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 furrowed with worry. "Sofia,

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

road, coming to a halt just by

door open before I stumbled out, the cool night air

fear, frustration, exhaustion - all came pouring out violently, onto the ground

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

back, feeling steady and warm, helping to ground

a word, just knelt beside me, his palm rubbing slow, soothing circles across my

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

from spilling over, couldn't keep the fear from bubbling back up, stronger

was coming to

were

I was trapped.

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

I'd tried to keep up, and then his arms were around me, pulling me close to him in one swift movement. "It's

face in his chest, letting the weight of his hold anchor me, because in that moment, I felt like I

of something good, something real that we at least

on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on

I wasn't facing them on

me... if my father forces me to go back with them... I can't go back, Vincent. He's going to want me dead!" My fingers twisted

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

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 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

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

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

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

didn't get to

Not with my family.

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 step. But would those dreams ever be a reality?

leaned 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

I just nodded, allowing myself to cling to him

the 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 on

"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

I felt like I was trapped in a daze, every nerve still

up the panic, but the fear clung

brought me back to reality, and I glanced up to find Vincent