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.

shudder, hearing him refer to me as

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

what he would attempt and that alone terrified

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

saying? He

suppress the urge to curl into myself, to escape into

my eyes trained on his, fighting the tremor in my hands as he takes a moment to tower

a taut wire, and every

as his words echo around in my mind. But no

at least

to play your game," I 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 a topic that I so dreaded

He doesn't even flinch.

It might be forced in the beginning,

he

as he pulls me up to

Stop this!" I argue, before he begins to tug me back towards the bedroom, sending my heart rate in

as he shoves me towards the bed. "I'll never let you break me, Ashton. No matter what you

would take things this far, but it seemed that I barely

scramble to pull my knees up to my chest on the bed, as he remains stood by the door, breathing heavily

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

this all part of his game? Tormenting me until

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

you might be missing out

choking as I fall in to a fully blown panic attack as

silence after he leaves