Shadows In Durango

Chapter 90

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

"Vincent," my father's gravelly voice comes through the line. "I've heard back from Frazier." He states slowly, giving nothing away.

My heart skips a beat. This was it - the conversation I had been waiting for, but also dreading at the same time.

"Yeah, so what did he say?!" I manage to keep my voice casual, though inside, I was already bracing myself for the worst.

"Well he's not exactly happy, as you'd expect," my father continues, his tone cold. "He's been looking for his daughter for months now, and he's not keen on the idea that she's been hiding out with you this whole time." His tone is stern, almost scolding, as I feel my jaw tighten in defence.

"First of all, she hasn't been with me the whole damn time! I've only known her for a few weeks!" I state, matter of factly, already not liking the tone of this conversation and it had only just started.

Of course, Frazier wouldn't be happy, since from what I've learned, he never was! Frazier was what my father often referred to as a 'Desperado'. A man willing to chase money over all else - even if it meant fucking his own family over.

Over the years my father had watched many men like him rise and fall, and so I had very little respect for any sort of 'business' that they had together.

He currently had no control over Sofia's life, and had missed out on a money making plot against his own flesh and blood - and so he felt like he had been wronged.

My father is silent for a moment, and that silence speaks volumes. I know him well enough to understand that he's calculating, weighing his options, and what those options mean for me...

"He wants her back Vincent," my father finally says, his voice colder than before. "And he was willing to pay a hefty sum to make it happen. He sees her as an investment. A bargaining chip." He retorts, as my whole body begins to tremble in a rage.

I'll strangle his scrawny fucking neck if I have to, I won't just give her back to him!

I clench my fist, anger now bubbling beneath the surface. "She's not a goddamn commodity," I snap, my voice low and dangerous.

My father chuckles, the sound devoid of any real humor. "To people like Frazier, everyone's a commodity. You know that, Vincent. We don't live in a world where feelings matter much. What matters is leverage, power, money, and right now, Sofia is his every leverage." He trails off, before I hear the sound of puffing, which signals to me that he was smoking a fat stubby cigar like the rest of the twats who work with him do.

that he's

how to play this game. I need to remain focused, hear everything that he

just give her back to him for a little bit of cash did you?!" I retort, hoping that he hadn't

could only imagine the lump sum that he was getting in return for marrying her off if he was willing

girl for yourself and that you would pay

desperate at this point to know what the outcome

was most certainly piqued, but not just for the money." My father quickly adds towards the end, remaining cryptic and enjoying teasing me with this,

asshole he was, never taking anything seriously unless it directly affected

and tell me what the fuck he wants!" I demand, my voice raising without a care whether the cleaners would

over this

Remember who you're speaking to boy!" He warns, as I

You and I both know that I'm a very crucial part in your empire and without me,

and no longer wanted to face his enemies head on which often resulted in sending me. Business partners wouldn't settle for anything

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would be lying if I said that I didn't bask in the power I had over him these

what he would

tell you what he said so let me finish!" He argues, deciding to cut our little dispute short before it could

girl for yourself, something in him seemed to get excited and as I had predicted, he explained that he already had somebody in line to buy and marry his daughter, forty-eight year old Dennis McCane to be exact." He recites the information that he must have noted down from their call earlier, as my stomach churns at the thought of Sofia being

old girl? I can only imagine what he was offering

the

the idea of giving Sofia over to you, but on three conditions..." My father begins, getting to the nitty gritty of where this conversation had really gone. Here goes

of her life in return." He starts, as I nod at the first condition - deciding that

he wasn't done

out, checking my watch to see that the school day was still an hour or so

to marry her and to be there to witness it." He states, as the