Shadows In Durango

Chapter 44

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

Staring back at my friend who had so far taken everything I had told her with ease, providing comfort through my difficulty, I decide to tell her everything that happened last night...

"Vincent told me he was taking me home after that, to which I panicked because I didn't want him to see where I lived." I admit, as Emma squints a little again seeming lost in her thoughts for a second. "Why, where do you live?" She asks curiously, seeming to rack her brain as I chew my lip.

"Let's just say it gets referred to as the towns cartel..." I grumble at the nickname I had heard Vincent call it last night when speaking with his friends who had turned up to help out.

The name suited the street I guess, since illegal stuff seemed to run rife through it!

"That's not where your apartment is?! You should have said something sooner! My parents would have let you crash at my place until you found something else! That place is horrible Sofia, everyone in town avoids walking down there let alone living amongst it!" Emma takes off in a desperate rant, judging me fully for where my apartment was but not meaning to in a spiteful way.

She only cared, which was nice.

"I know, but I couldn't afford anything else when I first got here. That was the only place allowing a jobless young girl to move in I'm afraid." I explain, as she seems to breathe deeply to calm herself down. "Well now you know why I didn't want anyone to find out..." I motion to how upset she had grown as she instantly leans forward to take my hands.

"I am so sorry for my reaction! I don't mean to offend you Sofia, I just feel terrible that you had to settle for an apartment there. You don't deserve any of this!" Emma explains, offering my hands a gentle squeeze of comfort. She really didn't mean to hurt my feelings, I understood what she meant by it.

pushes forward, as I nod and sniffle to hold back my

to take me home and wouldn't let me walk. He also fired me, which as you can probably guess by now was a really big deal since I desperately needed the money,

to the park around the corner from my apartment and he started to lose his temper at that point again, demanding to take me directly to my door. I know now that he only meant well, but at the time I just wanted to run and hide. But after that, I decided to give in. I pointed the way, and like you, he couldn't believe that was where I lived." I feel my cheeks redden as the words escape, knowing I had reached my all time low

honest, despite my protests, deep down I sort of didn't mind because my two neighbours are assholes!" I tell her, as

was trying her best not to cut me off, but I could see the emotions swirling within her eyes, processing the whole story

the handle to get in. I was so terrified but I just hoped for the best - luckily, at that point my locks worked." I roll my eyes suddenly, realising that

called me!" Emma cuts in this time, as

us for the complete experience-all for

truth to anyone at that point... which was silly.

to keep my situation private and panicked. But skipping forward to last night, as Vincent walked me inside, we found my door laying wide open and my two neighbours were inside high on whatever drug they had stole my savings from the kitchen drawer to buy. They were both

was a young girl living

face, as Emma instantly shifted to hug me tightly to her

Vincent was with you!" Emma breathes as I

glad he had taken

from the embrace to wipe my wet cheeks, sniffling and attempting to

helped me calm down from the panic attack. He seriously surprised me last night, with how well he had handled the whole thing. He brought me back here with him

bathroom for a tissue to wipe my

The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "You should." She speaks first, as I retake my seat