
She opens the door wider and lets me in. “Zara told me you have some experience in the kitchen.”
“I do. Mostly prep work.”
“That’s great. The daily menu offers a variety of international foods, and the recipes require a crapload of chopped veggies.” She widens her eyes in emphasis of crapload. “So that will be your job. Chopping.”
Keshia takes me to the staff room, hands me the paperwork I need to fill in for Zara, and shows me how to clock in. She hands me a white T-shirt with the café’s name and logo on it, purple pants and a hairnet, and points where the restroom is located so I can change.
