Shadows In Durango

*****Vincent's POV*****

I watched Sofia and Emma disappear off down the hallway together, leaving a silence in their wake as they no doubt planned to discuss each and every detail of what had went on between us over at my house... She hadn't looked back either.

Not once.

Itching to rid herself of my company as quickly as possible - which I hated to admit hurt my feelings.

Her parting words echoed around in my mind, repeating on a loop like a stuck record: "Hopefully I'll find a way to move past all of this, just give me time to figure it out."

In other words, she was still a very long way from forgiving me. A long way from trusting me. And the worst part? She hadn't even seemed to care that I told her I loved her.

That was big for me to even admit, since before meeting her, I didn't even believe in love...

The thought made my jaw tighten as I sank down onto one of those hard plastic waiting room chairs again, forcing myself to sit still even though every inch of me was restless and wanted to move.

She had just stood there when I said it too, looking at me like I'd told her something as trivial as what I'd had for breakfast...

I barely noticed Reid taking the seat across from me, his gaze set with that knowing look of his, always prepared to poke his nose in every corner of my business.

He didn't have to say a word for me to sense his curiosity brewing...

"So," Reid finally began, his voice testing, "are you gonna tell me what went down, or am I supposed to just guess?"

I straightened up instantly, casting him a warning glance. "Not right now, Reid, just know that it went shit!" I state bluntly, expecting for that to be the end of it - which was wishful thinking.

He just leaned back, folding his arms comfortably whilst stretching out his legs. "Come on, Vin. You look like you've been through a hurricane. I can't believe that girl has you wrapped around her pinky finger like this... it's maddening to see you in this much of a state all because she's mad at you!" He scoffs next, shaking his head, as I scowl.

I tensed, my fingers tapping restlessly against my knee as I wanted nothing more than to fly across and attack him.

"It's between Sofia and me and It will get fixed soon enough." I conclude, leaving no room for dispute.

Reid raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Look, I'm not asking for the play-by-play, but maybe you'd feel better getting some of it out? I'm guessing you spoke about the arranged marriage scenario?" He trails off, as my blood begins to seriously boil.

"Maybe I'd fucking feel better if you just backed off?!" I replied, harsher than I intended but I didn't care.

Reid just shook his head with that familiar half-smile, always unbothered by my outbursts - he had been that way since we were kids which only bothered me more. "Fine. Guess I'll let you stew in it on your own, then." He shrugs, as I can't help but mutter curse words at him from under my breath.

He thankfully went quiet after that, but I could still feel his eyes on me every so often, dissecting my silence as though he was trying his damn hardest to read my mind.

The embarrassment was starting to churn in my stomach all over again, mixing with the humiliation that came with being the one to say "I love you" first, and getting absolutely nothing in return.

I shouldn't have said it when I did I knew that now. It wasn't the right moment, not the moment she deserved at least. But I'd just been so wrapped up in trying to make things right, in saying whatever I thought might bridge the widening gap between us, that it had just slipped out.

I wanted her to know that I was serious about my feelings for her, that this wasn't all just some nasty set up to put her at risk...

Reid's gaze finally dropped as he leaned back and closed his eyes, giving me some form of reprieve from his scrutiny.

I shifted in my seat next and reached in to my jacket pocket for my phone, checking it for the first time in hours...

My gut wretched when I saw the screen flash with notifications: three missed calls and six unread messages, all from my damn father.

Yay.

My heart sank a little as I began to scroll through them. The texts were blunt, each one getting a little more impatient which was no surprise to me since this was usually the tone of his messaging. 'Vincent, call me back.'

'Hello? Answer the phone? I'm starting to get pissed off having to manage your mess for you!!

'We're running out of time, and so is Frazier's patience. I can't just ignore his calls forever just to fucking suit your schedule!'

'You need to get Sofia under control before her father starts knocking on all of my properties across the country to look for her!'

'What the fuck have you been doing all day?! Call me back!'

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'I won't cover your ass for another day Vincent, I have more important business to attend to!'

Each message drove another nail into the situation, a sharp reminder of the tangled mess that had somehow spiralled way out of control.

A mess that I still very much had to deal with head on...

I felt Reid's eyes slide back over to me, catching the look on my face as I scowled down at the device, but I couldn't stay there to explain. Not right now.

"Give me a sec, it's my father." I muttered, pushing up from the seat as Reid nodded knowingly, looking concerned but not pressing me.

I headed straight for the exit doors, knowing that whatever our conversation was going to entail, would have to be private...

Outside, the cold air hit me like a slap, clearing some of the fog in my mind.

My father's texts were still on the screen, his messages each a demand, each a reminder of the one part of my life I couldn't get away from.

My finger hovered over his name as I hesitated, taking a breath, before finally pressing 'Call.'

It barely rang twice before he picked up.

"About damn time," he barked, his tone sharp and familiar, laced with that impatience he had honed to perfection.

I clenched my jaw, pushing down the irritation that flared. "I was busy."

"Oh, you were busy, were you?" He sneered, voice dripping with mockery. "Busy playing Romeo, I assume. Meanwhile, Frazier's up my ass because he still can't get a hold of his daughter. So, tell me, Vincent-how is it you're too busy to get anything useful done?"

I swallowed heavily, trying to keep my tone even. "I think you've forgot that my best friend was just fucking shot and nearly died! I've been down at the station giving statements all morning too and then I had to drive home to grab Daryl some shit that he needs from the house! Frazier isn't my priority right now and neither are you!"

Silence fills the line, before he groans heavily in to the speaker...

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"It's not good enough, leaving me to handle your mess like this Vincent! Please tell me that you have at least spoke to the girl about the whole marriage thing? Has she calmed down now? I want you to get Frazier off my damn back!" He demands an update, one that I physically don't have.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I can't agree to any of Frazier's demands knowing how hurt Sofia is over it all and to make matters worse, I now had my own father hounding me to face the issue.

She would never agree to this plan... but how was I supposed to tell her father that without it becoming a whole uproar now that he knows she's with me?!

I closed my eyes, the weight of my father's words pressing down like a crushing boulder.

Forcing her hand?

Like she was just some problem to be solved, some game piece to be moved...

This was her life, her future that we were all so carelessly discussing, and it was all thanks to my stupid mistakes...

"You told me to handle it, and that's what I'm doing," I bit out, my voice low. "But I can't just drag her off to marry me against her will. That's not going to work - she'll bolt on the first chance she gets. I need time to figure it out with Sofia..." I explain, as my father only laughs next which pisses me off more.

"Then make the fucking girl believe that this is what's best for her. Use your head, Vincent, you aren't stupid! Show her how much easier things would be if she just fell in line with the plan. Get Frazier off my damn back, he's irritating me now!" He snarls, as I want nothing more than for him to be in front of me right now so that way I could at least punch him.

His words always stung, every syllable like a reminder of every time I'd been told I was never quite enough for him in my younger years. Never quite strong enough, smart enough, or ruthless enough to live up to the family name... so he would say.

That's all he cared about, was his reputation. He wanted to keep people like Frazier around to help him and to do more of his dirty work for him.

"Yeah, and I'll take care of it, just get me more fucking time! Why are you allowing that bastard to hound you for updates anyhow? Tell him to piss off and to wait! We will be in touch when we've made a decision!" I argue, my voice hardening with each passing word.

"You'd better take care of this properly after getting me involved," he replied, his voice steely. "Because if you don't sort this, then I will, and trust me, you won't like the way I handle things Vincent." He promises, as a flood of rage pulls through

me.

"Fuck off with your threats, I'm not a little kid anymore! Do you forget how much shit I do for you these days? It's in your best interest to just buy me more time, since I know that you can, and let me fix this my own way!" I begin to yell, gaining the attention of some strangers nearby who quickly walk off after I flash them a warning look.

"Fine. I'll speak to you more about this in person, in the morning!" He snarls, before the line instantly cuts dead.

Great, and here I was hoping that he had already left town since he wasn't home when I had gone there earlier today.

FUCK!