Shadows In Durango

Chapter 134

*****Vincent's POV*****

I went for a quick shower, leaving the door slightly ajar as a comfort to Sofia knowing that I wasn't far from her incase she got upset again...

I also wanted to give her some space to think over everything we had discussed, knowing that neither of the options I had presented to her were exactly perfect, but it was all we had. This whole fucking situation itself was far from perfect...

I was angry and despite texting my father long ago, he still hadn't replied...

I was angry at her brothers for the way they'd showed up in town, thinking they were the damn shit, and I was mostly pissed at Sofia's father for using her as a bargaining chip her whole life!

Hell, I was still even angry at myself for being so reckless with her life, though I knew there was no going back now...

All I could do was figure out the best way to go forward, the safest way for Sofia.

After quickly drying off, I threw on a T-shirt and sweats, keeping everything casual. I didn't want her to feel any extra tension around me and wanted to keep this place light and cosy to act as a 'safe house' for the time being. The day had been heavy enough for us all already without this place feeling like a prison...

I walked back into the bedroom, and her eyes drifted over to me, cautious yet relieved to see me again.

"You want to go sit downstairs?" I asked, my voice gentler now. "Leroy and Quade are long gone, it's only us that are here now. I could make you some hot chocolate, it might help you to think straight?" I offer.

Her eyes softened, the first flicker of warmth I'd seen in them since this ordeal had started... "Yeah... that actually sounds nice," she murmured, pulling her legs up to sit cross-legged on the bed.

She looked fragile and worn out, her guard having fell down in a way that made me want to go punch every wall.

I moved towards her, helping her stand, as we headed downstairs. Sofia immediately curled up on the sofa, pulling her legs to her chest as I grabbed a nearby blanket from the basket and tossed it her way.

over herself, taking in her small form. She needed her own time to think,

we'd discussed. Hiding abroad was an option, sure, but it was a pussy one that was my least favourite of the three (though I wouldn't tell Sofia

honest, that was the one I wanted her to pick most but I highly doubted that she would. Her father, her brothers - they were ruthless, heartless men, the

No questions asked. Especially

wide with shock and... a trace of fear. I'd crossed a line with her that I wasn't sure I could uncross, but she had a right to know my truth... The milk started to heat up, and I added cocoa powder, watching it dissolve into swirls in the mug. My mind wrestled with the third option - a new

fair. He wanted her in that arranged marriage contract, wanted control over her future, wanted the money... Trying to negotiate with him now felt like surrendering in a way. But still, if it gave Sofia a sliver of freedom

just as I thought that,

the counter, the weight of it sinking in as I began to think

- he wanted to punish her. He wanted to ruin her life completely - to

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he saw her and thought that she was already

believe that

to form,

with me, alone, and utterly

just as

believed it her father, her brothers. They'd see how 'depressed' she is,

so they wouldn't feel the need to be

hot

This could actually work!

although it sounded somewhat fun, it could still very much fail if they weren't

back in to the living room, finding Sofia exactly where

her the mug, she immediately sipped at the chocolate, her eyes focused on the cup, and I could tell she was still lost

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I said slowly, watching her face shift, "I might have another idea.