Zephyr's Promise

2

"Nile, I'm not sure what you mean-" Ira has the decency to look away in shame. I guess that counts for something.

"No cut that bullshit out, you're scared of something. What is it?" I move out of my seat and closer to her. I won't let her get away so easily. "Remember what I said if I helped you? Whatever is going on involves me now too, you have to be honest so we can get out of it." My voice cracks nearing the end of my monologue. I hated having to raise my voice. To be the one that has to take control. Drawing attention.

The rhythm of her body starts to calm as she breathes in and out. Her face finally turns back to mine, the last little bit of the facade she previously held is gone.

Ira lets out a sigh before letting her dark locs fall from her bun. "It started two years ago, when we moved to this house." Her eyes glaze over the illustrious house. "Before then Cristiano and I lived in a much more modest home. We had always been the couple to decide on everything together from dinner options to vacation spots, rarely did we surprise one another in a way that took away our choices. The purchase of this home started the cracks in our marriage. How we were able to afford something so luxurious is all because of his "promotion." Her eyes close at the admonition. "In my heart I knew that was only a version of the truth. Slowly he started coming home later. If I'm being honest I figured he was just cheating on me." Heat passes through me. "I was willing to accept that because we could have worked it out. It sounds pathetic I know. Still, he was the love of my life." Ira's head hangs in shame. Though I am not one to judge her for wanting him despite his transgressions. After all he is hers. "One night he took me to some sort of gala. I was ecstatic we hadn't been out together since we bought the house. Since we lost the baby. It wasn't at all what I expected. The attendees looked like they were part of the Mob or something, it was then that I knew my husband was in some illegal shit, though I did not know to what extent."

That is a bomb I wasn't expecting to be dropped. It doesn't bring any clarity to the situation. Only adding to my confusion. I have so many questions that no one could answer. No one that we could ask anyways.

"I'm sorry." She gives me a solemn smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "I didn't mean to drag you into this-" My eyes sharply cut at her.

"I was dragged into this the moment Cristiano forced his way into my life." I refuse for her to take blame for something that he did. We never would have met if not for the fleabag himself. I just wished she was honest from the beginning. We wasted so much time teetering around the real issues and problems. Internally I feel like a clock has started winding down leaving us only a small window to save ourselves.

If that is even possible at this point.

"What do I do now?" Her jade colored eyes stare intently at me.

"We go on a stake out." I'm not sure why I offered myself up to the mission. Maybe it was the comfort of having Ira or the fact that I really wanted to help her. Either way the words had been said and I fully plan on keeping them. "More importantly we keep Cristiano unaware."

She seems to consider the plan. Mulling over it myself I wonder if we can pull this off. I mean I have never, ever done anything like this. My days have always been spent in solitude away from anyone's attention. Deceit is a game that I never played, never thinking I would have to. The day that a man would lie to me for such duplicitous reasons had never crossed my mind. Now that it has happened I have to fall into the role.

At the very least Cristiano and whoever his associates are remain unaware. At least for now. That will buy us some time and give us an advantage when sneaking around. That's if we can succeed in not getting caught. The consequences of what will happen if we do makes me sick to my stomach. I thought I had been in a shitstorm when I met Ira. Now I only wish a cheating boyfriend was the height of my problems.