Shadows In Durango

Chapter 59

*****Vincent's POV*****

"I'm sorry that you went through that, Vincent," Sofia said softly, her eyes full of genuine compassion. "No one should have to endure that kind of pain, especially from their own family... and believe me, I would know." She trails off, catching my attention with the last part.

Her family were bastards too? That would explain her running away from home and winding up here in town alone...

Her words hit me hard, and I felt a lump forming in my throat but I swallowed it back before it could lead to anything. I wouldn't cry over them, never.

I nodded, taking a moment to collect myself before continuing-

"It wasn't easy, especially when I was young," I admitted, my voice rough with emotion. "But it made me who I am today and if my father was to ever try to raise a hand to me these days, I would knock him around senseless - and the best part about that is, he would deserve it." I state firmly, believing in my words, instantly feeling my body tighten at the thought of my father.

"Why didn't your mother ever fight back for you?" Sofia whispers gently, as I instantly feel disgusted by the mention of her.

I wish she wasn't my mother...

"She's just a whore who fell pregnant with me to trap my father into marrying her - she's slept with half of his colleagues and isn't ashamed about it either. Sometimes, I feel sorry for her, because she seems completely soulless and lost, but then I remember what she allowed me to go through. I was never comforted whenever I would cry, she only wanted my father's approval and yet she never managed to get it - even still to this day!" I speak through my teeth, knuckles tightening.

It sounded ridiculous considering that my father beat me black and blue, but I always hated my mother more for never once asking me, her son, if I was okay. Something so simple, yet she never did it.

Sofia surprises me next by reaching across the table, her hand reaching up to take one of mine, squeezing it softly as I allow her to.

and I felt a surge of gratitude towards her for helping to calm

said softly. "You can be whoever you want to be and from what I've seen tonight, you're already on the right path to

where you're wrong Sofia... crime is all I know, and I'm fucking good at it too. I'm not much different to him when you actually think about it and put it on paper. One day, I would love to get so good that I could overrun his business, just to watch him crumble and grovel at my feet,

to pity me, I only wanted her to understand my life and who I am -

telling me all of this, I really do. I know it takes a lot to talk about the past." Sofia's softer approach puts me at ease, something I wasn't

since day one, how she had so gracefully handled

take her from me. I was growing

I've heard the rumours." Sofia admits, her tone uncertain as I all but nod. She's not wrong

my father. As much as I hate him, at least he pays me well for it. But don't talk about my business to anyone, or I would have to kill you princess." I wink, my tone

Join us for the

me into some serious shit

would never..." Sofia's eyes widen which only causes for me to chuckle

know she wouldn't... she's a

what's the deal with your past? Only if you feel comfortable sharing tonight that is." I nod,

to choose her words, watching her mental battle take place as she prepares herself to tell me about the skeletons in

people held secrets - whether for

probably figured, you know that I ran away from home..." Sofia swallows hard and begins,

more kind. But she died a couple of years ago and since then my life has gone down the drain to put it lightly." I see her eyes

my father, and similar to yours - my father thinks he's a big time gangster which I just find to be totally laughable since he wasn't like that before my Mom died!" She

whether or not I have heard of him

anybody about this Vincent because I've never spoke about this to anyone, not even Emma yet." She pauses as I nod and hold