Shadows In Durango
Chapter 100

*****Vincents POV*****

I pace back and forth in the office, my parents now finally retired to their separate rooms for the night and giving me peace to think.

My father was determined to finish his dinner, unbothered by the events that had taken place, and so I left him to it, taking the moment to attempt to contact Sofia - never receiving an answer.

"Well now my girl is pissed off with me too!" Reid complains, having dropped Emma home since she had demanded space from him tonight too.

She quickly figured out that Reid also knew about the idea of marriage and contacting Sofia's father behind her back and she didn't approve of it in the slightest...

All I had to go off of right now was that Emma had spoke to Sofia and that she was safe. She wanted time alone to process and although I had sent her text after text, I knew that she wouldn't be answering me any time soon. I had fucked up majorly...

Reid slumps down into one of the leather chairs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Emma's barely said two words to me since I got back too. I'm lucky she even let me drive her home. Not that she spoke much in the car either, she's annoyed at all of us for keeping Sofia in the dark with this." He informs me, not making me feel any better on the matter.

I grunt in response, pacing faster as my mind races. I can't stop thinking about Sofia - her face, the hurt in her eyes when everything came out. It's all replaying in my head, over and over again like a bad movie.

I knew from the start that this whole plan was risky, but I never imagined that it would blow up like this.

"What the fuck was Daryl's problem too? He was such a rat to you tonight! Even your Dad called him out on it and that's saying something!" Reid states the facts, as I instantly agree.

He was right. Daryl was way out of line and certainly didn't act like a true friend of mine tonight. I was somewhat impressed that my father seemed to be on my side with it all - scolding both my mother and him for how they had acted. "He's upset one, because of the possible marriage thing and two, because I told him that Sofia admitted to liking me yesterday... she chose me over him and he can't handle it... crying over not being picked for the first time in his fucking life!" I state, as Reid sniggers at my words.

But it was true.

Daryl had been annoyed all because Sofia didn't want him, although I didn't think she even wanted me anymore now either...

"He crossed a line. I couldn't actually believe that he joined in on outing you like that. All over a girl too!" Reid rolls his eyes.

"It's been boiling between him and I for weeks now. It was only days ago that he tried to attack me over taking her with me on that trip! He's a jealous prick!" I remind him of our previous dispute as he nods along and rubs at his chin. Daryl had lost his mind and had proven himself to have a darker side as opposed to always being the fucking 'good guy'.

"He can collect his shit tomorrow and move back home for all I care." I shrug, fed up of discussing him at this point as Reid sighs heavily at my words.

I would cut Daryl out of my life if I felt it was necessary and I didn't care if I had known him since kindergarten - he was acting like a different person, one that I didn't like.

If I manage to make things right with Sofia, despite the hopes of that happening being extremely slim right now, I feared that Daryl wouldn't be able to be around our relationship. Maybe he would come around eventually? Apologise even? But I don't know if an apology will even be enough for me at this point...

"I just want to know that she's safe," I mutter under my breath, but it's more to myself than to Reid.

My phone buzzes again, as I quickly lift it to see, but of course, it's not her. Another useless message from somebody that didn't matter at this moment in time. "Maybe we should just leave them alone for now, to calm down." Reid says, but there's a hesitation in his voice. Even he doesn't believe his own words.

Before I can answer, Reid's phone starts vibrating loudly on the desk. He glances at the screen, then stiffens, his eyes darting back to me.

"It's Emma," he says quietly, his tone shifting as I almost laugh at how ironic it was of her to call after he offered to give them space.

He stands up and answers it immediately, putting the phone up to his ear as I watch him. "Hey... what's going on, how are you feeling?" He tests.

The room falls silent, and I stop pacing, my eyes locked on Reid. His expression changes almost instantly, from curiosity to deep concern.

He glances at me again, and at that point, I know that something's not right...

"What do you mean, so she hasn't shown up?" Reid asks, his voice louder now, alarm creeping up into his tone.

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Who are they talking about? Sofia?

It has to be...

He listens for a few more seconds before his face goes pale, his grip tightening on the phone.

I take a step closer, my chest tightening with dread. "What is it?" I demand, the words barely contained. "What's Emma saying?"

Reid pulls the phone away from his ear and hands it to me quickly, his voice low and tense. "She said Sofia was supposed to spend the night at her place... but she never showed up and now Emma can't get through to her. Sofia's not answering any calls or texts, and she thinks her phone's been switched off." He rabbles, as my heart sinks more and more at his words.

A cold wave of fear crashes over me as I grab the phone from Reid's hand. "Emma?" I bark into the phone.

"Vincent, I wasn't going to tell you that she was staying at my place tonight..." Emma starts, as I cut in.

"I figured she would be anyhow..." I tell her, to ease her guilt of ratting out where Sofia would be, before she sighs and continues:

"But she hasn't shown up! She said she was on her way, but now she's just... gone. I've tried calling her over and over, and at first it would ring, but now it just keeps going straight to voicemail as if her phones off. I'm really worried, Vincent... what if she's left town or something's happened to her? What do we do?" Emma's voice is frantic, and every word she says sends my pulse racing.

For a second, I can't breathe. Sofia wouldn't just disappear without saying something... would she?

No.

She's mad at me, yes, but running off like this especially after telling Emma she would be at hers? Something's wrong.

"I'm coming to your place," I say firmly into the phone. "Stay where you are. I'll figure this out."

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"My parents are out tonight so the doors open - just come in. I'll call back if I hear anything before you get here!" She quickly states.

I hang up, my thoughts already spinning out of control as I move to grab my things with Reid at my heels.

The room feels like it's closing in around me, the pressure building in my chest becoming unbearable.

"We need to replace her. Now," I say to Reid, my voice hard, no room for argument.

Reid nods, already moving towards the door. "We'll take my car. I don't trust you driving in this state. Should we call Daryl?" Reid questions, as I shoot my father a text to say that I'll be out for a while. I grab my jacket on the way to the door, my mind racing with all the worst-case scenarios.

"Nah fuck him!" I fume instantly as soon as he mentions involving Daryl.

"He's already out, he might be able to look around town for her at least?" Reid quickly explains his reasoning as he unlocks the car for us to climb in.

Thinking on it, maybe he was right. Right now, I hated Daryl, but if it gives us an extra person for the search then so be it.

With a stiff nod, Reid sighs and begins typing out a text to Daryl to explain the situation and to ask if he can drive around town for a bit to look out for her. With that, he puts the car in to drive and we set off towards Emma's house.

What if she was hurt?

Maybe she just decided to hop on a bus out of town? But that was unlikely...

All I know is that I need to replace her, no matter what.

I need to make this shit right!