Stiglitz and Omar were on him grabbing his arms and holding him in place. Nili was holding his shirt and trying to calm him. Hicox was sitting calmly sipping his coffee with the nonchalance of a man taking a leisure brunch.
"Do not make a move Don." Aldo growled from across the table "Outside. Now." Aldo sprang up and walked briskly to the old screened door holding it open as Donny shrugged off Stiglitz and Omar and followed him outside leaving a stunned group of Basterds in his wake.
"You mind explainin' what the fuck that was 'sposed to be?" Aldo fumed turning on the Bear Jew as soon as they'd gotten out of ear shot of those in the kitchen.
"That man is a fuckin' sleaze, Aldo. I don't like the way he looks at my girl and the way he thinks he can talk about her. No one talks about her like that." Donny's voice was low with rage and Aldo knew just how precarious his temper was.
"What the shit are you talkin' about? I saw him put on that show last night but I thought he straightened out. The man was just yawwin' about the fuckin' bathroom this mornin'."
Donny growled and turned away from Aldo and swung his arms out and back into himself "He wasn't talkin' about the fuckin' bathroom. He was talkin' about Nili. He walked in on us in the shower this mornin'. I'm tellin' you, if he lays a hand on her I'll fuckin' gut him like a fish."
Aldo took in what Donny told him and reevaluated his perceptions of the dapper British officer. He decided he really didn't much like him, but there wasn't really anything he could do about it at the current juncture. He just had to focus on keeping Donowitz from killin' him.
"Alright. I get it now. I'm not sayin' he's right, because he sure as shit can't talk about a lady as fine as yours like that. But the thing is, we need 'im, so I can't have you wringin' his soft little neck unless you got a real reason. If he makes any lewd move or lays a hand on her then by the good grace of the Lord you have my blessin' to kill the fucker any way your sick fuckin' mind sees fit. But until he pulls somethin' like that, try to keep it under control, for her sake. She duddn't need to see you go off."
Donny listened to Aldo rattle off the speech he'd already known was coming and instead of listening he mainly focused on trying to steady his breathing and ease the tension out of his muscles.
"Yeah. Alright. She's my main priority Aldo. She's the only thing that keeps me livin' and breathin'. If he touches her, I can't speak for what I'll do."
Aldo came up and laid a hand on Donny's shoulder. The big man had a temper, but damnit if he wasn't one of the better men Aldo'd ever known.
"I know it Don. I know it. Now get back in there and try to act like a fuckin' sensible man" He shoved Don lightly and as he did he felt his rock of a shoulder soften a little. He watched him walk in ahead of him and he let out a quiet long breath knowing he'd avoided disaster for now. He couldn't help but worry what would happen if the Brit was stupid enough to test his luck on the Bear Jew. Aldo really didn't feel like explainin' away a mangled body to the Brit higher ups.
Donny entered back into the kitchen to see most of the men dispersed, Hicox thankfully included. Nili was sitting at the table and she stood up as soon as he walked into the door.
"Donny are you alright? Did you do anything foolish?" She asked grabbing his hands and checking his knuckles for wounds.
"I'm fine baby." he said snaking a hand around the back of her head and pulling her into him to kiss her forehead. "Are you okay? Are you feeling alright? Did he say or do anything once I'd left?" He pulled her away gently and held her at arm's length
She shook her head quickly as her cheeks heated up. She was still mortally embarrassed at the gall of Hicox and she still felt a little dirty at his mention of his seeing her naked. She was telling the truth though, he'd not said another word after Donny's outburst and had only finished his coffee and then stepped out of the kitchen to prepare for the day's mission.
"Good." He said sternly as he pulled her to him again and stroked her hair. She was his. No one else's. She was only for him and he was only for her. He was supposed to protect her from everything and make sure the only things she knew were pleasure and happiness. No one else was supposed to encroach on their little world. "I love you Nili Cohen."
She pulled away gently and ran her hand along the two days worth of stubble roughing his cheek and chin. He closed his eyes and reveled in her soft touch for a moment and she knew he was calm now. "I love you too, Esa. Always."
He stroked her cheek and ran his thumb down to her lips. "I hate leavin' you." He said quietly as his mind wandered to the prospect of tonight's outing.
"As long as you come back it'll all be okay." Her voice was quiet as she laid her cheek on his barrel chest and let out a slow sigh
"I'll always come back to you. Just like I said baby. I'll take you back to Boston with me and we'll get married."
She pulled away and looked up at him, his face was so open and honest. She couldn't help her heart's swell.
"Come on kid. I have to get my things ready for tonight and I have somethin' for you." He gently pulled on her hand and lead her up to their little room.
She laid on the bed as he started to clean out his pistol again. She watched how meticulous he was and how much care he took making sure it shined and any hint of tarnish was banished from the barrel.
"Tell me about Boston Esa." She asked as she turned lazily to him.
He smiled a big crooked smile and looked up at her with a raised eyebrow "You wanna know about your new home sweetheart?"
"I do." She turned on her side and propped herself up on her elbow as she watched him.
"Well, when we first get home we're gonna drive into Boston over the Bunker Hill Bridge and you'll get to see the Charles. That's the river than runs through the city. In the fall we'll go watch the regatta, I used to do that every year with my parents. I'll take you to my parent's house, they live just outside Fanuiel Hall. You'll get to see right where I grew up, I'll take you to the North End for the best Italian dinner of your life. We'll go to every single Red Sox game, we'll get beers together at the bars outside during the seventh inning stretch and come back to see 'em win..."
Her heart warmed hearing him talk so fondly. She wanted nothing more than to live in this little dream he was spinning for her. She could see herself sitting next to him as he yelled excitedly over the sound of the Fenway crowds. She could see them taking strolls on the banks of a river she'd never seen.
"Once I get a little money I'll take you shoppin' on Newbury Street. That's where all the girls always want to go. They have every store you could dream of. In the winter when the Nor'Easters blow in we'll stay tucked up at home all day and stay in bed for hours. You can work at Mass General and I can go back to the shop and I'll walk the few blocks to the hospital and buy you lunch every day. We'll be perfect baby. I'm going to make you the happiest woman on earth, trust me."
She felt full to bursting and she hopped up from the bed and nearly bowled his chair over with the force she used to kiss him.
"You that excited baby?" He asked pulling her into his lap and smiling
She just laughed and smiled and pecked his lips again "Of course sweetheart, it all sounds so perfect."
His face broke into his easy grin and he ran his hands up and down her smooth arms relishing the feel of her on his lap and the sight of her big smile.
"Don! Donowitz! Get down here!" Their contented moment was interrupted by Aldo calling from downstairs.
Donny groaned and moved Nili from his lap as he stood up and got his things together. "Come on girl, put your jacket on." He said tapping her on her pert backside and smiling at her surprise.
"What do you mean?" She asked confused
"Here baby" He reached into the pocket of his leather jacket as he pulled it over his broad shoulders he pulled out a money clip full of folded bills. She accepted them with a confused look on her face but grabbed her jacket all the same.
"What are you talking about Esa, I'm not coming on your mission, am I?" He helped her put her jacket on and turned her around chuckling at her confusion.
"Of course not, but you are coming into town with us. Wicki's girl is coming too with the truck. You girls are going to bring a few of us to town to get our supplies. It cuts down on suspicion when we go into town with a couple of women. Plus, you need a new dress sweetheart." He playfully tugged aside the collar of his oversized shirt and dug his face into her neck and chest kissing her as she giggled a little.
"Damn it Donowitz, if you and your girl aren't down here in 2 minutes I'm comin' up and pullin' you off of her I don't care if you're naked of not!"
Donny chuckled into her neck and pulled his face away and took up her hand instead. "Come on baby, let's go."
They moved quickly down the stairs and met with Wicki and Adele, Aldo and the other Basterds were milling about the parlor.
"Jesus, you sure took your sweet fuckin' time." The Lieutenant was impatient as they moved to stand before him "Now that you're here. You and Wicki will be goin' into town with the girls actin' like the two sets of fuckin' love birds that you are. Wicki and Adele will get the guns from the miller and you and your nurse will be pickin' up the maps from our resistance contact in the pub. Now Nurse, you don't happen to speak any French do yah?" He looked hopeful as he raised his eyebrows at her.
"I do, I took 8 years of French, I'm fluent with a Riviera accent."
Aldo broke into a huge grin and clapped Donny on his shoulder "Goddamn you sumbitch, how'd you pick the most useful woman on the continent?"
Donny swelled with pride and looked down on his perfect little woman.
"Don't you even let him open his big fuckin' mouth, girl. You know better'n me how Christ awful his accent is and you don't even want to hear him try pronouncin' anything other than English."
Nili laughed a little at Donny's expense as he narrowed his eyes at his Commanding Officer.
"Get on, all of you." Aldo said nodding and dismissing the men and the two girls.
Donny put his hand on the small of Nili's back and and they followed Wicki and the tittering Adele outside to the truck.
"Cherie you never told me you speak French, how naughty of you, tisk tisk. We could have gossiped about the men without their knowing." Her big mouth curved into a saucy smile and she sent Nili a wink as they piled into the old truck. Wicki and Adele took the front seat and Donny helped Nili into the small back seat.
Pressed together in the back seat Donny put his arm around her and held her close up against him. Going into town for a mission his usual mind state was blanked. He was nothing more than a machine when he was working, he separated himself and let his body run on autopilot.
Now he was painfully aware of his body. He felt her warm body pressed against his side and the smallness of her as she intertwined their fingers over her shoulder. She and Adele were tittering on together in French, he couldn't understand a word but he didn't mind. The cadence of her voice was all he needed to calm him.
His mind replayed the months since he'd met her. The first moment he laid eyes on her and the way he'd changed since then. He felt like a man now. Before he'd just been a trigger happy putz, a piece of meat with no direction or purpose. Now he knew what it was like to think of someone else, to have someone depend on him.
He'd been scared of it before. The girls at home had made him nervous when they'd said they loved him and that they needed him. It sent an electric zing through him like a cattle fence and it always set him running. It was different now, looking down on her head of curly hair. He squeezed her fingers reassuringly and kissed the top of her head. Having this girl depend on him was the best thing he'd ever felt, he felt like a provider, like a defender, like a man should.
She took his big hand and kissed the top of it as she leaned further into him feeling the bulk of him up against her.
The drive into town was short and soon enough they were pulling into the muddy little main road. Wicki cut the truck's engine and the two couples stepped out, Adele and Nili talking excitedly in perfect French with Wicki adding in occasional comments as they walked together jovially, Donny held Nili's hand tightly and stayed quiet with his head dipped under his cap. They reached the miller and Wicki and Adele split off giving their farewells which sounded like garbled gibberish to Donny's ears. He still waved and nodded to them and then gently tugged Nili's hand on towards the small pub where they would meet their contact.
"You're really amazing, you know that?" He whispered quietly into her ear.
She giggled and hit his chest and walked on her tip toes to reach up to kiss his cheek. He laughed back at her and slid an arm around her waist kissing her lips in the middle of the streets of Clichy. He could feel eyes on them but he couldn't have cared less, the last thing on any of the minds of the people that watched was that the man kissing his girl in the streets was a Nazi bludgeoning American soldier, no, he was just some lovesick fool with a pretty sweetheart.
She pulled away from him with an indignant look on her face but it faded once she saw his smile. "You fool" she mouthed at him as she batted his arm and took up her place again as they strolled into the dimly lit pub.
"Aha, Francois! You finally bring your pretty wife for me to meet" A smooth voice said in French as the man at the table called them over. "Come come, sit, I have the expense reports for the shop all done out for you." Nili smiled prettily at him and introduced herself as "Edith" and took the seat across from the man at the table. Donny nodded silently keeping up his mute act for the few patrons of the pub.
"Now Francois, the expense are perfectly on track, your workmanship is perfect and I can even anticipate some expansion for you." He eyed Nili nodded as he punctuated each word. She understood that she was to memorize what he told her and report it back to Donny in English as soon as she could.
"Fantastic, thank you so much." Nili said patting the man's hand as she accepted the stack of papers he pushed towards her. "It is so kind of you to do business with my Francois, ever since he lost his voice it has been hard for him to run the business."
"Nonsense" The contact said shaking his head "I have never met a finer craftsman than your husband. I only wonder how he managed to snatch up such a lovely woman without words."
"Oh but sir that is why I married him of course. Every woman wants a man who never says no when she takes the chequebook." Nili laughed a little as Donny let up the ghost of a smile as he kissed the top of her head.
The contact smiled at the two and took his cue to exit "I see that you two lovers would like to spend some time alone, now that business is taken care of I'll take my leave of you. Look over those reports Francois and get me your expenses for next month as well."
Nili nudged Donny and he took his cue to nod to the man as he rose and left. Donny and Nili rose after him and both parties left the pub and went their separate ways on the small street. Donny tugged Nili down the road and pulled her into a large overgrown garden outside the run down old church.
"What did he tell you?" His voice was serious as he stood in front of her " I need you to repeat every word as he said it."
Nili nodded and carefully repeated the contact's translated words verbatim. Donny absorbed every word, translating the meaning in his head. The expenses were perfect, meaning the plan was on, the patrols would be running at the expected times. The workmanship is perfect, the roads were all in drivable order, no blockages or downed bridges. He expects expansion, the contact in Nadine will be waiting as discussed.
"Thank you sweetheart, you were perfect." He leaned down and kissed her thoroughly proud of how well she's done in the pub. She was perfectly composed and hadn't let the severity of the mission effect her.
He stepped back from her and sighed deeply, now he'd have to break from her. He and Wicki would take their catches and meet up with the rest of the men who'd reached town on foot by now. They'd fade into the woods and make their way to the Nadine Road.
"I have to go now baby." He whispered against her lips as he stole little kisses in between.
"I know." Her voice was tinged with sadness as she pressed herself closer to him.
He wrapped her closer in his arms and laid his cheek against her hair taking in the soft smells of her committing her sensory experience to memory.
"You take that money I gave you and buy yourself whatever you want, okay? Get yourself new dresses, new shoes, jewelry. I've been savin' that up for a while. It's kraut money but they sure love it here."
She nodded against his chest but the money was the last thing on her mind. He was consuming her thoughts now. She only wanted to stay in his arms forever.
"Come on, baby." He said quietly as he pulled away from her. "Go meet Adele outside the pub and have fun with her. I'll be back tonight."
Nili nodded and kissed him slowly, savoring the feel of him just for one more moment. After she pulled away and he turned his back and walked out of the garden.
She sighed and leaned against a large statue of the Virgin Mary. She looked up and ran her hand over the feet of the statue, it reminded her of the yard of the hospital in Sicily. She remembered their long afternoons together in the sun where she'd first fallen in love with the loud mouthed soldier who wouldn't take no for an answer.
She was caught up in her own thoughts hugging herself against the white marble. She didn't hear the set of heavy boots come up from the back of the garden. She did see the shadow moving from her left and she turned just as he pinned her against the large statue pedestal.
"I was waiting for that ignoramus to finally leave you." His voice was butter smooth and in it she heard the notes of something sinister.