Shadows In Durango

She was telling the truth, from what | could tell anyway. Reid was known to cause trouble, | was just surprised

that he would do it with me, in my own fucking bar too when he was supposed to be one of my close friends.

"Reid don't fucking play with me!" | warn, my eyes narrowing as he visibly rolls his in response, acting as though

it was just slight hearted fun. He's an idiot.

"Look, | thought it would be funny putting her up there. I didn't think she could dance. I figured she would just

get upset and would go h- maybe even quit!" Reid eventually admits his fault, as | release Sofias wrist and

move behind the bar.

Without further thought, | throw a punch that knocks him backwards onto the counter before landing another two

into his face - giving him no tto react.

"Oh God, Vincent stop it!" | hear a cry, as | grab Reid by the shoulders and throw his bloodied face down onto the

floor roughly.

"Vincent con!" | turn when | feel a hand on my arm, breathing heavily and still ready for more.

| wasn't done with him, but here she was, getting in my fucking way!

"Sofia, fuck off!" I retort loudly shrugging her off, before watching her eyes widen followed by a slight shake of

her head.

"N-No stop it! P-Please!" She cries, giving my arm a shake this tas Reid pulls himself up onto the bar - using

it to keep himself stable. Spitting at him, I huff out stubbornly and turn to face Sofia who looks somewhat scared

now.

"You're going home!" | state, as she all but nods seeming to want that too before | move to take her wrist again

and lead us both back downstairs.

| was furious, and thanks to Sofia, Reid got off easy tonight... he was a bastard for acting like that with me. |

would deal with him properly tomorrow! "M-My clothes." | feel Sofia pullback as | storm us through the

dancers corridor towards the exit, as | stop to release her wrist momentarily. "Hurry it up!" | demand, still angry

and impatient.

She moves into one of the dancers rooms, before quickly returning holding her clothes in her arms, hugging

them to her chest for comfort. "I'm taking you hlet's go!" | state firmly, as she freezes and shakes her head.

Is she seriously saying no toright now?!

"Sofia don't testtonight I'm not joking around!" | warn, as she chews her lip and shuffles slightly.

"M-My brother... you can't takethere..." She pushes, as | walk towards her.

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Leaning down closer to her face, | shake my head firmly and offer her a deadly look.

"I am taking you fucking home, if your brother has a problem with that then I'll be happy to deal with him too -

move!" | state, as she looks scared for a second with her eyes growing wide.

If | wasn't so furious | would have felt bad just by the look of her, but I didn't care, not right now.

She followsoutside with her head hung low, as | unlock the car and watch her climb into the passenger side.

Taking a second to breathe out heavily, | walk around the car and get in, starting the engine and turning to look

at her.

"Oh and you're fired." | confirm, not comfortable with her working there anymore after finding her half naked on

a pole tonight.

"W-What? Vincent please..." She looks back atdefeated, blinking through her long wet lashes as | turn away

from her and put the car into drive.

"Tellthe way." | state ignoring her, as she opens and closes her mouth growing flustered.

Sure | felt bad for firing her but it was for the best. She shouldn't be working in a bar at this age and | was an

idiot to let it happen, even if it had only been for three shifts.

"Left..." She whispers and points, and continues to do so until we reach the park.

"This isn't your house unless you live inside the damn park! Don't fucking trySofia!" | grip the steering

wheel, not wanting to deal with this shit on top of everything else that had happened tonight. What is the big

deal? Her brother can't be that bad! Especially if he lets her stay out to all hours in the morning working at a

damn bar! He can't care for her that much!

"I c-can walk from here." She try's again, as | turn in my chair harshly.

If she thinks for a second she's walking anywhere in that outfit she's wrong.

"I won't ask you again, WHERE IS YOUR HOUSE?!" | yell loudly, causing for her to jump in fright.

"Down there..." she points towards the street, as | squint and nod slowly - pulling the car towards it.

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free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Where from here?" | push on, as she remains silent and lowers

her gaze, fiddling with her fingers on her lap.

| look around, finding the addicts and drunks of the town lining the street, sgathering and slurring around a

bin that was on fire.

"Where next Sofia?!" | demand, realising that she hadn't yet answered me, before her small finger comes up to

point.

"Just here." The words cout, as | look at her to see if she was lying.

This is where she lives?!

Pulling up on the side walk, she keeps her head low, not moving as | look around at the state of the apartment

building before us.

It was three flats in the building, a bottom, middle and top floor with rickety windows that were practically falling

off.

"Sofia, this isn't your house. I'm seriously going to lose my fucking shit here!" | shake my head, but notice as she

squeezes her eyes tightly shut.

"Yes It is." She whispers quietly, as my brows pull together.

Feeling a rush of guilt flood through me, something that | felt very rarely, | sigh heavily and attempt to compose

myself.

"Con then, letwalk you to the door." | breathe out, trying to force my tone to be softer to show that |

wasn't judging. Although | was...

| needed to see more for myself...

How could somebody like her live in a place like this? There had to be better places in town... especially with her

brother living here with her too? I'm guessing he works, no?

| get out of the car and she doesn't move, as | walk around to her side and open it - reaching a hand out to her.

She sniffles, before moving in slow motion to take my hand, as | pull her out onto the sidewalk with me.

Maybe the inside is nicer...

| shouldn't be so quick to judge...