Shadows In Durango

Chapter 130

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

I ended the call with my father, the echo of his words still bashing around in my ears.

He had made it painfully clear that this was my last chance to make a decision to accept Frazier's offer to secure the marriage deal or face the consequences...

I forced the phone back into my pocket, but the weight of his demand settled heavily on me as I headed back in to the hospital.

The hallway was quiet, the pale lights giving everything a ghostly cast, as if the whole hospital knew how close I was to my breaking point.

I dragged myself in to the waiting room and over to the chair, letting out a quiet sigh as I sat back down with no sign of the girls yet.

Reid looked up the moment I settled, his eyes sharp with curiosity and concern. "So what happened? You look pissed." he asked, his voice low but insistent.

I shook my head, my gaze focused on the floor as I scowled down at it like a child - attempting to burn holes through the tiles.

Talking about it was the last thing I wanted to do. How could I explain that my father had just added another stone to the mountain already on my shoulders, forcing me to consider an ultimatum that I'd been trying so hard to avoid? "Nothing new to discuss," I muttered, trying to keep my tone even, though I knew he'd see right through me.

I wasn't lying though, he already knew the ins and outs of the marriage proposal with the only new thing being the added pressure from my father to give him my decision.

Reid's frown deepened, but he didn't press me. He just nodded, his face thoughtful as he looked away.

After a while, the door down the hall finally opened, and my eyes flicked up to find Sofia and Emma returning back from Daryl's room.

My heart stumbled when I saw her face. For the first time in what felt like forever, she looked directly at me, her expression much softer than before, her eyes holding something I hadn't expected - was it sorrow? Maybe guilt?

It hit me like a shock, making me sit up straighter, instinctively searching her face for clues as to what was going through her mind. Maybe seeing Daryl awake had made her feel worse for what happened to him?

Emma gave Reid and me a quick nod, breaking the tense silence. "Daryl's asleep again. The nurse said he'll probably be out for the rest of the night," she explained, glancing between us. "So... I think it's best if we all head back to Vincent's place to rest up if that suits you two?"

nodded, already reaching for his jacket, but my attention stayed on Sofia. She lingered near the door, her expression unreadable, almost hesitant, as if weighing whether to say

I wish she would...

probably won't be talking to me any time

our way to leave, I felt a gentle tug on my hand, stopping me in my tracks and allowing for Emma and Reid to walk on ahead

light, almost hesitant, but it was enough to make my pulse quicken and my eyes to

her voice barely above a whisper, but filled with a

I couldn't read her expression completely, but there was something there, a glimmer of the girl I'd

even willing to forgive

moved out into the cool night, the air sharp and biting as we approached my

was mostly silent, the weight of everything hanging between us as the

in her seat, lost in her own thoughts

I pulled up into the driveway, finding an extra car parked there which I assumed belonged to my father, before I cut off

heading into the house ahead of us. Sofia stayed

you might be missing out on the complete

are home and might get in the way?" I offer, as Sofia nods and inhales a

was behind me as though I were some taxi, as she opens the side door and slips

was replaying every mistake I'd made, every wrong thing I'd said, but I had to let her lead this conversation - since it felt like she was ready to say something, and I didn't want to risk breaking the fragile

us.

but steady, "I just... I wanted to say that maybe I was unfair earlier. I was so caught up in

didn't expect to hear that,

have to apologise to me for any of this. I get it - I fucked up bad and I should've been honest with you from the start. I thought I was protecting you by keeping things hidden until I could figure it all out, but I see now that all I did was push you away." I

of my home and in to the grasp of Ashton... all

at my words, and for a moment, I saw

choices that affected my life without telling me... that you thought you knew what was best without letting me

regret settle deeper in my chest. I felt like an idiot for every decision I'd made that had led us both here, but seeing her willingness to be open,

fix everything if I just kept you away from the worst of it. But I was wrong and if I have any chance of fixing this... I need you to

each other from now on. No more secrets, no more