Shadows In Durango

Chapter 125

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

I felt cornered, knowing that I had to be honest now about everything that happened - going back to our week in Illinois with the men who visited our room and what they left behind...

"As you already know, I started to get incredibly concerned for your safety on our trip - first, when that crazy bastard had approached you at the zoo." I begin, as Sofia watches my lips move but doesn't respond which encourages me to continue. "Then with the missing posters and that guy trying to take pictures at the bus station - I eventually realised just how big this whole thing was for you - how much your father was willing to do just to find you." Sofia's tongue swiftly licks at her drying lips, but other than that, she still chooses not to talk and to instead listen...

"Forgive me, but when you first told me about your father when we went on our first date, I just thought he was a fool with no power... a little bitch who treated you poorly and who threatened you... because compared to my own father and the crimes he's committed over the years, most other guys look pathetic next to him." I allow the words to flow, attempting to give more context to where my head was at when doing what I did.

"Well you thought wrong! He's evil and he most certainly is dangerous! I told you that and you just didn't listen!" Sofia snaps now, irritated as I sigh heavily.

Despite what she told me, I just thought that he would be handled easily with some cash to shut him up...

But that was before my father revealed who he really was and what he was like...

"I know, that's my point here, I just assumed he was a nobody and due to that, I thought I could handle him on my own if he was to ever show up here. But seeing the lengths he was going to during our trip, made me wonder who he actually was, and what his background was... I wanted to be as prepared as possible in the event that I would ever have to face him or your brothers." My tone is truthful, as I search her eyes in a silent attempt to convince her to trust me. "Everything was becoming overwhelming and when we had gotten back to the apartment that day, only to find that a group of men had been asking about us, being let up to our damn room and then leaving that package under the door - I knew that I had to do something more extreme to figure it all out." I state, not regretting anything up until that point in my explanations.

Sofia reaches up, pushing a stray strand of her blonde hair back behind her ear, which only showcases more of one of the fading bruises left by Ashton on her cheek.

That fucking bastard!

Tensing, I inhale a steady breath in order to remain calm, knowing that this conversation was not only important to me, but it was important towards gaining Sofia's trust back.

the spark we had before

that package to make it so threatening in the first place?" Sofia squints, having not known what it was since it arrived, because I didn't want to terrify

city, and bad ones

as I sigh heavily not wanting to scare her but knowing that

around the city, taking pictures of us while we were out together, pretty much from the second we first stepped off the jet. The worst one though, was when you were down in the spa by yourself. I don't even know how they fucking got it... but they managed to get far too close to

Sofia jumps slightly when hearing my phone begin to ring out loudly from its

answer incase it's

I pick it up, as Sofia watches me

fine, talking about some stuff and then we will be back. Do you need us back soon? Is Daryl doing fine?" I question, listening to Reid ramble down the line that Emma had forced him to check in on us since Sofia didn't have a phone

right now, we quickly ended the call as I offered a quick apology to Sofia who nodded understandably this time. "Where was I? The pictures?" I remind myself, as Sofia clears her throat

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

saying there was pictures of me? Alone? In the

to tell her, I didn't think she deserved to feel so violated and so vulnerable... not after everything she's already

you had enough going

come in to all of this?" She questions, as I

bring us back home because it wasn't safe for you there anymore and that's when he..." I trail off, knowing how the next part was going to sound. "He what?!"

pause which causes

only said yes for the sake of looking in to your father and brothers. I wanted to find out everything I could about them only to help protect you, that was all! It was about getting a step ahead of them to keep

scenario, hearing it play out loud between us, all sounded entirely uncalled for now... but in the moment,

I was trying

over there to dive into the next chapter-it's all free! "Vincent this just keeps on getting worse! What do you expect me to say?!" Sofia groans, dragging her both hands down her face as I rub at my stubbled jawline feeling stressed by her reaction. Why doesn't she understand that I was only trying to