Shadows In Durango

Chapter 97

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

I feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me as soon as my mother drops that bomb.

Sofia's doe like eyes bore into my own, seeming lost and desperate to know what was going on...

The air was suffocatingly thick with tension, and I can see Sofia's confusion quickly turning into panic with the longer that I stayed silent.

"Sofia, let me explain..." I start, as she looks back at me like I've just betrayed her, and I hated that look.

I never wanted her to find out like this hell, I didn't want her to find out at all, at least not until I had more control over the situation and had made up my mind on it myself. "Your father told me that you were marrying the girl to settle her father, am I wrong?" My mother interjects, glancing around the table and making things a whole lot worse.

"Mom, that's enough, shut the fuck up and stop getting involved!" I snap, my voice sharper than intended, but I'm already on edge, with my patience for her already wearing thin. She doesn't even flinch. She's too used to getting her way, too used to manipulating everyone around her.

I shoot a glare at Daryl next, who's grinning like the asshole that he is, basking in the chaos he had willingly helped to cause.

I don't know what his problem is tonight, but he's pushing all the wrong buttons with me...

"Vincent, what the hell is going on?" Sofia's voice is soft but laced with desperation. She's trying to keep it together, but I can see her slowly slipping.

I turn to face her fully, my heart pounding in my chest. This is the moment I've been dreading - the moment where everything starts to unravel.

"I was going to tell you, I swear," I start, my voice low as I try to block out the rest of the table for a second. It's just me and her now, and I need to make her believe me. "It's not what it sounds like." I swallow hard, as her brows draw together, still not understanding what I was trying to say.

"What isn't what it seems, Vincent? What are they talking about?" Sofia begs me for more information, as I sigh heavily and shake my head.

at my father, who's sitting at the head of the table, watching me with that cold, unreadable expression

and right now, he's waiting for me to

that smug, satisfied look on her face, leaning

stirring shit up, especially when it's about me and my life since hers is

an arrangement that was discussed briefly, something that I've been trying to wrap my head around before talking to you about it..." I admit carefully. "An arrangement?"

Fuck.

mother and Daryl ready to rat me out in seconds flat

to her, knowing that she can't hold her

contract," I say quietly, feeling the weight of it hit the table like a hammer. "A discussed business deal between me and your father..." I let my words sink in, watching her face contort in horror before my very eyes. "What?!

nods slowly to confirm

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the whole deal came from, he believes that it will unite our families and strengthen his business with me if you both get married." He tells her, direct and straight

least gotten to dessert first for crying out loud?! We

"So

voice dripping with faux innocence. "Vincent, darling, you can't just leave out the fact that you're marrying someone, especially without them even knowing

face goes white, and she jerks back like

going to force me to marry you? How is that any different to what my father tried to do to

I

yells, shocking everyone at the table with

her chair scraping backwards, before she tosses her napkin

door - her heels clacking at a quick pace and fading out as she moves down the hall and up the

front... that way I would

or not to chase after her

my actions, the water glass

everywhere, Daryl is up in an instant with my mother screaming by his side