Shadows In Durango

Chapter 60

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

I felt incredibly anxious after opening up to Vincent about my past but after everything he had told me prior, the timing just felt right.

Despite my nerves, it also felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders as I shared my trauma with someone who could somewhat understand and relate to what I was saying - as twisted as it all sounds.

Our conversation had momentarily halted, as the waiter delivered a variety of tapas dishes to our table that Vincent had ordered - the intoxicating smell invading my nostrils as I held back the saliva from drooling out of my mouth from the smell alone.

"Is there anything else that I can assist you with sir?" The waiter asks, with a kind smile playing on his lips as Vincent shakes his head.

"No, this is perfect, thanks!" Vincent nods, reaching into his wallet to pull a forty dollar tip out for the man as he beams widely and thanks him before walking off.

If this date was teaching me one thing, it was that Vincent wasn't all bad, just misunderstood.

"Tuck in!" Vincent motions, as I scan the mass of food choices spread across our table, unsure of where to even begin.

Glancing at the shrimps, coated in a garlic glaze, I couldn't help but reach for them first - having not had such a luxurious meal in so long.

"Good choice!" Vincent commends, before he too reaches for a couple, placing them on his own plate as we both try them at the same time, humming in satisfaction at the bursts of juicy flavour exploding in our mouths. This was quickly becoming my favourite place to eat already...

"So before we were interrupted doll, talk me through what happened after you left home." Vincent asks me casually, keeping my nerves at bay with his relaxed tone as I swallow the next piece of shrimp in my mouth.

"Yeah, well uh, I stole some money from my father, which sure, I shouldn't have done, but it was necessary for my own safety." I shrug, as his eyes burn intensely into my own, drinking in each and every detail from my past.

he doesn't judge me for any of it... some of the decisions I've made certainly weren't well thought out or wholesome, but I reminded myself each and every day that my past does not define me. I knew my worth and I knew that I wasn't a bad

mother would turn in her grave if she could see how they had treated me, my

balls." Vincent mumbles,

I offer him a smile before inhaling

for half of a year before they caught up to me at my new school. They tried to drag me out of there before some teachers stepped in to question their intentions and luckily, I made it out of a back fire exit door and escaped." I grow shaky at the memory

in my father's eyes I'll never forget, he was unhinged unlike

second they got me home was enough

so what did you do next?" Vincent encourages me to continue with the rest of the story, as we

on another bus, with some money left to start over somewhere else. I stayed in my seat and allowed for the bus to just drive, even falling asleep until the driver himself had to wake me, explaining that it was the

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time, I spotted one of my brothers waiting outside the school that morning, and I immediately turned on my heels to go the other way. I figured after that, that it was harder to hide in the big cities, especially when they seemed to have connections everywhere looking for me, and so my next hope was trying out a smaller town which is how I ended

all out loud, and terrifying to know that my father and brothers could once again creep

I'll have to leave again. I don't

me, as my lips part ever so slightly having not expected such a bold

babble

have to do is say the word Sofia - and I'll have them killed."

life and family if he's offering to wipe people clean off

hearing all of this tonight, I seriously think we should consider putting some measures in place to help keep you safe. You are now living under my roof and you are my priority moving forward. I like you Sofia, despite having a shit way of showing it sometimes, and I won't let anybody hurt you in your life ever again, I'm sorry that I never knew about

no longer a high school bad boy sitting across from me, oh no,

best interest at heart... who seemed soft only for me... could

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you can't revolve your own life around me, I've not even been in town for long, you barely know me and..." I

past and I also know how your presence in my life makes me feel - you gave me a purpose lately." He admits, overwhelming