Shadows In Durango

Chapter 133

*****Sofia's POV*****

I closed the bathroom door over behind me, twisting the lock even though I knew Vincent would make sure that no one bothered me... My hands were shaking as I reached for the shower knobs, twisting them up to the hottest temperature I could bear.

Steam started to fog the mirror quickly, helping to blur the reflection of my face-a face I barely recognised after all that had happened.

I undressed and quickly stepped in under the water, letting it beat down on me, scalding but strangely comforting at the same time.

I used the soap that was already in there to scrub at my arms first, then at my neck, hard enough that my skin turned red before moving down my body.

I wanted to feel clean, needing to erase everything they'd done everything they'd taken from me and were still trying to take from me...

When I'd scrubbed every inch of myself to the point of rawness, I stood there with the water pounding down for a few more minutes, breathing hard, the steam wrapping around me like a thick fog.

But no matter how hot I turned it or how long I stood under it, the memory of them still lingered, clinging to my skin like a ghost I couldn't rid myself from.

I had no idea how long I'd been in there, but eventually, I turned the water off and climbed out, wrapping myself up in a towel.

Vincent had said there were clothes in the drawers, so I left the bathroom before I pulled one open, finding an array of black T-shirts and sweatshirts. Lifting up the sweatshirt deciding to be warmer, I brought it to my nose to smell it - finding it to be clean.

I slipped it on, before grabbing a pair of white boxer shorts and some white thick socks, finishing off with pulling a pair of matching black sweatpants up over my legs - the fabric being too loose and almost sliding down to my ankles before I tied the strings tightly.

I didn't care how I looked. I at least felt somewhat clean and comfortable now.

I walked over and sat back down on the bed. The house was too quiet for my liking, as I wondered why Vincent hadn't come back for me yet...

I looked around the room, suddenly feeling so small in this vast, empty space.

I couldn't believe that my brothers had made their way to Vincent's home which I so very nearly walked right in to....

I felt myself start to crumble, my eyes welling up again, hugging my arms tightly around myself as a weak attempt to find comfort.

I couldn't hold it together any longer.

crackled sob broke free from my chest, then another, and soon they came out faster, tumbling out of me as I clutched at

a moment later, and then Vincent was

down in front of me, his hand reaching up to touch my cheek gently, brushing away the tears. "I'm back, everything's going to be ok..." he hushed, and without saying another word, he wrapped

he murmured, his voice a gentle rumble against my ear. "I've got you, Sofia. You're

arm, grounding me, coaxing me to slow my breathing once again. I focused on the feeling of him, the steady rise and fall of his chest against mine, the soft warmth of his breath against my neck, the weight of his

felt solid and

to settle, my breaths coming more evenly, and

quiet rhythm that matched the words he murmured in my ear-soft reassurances, promises that everything would

knew he couldn't guarantee any of it, but in that moment, I let myself believe

calmed, I opened my eyes, looking up at him. The tension that had kept me on edge

a while, I whispered, "Vincent... what are we seriously going to do? My brothers... they won't stop until..." I trailed

our options on facing this," he said, his voice low and steady. "We'll go through everything, every single choice that we have - good or bad - and

feeling the truth of his words seep in.

in to my own. "I promise you. I'm not going anywhere, Sofia. No matter what fucking happens, we'll figure

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lacing through mine as he brought our joined hands up to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss against my knuckles, his

thinking?" I question, the nerves evident in my quivering

deep breath, his eyes flickering with something dark, as if he'd already weighed each of

to gather himself, then shifted closer, tightening his hold on my

voice steady but carrying a hint of something that made my stomach twist. "The first one... is hiding away somewhere safe. We vanish. No one knows where we are, we build a life somewhere far from here, maybe in a different country? Until

onto the simplicity of that option - just disappearing, starting over

also sick of hiding, sick of moving around from place to place and waiting for them to catch up... it just seemed far

We couldn't just leave

I found myself asking, my voice

he hesitated. "Well there's... the option of dealing with them directly. By... removing them." His features were solid, the implications

a little straighter, trying to comprehend his words. "Remove them? You're talking about... murder? B-But you'd go to jail! I don't want that either!" I freak out at the mere

honest in this whole thing now... but it wouldn't be the first time for me." Vincent states, as I wait an extra second for him to tell me he was joking -

he's killed

I breathe out the words, my eyes widening and my

but I saw a flicker of regret there, as though he hated putting

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