Shadows In Durango

Chapter 105

serer\/incent's POV kkk

It's 8am now and still no fucking sign of Sofia anywhere.

The worst thing was, that Daryl had called Reid back to say that no buses had left town last night after nine

which ruled out that possibility...

| don't think she would have hitch hiked her way out of here either so the most probable explanation was that

she was still here, somewhere in town. So where the fuck did she go?!

We had returned back to my place before Emma's parents could get back - not wanting to upset or worry them

with what was going on.

Emma currently lay on the sofa battling sleep as | remained wide eyed and alert. | was far too worked up, having

drank around eight coffees in the passing hours, with my mind doing overton where Sofia could be and what

might have happened to her.

"What the fuck has happened to you three?! Vincent you look like you've just crawled your way out of hell!" |

turn to find my father entering the living room, fully dressed in his shirt and slacks for the day as he eyes each of

us suspiciously. Reid remained seated, his eyes blood shot red, as | all but sigh heavily - thankful that my mother

hadn't followed him downstairs - at least not yet.

| need her to stay out of my way today...

With a brief shake of his head, realising that none of us were going to answer him, he walks off in the direction of

the kitchen - probably to fix himself a coffee.

As soon as he gets out of ear shot, Reid turns to me, "Maybe you should go and speak to him? He could help us

find her... it's not like our guys have found anything yet." Reid states the obvious as | turn my head to glance in

the direction that my father had just walked off in.

| hated seeming needy and weak to him.

Hated asking for his help at the best of times.

But | suppose that he did have better connections to look in to this further and he did also have my back over

how Daryl and my mother had acted last night at dinner... which was unusual from him.

| continue to stare at the spot where my father had disappeared into the kitchen, the silence in the room thick

and suffocating. Reid's words hang in the air, temptingto act, but | push them down.

The problem was, | couldn't shake the feeling that if | asked for his help, it would be admitting to how much |

didn't have things under control.

And that, more than anything, makes my jaw tighten.

"Maybe," | mutter, my eyes darting over to Emma, who's still curled up on the sofa, her face a picture of

exhaustion. Her worry over Sofia hasn't left her even in her half asleep state.

"You don't look too good either, you know," Reid says, voice low but laced with concern.

| give him a sharp look, but he just raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying the 'I'm fine' routine.

"I'm fine," | growl, running a hand through my hair, the rough bristles scraping my fingers.

Reid doesn't argue, just sighs and rubs at his tired eyes. "We need a lead. Something. Anything. We're running

out of t- she could be half way across the country by now for all we know."

The weight of that statement crashes into me. | know it. Hell, we all know it. But every second that ticks by feels

like it's sinking us further and further into the dark. The uncertainty, the not-knowing, gnaws away at me. This is

all my fault...

"I'll talk to him," I finally give in, my voice thick and irritated. "But don't expect miracles from him if he's in a bad

mood."

| stand, my legs feeling like lead, as | make my way toward the kitchen, the sound of my footsteps echoing off

the walls. My father's already at the counter, eyes on a black coffee mug he's holding, the steam still rising from

it like it's the most interesting thing in the room.

For a moment, | just watch him, feeling the distance between us grow, even though we're standing in the same

space.

"Dad," | start, my voice rough, not sure where this conversation is supposed to go.

He doesn't look up, just takes another sip of his coffee, his movements deliberate and calm. "You're all wound

up. You need to chill out. What is the issue, none of you can find her | assume?" He asks, hitting the nail on the

head straight away. He knew what was going on just from looking at the state we were all in...

"I don't have tto calm down," | snap, the words leaving my mouth before | can stop them. "She's gone off

somewhere, and | need your help to find her. She doesn't have anywhere else to live!" | admit, as he nods slowly.

Finally, my father meets my gaze, his eyes sharp, taking in the desperation | can't fight to hide.

"What exactly do you wantto do then, Vincent? | would much prefer that you just askedout right instead

of dancing around it?" He pushes me, as | breathe out heavily.

"Have people look through the towns camera footage? | know you've done that once before to find out who stole

from your warehouse so why can't we do that again for Sofia? Maybe something will pick her up and we will have

a lead. Right now, we have nothing! | already have people out searching and it's useless." | rant, as he only

stares back atand continues to take agonising sips.

My father eventually sets the mug down with a clink, his gaze hardening, eyes searching mine like he's weighing

the options. The silence stretches out, but then he finally gives a small nod.

"Alright. I'll get speople in on it." he says, his voice low, almost detached. "But you better be ready to follow

through on this shit when her father calls back for an update. If you're going to draginto your mess, you

better not back off when it gets messy for me. Seeing how the girl reacted to the news last night didn't seem like

she would be willing to go through with the marriage plan... and Frazier won't be happy about that." He explains,

as | roll my eyes next. "Fuck Frazier right now, who cares?! Just don't say anything to him yet until we know

where the hell she is! | just need Sofia back to at least talk to her about it. She's scared, and | don't blher.

Her father's a little bitch from what | know!" | spit out my distaste for the man as my father chuckles next and

looks down to the floor.

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"Yes he is a little bitch, but he's persistent, I'll give him that." He shakes his head with a smile, as | don't even

want to think about Frazier right now.

He is the least of my worries with Sofia being somewhere out there - alone!

"Just do whatever you can," | say, turning back toward the living room, but then | pause. "And keep it quiet. Don't

tell anyone. Not even my mother. | don't need her trying to pissoff any more than what she already has." |

conclude, somewhat praying that she decides to stay in her room for the rest of the day.

"You got it, but remember you'll oweone for this..." he says, already reaching for his phone as | ignore him

and leave.

He'll holdto that alright...

I head back to Reid and Emma, the new hope of what we're about to do next bringing back senergy in to my

veins.

| glance at Emma as | sit back down, her eyes fluttering open, confusion clouding her face. She's trying so hard

to hold it together, but | can see how badly this is eating her up.

"Sofia's out there, and we'll find her, he's going to help..." | mutter, the pair of them listening intently. "It should

take a couple of hours but hopefully one of the cameras around town has picked her up last night and we can

hopefully track her from there..."

Reid doesn't say anything, too exhausted to engage, as Emma looks somewhat relieved by the news.

"You two should get ssleep, you won't be any use toif you're like zombies!" | state the obvious, as

Emma yawns as if on signal.

"You should too." Reid retorts, forcing himself up to his feet before going to help Emma up, but I only shake my

head.

| can't sleep and | won't. Not when | don't know where Sofia is and how she's feeling...

I won't rest until | find her and have her back here...

Back where she belongs!