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

could feel the pressure mounting, overwhelming as my hand shot up to cover my mouth.

road,

the door open before I stumbled out, the cool night air hitting me just as my stomach

of the fear, frustration, exhaustion - all came pouring out violently,

my body shaking as if it were trying to rid itself of

Vincent's hand reach my back, feeling steady and warm, helping to ground

knelt beside me, his palm

silent, his steady presence almost making it bearable to still be alive. When the worst of it passed, I slumped back on to

from spilling over, couldn't keep the

coming to

brothers were already

I was trapped.

I whispered, my voice barely 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

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

weight of his hold anchor me, because in that moment, I felt like I was floating

of something good, something

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facing them on my own this time,

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

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

if I have to keep you hidden forever, or if I have to fight off your entire fucking family myself - I'm not 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 for his

"I'm not afraid of them and neither should you be anymore. You're with me, Sofia, and as long as

him. I wanted to feel that hope he was so sure

been planted in me years ago, cultivated in every harsh word, every controlling hand my father had held over me. It was more than just fear by now; it was a certainty, a

to decide

Not with my family.

of my life - one where I was free to make my own choices, to live without the constant

down, his forehead resting 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, but I only want to help

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

taking you to one of my lowkey

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 going to put a stop to them if it's the last thing I do!" He states firmly, before helping me back in

guided me back into the car, I felt like I was

fear clung to me like a second skin, lingering at the edges of

my seatbelt brought me back to reality, and I glanced up to find