Shadows In Durango

I wasn't safe.

I'd never be safe from him unless | was actually dead.

That was the only way to escape him!

The nausea built up quickly, a sour heat in my stomach, with my vision blurring as | struggled to keep it down.

"Pull over," | managed to choke out, my voice barely more than a whisper, but Vincent heardinstantly.

"What?" He looked over, his brows furrowed with worry. "Sofia, what's—"

"Please, pull over. NOW!" The words cout in a rush, desperate, and | could feel the pressure mounting,

overwhelming as my hand shot up to cover my mouth. He didn't hesitate after that.

In one sharp turn, he veered off the road, coming to a halt just by the gravel shoulder.

| barely managed to get the door open before | stumbled out, the cool night air hittingjust as my stomach

heaved.

Everything I'd kept inside all of the fear, frustration, exhaustion - all cpouring out violently, onto the ground

below.

| gripped the door for support, my body shaking as if it were trying to rid itself of the past weeks' worth of

trauma.

| felt Vincent's hand reach my back, feeling steady and warm, helping to groundever so slightly.

He didn't say a word, just knelt beside me, his palm rubbing slow, soothing circles across my shoulders.

Even when I'd finished, when there was nothing left but dry heaves, he stayed there, silent, his steady presence

almost making it bearable to still be alive. When the worst of it passed, | slumped back on to the ground, too

drained to care about how broken I looked in that moment seated on the concrete.

| couldn't stop the tears from spilling over, couldn't keep the fear from bubbling back up, stronger than ever.

My father was coming to get me.

My brothers were already here.

| was trapped.

"I'm sorry," | whispered, my voice barely audible, hiccuping between shallow breaths. "I... I'm so sorry, Vincent. |

thought | could leave that life behind, but it's like... it's like they're always going to find me. No matter where |

go. Now you're involved too, and it's all because of me!"

"Shh, Sofia..." His voice was soft, breaking through the wall I'd tried to keep up, and then his arms were around

me, pullingclose to him in one swift movement. "It's not your fault. None of this is your fault. It never will be.

I'm going to handle it, ok?" He promises, but I struggle to believe him.

| buried my face in his chest, letting the weight of his hold anchor me, because in that moment, | felt like | was

floating somewhere just beyond my own body, as if the fear had fully pulledoutside of myself.

His heart beat solidly beneath my cheek, a quiet reminder of something good, something real that we at least

shared beside all of this...

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At least | wasn't facing them on my own this time, right?

"I don't know what to do," | finally managed to cry out, my voice breaking with a desperation I couldn't hold back

anymore. "If they find me... if my father forcesto go back with them... | can't go back, Vincent. He's going to

wantdead!" My fingers twisted into the black fabric of his jacket, needing something to hold onto.

"Listen to me," Vincent whispered, and the intensity in his voice pulled my head back to look up at him, his eyes

were fierce, unyielding as he looked down at me.

"You don't have to ever go back with him. You won't go back. | don't care if | have to keep you hidden forever, or

if I have to fight off your entire fucking family myself - I'm not letting them take you away. | promise you that."

He states. A broken laugh escaped me, caught somewhere between a sob and a gasp. "Vincent, they're all

horrible people! You don't know half of what they've done. They'll tear apart anything in their path if it means

gettingback. They'll hurt you!" | plead, suddenly scared for his own safety next.

"Then let them try," he said, his voice harder now, edged with a resolve | hadn't heard before. "I'm not afraid of

them and neither should you be anymore. You're with me, Sofia, and as long as you're with me, I'll keep you safe.

I'll put a damn bullet through each of their skulls if | need to!"

| wanted to believe him. | wanted to feel that hope he was so sure of, but the fear was too deep, too real.

It had been planted inyears ago, cultivated in every harsh word, every controlling hand my father had held

over me. It was more than just fear by now; it was a certainty, a truth I'd carried my whole life.

| didn't get to decide my own fate.

Not with my family.

But in Vincent's arms, feeling his warmth surround me, | could almost see a different version of my life - one

where | was free to make my own choices, to live without the constant dread that shadowed my every step. But

would those dreams ever be a reality? Not with them hanging over my head...

Vincent leaned down, his forehead resting against mine, his voice a low whisper that washed over me. "You're

safe right here. Right now. With me. We'll figure this out together, | swear. Just trust me, | know it's hard after

everything I've done, but | only want to help you." He promises.

I didn't trust myself to speak, so | just nodded, allowing myself to cling to him in desperation.

"Get back in the car, I'll stop somewhere close to grab you swater and then I'm taking you to one of my

lowkey properties until we can figure this out..." Vincent instructs, suddenly helpingto stand back up on to

shaky legs.

He pauses for a moment, lifting his hands to wipe at my wet cheeks, before he places each of his palms on either

side of my face; "You're too fucking pretty to be crying like this all the time... I'm going to put a stop to them if

it's the last thing | do!" He states firmly, before helpingback in to the car as though | were a fragile doll made

of fine China - seconds from shattering.

As Vincent guidedback into the car, | felt like | was trapped in a daze, every nerve still raw.

My body was too worn out to keep up the panic, but the fear clung tolike a second skin, lingering at the

edges of my mind.

The soft click of my seatbelt broughtback to reality, and | glanced up to find Vincent watching me, his jaw

set, the fire in his eyes almost startling.

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He climbed in quickly and pulled back out onto the road, slower this time, with one hand still gripping the

steering wheel tightly, while the other reached across the console to gently hold my hand. His touch was warm,

a silent reassurance | desperately needed as he kept his eyes fixed on the dark road ahead.

A few minutes later, he pulled off the main road into a small convenience store parking lot. "Stay right here," he

murmured softly, giving my hand a squeeze before stepping out and locking the doors.

| watched as he disappeared inside, the fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows across the empty street,

making the silence feel even more hollow and startling.

| half expected my brothers or my father to jump out from the darkness, feeling so paranoid and on edge now

more than ever.

Vincent returned not even a minute later, climbing back in and handinga cold bottle of water and a small,

folded packet of tissues.

He said nothing, his hand returning to mine, tracing small circles with his thumb as he began to drive once more

as | cleansed my mouth with the fluids.

His silence spoke more than any words could he was here, and he wasn't going anywhere again.

The words eventually slipped out before | could stop them, a broken whisper. "Why do you even care, Vincent? It

would be easier for you if you just leftbehind. My family... my father, they'll ruin you too if you're caught up

in this mess." He sighed, glancing over at me, his grip on my hand tightening. "You really think I'd walk away

from you now? After everything we've been through? I seriously care, and I'm not afraid of them. You don't know

the half of what I've did over the years either and I'm only eighteen. I'm certainly no angel Sofia and | don't care

what they'll try they're not taking you from me. I'll fucking kill them." He looked back at the road, his face

showing no signs of a lie as the determination set in to

his eyes.

He's serious...

Had he killed people before?

Is that what he meant?

| knew he had done spretty illegal stuff for his father but how far did his crimes actually go?!

"But Vincent..." | whispered, my voice hurt and broken.

"There's nothing you can say to makewalk away from you. Nothing." His voice was low but firm, as though

daringto try and change his mind.

| swallowed, looking down at our hands intertwined, his fingers strong and sure around mine.

He glanced over atagain, his expression softening. "We will be there in an hour or so, it's pretty far out. They

won't find you there." he murmured, giving my hand another squeeze. "The place we're going, it's really safe.

I've been using it for years whenever | needed to stay off the radar. Not many people know about it so don't

worry."

A very small calmness washed over me, gentle but undeniable, as the fear began to wane, replaced by a

hesitant hope... all | can do now is at least try to trust him and hope for the best.

Hope for my life...