Shadows In Durango

Chapter 128

Frxek\incent's POVH#kxk

| watched Sofia and Emma disappear off down the hallway together, leaving a silence in their wake as they no

doubt planned to discuss each and every detail of what had went on between us over at my house... She hadn't

looked back either.

Not once.

Itching to rid herself of my company as quickly as possible - which | hated to admit hurt my feelings.

Her parting words echoed around in my mind, repeating on a loop like a stuck record: "Hopefully I'll find a way to

move past all of this, just givetto figure it out."

In other words, she was still a very long way from forgiving me. A long way from trusting me. And the worst part?

She hadn't even seemed to care that I told her I loved her.

That was big forto even admit, since before meeting her, I didn't even believe in love...

The thought made my jaw tighten as | sank down onto one of those hard plastic waiting room chairs again,

forcing myself to sit still even though every inch ofwas restless and wanted to move.

She had just stood there when | said it too, looking atlike I'd told her something as trivial as what I'd had for

breakfast...

| barely noticed Reid taking the seat across from me, his gaze set with that knowing look of his, always prepared

to poke his nose in every corner of my business.

He didn't have to say a word forto sense his curiosity brewing...

"So," Reid finally began, his voice testing, "are you gonna tellwhat went down, or am I supposed to just

guess?"

| straightened up instantly, casting him a warning glance. "Not right now, Reid, just know that it went shit!" |

state bluntly, expecting for that to be the end of it - which was wishful thinking.

He just leaned back, folding his arms comfortably whilst stretching out his legs. "Con, Vin. You look like

you've been through a hurricane. | can't believe that girl has you wrapped around her pinky finger like this... it's

maddening to see you in this much of a state all because she's mad at you!" He scoffs next, shaking his head, as

I scowl.

| tensed, my fingers tapping restlessly against my knee as | wanted nothing more than to fly across and attack

him.

"It's between Sofia andand It will get fixed soon enough." | conclude, leaving no room for dispute.

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Reid raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Look, I'm not asking for the play-by-play, but maybe you'd feel

better getting sof it out? I'm guessing you spoke about the arranged marriage scenario?" He trails off, as my

blood begins to seriously boil.

"Maybe I'd fucking feel better if you just backed off?!" | replied, harsher than | intended but | didn't care.

Reid just shook his head with that familiar half-smile, always unbothered by my outbursts - he had been that way

since we were kids which only botheredmore. "Fine. Guess I'll let you stew in it on your own, then." He

shrugs, as | can't help but mutter curse words at him from under my breath.

He thankfully went quiet after that, but | could still feel his eyes onevery so often, dissecting my silence as

though he was trying his damn hardest to read my mind.

The embarrassment was starting to churn in my stomach all over again, mixing with the humiliation that came

with being the one to say "I love you" first, and getting absolutely nothing in return.

| shouldn't have said it when | did | knew that now. It wasn't the right moment, not the moment she deserved at

least. But I'd just been so wrapped up in trying to make things right, in saying whatever I thought might bridge

the widening gap between us, that it had just slipped out.

| wanted her to know that | was serious about my feelings for her, that this wasn't all just snasty set up to

put her at risk...

Reid's gaze finally dropped as he leaned back and closed his eyes, givingsform of reprieve from his

scrutiny.

| shifted in my seat next and reached in to my jacket pocket for my phone, checking it for the first tin

hours...

My gut wretched when | saw the screen flash with notifications: three missed calls and six unread messages, all

from my damn father.

Yay.

My heart sank a little as | began to scroll through them. The texts were blunt, each one getting a little more

impatient which was no surprise tosince this was usually the tone of his messaging. 'Vincent, callback."

'Hello? Answer the phone? I'm starting to get pissed off having to manage your mess for you!!

'We're running out of time, and so is Frazier's patience. | can't just ignore his calls forever just to fucking suit your

schedule!"

You need to get Sofia under control before her father starts knocking on all of my properties across the country

to look for her!"

'What the fuck have you been doing all day?! Callback!"

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the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it's all free!

'l won't cover your ass for another day Vincent, | have more important business to attend to!"

Each message drove another nail into the situation, a sharp reminder of the tangled mess that had somehow

spiralled way out of control.

A mess that | still very much had to deal with head on...

| felt Reid's eyes slide back over to me, catching the look on my face as | scowled down at the device, but |

couldn't stay there to explain. Not right now.

"Givea sec, it's my father." | muttered, pushing up from the seat as Reid nodded knowingly, looking

concerned but not pressing me.

| headed straight for the exit doors, knowing that whatever our conversation was going to entail, would have to

be private...

Outside, the cold air hitlike a slap, clearing sof the fog in my mind.

My father's texts were still on the screen, his messages each a demand, each a reminder of the one part of my

life | couldn't get away from.

My finger hovered over his nas | hesitated, taking a breath, before finally pressing 'Call.'

It barely rang twice before he picked up.

"About damn time," he barked, his tone sharp and familiar, laced with that impatience he had honed to

perfection.

| clenched my jaw, pushing down the irritation that flared. "I was busy."

"Oh, you were busy, were you?" He sneered, voice dripping with mockery. "Busy playing Romeo, | assume.

Meanwhile, Frazier's up my ass because he still can't get a hold of his daughter. So, tell me, Vincent-how is it

you're too busy to get anything useful done?"

| swallowed heavily, trying to keep my tone even. "I think you've forgot that my best friend was just fucking shot

and nearly died! I've been down at the station giving statements all morning too and then | had to drive hto

grab Daryl sshit that he needs from the house! Frazier isn't my priority right now and neither are you!"

Silence fills the line, before he groans heavily in to the speaker...

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the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it's all free!

"It's not good enough, leavingto handle your mess like this Vincent! Please tellthat you have at least

spoke to the girl about the whole marriage thing? Has she calmed down now? | want you to get Frazier off my

damn back!" He demands an update, one that | physically don't have.

| can't agree to any of Frazier's demands knowing how hurt Sofia is over it all and to make matters worse, | now

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had my own father houndingto face the issue.

She would never agree to this plan... but how was | supposed to tell her father that without it becoming a whole

uproar now that he knows she's with me?!

| closed my eyes, the weight of my father's words pressing down like a crushing boulder.

Forcing her hand?

Like she was just sproblem to be solved, sgpiece to be moved...

This was her life, her future that we were all so carelessly discussing, and it was all thanks to my stupid

mistakes...

"You toldto handle it, and that's what I'm doing," | bit out, my voice low. "But | can't just drag her off to

marryagainst her will. That's not going to work - she'll bolt on the first chance she gets. | need tto figure

it out with Sofia..." | explain, as my father only laughs next which pissesoff more.

"Then make the fucking girl believe that this is what's best for her. Use your head, Vincent, you aren't stupid!

Show her how much easier things would be if she just fell in line with the plan. Get Frazier off my damn back,

he's irritatingnow!" He snarls, as | want nothing more than for him to be in front ofright now so that way

| could at least punch him.

His words always stung, every syllable like a reminder of every tI'd been told | was never quite enough for

him in my younger years. Never quite strong enough, smart enough, or ruthless enough to live up to the family

name... so he would say.

That's all he cared about, was his reputation. He wanted to keep people like Frazier around to help him and to do

more of his dirty work for him.

"Yeah, and I'll take care of it, just getmore fucking time! Why are you allowing that bastard to hound you for

updates anyhow? Tell him to piss off and to wait! We will be in touch when we've made a decision!" | argue, my

voice hardening with each passing word.

"You'd better take care of this properly after gettinginvolved," he replied, his voice steely. "Because if you

don't sort this, then | will, and trust me, you won't like the way | handle things Vincent." He promises, as a flood

of rage pulls through

me.

"Fuck off with your threats, I'm not a little kid anymore! Do you forget how much shit | do for you these days? It's

in your best interest to just buymore time, since | know that you can, and letfix this my own way!" |

begin to yell, gaining the attention of sstrangers nearby who quickly walk off after | flash them a warning

look.

"Fine. I'll speak to you more about this in person, in the morning!" He snarls, before the line instantly cuts dead.

Great, and here | was hoping that he had already left town since he wasn't hwhen | had gone there earlier

today.

FUCK!