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.

He looked over, his brows

over. NOW!" The words came out in a rush, desperate, and I could feel the pressure mounting,

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

I stumbled out, the cool night air hitting me just

all of the fear, frustration, exhaustion - all

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

felt Vincent's hand reach my back, feeling steady and

me, his palm rubbing slow, soothing circles

but dry heaves, he stayed there, silent, his steady presence almost making it bearable to still be alive. When the worst

from spilling over, couldn't keep the fear

was coming

were already

I was trapped.

breaths. "I... I'm so sorry, Vincent. I thought I could leave that life behind, but it's like...

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 fully pulled

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

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I wasn't facing them on my own this time,

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

whispered, and the intensity in his voice pulled my head back to look up at him,

with him. You won't go back. I don't care 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

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

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

cultivated in every harsh word, every controlling hand my father had held over me. It was more than just fear by now;

to

Not with my family.

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? Not with them hanging over my

With me. We'll figure this out together, I swear. Just trust me, I know it's

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

I'm taking you to one of

for a moment, lifting his 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 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

guided me back into the car, I felt like I was trapped in a daze, every nerve

up the panic, but the fear clung to me like a second skin,

reality, and I glanced up to find Vincent watching me, his jaw