Shadows In Durango

Chapter 139

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

The house felt eerily quiet as the minutes dragged on. The soft drone of a reality show was playing in the background, but I couldn't even focus on it.

The artificial laughter and overdramatic arguments seemed absurd against the real life scenarios brewing in my own reality.

I sat on the edge of the couch, my hands clasped so tightly in my lap that my knuckles were pulsing white.

Vincent lounged beside me, with his arm draped over the back of the couch, pretending to watch the screen, though I knew he wasn't paying much attention to it either. His jaw was tense, his eyes darting toward the window every few seconds...

Vincent's father had been gone for a fair few hours now, off on some of his "errands" that apparently couldn't wait any longer.

Before he left, he had made a conscious effort to make arrangements for tomorrow - to bring them here for the 'meeting' to which they dreadfully agreed to...

I tried not to let myself think in to it too much since I knew that it would only cause an unnecessary panic attack so instead, I decided to attempt to go with the flow.

It was better that we do this tomorrow - get it over with - as opposed to procrastinating, right?

"This is bullshit - the show I mean! How are you feeling?" Vincent's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts as I turned to look up at him, finding his eyes settled on me.

"As okay as I can be," I replied quietly with a small shrug. "Time's running out, isn't it? I just need to roll with it and pray for a miracle..."

"How do you feel about tomorrow though? You seem far too... calm for my liking. Do you think you'll be able to handle seeing them after so long?" He tests, as I lift my left hand up to rub at my drying throat...

Tomorrow...

The day in which my father and brothers would walk through that door, and everything would hinge on whether we could sell this twisted plan to them or not.

luxury of failing anymore... this has to work if it's the last thing I

to our whole act, won't it? I'll just look more miserable to them, so I'm just telling myself that it's ok to fall apart when I see them..." I explain my

first time in a long time, that's major. I'll have your back with this right to

he'll have my back right to the

Woah...

low rumble of an engine pulling up into the driveway shattered our valuable moment, as Vincent instantly twisted himself around to look out of

He states, getting a better look at the car, as I released a breath I hadn't been aware I had caged in

a little to peak out of the cracks in the blinds to watch

with the makeup and shit..." He recites, as my hands instinctively begin

the front door was heard opening, and the

father's voice booms loudly, obviously unaware

Vincent's father appears in

with a wheeled case trailing in behind him. He looked completely out of place in the house, dressed in a sleek black turtleneck and slim-fitting black trousers that screamed

at the case Sergio was rolling behind him -

of kit makeup artists used for professional photoshoots

He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze hard as he studied the man. "You told him what he's here for I take it?" Vincent

the room. "Sergio's the best. He'll make it look convincing. I've used him many times in the past - he knows what I get up to in my spare time, don't you

work, yes. But do not worry. I will make

A homeless dog?!

Really?!

so tense then I would have laughed

looking directly at me now as though there were no more time to waste. "I need to see

a small nod of encouragement. Reluctantly, I pushed myself up to my feet,

he studied me with the intensity of an artist sizing up his subject as I squirmed under his sharp eye. He circled me slowly, his hand reaching

light, pressing lightly on my cheekbones and jawline with enough pressure to

actually a good thing! Shall I say, za