60. Another Man's Shoes

When Zahira checked her phone, she saw the missed calls from Orion. Depressed, she sent the star immortal a message – telling him she'd head to his place after work tomorrow.

Time went by much too fast for Zahira, tomorrow came and she found herself back at the penthouse feeling massively unprepared. This time, when she knocked on the door, it was Orion who answered it. He pulled her into a hug and Zahira stood woodenly in his arms, not hugging him back. How was she going to do this?

Orion realised that something was wrong.

He guided Zahira to the sofa and sat down beside her. Zahira stared at her knees, looking wretched.

"What's wrong?" Orion asked, watching her face carefully. Zahira's lip trembled. "Zahira, look at me." Orion instructed. When she wouldn't, he reached out to cup her cheek but Zahira flinched back from his touch.

Orion slowly retracted his hand. "Ok." He rose to his feet and turned so that Zahira couldn't see his face. Zahira hung her head guiltily. "You're angry at me about something, right?"

Zahira shook her head but Orion wasn't facing her. so he didn't see. "What is it? Have you heard something bad about me?" He turned suddenly, meeting her gaze. "Has your boss spoken to you about me?"

She shook her head. Though Jaz had warned her that dating Orion wasn't a good idea, he hadn't actually said anything specific. "Liar." Orion chided. Zahira saw that Orion's hands were balled into fists. She quickly rose to her feet.

"Jaz hasn't told me anything, really." She frowned, wondering how her boss and Orion knew one another.

"Then why are you upset with me?"

Zahira opened and closed her mouth, unsure what to say. She couldn't tell him about Dante. If she mentioned the gang, that would only confirm that she was involved with hiding illegal goods. Orion would hate her for it. She could go to prison and, for blabbing, she'd probably end up getting killed there. She felt physically sick.

"I don't think we're a good fit. We're too different from one another." Her voice shook as she spoke. Orion stared at her, with hurt raging in his eyes.

"Why is being different a problem?" He asked her. "I like that you're nothing like me."

Zahira stared at him. This was even harder than she'd imagined.

Orion moved suddenly, pulling Zahira into an embrace. "I'm in love with you, Zahira."

Zahira's heart trembled. She had no idea what she should do. Could she keep dating Orion in secret, and keep the gang from finding out?

She wanted to.

Slowly, she moved her arms to hug him back. If the gang found out, at least she'd be the only one to get hurt. For the first time in her life, she wanted to be brave. She wanted to keep Orion in her life. Orion held her close against him and Zahira could feel the pounding of his heart. He cradled her head and breathed in the smell of her hair. "Don't leave me."

"Ok." She whispered. She'd risk her life to stay with this man. Orion leant down and kissed her cheek. She lifted her head up and he kissed her mouth. It was a sweet kiss.

A loving kiss.

**

Sophia came to the café early in the morning, before the place had gotten busy. She spotted Zahira and waved.

"Lemon cake, please." Sophia asked.

"Any drink?"

"No, thank you. Jaz has made a special tea for me." Sophia's eyes sparkled with a hidden joke.

Jaz did indeed hand Sophia a tea that didn't look like anything on the menu.

"This will help clear your head." He told her.

"Thank you." And she handed over some money. Zahira's eyes widened in shock when she saw the amount. How could a cup of tea be so expensive?

Zahira brought the cake slice over to where Sophia was sitting by the window.

"It's been a week since you last came over." Sophia commented.

"I've been busy." Zahira murmured. She'd gotten into a routine of calling Orion after her work shifts and coming up with excuses. She reasoned, that this way he wouldn't turn up at the apartment looking for her. She only had to do this whilst she had Dante as a house guest. Unfortunately, she had no idea how long Dante would be hiding in her apartment for. He'd yet to mention anything about leaving.

"Orion's been acting a little odd." Sophia sipped her tea. "He's quieter than usual." Moping, was Sophia's private description for her master's behaviour. Sophia smiled at Zahira. She liked anyone who had the ability to upset Orion. She wasn't keen on her latest master. "Have you got a new boyfriend?" Sophia asked, hopeful. Zahira quickly shook her head.

"Nothing like that. I really have been busy."

***

Zahira came home to the smell of frying. She walked into the kitchen to find Dante cooking whilst listening to the radio.

"I'm making fajitas." He told her. Zahira smiled nervously.

"Smells good."

She didn't have a proper table to sit around so they sat on the floor around her coffee table instead. She got herself juice and beer for Dante and laid out plates and cutlery.

"How does it taste?" Dante asked, after she'd taken a bite.

"Good!" She complimented.

They both ate their food in an awkward silence. Dante's phone would go off occasionally and he kept looking in frustration at his messages. "You miss being involved more?" She guessed. Dante nodded. For him, it felt like he'd been cooped up for an eternity.

He met her gaze and gave her a flat look. "Don't look at me like that. Like you feel sorry for me. It makes me feel bad."

"Sorry."

He sighed.

"And don't say sorry either. I know you must hate having me here. And you must hate me for scaring you all the time."

It wasn't exactly an apology. Zahira concentrated on eating her food and didn't reply. She wondered what Dante would do if he found out that she was still seeing Orion. She sighed. That problem would probably solve its self soon enough, how long would Orion put up with her before he broke it off?

The idea of Orion ending things between them robbed her of her appetite.

"I'll wash up." Zahira mumbled, picking up the plates. Dante was about to reply when his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he quickly answered it.

"Yes, boss?" He asked, energetically. Zahira watched him get up and head into the bedroom so that he could chat to the Mad Dog in private.

Zahira headed to the sink to do the dishes. The doorbell buzzed and she scurried to answer it, knowing that Dante was still busy on the phone. She opened the door, expecting it to be one of Dante's brothers, but then she gasped in surprise. Orion was standing on her doorstep.

Dread plunged deep into her stomach.

"I came to see you." Orion declared. He looked so out of place standing outside her door. Zahira glanced around behind him, hoping that none of her neighbours had seen him come here.

"N-now's not a good-" She started to stammer.

"I'm not going to search through your things, Zahira. I just need to see you." He cut in, frustrated.

Orion made to step inside but Zahira did her best to block him. It was hard, he was a lot bigger than she was. "I missed you, Zahira." He pulled her into a hug and Zahira clung onto him, completely panicked. She had to get Orion out of here before Dante discovered him. Orion stiffened suddenly.

"Do you have a guy over?"

"No." Zahira quickly lied.

Orion pulled back from the embrace and Zahira realised that he was staring at a pair of Dante's discarded shoes. "N...no I'm alone." Zahira lied. It was at that moment that they both heard the bedroom door open. Zahira's heart skipped a beat.

"Zahira, I'm going to have a shower." Dante called out loudly.

"Ok!" She called back.

They heard the bathroom door shut and Zahira's legs nearly gave way with relief. Dante hadn't seen Orion. She looked up at Orion and her eyes widened in alarm. He looked angry.

Dangerously angry.

Orion grabbed Zahira's wrists and pinned them against the wall.

"Have you been cheating on me, Zahira?" He asked in a low tone. Zahira's heart hammered with panic.

"Errr..."

Orion glowered down at her, breathing heavily.

"I'll make you pay for this."

Zahira had lost the power of speech. What was the Star Immortal going to do to her?