Shadows In Durango

Chapter 135

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

I picked up the phone, eyeing the name "Dad" flashing up across the screen as I bite back the urge to scoff.

He often didn't deserve the title at the best of times...

Glancing back at Sofia, I saw her tense up slightly, her fingers tightening around her mug as she dreaded to know more about why her own brothers were currently seated in my house...

With a sigh, I swiped to answer him and swiftly pressed the phone up to my ear before it was too late-

"Why haven't you called me sooner?" I kept my tone controlled, not wanting to let my frustration leak through just yet.

"Well Vincent, I assume that Reid would have told you already that I've been handling some... unexpected business," my father's voice came back to me, as calm as ever.

"Well, has it been handled yet?! Are they gone?" I snap, before hearing him press out a heavy sigh which causes for me to rant on further; "We were seconds away from walking right in on them, do you understand how fucking bad that is for Sofia? How do they even know that she is staying there, did you fucking tell them?!"

"Did I tell them?! Vincent do you think that I'm a damn fool all of a sudden? I warned you about this, didn't I? I told you they were persistent... it didn't take much for them to ask around to find out where you were living with the girl!" He sneers back, as I ignore the way Sofia's eyes fill up as she watches the exchange with dread.

"Well are you at least going to tell me what they said and where they are right now?!" I snap out, impatient and irritated that I still hadn't learned any new information from this phone call so far...

"They left town an hour ago. For now, they're back at their hotel, but don't think for a second they'll stay put there for long. They'll want answers, and they'll want her. I managed to buy you an extra two days before you make a final decision

around the phone. In that moment, I wanted to hurl it across the room, but Sofia's

I'll come by to talk to you about it tomorrow morning before we make any moves, and I expect you to be there - ALONE!" I insist, trusting in my idea and knowing that in order for it to work, I would need him to play his part

as I hope to

had right now, one that would at least delete the whole

goal was to cut Sofia's family out of her life as swiftly

I'll see you back here at nine sharp, I have a busy schedule tomorrow so

Old man...

drive back there in the early hours, but I choose to give in to him knowing that it would be easier for us all... Satisfied, the call ended, before I tossed the phone down onto the coffee table with more force than necessary, the dull clatter breaking

wide eyes locking onto me as I felt guilty for the reaction

her teeth, a habit I'd noticed she fell into whenever she was trying to keep herself calm - one that made me often wonder how she even had any

my tone contrasting to the irritation still burning in my chest from

the final plan then, Vincent?" she murmured, her

a hand back through my hair and let out a frustrated sigh before I moved to be directly in front of her, crouching down to make myself on her level before taking

to make them believe us, believe that you're miserable, because deep down - that's what they want most from you isn't it?" I said carefully, my eyes never leaving hers. "They want to use you as a pawn in all of this, like you're something to be controlled and traded

I was determined to make something work out

they turned out like this..." Her breathless words hit me like a gut punch,

I'll make this better - I promise!" I ensure, squeezing her hands in mine as she sniffles

convincing them that I'm abused and miserable will work? How would we do it though? Make it believable, I mean?" Sofia babbles, as I shake my head and hush her gently. "Tomorrow, we will go see my Dad and he'll help us with the plan, but until then -