Shadows In Durango

what she already was.

Sure, | said no more secrets and lying, but | won't have to tell her unless she straight up asks about this one...

right?

"Uh, ok, yeah cool! I'll see you when you cin." He states, before closing over the curtain and ending the line.

As | ended the call, | glanced over at Sofia, whose expression still held that fragile mixture of fear and

uncertainty. | wished | could wipe away every worry she had, but | knew it wouldn't be that simple. It never was.

"Alright," | said, trying to sound more confident than | felt. "They're inside, only them, and it's all going to be

fine." My words felt hollow, even to me.

Would it really be fine? I still had no idea of what I was going to do to fix this...

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| opened the car door and stepped out first, as Sofia only watchedcautiously. | could feel her hesitating, but |

closed my door and rounded to her side - opening it for her before offering my hand to help her out. She didn't

accept my hand right away, but eventually, she shakily placed her palm in mine - placing her trust in me.

"Con. It's okay." | assure, as she took a deep breath, her gaze darting toward the house, then back to me.

It was a battle | recognised from her all too well - the fight between fear and trust.

Together, we eventually walked toward the house. Each step felt heavy, the sound of gravel crunching under our

feet amplifying the tension in the air as we climbed the steps.

I had hoped this place would be a refuge for her, a safe haven, and | hated that | wasn't able to give her the

heads up sooner about there being people here before us...

| pushed open the door, the hinges creaking like an ominous warning that didn't help matters.

Inside, the living room was well lit, with only a couple of lamps casting a warm glow over the worn furniture.

Quade was lounging on the couch, a beer in hand, while Leroy was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, an

easy smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey, look who it is!" Quade said, his voice loud and cheerful. "Vincent and his lady!" He announced, as though |

hadn't already just spoken with Leroy who was in the sroom as him. He was drunk... excellent!

| could see Sofia's body tense beside me, and | shot Quade a warning look. "Keep it down," | snapped, stepping

fully into the room and guiding Sofia in withbefore closing the door.

Sofia remained close to my side, her eyes scanning the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings and the two

unknown men who were supposed to be on her side but who now felt like a potential threat to her. "Sorry, didn't

mean to scare the little thing," Quade grumbles, but there was a hint of mischief in his voice, and | felt a flare of

irritation.

This wasn't the tfor his jokes. He was usually the level headed one, whenever he wasn't ten beers deep that

is!

Leroy's expression shifted as he noticed the tension. "You two good? What's going on? Is it Daryl? How's he

getting on? Last we heard he was recovering..." he asked me, his tone more serious and concerned now.

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"Look, letget her to a room and then we can talk about what's going on, Daryl's fine." | say, trying to regain

control of the conversation. "Sofia's been through a lot today, and | don't want her feeling cornered in here." |

glanced at her, searching for reassurance in her eyes which didn't come.

Leroy nodded instantly, not saying another word, while Quade released a deadly loud burp out in to the open

space - confirming how sloshed he actually was.

He needs to get out of here before | put a damn bottle over his head!

| move swiftly towards the stairs, pushing Sofia to go ahead ofin order to feel more secure as she climbs

each step withat her back.

I reached my room, the sroom I had always slept in whenever | was here, seeing it untouched and tidy just

as it had been left.

"Stay in here until | go down and explain to Leroy what's going on. Ignore Quade, he's usually fine but he's just

drunk, he means no harm. If you need me, just call out ok? There's a bathroom and a shower and spare clothes

in the drawers - use what you need if you want to go in." | explain, pointing around the room to everything as

Sofia slumps down on to the bed with a sigh.

"0-Ok... please don't be too long..." She begs, as | instinctively move towards her, leaning down to kiss her head

gently.

"I won't, I'll be ten minutes at most. If you shower, I'll be back by the tyou get out?" | offer, trying to make it

sound easier on her as she thinks on it for a moment before standing.

I leave her to do just that, closing the door over behindbut not fully - leaving it just a crack incase she

needed to yell out for me.

| join Leroy and Quade again downstairs, finding Quade to now be sitting with a bottle of water that was no doubt

handed to him by Leroy in an attempt to sober him up...

"lI want you to take him out of here tonight." | cut right to the chase, gesturing to Sofia's neighbour who had

pretty much been held hostage downstairs - forced to go cold turkey in his sobriety. "How's he been doing

anyhow?" "Actually, he's been pretty good. He wasn't at first, you know, facing all of the flu like symptoms and

the withdrawals, but now, he seems almost grateful for it..." Leroy shrugs, as | nod slowly. Interesting...

"Really? Well if he keeps it up, maybe I'll give him another chance... maybe get him a job in the bar..." | hum, as

Quade laughs next.

"Hah! That's if he doesn't run back to his dealers the second he gets out of here!" Quade states, slurring slightly

as | roll my eyes.

"I'll get him out and can keep an eye on him until you sort out whatever this is..." Leroy steps up, as | nod and

thank him, appreciating his support right now.

Now that I've managed to get them out of here... I'll be able to wrap my head around the most concerning

problem - Sofia's brothers being back in my own damn house!