Shadows In Durango

Chapter 131

*****Sofia's POV*****

The second Vincent slammed his foot down on the gas, the quiet calm of the night completely shattered in to a million pieces.

My heart was already pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out through my ribs, but his sudden speed had me gripping the seatbelt tight, my knuckles white.

He was saying something, a low ramble that I could barely make out over the thrum of panic in my mind.

My brothers were here.

They were here.

They knew where I was again...

That hardening fact kept echoing, growing louder with every second, until I couldn't focus on anything else.

What the heck did I expect? I should have left this town when I first had the chance!

"Sofia, listen to me," Vincent's voice broke through the haze, edged with urgency, but it only pulled me further into a panic. "They don't know where we are right now or where we're headed either. I'll get you somewhere safe, just breathe" Breathe?!

The word felt foreign, impossible.

I couldn't breathe; I was choking on sheer fear.

My father's face flashed across in my mind, cold and calculating, always looming somewhere in the background of my pathetic life.

He had always found a way to make me feel small, powerless and now, even states away, he'd managed to find me again.

I wasn't safe.

I'd never be safe from him unless I was actually dead.

That was the only way to escape him!

The nausea built up quickly, a sour heat in my stomach, with my vision blurring as I struggled to keep it down.

"Pull over," I managed to choke out, my voice barely more than a whisper, but Vincent heard me instantly.

over, his brows furrowed with worry. "Sofia,

The words came out in a rush, desperate, and I could feel the pressure mounting, overwhelming as my hand shot up to cover my mouth.

veered off the road, coming to a halt just by

to get the door open before I stumbled out,

kept inside all of the fear, frustration, exhaustion -

door for support, my body shaking as if it were trying to rid itself of the past weeks'

steady and warm, helping to ground

me, his palm rubbing slow, soothing circles across my

nothing left but dry heaves, he stayed there, silent, his steady presence almost making it bearable to still be alive. When the worst of it passed, I slumped

couldn't keep the fear from bubbling back

father was coming

brothers were

I was trapped.

I thought I could leave that life behind, but it's like... it's like they're always going to find me. No matter where I go. Now you're involved too, and it's all because of

then his arms were around me, pulling me close to him in one swift movement. "It's not your fault. None of this is your fault.

his hold anchor me, because in that moment, I felt like I was floating somewhere just beyond my own body, as if the fear had fully pulled me outside of

beat solidly beneath my cheek, a quiet reminder of something good, something real that

reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete

least I wasn't facing them on my own this

me... if my father forces me to go back with them... I can't go back, Vincent. He's going to

and the intensity in his voice pulled my head back to look up at him, his eyes were fierce, unyielding

you that." He states. A broken laugh escaped me, caught somewhere between a sob and a gasp. "Vincent, they're all horrible people! You don't know half of what they've done. They'll tear apart anything in their path if it means getting me back. They'll hurt you!" I plead, suddenly

try," he said, his voice harder now, edged with a resolve I hadn't heard before. "I'm not afraid of them and neither should you be anymore. You're with me, Sofia, and as long as you're with me, I'll

I wanted to feel that hope he was so sure of, but the fear was too

my father had held over me. It was more than just fear by now; it was a certainty, a

get to decide

Not with my family.

version of my life - one where I was free to make my own choices, to live without the constant dread that shadowed my every step. But would those dreams ever be a reality?

"You're safe right here. Right now. With me. We'll figure this out together, I swear. Just trust me, I know it's hard after everything I've done, but I only

didn't trust myself to speak, so I just nodded, allowing myself to cling to him in

I'm taking you to one of my lowkey properties until we can figure this out..." Vincent instructs,

be crying like this all the time... I'm going to put a stop to them if it's the last thing I do!" He states firmly, before helping me back in to the car as though I were a fragile doll made of fine China - seconds

car, I felt like I

but the fear clung to me like a second skin, lingering

reality, and I glanced up to find Vincent watching me, his jaw set, the fire in