Shadows In Durango

Chapter 97

serer\/incent's POV kkk

| feel the weight of everyone's eyes onas soon as my mother drops that bomb.

Sofia's doe like eyes bore into my own, seeming lost and desperate to know what was going on...

The air was suffocatingly thick with tension, and | can see Sofia's confusion quickly turning into panic with the

longer that | stayed silent.

"Sofia, letexplain..." | start, as she looks back atlike I've just betrayed her, and | hated that look.

I never wanted her to find out like this hell, I didn't want her to find out at all, at least not until I had more control

over the situation and had made up my mind on it myself. "Your father toldthat you were marrying the girl to

settle her father, am | wrong?" My mother interjects, glancing around the table and making things a whole lot

worse.

"Mom, that's enough, shut the fuck up and stop getting involved!" | snap, my voice sharper than intended, but

I'm already on edge, with my patience for her already wearing thin. She doesn't even flinch. She's too used to

getting her way, too used to manipulating everyone around her.

| shoot a glare at Daryl next, who's grinning like the asshole that he is, basking in the chaos he had willingly

helped to cause.

I don't know what his problem is tonight, but he's pushing all the wrong buttons with me...

"Vincent, what the hell is going on?" Sofia's voice is soft but laced with desperation. She's trying to keep it

together, but | can see her slowly slipping.

| turn to face her fully, my heart pounding in my chest. This is the moment I've been dreading - the moment

where everything starts to unravel.

"I was going to tell you, | swear," | start, my voice low as | try to block out the rest of the table for a second. It's

justand her now, and | need to make her believe me. "It's not what it sounds like." | swallow hard, as her

brows draw together, still not understanding what | was trying to say.

"What isn't what it seems, Vincent? What are they talking about?" Sofia begsfor more information, as I sigh

heavily and shake my head.

| glance at my father, who's sitting at the head of the table, watchingwith that cold, unreadable expression

that he always has.

He's always known how to play his cards close to his chest, and right now, he's waiting forto either fess up

or to dig myself a deeper hole.

And my mother was sitting there with that smug, satisfied look on her face, leaning into Daryl like they were

acting as skind of twisted duo tonight.

She loves this loves stirring shit up, especially when it's aboutand my life since hers is so fucking tragic!

"I didn't want you to find out like this," | say, forcing the words out. "There's been... an arrangement that was

discussed briefly, something that I've been trying to wrap my head around before talking to you about it..." |

admit carefully. "An arrangement?" Sofia echoes, her face paling. "Vincent, just tellwhat it is!" She hurries

me.

Fuck.

There's no more dodging this now is there? Not with my mother and Daryl ready to ratout in seconds flat if |

don't say it first.

My father shouldn't have opened his mouth to her, knowing that she can't hold her damn water when it comes to

anything important!

"It's a marriage contract," | say quietly, feeling the weight of it hit the table like a hammer. "A discussed business

deal betweenand your father..." | let my words sink in, watching her face contort in horror before my very

eyes. "What?! You spoke to him? My father?!" Sofia panics instantly, her breathing beginning to pick up as I hush

her quickly.

"Not directly no, but my father did, because... well... | found out that your father actually does swork with

mine..." | state, licking my drying lips as Sofia's eyes shift to my father at the head of the table who nods slowly

to confirm the fact. "D-Does he know where | am? Know that I'm here? Is he coming for me?!" Sofia asks him

directly, assuming that he had already revealed her location to him, but thankfully, he shakes his head next.

If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for

free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

"No, he doesn't, | didn't tell him much. But he knows now that you've been going around with my son... that's

where the whole deal cfrom, he believes that it will unite our families and strengthen his business withif

you both get married." He tells her, direct and straight to the point as I run a hand down my face feeling heavily

stressed that this was all getting brought up so unexpectedly.

Couldn't we have at least gotten to dessert first for crying out loud?! We had barely finished our starters and

everything was flaring up!

"So

you didn't even tell her any of this?" My mother interrupts, her voice dripping with faux innocence. "Vincent,

darling, you can't just leave out the fact that you're marrying someone, especially without them even knowing

about it!" She giggles and throws her hands around, but no one else laughs.

Sofia's face goes white, and she jerks back like we've just slapped her.

"S-So letget this right... you were going to forceto marry you? How is that any different to what my

father tried to do toback hVincent? B-But you already know that..." She whispers, her voice cracking as

| feel my chest tighten.

"No! It's not like that, Sofia! Nothing has been agreed to, this was only brought up yesterday, and when you were

upset at school | didn't want to pile this on top, that's why | waited!" | assure, but she shakes her head with tears

brimming in her eyes.

"But you contacted him behind my back!" She suddenly yells, shocking everyone at the table with the volof

her voice, as if it was all just beginning to hit her fully.

Before anyone can say another word, she stands, her chair scraping backwards, before she tosses her napkin

down on to the table.

"Excuse me! | need a moment alone!" She states bluntly, before moving quickly towards the door - her heels

clacking at a quick pace and fading out as she moves down the hall and up the stairs.

At least she has gone upstairs and not out front... that way | would know that she was at least safe here still!

Emma looked horrified and at a loss for words herself, evidently conflicted on whether or not to chase after her

or to give her the moment alone she had demanded to have...

"Well, that went well." Daryl sneers, and before | can even process my actions, the water glass in front ofis

launched across the table and at his head.

Smashing and shattering everywhere, Daryl is up in an instant with my mother screaming by his side - the blood

trickling down from just above his eyebrow.

If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for

free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Fucking bastard!" Daryl roars, his full body stiffening but not

daring to cause a fight within front of my father.

Coward...

"Are you going to sit there and let your son throw a glass at me?!" My mother seethes, making it about her and

looking over at my father who remains stoic as she brushes the shards of glass from her arm.

"Yes, | don't blhim after his mother acted like a fucking immature bitch tonight and deserved it. As for you

Daryl, aren't you supposed to be a best friend?" My father's words shock me, as he shrugs and takes another

drink - offeringhis back up on this whole situation.

Anybody could see that my mother willingly stuck her nose where it didn't belong with this situation, as did

Daryl, but that didn't excuse the fact that Sofia should have known sooner... that was on me.

With that, Daryl storms out of the room, before the front door is heard slamming shut to signal that he had left...

suits me!

"Maybe | should go check on Sofia now..." Emma swallows the lump in her throat as she stands, and | nod in

agreement knowing that she would be best going up there right now as opposed to me. My mother slumps down

back in to her chair, arms folded tightly as she falls in to her childish huff over the incident that she had caused.

"Stop fucking sulking! As if you didn't just cause this!" My father states, snapping at her, as she continues to

pout and ignore him.

This evening had gone worse than | ever could have imagined...

Reid was left speechless, looking somewhat sympathetic for my situation as I took the silence as a moment to

steady my breathing.

But that was extremely short lived, when two minutes later - Emma reenters the room to announce:

"Sofia isn't upstairs! | think she got changed and left - her bag and sof her stuff is gone!" She informs us,

her eyes wide as | immediately stand.

Fuck...