Moth(53)

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.”