Mila watched from the backseat as Josef and S.S. Wagner approached the vehicle. She couldn't discern the exact make or model through the glare of the headlights, but it didn't look to be military. If not military though, then who? Why would someone park their car in the middle of a remote service rode and abandon it, still running. The whole situation made her skin prickle with goosebumps. Something was wrong. This didn't feel right.

Suddenly four figures emerged from the tree line, guns pointed firmly at Josef and S.S. Wagner. This was an ambush. Was it a raid by Dutch Resistance? She squinted, trying to make out what the men were wearing through the dim light the sun was still managing to cast over the treetops. They wore dark overcoats to match their military fatigues, and a green beret sat atop each man's head. These men wasn't Resistance.

"We know you've got one of ours in there," One of the men said in a posh, British accent, gesturing to the jeep. "Give her to us, and we'll let you be on your way."

Her heart skipped a beat. They were here for her. This was part of the plan ... Or was it?

She was jerked from her thoughts as an arm slipped around her neck, yanking her from the backseat. Cold metal pressed against her temple as Lieutenant Hoffman pulled her against his body. The soldiers' eyes, and guns, darted in their direction, everyone's attention shifting to Mila, and the pistol Lieutenant Hoffman held to her head.

"If you want her, come get her," Lieutenant Hoffman sneered, his chin resting against the top of her head.

"Let the girl go," One of the men spoke forcefully, his weapon pointed firmly at Lieutenant Hoffman.

"Or what?" Lieutenant Hoffman asked, tightening his grip around her when one of the men stepped towards them. "You'll shoot me? I doubt any of you are a good enough shot to shoot me without killing her in the process." He nodded towards Josef and S.S. Wagner, who briefly shared a look with each other before lowering their hands, which had been raised in surrender. Approaching Lieutenant Hoffman, they flanked him, and turned to face the men, who's guns were still firmly pointed in their direction.

"Give her to us, and we'll let you go on about your business," The same man, who she guessed was the leader, said again.

"I think we all know that's a lie," Lieutenant Hoffman replied matter-of-factly. "The moment we turn her over to you, we'll all get a bullet in the head."

"Daan't confuse us wif your kind," Another one of the soldiers spoke up, his accent thicker, and much less proper than his counterpart. "We daan't give a man our ward and then shoot 'im in the bloody back."

The leader rose a hand, signaling the soldier to stop talking.

"All cards on the table," He spoke, turning his attention back to Lieutenant Hoffman. "You're outnumbered ... There's a sniper in the tree line waiting for you to make one wrong move," He nodded to the trees. "All I have to do is give the go ahead, then bang," He smiled pleasantly. Was he bluffing, or was there really a sniper waiting somewhere in the darkness?

"It'll be hard for you to give that signal if I put a bullet in you first," Lieutenant Hoffman sneered, pulling the barrel of his gun away from her temple, and pointing it in the man's direction.

A sharp thud sounded behind her as Lieutenant Hoffman's body fell limp to the ground. Spinning around, her eyes darted to S.S. Wagner, who was standing over Lieutenant Hoffman, the butt of his gun still raised from where he'd struck him in the back of the head.

"He wasn't part of the plan," He said to Josef, kicking Lieutenant Hoffman's gun out of reach.

"The plan?" Her brow furrowed, as her mind tried to piece together what was happening. "You two know each other?"

"Phillip's an old friend," Josef admitted with a nod.

"We met at university," S.S. Wagner explained further.

"And once the war broke out, we enlisted together," Josef added.

"This was always the plan then? You knew the whole time?" She asked, turning to S.S. Wagner. This was all too surreal for her brain to process.

"Captain Fischer approached me after that first day, and asked for my help," He explained. So that's why he had't beaten her after the first day, she thought, finally starting to make sense of things.

"Once I knew I had help on the inside, I set my sights on the SIS," Josef continued. "Getting in contact with the right people took time though ... Time I wish I wouldn't've had to take," He added, brushing his thumb over a bruise on her cheek that had began to yellow.

"Why would you help him?"

"He saved my brother's life in France," S.S. Wagner replied, giving Josef a sincere look of, what Mila guessed, was gratitude.

"He was one of the men on the mine field," She said, more as a statement than a question. Josef nodded. The sad irony of it wasn't lost on her ... The fact that he'd saved someone else's brother but hadn't been able to save his own. And now that 'someone' had, in turn, helped save her life.

"I hate to break up this little reunion, but we need to be going," The British soldier that Lieutenant Hoffman had pointed his gun at spoke up. "We don't want any more unwelcomed guests turning up at the party."

Josef grasped Mila's hand and walked her over to the group of men, whose weapons were now holstered instead of pointed in her direction. Without warning, one of the soldier's grabbed Josef, sucker punching him squarely on the jaw.

"What are you doing?!" She yelled, watching in horror as the soldier continued his assault with a knee to Josef's abdomen. "Stop!" She pushed herself between them, shielding Josef behind her.

"It's alright," Josef shook his head. Steading himself against her shoulder, he stood upright, wiping away the blood that had trickled from the gash on his temple. "If we're going to say we were ambushed, we'll have to make it look believable."

"Don't want anyone asking too many questions," S.S. Wagner said, his voice nasally as he pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to stop the nosebleed that'd resulted from the blow he'd taken to the face from one of the other men.

"Give us a moment," She said, turning to face the group's leader. His eyes and hair were a dark brown, his jaw stern. He reminded her of Harvey. "Please," She pressed when he gave her an exasperated look that reminded her of Harvey too.

"Make it a quick one," He said finally. Turning on his heel, he walked a few paces away, motioning for his men to follow.

"Are you okay?" She asked, rubbing her thumb over the gash on Josef's forehead.

"I've had worse," He replied. Grasping her hand in his, he lowered it to his chest, holding it there.

"Are you okay?" He asked, peering down at her.

She nodded, her lips turning up into a halfhearted smile.

"I'm so sorry," He began. His eyes tore from her's, scanning her body for the injuries they both knew were there. "If I could've carried you out of that horrible place the very first day, I wou-,"

"It doesn't matter," She shook her head, pressing her forehead to his. "You're here now ... That's all that counts." They stood like that for a moment, neither saying a word until, finally, she mustered up the courage to ask the question that'd been on her mind. "In your letter," She began, drawing in a shaky breath. "You said 'until we say goodbye' ... Is this what you meant?"

Josef nodded.

"I don't want to leave you," She said, clenching her jaw in an effort to keep the tears at bay.

"But you have to," He replied matter-of-factly. "They've arranged passage for you to London, and these men will ensure you make it there safely."

She looked up at him, her brows knit together in a look of uncertainty.

"They'll take care of you," He said reassuringly.

"Will I ever see you again?" Her voice had nearly shrunk to a whisper now.

"I'll find my way back to you ... I always will," He said, cupping her cheek in his hand. "I swear it," He added, pressing his other hand against her belly.

"Josef..." She paused, trying to find the words. "I'm so sorry ... All the pain I've caused ... All the-,"

"You could cut my heart out, and it would still beat for you," He cut her off, cupping her face with both hands now. "I love you," He said, gazing into her eyes. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, returning the embrace. She never wanted to let go ... Never wanted to leave his arms again. She had to though..

"Will you write?" It was a childish question, but a reassurance she needed nonetheless.

"Everyday," He said against her hair.

"Time's up," The dark haired man called.

Pulling away, she wiped the tears from her eyes. What little time they'd had was gone ... It was time to go. Grasping her chin, Josef tilted her head up to look at him.

"You're in every line I've ever read," He whispered, pressing his lips against her's. "I love you."

"I love you too," She replied once his lips had left her's. Grasping his hand, she held it as she turned to leave, giving it one last squeeze before it slipped out of reach.