Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

I couldn't breathe.

For the first time since the night I had left this very home, Vincent's home, my emotions were now taking a toll on me after what he did...

Perhaps with Ashton holding me hostage, I had been too distracted with fighting for my life that I hadn't had the time to fully address the deeper emotions that still lay hidden beneath the surface - meaning the whole situation with Vincent and my father.

Being here, now stuck with Vincent alone in his car, was fully resurfacing everything all at once for me and my thoughts flew recklessly to process it all...

The car walls felt as though they were closing in, the weight of Vincent's words only seeming to piss me off more in my heightened state.

Every ounce of trust I had in him was now shattered, slipping through my fingers like sand, and somehow, I still wanted him to somehow fix this - as though it could all just simply be erased.

But it wasn't that easy... I knew that.

He had gone behind my back on the worst possible thing he could have.

He had spoken to the one person I didn't ever want him to.

I wanted to scream at him, to cry, to demand more answers - ones that I already knew wouldn't even make a difference to how I felt right now.

Vincent had tried to justify his actions, tried to convince me that it was all for my own safety, but what he didn't understand what he couldn't understand - was how deeply his betrayal actually did cut me.

He didn't know my father personally, didn't even know the type of evil man he was so willingly dealing with, and it was straight up foolish!

How many times had I been lied to in my life? How many times had I been made to feel powerless, like my choices didn't matter? Like my very own future didn't matter?!

I turned away from the window, my eyes finally locking onto Vincent's again. His face was a mask of anguish, and for a split second, I saw the boy I'd come to care about beneath the layers of control and strength he always wore. The same eighteen year old boy who, like me, had grown up in a world of chaos and violence and wanted to be better.

But that alone wasn't enough for me. Not right now.

"How could you do this?" My voice was quiet now, but it still carried every ounce of my pain. "How could you go to him thinking you could easily fix all of this, Vincent? After everything I've told you about him too, how could you even think for a second that he would be happy to cooperate when he so desperately only wants to punish me for running away?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off again before he could. "You just don't get it, do you? You don't understand what it's like to constantly be running, to always be looking over your shoulder, waiting for the moment when the one person you fear the most finally catches up to you and makes you suffer... all you've done with this, has helped to bring him even closer to me!" I seethe, reminding myself of how dangerous this whole thing was quickly becoming. Vincent looked like he wanted to argue back on that, to explain himself again, but I didn't give him the chance.

"I thought I could actually trust you," I said in a scoff, my voice breaking. "You were the first guy I've ever fully let in about my past. The first person who made me feel like I wasn't alone in this terrible nightmare. That I felt safe and protected around and now..."

I couldn't finish the sentence. The words choked up in my throat.

"Ok, Sofia, ENOUGH! You have to let me explain myself here! I would still do fucking anything to keep you safe, do you even realise that?! Especially from him! None of that has changed! I just went about it all completely wrong and for that, I'm sorry!" Vincent's volume rises, as my lips part in shock that he had started to somewhat yell at me.

"You just thought you knew better than me Vincent! Knew what was best for my life! Nothing I say or want matters anymore, does it?!" I shouted, finally letting the dam break. "You walked in to this blind, thinking that you could handle him, that you could outsmart him but you don't even know him, I DO!" I fume, as Vincent suddenly groans loudly, tugging at his own hair in sheer frustration.

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Tears blurred my vision, but this time they were being pulled from sheer anger.

We still remained in the car, none of us feeling any closer to having this tender scenario resolved.

I wondered how long it would take to finally get somewhere? To feel that we had reached an agreeable conclusion? But right now, I couldn't see one forming anytime in the near future.

"My father wanted to marry me off for money, and do you just think that it's all an ok idea now because this time around, instead of an old man, it's to you?! How damn narcissistic does that sound?! Sure, I liked you Vincent, but you're now out here making major life choices for me and I get zero say in my own future, surely you can see why I'm so upset over this?!" The words spill out from me, the horror of what he was planning still stabbing away at my heart. Vincent's face paled, and I saw the fear in his eyes which for a moment made me feel bad... but only for a single moment... before it was gone.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Sofia, please," he said softly, his dark tattooed hand reaching out again, tentative and this time, I felt drained and allowed for him to make contact, lacing his fingers in mine.

"I know that I messed this up so bad... and I was just as shocked as you were to learn that our fathers were somehow connected in a business sense... and I know I should've told you, and I'm so deeply sorry for how much it's hurt you... but if you would be willing, I would love to explain everything to you from start to finish, we can go inside and fully talk this out, and after that you can decide if you still want to talk to me again or not, but please just hear me out first?" Ashton squeezes my hand, pleading with me for a chance that I now felt he was at least entitled to.

Sure, he had still gone above and beyond to help me out these past few weeks, so for that, I'll agree to listen...

But that still doesn't excuse what he done... this was wrong, and I stood by that.

I pulled my hand from his and finally sighed, feeling utterly exhausted. "Fine," I whispered, not because I was ready to forgive, but because I needed more answers in order to move on with my life.

I needed to know why?

"I'll listen. But don't expect me to make any promises that everything will be great again after." I remain firm, knowing that I have to protect myself right now first and foremost!

Vincent nodded, relief flooding his features. He quickly got out of the car and came around to my side, opening the door for me.

For a moment, his attempt at being considerate made me want to roll my eyes, but I bit it back. There were bigger things to focus on right now and I didn't have to be more petty on top of that.

I had to remember he had still been through a lot with what happened to Daryl and had turned up to save me from Ashton... so there was no doubt that he still cared... but I couldn't ignore how hurt I was.

I followed him inside his house, the familiar scent of leather and faint cologne hitting me as soon as we entered - finding no sign of his father or mother which I was glad for.

The place hadn't changed much since I'd left it. The same expensive furniture, the same modern, clean lines. But what had changed was me. I wasn't the same girl who had sought refuge here weeks ago. I wasn't the same girl who'd been looking for protection from the chaos of my past under Vincent's roof.

Now, I was facing a whole new storm and wasn't entirely sure if I could even trust him... if I was even safe to stay here anymore...

Vincent led me into the living room, motioning for me to sit down.

I took a seat on the edge of the couch, my body tense, ready for whatever bombshell he was about to drop next.

He sat across from me, running a hand through his hair again, a gesture I'd come to recognise as his way of trying to calm himself down.

"Alright, I'm going to tell you everything," he said, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasping together. "I'll do whatever it takes to fix this. Just... don't shut me out? Don't run off again?"

Vincent lifts his head, our eyes connecting as I respond with a stiff nod...

I won't run, not this time.