Shadows In Durango

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

I closed the bathroom door over behind me, twisting the lock even though I knew Vincent would make sure that no one bothered me... My hands were shaking as I reached for the shower knobs, twisting them up to the hottest temperature I could bear.

Steam started to fog the mirror quickly, helping to blur the reflection of my face-a face I barely recognised after all that had happened.

I undressed and quickly stepped in under the water, letting it beat down on me, scalding but strangely comforting at the same time.

I used the soap that was already in there to scrub at my arms first, then at my neck, hard enough that my skin turned red before moving down my body.

I wanted to feel clean, needing to erase everything they'd done everything they'd taken from me and were still trying to take from me...

When I'd scrubbed every inch of myself to the point of rawness, I stood there with the water pounding down for a few more minutes, breathing hard, the steam wrapping around me like a thick fog.

But no matter how hot I turned it or how long I stood under it, the memory of them still lingered, clinging to my skin like a ghost I couldn't rid myself from.

I had no idea how long I'd been in there, but eventually, I turned the water off and climbed out, wrapping myself up in a towel.

Vincent had said there were clothes in the drawers, so I left the bathroom before I pulled one open, finding an array of black T-shirts and sweatshirts. Lifting up the sweatshirt deciding to be warmer, I brought it to my nose to smell it - finding it to be clean.

I slipped it on, before grabbing a pair of white boxer shorts and some white thick socks, finishing off with pulling a pair of matching black sweatpants up over my legs - the fabric being too loose and almost sliding down to my ankles before I tied the strings tightly.

I didn't care how I looked. I at least felt somewhat clean and comfortable now.

I walked over and sat back down on the bed. The house was too quiet for my liking, as I wondered why Vincent hadn't come back for me yet...

I looked around the room, suddenly feeling so small in this vast, empty space.

I couldn't believe that my brothers had made their way to Vincent's home which I so very nearly walked right in to....

I felt myself start to crumble, my eyes welling up again, hugging my arms tightly around myself as a weak attempt to find comfort.

I couldn't hold it together any longer.

A crackled sob broke free from my chest, then another, and soon they came out faster, tumbling out of me as I clutched at Vincent's sweatshirt, my hands gripping the fabric like it was a lifeline.

I barely heard the door creak open a moment later, and then Vincent was there, crossing the room in a heartbeat.

He sat down in front of me, his hand reaching up to touch my cheek gently, brushing away the tears. "I'm back, everything's going to be ok..." he hushed, and without saying another word, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in close to him.

"I'm here," he murmured, his voice a gentle rumble against my ear. "I've got you, Sofia. You're safe now... Just breathe, okay? Just breathe."

His hand traced slow circles on my arm, grounding me, coaxing me to slow my breathing once again. I focused on the feeling of him, the steady rise and fall of his chest against mine, the soft warmth of his breath against my neck, the weight of his arm around my waist.

His presence felt solid and genuine...

Gradually, the storm inside me began to settle, my breaths coming more evenly, and I felt my heart start to slow.

His fingers continued to stroke softly along my arm, a quiet rhythm that matched the words he murmured in my ear-soft reassurances, promises that everything would be okay.

I knew he couldn't guarantee any of it, but in that moment, I let myself believe him.

As my breathing calmed, I opened my eyes, looking up at him. The tension that had kept me on edge was still there, just beneath the surface, but for now, I was too exhausted to address it.

After a while, I whispered, "Vincent... what are we seriously going to do? My brothers... they won't stop until..." I trailed off, my voice breaking.

Vincent's grip around me tightened. "We're going to weigh out our options on facing this," he said, his voice low and steady. "We'll go through everything, every single choice that we have - good or bad - and whatever we decide, we'll do it together."

I nodded, feeling the truth of his words seep in. "You promise?"

He shifted so he could look me in the eye fully, his gaze intense, unwavering as it melted in to my own. "I promise you. I'm not going anywhere, Sofia. No matter what fucking happens, we'll figure it all out. You'll be happy and free from this soon..." he concludes, as I sigh, hoping that he would be right.

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His hand found mine, his fingers lacing through mine as he brought our joined hands up to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss against my knuckles, his touch lingering...

"S-So... what are the options? What are you thinking?" I question, the nerves evident in my quivering tone.

Vincent took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with something dark, as if he'd already weighed each of our options in the quiet moments before he returned.

He ran a hand through his hair, pausing as if to gather himself, then shifted closer, tightening his hold on my hand.

"There are a few paths we can take with this," he said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of something that made my stomach twist. "The first one... is hiding away somewhere safe. We vanish. No one knows where we are, we build a life somewhere far from here, maybe in a different country? Until they give up. I don't exactly want to move abroad, but I'd do it, for you. That's the least aggressive choice..." He confirms, as I swallow the lump building in my throat.

A part of me latched onto the simplicity of that option - just disappearing, starting over in a place where none of this could reach us.

But I was also sick of hiding, sick of moving around from place to place and waiting for them to catch up... it just seemed far too good to be true!

What about Emma? What about Daryl? Reid? We couldn't just leave them all behind too...

"W-What's... the second one?" I found myself asking, my voice quiet.

Vincent's jaw clenched as he hesitated. "Well there's... the option of dealing with them directly. By... removing them." His features were solid, the implications hitting me with chilling clarity.

I sat up a little straighter, trying to comprehend his words. "Remove them? You're talking about... murder? B-But you'd go to jail! I don't want that either!" I freak out at the mere thought.

Seeming conflicted on what to say next, he clears his throat slightly; "Sofia... you should probably know this about me, if we're trying to be honest in this whole thing now... but it wouldn't be the first time for me." Vincent states, as I wait an extra second for him to tell me he was joking - which he of course wasn't.

So he's killed someone before?!

"Y-You have?!" I breathe out the words, my eyes widening and my body going stiff in his hold.

He met my gaze without flinching, but I saw a flicker of regret there, as though he hated putting such an image of himself in my mind.

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"I have, and we always get away with it too so you wouldn't have to worry about that... it's sort of something that just comes with the line of work my father and I are in... but I want you to understand that it's only bad guys we kill, I would never hurt an innocent person." Vincent explains it to me carefully in a tone as though he were talking with a child.

"But all I'm trying to say is, if we wanted to ensure that your brothers and your father never came after you again, then cutting them out at the root would be the best way." He let out a slow breath, his hand tightening. "Sofia, I would do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I wasn't lying when I said I would put a bullet through their heads..."

My stomach turned as I thought about it - the blood shed on Vincent's hands...

Sure, I knew that he had a violent side already, but this? This was some next level shit! Was I supposed to be pleased that he was being honest with me right now? Because I couldn't help but feel horrified...

But why did a small part of me want to consider his proposal...?

"V-Vincent... What's the third option please?" I whispered, almost afraid to know now but wanting to move past our current discussion.

Vincent's face softened, his gaze drifting thoughtfully as he takes a second to breathe...

"We could easily just play along with their game," he said slowly. "Negotiate with them some more. I know you weren't happy about it at first, but maybe we could figure out a way to make everyone happy now? We both know your father has his perfect little marriage plan thought up, but maybe... maybe he's willing to trade, make some kind of concession. We could offer him something else - some form of loyalty that doesn't involve your forced hand in marriage..."

My throat tightened at the thought of facing my father head on, of trying to bargain with him when he'd always seen me as nothing more than a pawn.

I wanted to believe that with Vincent and his father's help, he'd at least be reasonable, but that hope was fragile and was already crumbling before id even dared to hold onto it.

I shook my head slowly, trying to force the options to settle, to make one feel right. "Is that all we have?" I mutter, somewhat disappointed that each of them seemed difficult in their own right.

With a final nod from Vincent, I closed over my eyes to steady my breathing to avoid losing my mind again.

"I... I don't know if talking with him will work, if he'd ever fully let me go, Vincent. The way he sees it, I belong to him." My words broke out, knowing that he wouldn't just completely disappear from my life.

Vincent brushed his thumb gently across my face, the warmth of the action helping to ground me. "But in my world, contracts are taken very seriously. Maybe we could put things in place to completely protect you from him in the future? If he breaks the deal at any point, he's a dead man walking. That's how it works, my father would agree to that!" He explains carefully, as my mind swirls to think on it.

I took a final deep breath, my fingers squeezing his hand for dear life. "So it's... hide, eliminate or negotiate?" I recited our options, my tone thick with exhaustion. "But every one of those choices are..."

"I know," Vincent said gently. "Each one has a cost and none of them are easy." He cupped my face, as he looked into my eyes. "But whatever you choose, you won't face it alone anymore. I'll be by your side, no matter how dark it gets and the end result will be the same - you'll be free from them forever, mark my words."

But I was stuck, what will I do?!