Shadows In Durango
Chapter 98

*****Sofia's POV*****

With my phone clutched tightly in my hand, displaying only thirty percent battery, I quickly google to see if any cafes in town were still open - where I could charge up before making my next move. Reaching up, I wipe at my wet cheek, before the search loads and I replace one cafe nearby that closes at ten. Great, that gives me an hour and a half to figure out where to go from here...

I couldn't process what had happened back there, as every ounce of my body told me just to get up and run out of there before my father could show up - and so that's exactly what I did.

I kicked off my heels, changed in to a comfier tracksuit, jammed what I could in to my bag - including some cash - and left.

Vincent had been organising sneaky deals behind my back. Arranging a possible marriage between us without even having the decency to tell me about it!

He should have told me from the very beginning that he was even planning to contact my father. Sure, I wouldn't have liked the idea, but I trusted him enough to hear his reasons out.

It was an arranged marriage, just like the first time around - all done completely behind my back and against my will!

It was wrong...

The whole thing was wrong!

This explained a whole lot though, why Daryl had been so uptight and shitty with me, since he probably knew about it and didn't like the idea of us marrying himself - not that I had any say in it though!

But then again if Daryl really liked me like he claimed he did, then he would have told me about it instead of throwing it in my face at dinner just to be spiteful!

As for Vincent, I knew something had been keeping him on edge lately, and this must have been it.

His father was working with mine, and for how long, I didn't know? I couldn't trust any of them, not now, since the whole dinner could have been a complete set up for all I know!

But one solid fact remained, and that was that I couldn't go back to my father.

Not now, not ever.

I quicken my pace as I head down the dimly lit street, each step feeling heavier with the weight of everything I had just learned.

The cool night air bites down at my skin, but it does nothing to calm the storm swirling from inside me.

How could Vincent have done this to me? How could he keep something so huge from me? Especially after I just admitted to liking him only yesterday!

And worse-how could he think he had the right to discuss any kind of deal with my father behind my back, without me knowing about it?!

I feel a sharp pang of betrayal hit my chest. Vincent, one of the few people I thought I could finally trust after everything that had happened to me, had gone behind my back and made decisions about my life without even asking me.

As I walk, I think back to the look on his face when he was trying to explain himself - the guilt, the desperation in his eyes. He'd been trying to manage the situation, I get that, but still... he lied.

Another tear slips down my cheek, and I swipe at it angrily. I can't let myself break down now. I need to keep moving. I need to stay in control of this situation for my own safety.

The glow of the cafe sign comes into view, and relief washes over me to see that it was, in fact, still open.

At least I have somewhere to sit and think for now, to charge my phone and to figure out what my next move is. The last thing I want is to be stranded out here with nowhere to go and no battery left in my phone.

I push open the door, the warm air inside hitting me instantly, as I'm greeted by the smell of fresh coffee and the soft hum of quiet conversations from the few people still inside.

I was thankful that it was peaceful in here, a world away from the chaos I had just left behind me.

Sliding into a booth in the back, I pull out my charger, plug in my phone, and sit back, my mind racing. What am I going to do? I can't go back to Vincent's house. Not after what just happened. I can't trust him, and I definitely can't trust his family and there is no way in hell that I'm going back to my father...

The thought of my father sends a chill down my spine. The idea that he was still pulling strings, trying to control my life from the shadows, makes my skin crawl. I thought I'd escaped him. I thought that I was finally free here... But now, I'm not so sure.

He was closer to me than what he had ever been before, putting ties together through the use of Vincent and his father... two big time criminals to add!

What the hell had I managed to get myself stuck in?!

My phone buzzes on the table, the screen lighting up with an incoming call from Emma but I ignore it.

More time passes, with more incoming calls from Vincent and even Reid, followed by messages from the three of them. I stare at it for a moment, my stomach twisting. I don't want to read them, not yet. I can't handle hearing any more explanations, excuses, or apologies.

Not right now.

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"Hello hon! Can I get you a warm drink?" A waitress appears, snapping me from staring down at my buzzing phone, as I straighten up slightly.

"Oh, uh, y-yeah... a hot chocolate please?" I request off the top of my head, not wanting to be rude and seem as though I was only in to use their electricity (which technically, I was).

"Coming right up!" She smiles, taking a second longer to eye me over, knowing that something was wrong but choosing to keep quiet on it - which I was thankful for.

I take a deep breath as she leaves me and I open up my maps app, searching for hotels or anywhere nearby where I can stay tonight.

I don't have a plan, and I feel like I'm barely holding it together, but I have to keep moving.

I can't stay here in town forever now which was the sad truth of it... but I should have seen it coming.

I scroll through the options, trying to figure out what I can afford. I don't have money to splurge anymore, not with my future being so unpredictable at this point.

A message pops up at the top of my screen, one from Emma, as my eyes scan over it quickly.

'Come stay at my place tonight? I won't tell any of them where you are, I promise! That whole thing was messed up and you have my support Sof! Please answer and talk to me, let me know you're ok?!!'

I debate over her words, saddened that I even felt on edge with Emma now who I had trusted so strongly.

But she had been a great friend who had kept so many secrets for me so far, right? She hadn't told anybody about Ashton showing up in town either...

None of this had been her fault...

I place my phone down to stare out of the window, watching the cars pass by on the street outside as I think.

The glow of the streetlights blurs as my eyes fill with tears again.

I feel so alone, so lost on what to do.

The door to the cafe opens, and the bell above it rings softly, pulling me from my thoughts.

My heart jumps into my throat, and I tense up, glancing toward the entrance, half-expecting to see Vincent or someone from his family coming after me.

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But it's just a random customer, a woman with her coat pulled tight around her, heading to the counter for a late-night coffee.

I let out a shaky breath, but the fear still lingers, settling deep in my chest. It's like I'm constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Here you are sweetie!" The waitress returns, placing the steaming mug in front of me as I thank her quickly and push out a smile.

She leaves me alone after that, as I wrap my cold hands around the cup and enjoy that it was the only thing providing me with a feeling of warmth tonight.

I take a sip, before my phone buzzes again with another incoming call from Emma, as my gut screams at me to answer her.

She must be worried sick, which isn't fair on her.

So with that, I hastily pick up, my fingers trembling slightly as I swipe to answer...

"Sofia?! Are you there? Can you hear me? I'm outside, away from everyone so don't worry! It's safe to talk, are you alright?!" Her panicked voice fills my ears as I feel myself bubbling again.

"I'm safe, I just had to get out of there, it was too much!" I admit, my voice quiet to avoid anyone in the cafe overhearing me.

"I know, I know! The whole thing was a nightmare! I had no idea! This explains why they've been acting so weird! I'm even pissed off with Reid that he didn't share any of this with me, or I would have told you!" She assures me, as I nod to myself, believing her.

I knew she was telling the truth, since she seemed just as mortified as I felt on the inside.

"I'm going to have him drive me home, if you want to meet me there so that none of them know where you are?" Emma suggests, as I debate the idea.

Maybe it was my best option, at least for tonight.

"O-Ok..." I confirm, as she sighs in relief down the line.

"Perfect, I'll tell them that I've spoke to you and that you're safe. I'll tell them to stop calling and that you'll get in touch when you're ready. How does that sound?" Emma suggests, as I take another drink from my mug. "Yeah... ok... I'll meet you there soon, bye." I agree, before ending the line and placing my phone back down on the table.

This was far from over, I could feel it.