Shadows In Durango

Chapter 118

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

I barged into the ICU like a mad man possessed, not caring who I had to bulldoze through in order to get to Daryl.

My breathing was becoming more erratic with the closer I got to him, the sterile smell of the hospital making my skin crawl. The fluorescent lights overhead began to flicker just enough to irritate me even more... "Where's my friend? I need to see him right now, his names Daryl, he's in with a gunshot wound!" I growled at the first nurse I spotted standing behind the counter, leaving no room for argument.

In order to get through, I needed a card, and so I wasn't prepared to be rejected on this one. I feared it would send me totally over the edge if she said no...

Her wide eyes blinked up at me as if I was speaking another language, but I didn't have time for her hesitation.

"He's not long out of surgery," she stammered, her voice too calm for the storm raging inside me. "Only family can—"

"I don't care about your fucking rules. I need to see him! He is my family!" My voice came out more like a snarl as I slammed my palms down on the counter, the pressure building inside threatening to boil over. Why won't they just make an exception on times like this?!

"You're going to let me in there right now." I warn, as she suddenly stands, looking around for what I'm assuming was some extra staff support.

I saw her hand hover over the phone, probably ready to call security on me, but just as I was about to lose my temper entirely, I heard a familiar voice.

"Vincent?! Oh dear lord!"

I turned sharply, my vision blurring for a second before I saw her - Daryl's aunt Amelia - standing behind the glass door in the ICU unit. The moment our eyes met, the fight left me, leaving only raw, gnawing emotion. I can't be seen acting deranged in front of her, not when she's probably beside herself with worry already over Daryl!

She looked tired, like she had been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her normally sharp eyes were red and swollen from crying, but when she saw me, she softened and took a step forward. Without a word, she motioned to the nurses, and I saw the silent conversation they had with the receptionist.

A few seconds later, the same one at the desk nodded and allowed me to pass through shakily handing me a card as I suddenly felt terrible for intimidating her like I had.

But I'll apologise for that later... at least I was getting in!

As soon as I stepped through the doors in to the back, she pulled me into a tight embrace, and I couldn't stop myself from collapsing into it. My chest felt heavy, my throat raw as I forced the words out. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice breaking against her shoulder. "I'm so fucking sorry about all of this."

She held on tighter, her hand running through my hair like I was still the kid who'd spend weekends at their place growing up. "It's not your fault, Vincent, what that young man done to him is none of your fault!" she murmured, but the words felt hollow in my ears.

How could it not be my fault? Daryl had taken that bullet because I involved him and sent him over there to look for Sofia without backup...

if I would have just

through burning eyes. "I should've been there for him. He "

memory of Daryl's blood on the floor boards haunted every thought, every breath I took. I don't know how I would continue

it mattered," she said gently, her thumb brushing away a tear I hadn't even realised had fallen. "He's alive, Vincent. And right

couldn't shake the dread coiled around

alive, but he was

the heavy doors that separated us from Daryl's room, I made

he does wake

but... you know?" Amelia trails off in

was a drug user, residing somewhere in LA the last we had heard... and if this wasn't enough to

taking in a full breath of air to prepare myself to enter the room where my friend lay

open, and I stood there frozen in the doorway for a moment, unable to move. The beeping of the machines was the first thing

looked nothing like the Daryl I knew the one always quick with a joke, full of life and energy. This person lying in front of me was a shell, a reminder of how close I'd come to

heavy as I forced myself to walk to the bedside, each step dragging me further into the

to his bed, my hands gripping

pale, the bruises around the edges of the bandages stark against his usually vibrant complexion. His chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, aided by the machine hooked up to him,

something, but the words wouldn't come. What could I even say? That I was sorry? That I didn't mean for this to happen to him? That I should've been there to take the

those words felt

that Daryl was lying

elbows resting on my knees,

"I should've

know that Daryl could actually hear me that

But there was nothing.

the steady beep of his heart monitor, reminding me that he was still here,

my mind racing with every "what

stood suddenly, the chair scraping loudly against the tiled floor as

to him, hesitating for a second before I gently placed my hand on Daryl's arm. It

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to continue. "I can't lose you like this. Not after everything we've faced together over the years." Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away. I

Amelia standing there, her

stepped into the room quietly, her gaze fixed on Daryl as she made her way over to me. She placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch warm and comforting, but it

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softly, her voice barely above