“She died when I was a baby, alongside Nico’s mom.”
I assume it was tragically. The lines of communication seem to be breaking as we sit close. It’s apparent this woman doesn’t let people in. I know it means she’s trusting me, but feel bad I’m lying as well. I can’t blow my cover though. It may be unfair, but I’m determined to solve this case.
"Nina fits you better I think."
She's smiling as she looks away, again portraying proof that there's much more she wants to say but won’t.
"It would be nice to hear someone call me that again."
"And what about Windy? Is it a fake name?"
Nina shakes her head. She's squinting her eyes as she looks at me. I recognize it as something I do when I'm attempting to read someone. I keep my cool so she doesn't get suspicious of my motives. "Windy Lewis is a real person who works her ass off as a college student and intern at a reputable pharmaceutical lab."
"And Nina?"
She smirks. "In a lot of ways Nina no longer exists."
I stand and cross my arms. "I think I'm going to hunt down some alcohol. It seems like a good time to get shit-faced, don't you think?" If I don't appear offended she's been lying to me then she'll think something is up. Since I'm finally getting somewhere I don't want fuck it up.
I find the liquor cabinet easily, grab an unopened bottle of Jack Daniels and walk out onto the overlooking back deck. The sun has set and it's pitch black facing the woods behind the cabin. I stare out at nothing as I take a long gulp of the Kentucky bourbon.
My mind is bombarded with theories, but until I know the truth it would only be a waste of energy to speculate. I've now confirmed fake Windy is Nina. She's opening the door and letting me in, and I'm determined to be patient until I can understand her involvement in my brother's murder.
It takes her a few minutes before she seeks me out. I hear the sound of the metal sliding door screeching. Her footsteps vibrate off the old wood as she gets closer. "Are you mad at me, Moth?"
I'm still leaning on the railing, staring straight into the dark abyss. "I'm not angry. I'm a little disappointed I fucked a woman who didn't have the decency to tell her real name, but I figure you must have your reasons, just like you won't tell me who is after you."
"It's for your own safety. I swear."
If I lead on that I knew about this it will prove I’ve been hiding my own motives. Thought it’s difficult, I stand firm on being content with what she’s told me. “I appreciate you letting me in. I was beginning to think I was helping some crazy person, as if you have paranoid schizophrenia or some shit like that. Maybe you lured me away so you could kill me slowly.”
She snickers. “I guess you’ll find out if your theory is true tonight. It’s getting late, and unless you want me sleeping in the truck, we’ve got some cleaning to do.”
She’s right. Some large furniture has been covered with sheets, but the place needs a good shining. I don’t want to consider what is living underneath the beds. “Where do you want to start?”
“That depends,” her quiet voice insinuates. “Are we sleeping together or apart?”
I scratch my head. “Is this a trick question?”
Her newly found smile is appreciated. “No.”
“If it’s up to me you’ll be sharing the same sheets, that’s if we don’t kick them off when we tuck each other in later.”
She walks over to the kitchen sink and bends down to retrieve some supplies and a bucket. When she traipses back in my direction I can tell she’s on a mission. “You want me in those sheets, you better get to work.”
I take the bucket but steal a quick kiss on her cheek before heading outside to get some water. When I return she’s already sprayed something and has begun wiping down the furniture. I take it upon myself to impress her by lifting the mattress and leaning it up against the wall so we can make sure there isn’t any critters living inside or underneath. Now down to the frame, I’m able to remove the rails and start pushing it to the side of the room so we can make sure there isn’t a speck of dust. If it gets me laid, you better believe I’m going to go to extremes to get the job done right.
We work side by side, sometimes joking, but mainly staying focused on the task. “How long do you think we can stay here?” Nina asks me a question and when she does I don’t know how to respond.
“Why? How long do you think you need to figure out what to do next?”
She shrugs and rubs both hands on her thighs. “I don’t know, Moth. The people who are coming after me aren’t going to disappear. The only way to survive this is to stay hidden. That’s why I didn’t want you involved. It’s why I can’t give you details. The less you know the better.” She turns away, her mouth twisting as she fights to keep it together. When she speaks again her voice is strained. “It’s my fault for letting you into my life. I’ve been alone for so long that when you gave me the least bit of attention I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to remember what it was like to be with someone. I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve any of this.” I sit my rag down and scoot over to be next to her. She leans her head against the side of me, my arm comes up to hold her close. “I like the way it feels when you’re with me,” she manages to say through sobs.
I bring my lips to the top of her head and leave them there after I’ve kissed her. “If I wanted to leave I’d walk out the damn door. Don’t you think if that was going to happen it would have been when you told me you were lying to me about who you were? I’m still here, because I want to be.”
“You’re just a nice guy who doesn’t know any better. If something happens to you I’ll never…”
“Don’t. Don’t even go there. We’re safe. We can’t be tracked down anymore. I made sure of it. We’re in the middle of nowhere at a cabin that doesn’t have an actual address. As long as we stay here you’ll be protected. Need be, I’ll break out the rifles and sit on the front porch to make sure no one gets to you.”
I hear her sniffle and then try to laugh. It comes out air-filled, but at least I’ve managed to get my point across. Her safety is my priority. The investigation is ongoing, and as long as she’s with me I know I’ll get my answers.
“What about school? I can’t ask you to miss classes.”
“Yeah, don’t worry about it. I’m sure I can make them up next semester.”
“You’re crazy, you know that? I never thought a chance encounter would bring us here together.”
“Yeah.” I clench my jaw to keep my emotions at bay. If she ever found out this was all set up she’d never be able to see past the lie. “Thanks to a piece of shit truck.”
It takes Nina a few more minutes to settle down. It’s understandable that she’s emotional. If I were in her position, I don’t know how I’d handle fearing for my life. She’s actually being pretty tough, or she’s just really good at keeping her feelings at bay.
We get back to work cleaning, first wiping everything down, including the old battered hardwood floors. We take out the area rug and toss it on the deck. It’s too full of dust to put back in the clean space. When we put the mattress back on I locate a set of sheets kept clean in a sealed container. People do this for several reasons; bugs, moisture prevention, and dry rotting from temperature changes. I’m just glad we have something to work with.
The yellow sheets were probably from one of the guy’s homes. They have faded flowers scattered all over them, and I can tell Nina finds them to be hideous. Her lips are curled up as we straighten the top sheet before I place the blanket I’ve brought over it. She flops down with her arms above her head. “Well that was a lot of work.”
She’s right, but well worth the energy. The room looks nothing like the rest of the house. “I’m surprised that thick layer of dust protected everything the way it did. The dresser and bed look brand new aside from years of wear and tear. It adds a rustic look, don’t you think?”
She snarls and rolls over to glare up at me. “Do you always look to the bright side of
things?”
I open my mouth to answer and realize something I haven’t been able to notice before. Up until now I’ve never seen the good in things. I’m always searching for the hidden, the bad, and the ugly. This optimism is new and all because of her. “Being positive is how you stay on top of the game.”
She sits up and shakes her head. “You must have lived a sheltered life to feel that way. The things I’ve seen, the stuff I’ve experienced, there’s no way I could ever look forward to something.”
“What about food? Would you look forward to some nice hot food?”
Her hand travels to her stomach. She rubs it as she speaks. “That would cure the pains of starvation, so yes.”
I extend my hand for her to take. “Come on. Let’s run into town and visit that country store. I want to grab a couple things, and they usually have some prepared food for sale. They might be closed, but I’m hoping we’ll get lucky. If not I’m prepared to hold a pot of beans over the fire tonight.”
“Hell yeah. Let’s go.”
I can tell she’s proud of what we’ve accomplished when she leaves the room but looks back to see the progress we made. In all honesty, it’s probably the cleanest the room has ever been. I won’t have any problem closing my eyes in there.
Before we head down the dilapidated dirt lane, I gather an old propane tank to trade for a new one and an empty gas can I can fill for the generator. It’ll be great to have power and running water. I’ve considered waiting, but given the chance the store is still open, I’m going to take advantage of the amenities.
Fried chicken.
The smell of it resonates from the back of the small establishment. Nina takes one look at me and hauls ass in that direction. I shake my head but manage to grab a basket for some other essentials we’re going to need. My wallet has nearly two hundreds bucks inside, so that will hold us over for a while without having to drive to another town to use an ATM machine. My identification is hidden in the glove compartment in the truck, as well as my service weapon, phone, and badge. It’s got an old time lock on it, so I’m not worried she’ll open it to discover I’m carrying a weapon or that I’m a DEA agent for that matter. When I know she’s occupied waiting for food, I head back outside and grab the cash without her suspecting anything. I turn on my cellular device and start typing.
Safe. Confirmed being Nina Corsiva. Look into a Nico with the same last name. Pull birth records and get me father’s name and reason for death. I’ll check in soon. – Moth
I manage to shoot House and Renner a quick message before replacing the phone and locking the mechanism.
Before I head back inside to pay, I pick up a new filled propane tank so we’re able to use the hot water heater once I get the generator fueled up.
Nina is standing at the register with a small basket in her hand waiting for me. “I wondered if you left me here.”
“I had to grab my wallet and a propane tank,” I assure her. “Did you buy every snack they sell?” I ask while looking at the pile she’s put up to be totaled. The shop is so old fashioned they use a calculator instead of a register. The elderly woman attending manages to come up with the same total twice in a row, so I hand over the amount and thank her.
Nina carries the bags to the truck while I fill the gas tank. When I climb back in the vehicle she’s got a chicken drumstick up to her mouth, scarfing it down like a Neanderthal. “Hungry?”
“Starved,” she exclaims with huge, satisfied eyes. “My stomach has been in knots for days, plus I haven’t had fried chicken in forever.”
She reaches the leg over near my face. “Taste this. It’s like crack.”
I almost choke before coming to my senses. I know it’s an expression, but I deal with narcotics, so her description is comical. “Crack? Never tried it.” I take a bite and savor the warmth and flavor.
“Neither have I.”
“See, something else I’m learning about you.”
She shoves me and takes another chunk out of her food. “You’re hilarious. Maybe you should try out for stand-up.”
“Or not. Shut up before you choke on a bone.”
She snorts this time when she laughs at me, which only causes me to burst into laughter. It’s cute. I appreciate seeing the real Nina. It’s not only her beauty drawing me in. It’s everything as a package. If I don’t stay focused there’s no telling how lost I’ll become.
Back at the cabin we unload and I get to work on the generator. I fill the tank and yank on the pulley several times with no result. After adjusting the choke, I give it another go and she begins to purr. I’m relieved. As a man it’s easy to overlook amenities. We can piss and shit outside, go for days without a shower, and fend for ourselves when we get hungry, but I don’t expect Nina to have to live like this. Just because she’s running for her life doesn’t mean she has to live in a filthy shack. For the time being it’s the best I can offer, so I’m determined to make the most of it.
It’s nice to look over at the house and see lights. Nina comes out to the porch and calls out in the dark woods. “It’s working.”
“I see,” I yell back, while heading in her direction. I’m not going to lie. Seeing her standing on the porch waiting for me gives me a feeling of satisfaction. Our temporary situation reminds me I have to take advantage of the little time I’m going to have with her. Maybe in some ways we both need this in our lives. I’ve avoided relationships, because my job won’t let me get attached, but being in the presence of this woman has changed my opinion. If given the chance, I’d find a way to keep seeing her.
Chapter 17
We’ve gone over the importance of conserving the electricity and have agreed to only have it running for hot showers and cooking reasons. After that I’ll turn the machine back off and we’ll either be in the dark or have candles lit. The fireplace is making the cabin nice and toasty, so much that I’m hoping she starts to shed some of the clothes she has on.
We scarf down enough food for my whole team and then sit in front of the fire exhausted. I’m about to close my eyes when she rolls over and rests half her body on mine. Her beautiful eyes are peering up at mine. “I guess I better shower before you cut the power.”
I don’t resist stealing a kiss before offering a better plan. “We could shower together, to save on gas for the generator of course.”
“Is that what you’re going with?” She snickers. “I happen to know that when we’re naked in close proximity nothing ends quickly.”
I chuckle. “You have a point.”
She taps on her lips for a second. “We can shower back to back. We’ll race to finish first.”
“Seriously? What if your perfectly shaped plump ass accidentally brushes over mine?”
“That sounds like it would be a personal problem.”
I nod. “Yeah, maybe.” I check her out, mostly trying to cup her ass as I hold her. “I’m a little horny. Maybe we should wait.”
“A little horny? Said. No. Man. Ever.”
“Okay, just talking about it is turning me on. I’m picturing the water trickling down the round curves.” I lick my lips before continuing. “Mmm, it’s dessert time.”
She slaps me and moves away, traveling in the direction of the stairs. “I’m getting a shower. You should stay down here and tend to your personal situation.”
I twist around and look to her as I speak. “You want me to jerk off? Can I at least watch for viewing material?”
She lifts her shirt over her head and tosses it in my direction. “Hurry up.”
I’m like a teenager catching his first peek at a naked woman’s body. I skip stairs as I follow behind her, all while shedding my clothes along the way. I’m naked by the time I reach the bathroom, while she’s attempting to remove her bra. I give her some assistance and bring the bra around to the front before it falls off her chest. She turns around and latches her arms around my neck. “You make running for my life almost enjoyable.”
“I do my best, babe.”
“You can repay me by washing my back.” It’s not all I want, but it’s a start in the right direction.
We climb into the hot shower. Immediately Nina begins running a bar of soap around my back. I place one hand on the shower wall and lean forward so I’m able to appreciate how nice it feels to be in this predicament with her. Her touch sends powerful chills down to my feet. I’m already feeling sensations straight to my cock. According to the rate it rapidly grows, it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be bending her over. Speaking of time, we switch positions so I’m able to wash her. It’s difficult to keep my eyes open when my hands are coursing down her creamy skin. Every crevice, curve, and private area is being attended to. She’s letting out tiny cries as I work, careful not to miss a single inch. The second I reach her pussy I know this is a prelude for what I’ll have later. I take the bar of soap and smooth it between those fat lips, and then all the way up the crack of her ass. She’s clinging to my shoulders, as if she’s unable to stand on her own accord. I’m weakening her. I’m fueling my deviant sexual desire with her inability to withstand my touch. When I know she’s writhing with anticipation, I drop the soap and tend to her hair, lathering it with shampoo and then rinsing it thoroughly.
She’s turned and staring up at me with those pleading eyes I’m unable to resist. Without words, her hands run up the front of my body at the same time our lips brush. I close my eyes and let this happen, yet in this moment there is nothing else I want more. The way this woman has the ability to erase the damage that’s been done inside of me causes me to question how I’ll ever be able to put my job first. Each day that passes and I get to know her I’m becoming comfortable. Running from danger is nothing new to me. It probably only adds to the excitement for me.
I hold her close under the hot beads of water as we continue to embrace. She’s someone I could get lost in if I let myself. These are uncharted waters for me, making me curious to know how it would turn out if I took such a drastic leap.
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