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.

brows furrowed

pull over. NOW!" 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. He didn't hesitate

sharp turn, he veered off the road, coming

to get the door open before I stumbled out, the cool night air hitting me

the fear, frustration, exhaustion -

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

reach my back, feeling steady and warm, helping to

knelt beside me, his palm rubbing

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 that moment seated on

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

father was coming

were

I was trapped.

sorry," 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...

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

face in his chest, letting the weight of 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

cheek, a quiet reminder of something good,

there! Just a friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head

facing them on my own this time,

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 into the black fabric of his

to me," Vincent whispered, and the intensity in his voice pulled my head back to

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

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 each of their skulls

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

had held over me. It was more than just fear by now; it was a certainty, a truth I'd carried my

get to decide my own

Not with my family.

feeling his warmth surround 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

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

to one of my lowkey properties until

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 doll made of fine China - seconds from

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

too worn out to keep up the panic, but the fear clung to me like a second skin,

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