Shadows In Durango

Chapter 65

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

As I drive back into town with my mind still racing from the heated meeting I just had with our suppliers, I groan loudly to myself knowing that the trucks were now set to leave tomorrow with our gun shipment.

My men were on edge and so was I, knowing that for whatever reason, my father was sending me alongside them to show face for the family - no doubt meaning that our buyers were somewhat important to him. I now had to book a flight and pack a case, unsure of how long I would even be away for on top of that...

Sorting out these "serious problems" for my father was becoming a full-time job in itself lately and it was really starting to piss me the fuck off.

But there's something else that's been occupying my thoughts even more today - Sofia.

Last night was... intense, and while I was happy to finally break through the barriers she had put up, it also complicated things further.

I now had a job to protect her, in fear that her father (whoever he even is) turns up looking for her again one day.

I wouldn't let him take her from me... she deserved so much better, no more running.

I would speak with her tonight to set some new ground rules to help keep her as safe as possible and I even considered taking her with me on the flight tomorrow knowing that I wouldn't want to separate from her - especially after how our date ended.

I don't quite know why I was so obsessed with her, when my initial plan was to simply fuck and ditch her when she first came to school, but since I walked into her old apartment and found those two addicts that she calls neighbours, laying on her floor - I had a frightening urge to protect the poor girl and keep her as close to me as possible.

With that memory creeping into my thoughts alone, I decided then that she would travel with me: it was the only way to help ease my stress.

What would the real harm be in that?

Taking a quick flight, keeping her in the hotel with me, taking her for a nice meal, getting business done privately behind her back before simply heading back home? It wouldn't be that bad and I would feel better having her with me... Deep down I was aware that she also had something with Daryl, and so this could be my chance to win her over.

Daryl was everything she could want in a guy, simply because he was much nicer than me and a hell of a lot more patient...

longer what I feel for her and I'll have her

on a Sunday. Tito is behind the bar, polishing glasses when I walk in, and he looks up with a raised

things sorted faster than I thought," I reply, taking a seat at the bar. "How's everything been

last night? It's been fine." He complains as I smirk, knowing that it had

give him a half-smile, acknowledging the jab. "Yeah, well, I had a good

curious. "Something to do with you liking the poor girl by any chance?" He states, as I

out with Daryl today, so there's that." I finally say, trying

this equally without

"So you're worried about

now. I found out about her past and now I'm more invested in her life than ever before, she's had

bad... not many girls her age ask to work in a bar without

do like her a lot, don't you?" He

He's definitely not wrong.

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knowing there's no point in denying it. "Yeah, I suppose I do and I think she likes me too, but Daryl... he's a good guy and

chuckling. "Love triangles, huh? Always a mess. But if you want my two cents, just be straight with

know," I say, feeling the weight of his advice. "I just don't want to look fucking desperate - that

there for her until she decides, and give her

right. I need to be patient, even if it's killing me inside. Sofia is worth it. If she

I can handle it

hoping to see a message from her, but the screen remains stubbornly blank. I toss it aside on top of the bar, the frustration bubbling up. This can't go on between Sofia,

clear my head, figure out a plan for tomorrow and put measures in place to at least

I say a brief goodbye to Tito, explaining that Sofia would be coming with me tomorrow and may miss her shift on Wednesday again too - to which he wasn't overly

which shows it was growing closer to five. Surely they

record time, slamming the car door shut, the force of it barely making a dent in the frustration beginning