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.

to tell him that he's wrong for not caring about this like I do, that

remain focused, hear everything that he has to say first

didn't agree to just give her back to him for a little bit of cash did

that he was getting in return for marrying her off if he was

I delivered the message as promised. I told him you wanted to have the girl for yourself and that you would pay money for her." My father's

him to continue, desperate at this point to know what the outcome from the entirety

not just for the money." My father quickly adds towards the end, remaining cryptic and enjoying teasing me with this, simply because it

was the type of asshole he was, never taking anything seriously unless it

demand, my voice raising without a care whether the cleaners would hear me from

over this

fucking tone! Remember who you're speaking to

a very crucial part in your empire and without me, it would crumble very fucking easily these days!" I threaten, knowing now

in sending me. Business partners wouldn't settle for anything less than meeting face to face with him or the next

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didn't bask in the power I had over him these days, and enough was

more than what he would like

been trying to tell you what he said so let me finish!"

in line to buy and marry his daughter, forty-eight year old Dennis McCane to be exact." He recites the information that he

seventeen year old girl? I can only imagine what he was offering to pay for her in order for Frazier

pigs the

on to the idea of giving Sofia over to you, but on three conditions..." My father begins, getting to the nitty gritty of

sort of payment for her, promising to step out of her life in return." He starts, as I nod at the

he wasn't

out, checking my watch to see that

witness it." He states, as the world around me seems to