Shadows In Durango

He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off again before he could. "You just don't get it, do you? You don't

understand what it's like to constantly be running, to always be looking over your shoulder, waiting for the

moment when the one person you fear the most finally catches up to you and makes you suffer... all you've done

with this, has helped to bring him even closer to me!" | seethe, reminding myself of how dangerous this whole

thing was quickly becoming. Vincent looked like he wanted to argue back on that, to explain himself again, but |

didn't give him the chance.

"I thought I could actually trust you," | said in a scoff, my voice breaking. "You were the first guy I've ever fully let

in about my past. The first person who madefeel like | wasn't alone in this terrible nightmare. That | felt safe

and protected around and now..."

| couldn't finish the sentence. The words choked up in my throat.

"Ok, Sofia, ENOUGH! You have to letexplain myself here! | would still do fucking anything to keep you safe,

do you even realise that?! Especially from him! None of that has changed! | just went about it all completely

wrong and for that, I'm sorry!" Vincent's volrises, as my lips part in shock that he had started to somewhat

yell at me.

"You just thought you knew better thanVincent! Knew what was best for my life! Nothing | say or want

matters anymore, does it?!" | shouted, finally letting the dam break. "You walked in to this blind, thinking that

you could handle him, that you could outsmart him but you don't even know him, | DO!" | fume, as Vincent

suddenly groans loudly, tugging at his own hair in sheer frustration.

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Tears blurred my vision, but this tthey were being pulled from sheer anger.

We still remained in the car, none of us feeling any closer to having this tender scenaresolved.

| wondered how long it would take to finally get somewhere? To feel that we had reached an agreeable

conclusion? But right now, | couldn't see one forming anytin the near future.

"My father wanted to marryoff for money, and do you just think that it's all an ok idea now because this time

around, instead of an old man, it's to you?! How damn narcissistic does that sound?! Sure, | liked you Vincent,

but you're now out here making major life choices forand | get zero say in my own future, surely you can see

why I'm so upset over this?!" The words spill out from me, the horror of what he was planning still stabbing away

at my heart. Vincent's face paled, and | saw the fear in his eyes which for a moment madefeel bad... but

only for a single moment... before it was gone.

"Sofia, please," he said softly, his dark tattooed hand reaching out again, tentative and this time, | felt drained

and allowed for him to make contact, lacing his fingers in mine.

"I know that | messed this up so bad... and | was just as shocked as you were to learn that our fathers were

somehow connected in a business sense... and | know | should've told you, and I'm so deeply sorry for how much

it's hurt you... but if you would be willing, | would love to explain everything to you from start to finish, we can go

inside and fully talk this out, and after that you can decide if you still want to talk toagain or not, but please

just hearout first?" Ashton squeezes my hand, pleading withfor a chance that | now felt he was at least

entitled to.

Sure, he had still gone above and beyond to helpout these past few weeks, so for that, I'll agree to listen...

But that still doesn't excuse what he done... this was wrong, and | stood by that.

I pulled my hand from his and finally sighed, feeling utterly exhausted. "Fine," | whispered, not because | was

ready to forgive, but because | needed more answers in order to move on with my life.

| needed to know why?

"I'll listen. But don't expectto make any promises that everything will be great again after." | remain firm,

knowing that | have to protect myself right now first and foremost!

Vincent nodded, relief flooding his features. He quickly got out of the car and caround to my side, opening

the door for me.

For a moment, his attempt at being considerate madewant to roll my eyes, but | bit it back. There were

bigger things to focus on right now and I didn't have to be more petty on top of that.

| had to remember he had still been through a lot with what happened to Daryl and had turned up to save me

from Ashton... so there was no doubt that he still cared... but | couldn't ignore how hurt | was.

| followed him inside his house, the familiar scent of leather and faint cologne hittingas soon as we entered -

finding no sign of his father or mother which | was glad for.

The place hadn't changed much since I'd left it. The sexpensive furniture, the smodern, clean lines. But

what had changed was me. | wasn't the sgirl who had sought refuge here weeks ago. | wasn't the sgirl

who'd been looking for protection from the chaos of my past under Vincent's roof.

Now, | was facing a whole new storm and wasn't entirely sure if | could even trust him... if | was even safe to stay

here anymore...

Vincent ledinto the living room, motioning forto sit down.

| took a seat on the edge of the couch, my body tense, ready for whatever bombshell he was about to drop next.

He sat across from me, running a hand through his hair again, a gesture I'd cto recognise as his way of

trying to calm himself down.

"Alright, I'm going to tell you everything," he said, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, hands

clasping together. "I'll do whatever it takes to fix this. Just... don't shutout? Don't run off again?"

Vincent lifts his head, our eyes connecting as | respond with a stiff nod...

I won't run, not this time.