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.

his brows

The words came out in a rush, desperate, and I could feel the pressure mounting, overwhelming as my hand

one sharp turn, he veered off the road, coming to a halt just by

out,

all of the fear, frustration, exhaustion

if it were trying to rid itself of the past weeks' worth

feeling steady and warm, helping to ground me

me, his palm rubbing slow, soothing circles across my

there was 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 back on to the ground, too drained to care about how broken I looked in

the tears from spilling over, couldn't keep the fear from

coming to

were

I was trapped.

audible, hiccuping between shallow breaths. "I... I'm so sorry, Vincent. 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

voice was soft, breaking through the wall I'd tried to keep up, and then his arms were around me, pulling me close to him in one swift movement. "It's not your fault. None

moment, I felt like I was floating somewhere just beyond my own body, as if the fear had

beat solidly beneath my cheek, a quiet reminder of something

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facing them on my own

voice breaking with a desperation I couldn't hold back anymore. "If they find me... if my father forces me to go back with

his voice pulled my head back to look up at him, his eyes were fierce,

letting them take you away. I promise 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 scared

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 keep you safe. I'll put a damn bullet through

I wanted to feel that hope he

controlling hand my father had held over me. It was more than just fear

get to

Not with my family.

me, I could almost see a different version of my life - one where I was free to make my own choices, to live without the constant dread that shadowed my every

against mine, his voice a low whisper that washed over me. "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,

I just

car, I'll stop somewhere close to grab you some water and then I'm taking you to one of my lowkey properties until we can figure this out..." Vincent instructs, suddenly helping me to stand back up

hands to wipe at my wet cheeks, before he places each of his palms on either side of my face; "You're too fucking pretty to be crying like this all the time... I'm

car, I felt like I was trapped in a daze, every

out to keep up the panic, but the fear

to reality, and I glanced up to find Vincent watching