Shadows In Durango

Chapter 143

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

The room was silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. I sat on the hard stool, my fingers digging into its edges as I tried to steady my breathing ever since the doorbell had rang... The air in the storage room was stuffy, thick with the scent of old wood and the faint bitterness of spirits lining the shelves. It felt like a cage, a windowless void where time had slowed to a crawl. Vincent's words echoed in my mind: "Go with the flow... act scared." My body was already ahead of me. The nerves were buried in my gut, tightening into something unbearable.

The sound of approaching footsteps jolted me and I froze, my heart launching itself against my ribcage as the door creaked open. The same two men from before stepped inside - hired to be here to add an extra flare to the dreaded performance...

They had the kind of hard, vacant faces you'd expect from men who'd done things they didn't dare to speak of. One was shorter and more stocky, with a deep scar slicing across his cheek. The other was taller, a little leaner but just as imposing, his dark eyes assessing me coldly before flickering toward his partner.

"It's time," the scarred one said gruffly as my lip quivered at those gripping words.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself as I pushed up off the stool, my legs trembling faintly as they took my weight. I didn't trust my voice to answer them, so I just nodded instead.

The taller man stepped closer to me first, his movements almost cautious. He took my arm gently, his grip surprisingly light, as though he were afraid I'd shatter under his grip.

I blinked up at him, startled by the care. Then the stocky one moved in, taking hold of my other arm a little swifter.

As they began to lead me out, the taller man glanced down at me, his voice low and soft as he said, "I'm sorry... for what we're about to do. For how rough it's gonna look."

His words stopped me dead in my tracks. My head whipped up toward him, my mouth parting in disbelief. I hadn't expected that. Not from him.

"It's ok... thank you..." I breathed, knowing that none of us had a choice since we were already in way too deep...

The taller man's gaze softened just enough to let me know that he meant it. "We don't have a choice. Orders are orders."

For a moment, I couldn't speak. My lips trembled, but I forced myself to answer. "It needs to be done," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Do whatever it takes to make it believable." They exchanged a quick glance before nodding almost in unison.

We started walking again, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the tiled hallway as we ascended the stairs.

My breathing turned shallow with every step closer to the office, the space between my ribs feeling smaller and smaller.

This is it, I thought. He's up there. They're all up there.

Waiting for me...

By the time we reached the landing, my vision swam with nerves as my feet began to drag back against the floor.

I could hear murmured voices growing louder from behind the office door, low and indistinct. My pulse pounded around in my ears, and I didn't realise the two men had paused until I felt their grips tighten.

The scarred one exhaled sharply. "Remember - don't fight it too hard or it will just hurt more," he muttered, but I could see the tension set in his jaw. "We've got to sell it.' I nodded again, my throat tight.

The taller man eventually reached out his hand and opened the door, and in that moment, everything seemed to stop...

The office was larger than I'd expected, since I hadn't been up here before, yet it felt claustrophobic, the walls seeming to press inward as my eyes scanned the room quickly.

his broad frame filling the chair, his thinning blonde

mouth was curving up in to a half-smile, but his sharp eyes burned into me with an intensity that turned my stomach black.

Kieran and Freddie stood up from beside him like sentinels as my muscles tensed

nothing about them had changed. Kieran, with his golden hair and quick, dangerous smirk. Freddie, his hair a shade redder, his body more rigid and ready for violence at the drop of a hat. Both of them stared at me as though I were a piece of meat they'd forgotten about and just now remembered existed -

once the months of running, of hiding, of living with the constant fear that they'd find

now they

in front

My chest tightened painfully. I suddenly

it. My limbs jerked, trying to pull away from the two men holding me. "N-No- let me go now, I can't do this!" I gasped, my voice strangled as I thrashed and knew that each and every emotion

grip turning vice-like around my arms as they dragged me further into the room to display me before the three of them like some sort

a cry, the words raw as

was hammering. My

was a bad

my father's eyes again.

me like I was his daughter- he tilted his head at me like I was a possession kept in a

faintly. Freddie crossed his arms comfortably, his expression carved

eyes found Vincent

his hands clasped firmly on the table top in a

just moments ago who had kissed me and whispered reassurances was nowhere

like I was nothing, like I was less than nothing now

Then he laughed.

cruel sound that sent ice down my spine. "She's a feisty one, isn't she? I think that's why we like her so much..." he drawled out, being the first to speak above my sobs, the mocking tone slicing through the air like a blade. I froze mid-struggle, my head snapping toward him in

just an act. It's all part of the plan, I reminded myself desperately. This isn't

it felt way

when you said you had roughed her up a bit eh?!" My father asks, eyeing Vincent and his

me like I was an inconvenience to him, as though he was already bored of me being here. "What'd I tell you about behaving, Sofia? Crying and throwing yourself around like that is the reason you've ended up in that state to begin with!" he

chest heaved, the panic still clawing at me. But I forced myself to hold his gaze, to see through the mask he was

The one who cared.

one who promised to protect

trembling violently. The men holding me stayed still, their grips tight as they waited for their next

sick satisfaction, his smile widening just enough to make my stomach

- liked

my eyes landed on Kieran instead, whose smirk deepened as he leaned against the edge of the table. "She's still a fighter, isn't she?" he mused, his voice dripping with

their words, their taunts gnawing at the edges of my resolve. My breathing hitched, but I didn't let myself break —at least not completely. I couldn't. Vincent's earlier words replayed in my

when every nerve in my body felt like it was already on fire with

her down, let me look at her!" my father ordered suddenly, his voice sharp and cutting as he motioned to a free chair near to

didn't hesitate as they pulled me forward, forcing me

buckled, but they didn't let me fall; they shoved me

almost imperceptibly. It was enough for me to realise that he still meant his earlier apology. But right now it didn't

every ounce of comfort from

father continued, resting his elbows on the table as he steepled his fingers