Page 32 of Wicked Deceptions
“Why did you not tell me this before?” There is no sense to hide my identity now; he knows. I can still see the love in his eyes, and I believe he is not here to hurt me.
He shrugs. “Perhaps for the same reason you did not tell me who you really were.”
“Touché.”
He smirks.
“And your death?”
“Chris Barnes had to die. Every alias I have assumed has perished in one way or another. So, I killed him and sent you that telegraph.”
“So, you’reA Friend?”
He nods.
“And why do you think Germany wants me to find you?”
“Because like you, I am a spy, with a very high security clearance. And to Germany, I am more dangerous than the American troops they are fighting against.”
He sits back down on the bed. “You’re asking a lot of questions—understandably so, but they are out of context. Let me tell you the rest of the story, and hopefully we can move forward from there.
I nod.
“So, like I said, the American government received word about you and your background. We were intrigued that a member of the imperial family would resort to helping Germany. The only reasoning we could determine is that you were working as a double agent. It is obvious we want Germany to lose the war, and so it was our intent to recruit you.”
“So why didn’t you?”
“Because, I fell in love, and my superiors insisted that I be sent away. They knew the Germans would eventually seek me out, and I knew when that happened, I would see you again.”
“So now what happens?”
“Well, if all my assumptions are correct, then we work together and help end this war.”
“I see.” I look down at my hands folded in my lap. “And what happens when the war ends?”
He walks over to my chair and holds out his hand. I take it and stand, and he pulls me into his arms. “When the war ends, my love, then unfortunately, things get a little tricky.”
I pull back from his embrace. “How?” I’m not sure I like where this conversation is going. All I want to know is if he and I have a future together. Why can’t he just say we are going to live happily ever after?
“Well, first and foremost, we both need to survive this war. Secondly, you work for the German government. We need to change that, and I assure you will not be easy.”
I nod. He’s right.For life.That is what Gerhardt said.
“Lastly, you’ll need to be debriefed with the MID and the War Department, screened, and cleared with a new identity.”
“Oh,” I say, breathless and defeated.
“But once all that is done, then we proceed with our plans.”
“You mean—”
“Darling,” he says, cutting me off. “I love you. We make it through all that, which, I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you, could take months, and then we live our lives together, just like we planned.”
“You still love me?”
He laughs. “You silly girl, of course I still love you.” He leans in and hovers his lips over mine. Then he kisses me, deeply and passionately. He takes my breath away, and my legs go weak. I have hope again, and the feeling is euphoric.
“I love you, Christian Barnett,” I tell him when he breaks our kiss. “And, I want you to know, I will endure anything if I get you in the end.”
