Shadows In Durango

Chapter 106

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

Groaning loudly, I flop back down on to the crummy sofa in the centre of the cold hard basement.

There was absolutely nothing in here from what I could see that could help me get out. Nothing decent to even defend myself with.

It was as though Ashton had already thought this whole plan through to the end - proving himself to be a master criminal at the mere age of eighteen. What a fucking asshole!

I was so upset, so angry at myself for landing myself in this mess. The second he had pulled up in his car I should have ran for the hills...

All I could think of was that I should have told Vincent all about seeing Ashton at school when I had the chance. He was smart, he would have looked in to him right away if anything like this happened to me, but he didn't even know about him being here...

I hoped that Emma would think to tell him all about me running in to Ashton at school, maybe from there he would somehow be able to find and save me?

But I doubt it, I'm being extremely hopeful and extremely unrealistic. For all I knew, Vincent had let me run off in my childish meltdown, not bothering to chase after me like he had done before in the past.

I straighten up immediately, hearing the door unlock from the top of the steps, it creaking open and shining a brighter light down in to the darkened space.

My best chance here is to play along for now...

Make him believe that I'm really trying to work on 'us' and maybe he will trust me enough to take me outside?

Once I can get outside, somewhere public, I'll be able to find help...

"Here we go! Toast and beans!" He announces, as though it were a gourmet meal he had just whipped up, as I crank open a tight smile - with it failing to reach my eyes.

He was dangerous...

But I had to play nice...

ask, watching him reach the

whole body tightens up as he closes in on me, placing the

answering, he walks across to the fridge, opening it and revealing a full stock

already thought of

in sudden realisation. How long was he planning to hold me down here? If he had stocked up on so many bottles for me? Shivering, my eyes follow him as he grabs one and closes the door back over before returning

up a stool as he sits much

I lift my trembling hand to reach down for the tray, using my other to lift one of the

just watches me, almost mesmerised by my actions

know how I'm

on his thighs, reaching closer to me as I shift in the chair ever so slightly. "O-Ok..."

hard to focus on anything but the looming sense of insanity that fills the space between us. The more I try to keep

intense, too piercing. It makes my skin crawl, but I keep my eyes down, focusing

basement. "So, Sofia... What's it been like for you? In town, I mean." His voice is low, casual, but I can hear the edge of something

us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly

for a slip-up of some kind, like he already knows the answers that

he had handed me. "It's been fine," I lie, forcing a smile that feels like a mask, one I'm terrified will crack

little movement. The silence stretches out, thick and burning, as he studies me like

because I remember you being so upset on that sidewalk, so desperate to get away from me and from everything here." His hand reaches out, almost casually, brushing against the back of my hand, and I fight the urge to

seeing me react. If

voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts. "I just... needed

dark smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll give you all the space you want down

I was like a mouse that had just been caught by the cat after so many

here to fix our past relationship - he wants to fully control and trap

how far he's willing to go with

long drink from the bottle of water, trying to keep my focus, trying to hold it together long enough to figure out what

carefully, glancing at him briefly and seeing that his sickening

of his.

he would feel now after knowing that I had managed to catch his daughter when he couldn't?" He reaches out and brushes a strand of

here..." my voice suddenly croaks, breaking finally as I sniffle to hold back