Shadows In Durango

Chapter 108

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

"Are you still a virgin Sofia?" He asks, as my heart sinks.

My stomach lurches, the sudden question hanging in the air like a dark overpowering cloud.

The words hit me harder than I had ever expected, leaving me breathless, trapped between the crushing weight of fear and the sickening truth of just how far Ashton was willing to push this.

His eyes gleam with something dark, something predatory, and I want nothing more than to retreat into myself, to escape the situation, but I can't.

I have literally nowhere to run or to hide...

My hand tightens around the water bottle, the plastic creaking under my grip as I try to hold it together, to keep the panic at bay. I force my breath to remain steady, but inside, I'm unraveling quicker than I can even comprehend.

I know the question isn't just a question. It's a test, a way for him to see if he can break me, if he can control me any further. He wants to see how I react, whether I'll flinch or crumble or whether I'll just give in. But I won't give him that satisfaction.

I can't.

I look at him, my heart hammering in my chest, trying to project that I was calm, trying to keep the mask in place.

"That's really none of your business Ashton, come on now..." I reply, my voice shaking despite my best effort to sound firm. It's a weak answer, but it's the only defense I have.

His smile widens, but there's no warmth in it. It's a cold, calculated expression, one that only makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up even more.

"Oh, I think it is though, Sofia. I think I have a right to know if my girlfriend has wasted herself on another man..." He states, before his smile quickly falls and he looks straight through me.

him refer to

but had certainly came close to it with Vincent... he was the only guy in my life that I felt it would have happened with eventually... since I felt safe with him, unlike how I had ever felt around Ashton. "We aren't together though Ashton... we haven't been for a long time now. Isn't this the whole point of you keeping me here? To build back

would attempt and that alone

game with you isn't it? You've been running, hiding, avoiding everyone who's ever tried to care about you... but you can't run from me anymore. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I actually think you love the idea of being chased and sought after... but I've eventually caught you now Sofia, so does

saying?

in on me and I try to suppress the urge to curl into myself, to escape into my mind and away from his gaze, but I just

eyes trained on his, fighting the tremor in my hands as

stretches between us like a taut wire, and

can feel the cold sweat forming on my skin, the burn in my chest, and the bile rising at the back of my throat as his words echo around in my mind. But no matter how much I want to break down, no matter how terrified I am, I refuse to

at least

finally say, my voice firmer now, though it's a struggle to keep it steady. "You can't force me into anything. I won't let you." I stumble out, referring to

He doesn't even flinch.

on his face only deepens, as if he's enjoying the struggle between us both. "Oh, Sofia, you don't have a choice in the matter because I just love to win. It might be forced in the beginning, but soon enough, you'll love me. I'll

he

he pulls me up to stand beside

begins to tug me back

break me, Ashton. No matter what you do, I'll never give in." I yell, panicked

think he would take things this far,

bed,

shower and clean yourself up, there's shit in the bathroom already. You're filthy and your face is horrific to look at. I'll be back down for you later and you don't want to piss me off more than you already have..." he states, shocking me as he does a complete one-eighty and leaves me there - shaken up and

his game? Tormenting me until

silence as he walks off, before I hear him climbing the steps, jingling his keys before locking the basement door - trapping me once

friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head

in deep sobs, choking as I fall in to a fully blown panic attack as everything seems to

of the silence after