Her breath became a brick in her throat.
"I don't know why you kid yourself with him. He's not the least bit worthy of you." He ran slim cold fingers over her cheek. She was a deer in headlights, big eyed and frozen. "You're too lovely. You should be with a man who could provide for you. With him you'll starve, your children will wear rags, you'll have to scrape by in the tenements of his vulgar city." He ran his fingers down her neck and moved his face close into her to take in her scent at her neck. "I could give you the world, my darling. Just choose me and I'll give you anything your heart desires. You'll be the richest lady in the neighborhood when I take you back to York."
He drew his fingers down her neck and trailed them down the center of her chest. Her mind was screaming at her body to move but she caught sight of the large pistol he purposefully displayed nestled under his jacket and all thought was gone again. He pressed himself up against her trapping her against the cold marble behind her and his looming body.
"I'll take you to premieres, drape you in the finest silks and jewelry money can buy. You will want for nothing."
She couldn't find her voice in her throat.
"You see, I find myself more drawn to you than any other woman I've encountered. You've bewitched me since the first, and seeing you with him is torture." He grew bold and ran his hands up down grabbing up both of her hands and holding them in an iron grasp before she could get up the facilities to move them of her own accord. He pulled them behind her back and held them tight with one hand pressing himself against her and leaving one hand free to rove her neck.
"I find myself obsessed with the idea of possessing you for my own." She shrieked a little but he roughly pushed her further into the hard lines of marble at her back and made sure she saw his gun again. "If I cannot have you I don't know quite what I'll do." He said reverting back to his nonchalance as he groped her. She trembled but she would not let tears fall, she prayed for her Sergeant to walk back into the garden and save her.
"You see, I'm terribly used to getting everything I desire. Money, status..." His voice trailed off and he pressed himself into her further as he moved his mouth to her ear "Women. No one says 'no' to me. No one."
Nili felt white hot fear chill her from her neck outward to every inch of her body he touched. She was immobile with panic, her body a prison as her mind raced trying like a trapped animal to formulate an exit strategy.
"What the fuck do you think you're doin'?" Nili had never felt so such comfort from hearing one voice.
The Lieutenant advanced on them quickly, pistol out as Hicox released her and stepped away. She dropped to her knees her legs giving out from the relief that flooded her.
"I was simply presenting the lady with other options." Hicox said smoothly adjusting himself.
Aldo could barely contain his rage. He wanted nothing more than to shoot that rat bastard dead here and now, but he had intelligence that they needed and he couldn't risk the lives of all of his men over his indecency, as much as he wanted to. He hoped she'd understand.
"It looked to me like you were assaultin' my nurse." Aldo growled out as he held the gun to Hicox. Instead of relinquishing Hicox calming pulled out his own side arm and cocked it back pointing it back at Aldo.
"I wasn't giving her anything she hasn't already had." His voice made her sick and his words made her sicker. She felt worthless and dirty sitting before the two men.
"You shut your mouth boy or I swear I don't care what you know or how much you're worth to your government; cause you ain't worth a lick to me and I got no qualms with blowin' your fuckin' nuts off, then your head."
Hicox chuckled "I see, but are you willing to risk your entire mission on it? You see Leftenant, you not only gamble yourself in this little Mexican stand off we have here, you gamble away the lives of every single one of your men. It would be a shame if they were to be compromised because you wanted to shoot me over the Bear's whore. We're not so far from the village that gunshots wouldn't be heard." He walked smoothly towards his left and Aldo countered following along keeping his pistol level with Hicox's crotch.
"Sure enough the proper authorities, the proper Nazi authorities would hear, as well as your men, and they would all converge... just here, all together."
Aldo swallowed deep and his mind worked furiously, He hated this fucker more than he'd ever hated anyone, but damn if he wasn't right. He couldn't risk his men, he couldn't risk the mission, not even for Donny, not even for his helpless little woman.
Aldo sighed deep and dropped down his gun. "You're right." Aldo said hanging his head in defeat.
Nili was frozen again.
"I know I am." Hicox countered "Now if you'll excuse me, I believe I'd better meet my team." With that he clicked his heels and swaggered out of the garden like a man who'd just received a medal of honor.
"Come 'ere" Aldo said gesturing to Nili as he got down on his knees in front of her. She quickly flung herself into his arms and began to sob "I know, I know." he said patting her hair, his own voice was thick and Nili could tell he hated himself for what he had to do. "You unnerstand though, right? I couldn't kill 'im. I couldn't put my men in danger."
She nodded into his chest and tried to stop the flow of her tears but they just kept coming from her humiliation.
"I swear to you. After tomorrow night in Nadine I'll kill him. I'll gut him like a fuckin' pig and hang him out to dry. No man can ever lay his hands on a woman like that. Let alone one I know and care about."
He pulled her away from him and placed his hands on her shoulders "Now get a hold of yourself. You can't breath a word of this to anyone. Not to Adele, not to Smithson, and especially not to Donny."
She tried to catch her breath but she was still hiccuping with sobs. She managed to nod though.
"I know it's gonna be hard but I need you to act like this never happened. I swear to you I'll watch that bastard like a hawk and he won't be allowed near you again. Once Donny's done he'll be with you every waking moment until tomorrow. All you have to do is last through tonight and I swear to you he'll breath his last tomorrow. You trust me, right?"
Her mind raced and she tried to make sense of everything that had just happened to her, but she knew Aldo was right, she knew she had to hold it together. Donny couldn't find out. He'd go mad with rage. He'd kill Hicox on the spot and put every man in his brigade in danger.
"I... I understand" She stuttered out before wiping her nose and eyes "I trust you."
Aldo smiled a sad smile and pulled her close into his chest again and stroked her hair. His heart ached for the girl and by God he'd set things right for her if it was the last thing he did. "Good girl" He reassured her "You're a hell of a woman. A strong woman. You can do it."
Aldo held her until she'd gained control of herself and once she'd quieted he let her go and helped her stand up.
"Now I've got to set out, you go find Wicki's girl and get back to the house. I'll bring your man back safe to you tonight, I swear it to you." He patted her shoulder and kissed her forehead like an older sibling and then walked off leaving her by herself for a second time in the garden, only this time she was sure she was alone.
She still moved quickly, turning sharply in the opposite direction and heading out to the street where she took deep breaths to gain her composure.
"Cherie! My little friend, there you are! I have been searching for you!" She sighed hearing Adele's voice, she didn't know why but she felt reassured in the presence of the other girl, less vulnerable.
"Adele" She called out speeding up to meet the other girl and embracing her trying not to let her puffy eyes betray her. Adele was quick though and she grabbed Nili's chin and held her where she could see her face
"Little Nili, you've been crying, are you so sad to see your lover go? I promise you he will come back safely." She tutted and kissed both of Nili's cheeks before throwing her arm around her shoulders and pulling her along the street "Come, we will shop together a little and try to forget all that makes us upset."
Nili took a deep breath and decided to do just that. She wouldn't think about Hicox at all, she would strike him from her memory. She thanked God that he hadn't violated her. She had no doubts that if Aldo had not interrupted he would have grown bolder. But she knew Aldo wouldn't let him touch her again. She trusted him. She trusted him enough where she knew that Hicox would not be long for harassing her.
this is a bit short. but i promise the next will be longer and feature some surprising things! if you're reading this too, why not review it. tell me if you like the direction it's goign in, really anything.