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

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

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

door open before I stumbled out, the cool night

exhaustion - all came pouring out violently, onto the

my body shaking as if it

my back, feeling steady and warm, helping to ground me ever so

say a word, just knelt beside me, his palm rubbing slow,

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 that moment seated on

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

was coming

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 like they're always going to find me. No matter where I go. Now you're involved

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 of this is your fault. It never will be. I'm going to handle it, ok?" He promises, but I struggle to

I felt like I was floating somewhere just beyond

of something good, something real that

that if you're not reading this book on nel5s.org, you might be

them

anymore. "If they find 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 jacket, needing something to hold

pulled my head back to look up at him, his eyes were fierce, unyielding as he

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

you be anymore. You're with me, Sofia, and as long as you're with me, I'll keep

hope he was

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

didn't get to decide

Not with my family.

was free to make my own choices, to live without the constant dread that shadowed my every step. But would

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

so I just nodded, allowing myself to cling to

somewhere close to grab you some water and then I'm taking you to one of my lowkey properties

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 into the car, I felt like I was trapped in a

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

up to