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?"

the door, her expression unreadable, almost hesitant, as

I wish she would...

probably won't be talking to me any

I felt a gentle tug on my hand, stopping me in my tracks

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

talk about this again when we get back home?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, but filled with a weight

instantly, not wanting to disappoint her. I couldn't read her expression completely, but there was something there, a glimmer of the girl I'd fought so hard to right my wrongs with and for the first time today, a faint ounce of hope stirred

willing to forgive me

word, we moved out into the cool night, the air

mostly silent, the weight of everything hanging between us as the girls sat in the back with Reid and

in her seat, lost in her own thoughts as Emma held her hand for comfort knowing she

finding an extra car parked there which I

few quiet words before heading into the house ahead of us. Sofia stayed seated in the back, hesitating just a moment as if not sure on

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and talk out here? I think my Mom and Dad are home and

liking that she was behind me as though I were some taxi, as she opens the side door and slips out before joining

I had to let her lead this conversation - since it felt like she was

us.

I wanted to say that maybe I was unfair earlier. I was so caught up in everything that I didn't take the time to really... see what you were going through too." She states, almost knocking the air completely out of

hear

and I should've been honest with you from the start. I thought I was protecting you

my home and

a moment, I saw her guard

"Angry that you made choices that affected my life without telling me... that you thought you knew what was

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, to

handle it all on my own, that I could fix everything if I just kept you away from the worst of it. But I

don't know how to fix this. But maybe... maybe we can start by being honest with each other from now on. No more secrets, no more trying to protect me by shutting me out. I don't want to have to leave town,