Shadows In Durango

Chapter 138

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

I was halfway down the hallway, my head spinning with the weight of everything my father had just laid out, when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, noting Reid's name flashing up across the screen. His timing couldn't have been better- or maybe worse? "Reid," I answered, keeping my voice low as I stepped into the nearest empty room.

"Vincent." Reid's tone was steady, but there was an edge of exhaustion to it. "Just checking in. I'm back at the hospital with Daryl. He's still stable, still hanging on. The doctors say they're optimistic, but..." He trailed off, and I could hear the frustration in his voice. Reid wasn't one to deal well with waiting or uncertainty.

"But what?" I pressed, gripping the phone tightly with sudden worry for my friend's state...

"It's just touch and go, you know? It's not like he's up and moving around yet. He's tough as nails, but he's been through hell. The fact that he's still breathing is a damn miracle..." he begins, as I become frustrated.

"Reid what is it? What's worrying them?!" I demand, cutting him off as he breathes out heavily down the line.

"Well... they worry that he's lost feeling in his left hip and that it might affect his leg and his walking... but they said it's too early to tell if he'll get it back or not." Reid informs me, as I close my eyes over and pinch my nose.

How much more bad news can I take at this point?! My blood pressure was above boiling point with all of this...

I exhaled slowly, "It's too early to tell?" I repeat, attempting to find light of the situation.

"Yeah, that's what they said." He tells me, as I nod to myself a couple of times.

"Ok, so there's still hope that he will be fully back to his usual self? We can't think the worst..." I instruct him, knowing that Daryl was tough enough to pull through one way or another.

Daryl had taken a hit for Sofia - both literally and figuratively when Sofia's very life was in danger at the hands of that little freak of an ex-boyfriend of hers, if you could even still give him such a title!

"Well, I appreciate the update," I said, leaning back against the cold wall. "Tell him to keep fighting and that I owe him more than I can ever repay... I don't think I'll make it back today or tomorrow for a visit but I will as soon as I can - as soon as

I get all of this shit handled." I huff, knowing that I still had a major mountain to climb before things could even get remotely close to feeling 'normal' again.

Reid grunted in acknowledgment, but his voice softened. "How are you holding up with all of it anyway? And Sofia? Now that they are in town things might get... messy." He tests, as I scowl at the word choice. Messy.

way to

else - something I couldn't quite place but it was horrific to watch nonetheless. "We're as good as we can be right now," I said after a moment, keeping my voice even. "We've got a plan to convince them to back off out of her life for good

plan," Reid echoed, his skepticism clear. "Care to fill me in? Or is this one of your 'I'll fill you in later' deals when all of the chaos is done?" He chuckles, as my lips twitch but

a meeting with Sofia's brothers and her father tomorrow. My father is helping us so we have

I could picture him running a hand down the back of his neck, the way he always did when he was concerned. "Alright. Just... be careful then, alright? Daryl doesn't need any more company in the hospital, and I don't feel like attending

I said with a dry laugh, though I appreciated his concern more

up, Reid added, "I'll keep you posted on Daryl. And Vincent... if you need backup tomorrow, don't hesitate to call, I'll be on standby. Whatever you're planning, you

mind," I said, ending the

hand for a moment, my grip tightening around it as I knew that time was

the wall, I headed toward the kitchen in search of Sofia. We needed to talk, and there wasn't a

I had to make sure we were ready

her back to

loosely over her small back, a stark contrast to the

called softly, not wanting to

was a mix of exhaustion

"Reid just called too. He's

furrowed, worry clouding her features. "Oh! How is he? Is

but it's going to take time. Reid's worried about some nerve damage, but it's too early

He wanted to protect you, and that's exactly what he done

her hands, her fingers curling into her palms. "It feels like everything I touch ends up broken. My brothers, my

her chin up so she was forced to meet my gaze. "Don't do that. We have a lot to face tomorrow and you don't need to pile

with unshed tears, but she blinked them away quickly, straightening her spine. "What did Reid say about tomorrow? Does he think we are fools?" she asked, clearly eager to shift the focus before she lost control of herself. I dropped my hand and leaned against the counter beside her. "He doesn't know the full details

you think

know," I admitted. "It depends on how well we sell this. If your father and brothers even suspect that this is all a performance, they won't hesitate to try take you back by force.

that happens?" she pressed, her

do whatever it takes to keep you

a long moment before she nodded slowly and

a mere second, before