Shadows In Durango

Chapter 96

HRHRRSOfig's POVHHIRK

As Vincent's parents disappear upstairs, the tension in the room seems to linger like a thick fog.

| glance over at Vincent, his jaw tight, and his posture stiff. Even though he's trying to hide it, | can tell he's

bothered by something...

"We've got stbefore they cback. Let's go in and get settled, | think we could all use a drink?

Something strong?" Vincent says, his voice clipped but trying to sound calm as he looks around at us and we nod

back in agreement. He gestures toward the dining room, and we follow him in, though | can feel the weight of

unspoken words hanging loosely in the air.

"You look good..." He leans down to tell me, and before | can even respond, a dry scoff is heard from behind us,

causingto look over my shoulder to find the culprit to be Daryl.

What the hell is his damn problem withtoday?!

Vincent all but shakes his head, ignoring him, as | follow his lead and brush it off - knowing that there was bigger

problems to face right now...

The dining room was set up elegantly, with the long table adorned with candles and perfectly set places.

Everything about this house screams wealth, and | almost felt like a fake for being here, especially thinking back

to where | lived only weeks ago...

| take a seat beside Vincent with Emma sitting on my other side as Reid's words about sticking close to him

echoed in the back of my mind.

Vincent asks one of the hired kitchen staff to supply us with sstrong cocktails to which they nod and head

off to do exactly that.

Emma immediately grabs my hand from under the table and gives it a reassuring squeeze, remindingthat

she was still here - acting as my moral support through this night.

"You okay?" she whispers, her eyes searching mine.

I nod, though I'm not sure if | even believed myself. "I'll be fine," | reply softly, forcing a smile. "It's just... a lot of

nerves."

Reid sits down beside Daryl, both now opposite us, with Reid maintaining his usual laid-back demeanour. "Worst

part is over now, right?" Reid states, as Vincent lets out a dry laugh at his statement and agrees.

| want to believe him, but then my eyes flick to Vincent. He looks so different from his usual confident self. He's

tense, almost on edge, and the fact his parents visiting can have such an effect on him was concerning in itself.

Daryl, on the other hand, was still sulking, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, his phone still in front

of him and laid out on the table.

He hasn't said a single word since his snarky comment earlier, and the cold look on his face was yet to fade. |

don't know what's gotten into him today, but I'm too exhausted by him to deal with it right now. Whatever his

issue is, it's not helping the current situation in the slightest...

"Daryl, could you, | don't know, try to act like you actually want to be here? You're starting to suck the fun out of

the room..." Reid says, his voice sharp for the first ttonight, being the one to finally call him out.

Before Daryl can answer, the kitchen staff enter the room and place a cocktail in front of each of us, pausing

their dispute as Daryl glares holes through Reid in the meantime.

| reach forward to try the drink, finding it to be strong but drinking a long sip nonetheless to help take the edge

off...

"Prick." Daryl mutters out under his breath towards Reid, but Reid only laughs and waves him off nonchalantly.

| felt as though there was an evident problem lingering in the air, awaiting to be discussed by someone, but | had

no idea what it was or what it even could be...

"| still can't believe what she was wearing," Emma whispers out beside me, leaning in closer. "She looked like she

was heading to a club, not a dinner with family and friends."

| let out a quiet, nervous laugh. "Yeah, not what | expected either." | admit, thankful that Emma was at least

trying to distractas | felt close to the brink of becoming extremely overwhelmed.

It isn't long before we hear footsteps from upstairs, and my stomach drops as | realise that it's time.

Emma gives my hand one last squeeze, her eyes filled with silent encouragement, as Vincent's parents begin

their descent down the stairs towards the dining room.

Here we go...

Vincent straightens up, his face once again calm and collected, though the tightness around his eyes remains. |

take a deep breath, trying to do the same, as his parents re-enter the room, their presence filling it with an

almost tangible weight. His mother is the first to speak, a smile playing on her lips, though her eyes don't match

the warmth she's trying to project. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long," she says, her voice light, as she

glances around the table. "Not at all," Vincent replies smoothly, though | can hear the tension beneath his words.

His father follows behind her, his face as unreadable as before, but his eyes scan the room with the scritical

gaze he had earlier. He gives a curt nod of acknowledgment before taking his seat at the head of the table, next

to Vincent.

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As they settle in, | feel my pulse quicken. Tonight is only just beginning, and | have no idea what to expect.

"Savinga special seat beside you Daryl my honey?" Vincent's mother purrs, shockingwith the flirtatious

tone as she seemed to have no shin it. "Always Helena!" Daryl chirps, causing her to shriek out a giggle as

she plops herself down beside him, pursing her lips and pressing herself closer to him. Helena, that must be her

name... | hadn't yet learned their names yet!

| feel Emma pinch my leg from under the table, as | turn to share a look with her once again, grateful that she

seemed to notice everything I did - not that it was hard to notice how she was acting. Anybody with eyes could

see this! The staff soon cback, taking a drink order from each of them, with his father going for a whiskey

coke and his mother a dry white wine.

"So, how's things been going since we've been out of town?" Vincent's father asks loudly, breaking the silence as

| shuffle in my chair.

"Nothing much sir! Looking after your boy as always,

keeping him in line!" Reid jokes, stepping up as the first to help lighten the atmosphere, as for the first t|

hear his father laugh - amused by his statement.

"| bet you are! What about you Daryl? What's been happening?" He moves around the table, as Daryl shrugs.

Let's see if he holds up his crappy attitude with Vincent's father...

"Sold shit really!" He remarks, his voice sounding softer but maintaining an underlying tone.

The staff hand the pair their drinks, before announcing that the starter will be served in the next few minutes to

which Vincent thanks them.

"A toast everyone!" Vincent's father stands, holding his whiskey out in front of him as we all quickly make a

move to grab our glasses before he comtinues: "To my son on finding love!" He ends, before winking in my

direction which catchesfully off guard.

Vincent's eyes are on me, seeming to look somewhat guilty and conflicted, as I laugh nervously and clink glasses

around the table - Daryl's stare deadly and unamused.

What was that about?! A toast to Vincent for finding love?! | only told Vincent that | liked him yesterday for

crying out loud...

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But parents were often like that weren't they? Jumping to their own conclusions? Perhaps it means nothing... he

probably knows that Vincent tookon that trip with him and so has just assumed that we are already official...

"So what's the deal with you anyway Sofia? What do you like about my son, other than the obvious being his

money?" His mother is the next to ask, flicking her black hair over her shoulder before the doors open and the

starters begin to get served.

What kind of a question is that to askwhen we've barely spoke two words so far?! Hinting that I'm after

Vincent's money too? How rude!

"Oh uh, I..." | begin to babble, before Vincent speaks up for me.

"Quit it, that's really none of your business is it?!" Vincent defends me, as | watch his mothers expression shift to

one of annoyance.

"I think | have a right to know the girl who is marrying my son, Vincent! Don't you?!" She snaps across the table,

as my eyes widen and my jaw falls slack.

I'm sorry, who said anything about marriage? She was seriously jumping way ahead! He's not even my damn

boyfriend yet!

"Mom, shut the fuck up!" Vincent rages, suddenly furious, confusingmore with how strong he was reacting to

her.

What is going on?!

"Yeah Vincent, | agree, | think your Mom has a right to question your fiancé..." Daryl drawls out dangerously,

causing his mother to giggle and hold on to his arm like he was her damn date - with her husband sat at the

opposite end of the table too!

"What are they talking about Vincent?" | whisper, confused and evidently unaware of the underlying

conversation that was happening before my very eyes.

To this, his father speaks out now, "Don't tellyou haven't told the girl yet?!" He asks loudly, as my brows pull

together and my palms begin to sweat. Toldwhat?!

What are they talking about?!

Seeming at a loss for words, Vincent shifts to face me, his face pleading and desperate as he attempts to find his

words.

"Sofia, letexplain..." He starts, as a flood of instant dread floods through me.

Would this explain why everyone has been acting so damn strange lately?!