Shadows In Durango

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

My lungs burned with embarrassment as I felt inches from a panic attack, allowing for Vincent to actually walk me inside my apartment building.

This was so horrific and I could only begin to imagine the teasing and horror I will face after this at school.

Not only had Vincent Walker fired me tonight, but Vincent Walker now knew where I lived in the worst part of town.

I was a mere tramp compared to him and everything he had... it was shameful to even bring him in here!

"It's going to be ok." I hear him breathe out, surprising me as we climb the steps which were eerily silent.

My neighbours thankfully were nowhere to be seen outside, since after the events of tonight, I don't think I could take much more hassle.

"This is m-me..." I stutter out, turning the last corner only to freeze and drop my belongings seeing my apartment door laying wide open. "W-What?" I stutter, panicked and shocked.

Vincent seems to overtake me instantly, pushing himself before me as a shield, moving slowly towards the place with me close to his back - heart racing wildly in fear of what I would find.

I couldn't catch up with the why or how my door was laying wide open, as I gasp loudly when finding my two neighbours inside and on my floor - both high on whatever they had gotten their grubby fingers on - change scattered around them and the strong scent of piss filling the air.

They couldn't even process what was going on, as they groaned and struggled to even lift their heads, both numb and out of it.

"Oh no, the drawer!" I gasp, rushing from behind Vincent towards the place in which I had hidden my saved up money in, seeing it wide open and ransacked.

Gone...

It's all gone...

"My money!" Choking on a sob, I drop to my knees feeling the air leave my lungs as I embarked on a heavy panic attack, feeling a weight crushing down on my rib cage.

I clutched at my chest, ending up on all fours as my vision blurred and the water dripped off of my cheeks and on to the dull floor boards beneath me.

I could hear Vincent somewhere in the background, seeming as though he was making a call to someone, as I all but prayed for the devil to appear and to drag me to hell himself.

For hell would be better than my shit show of a life here.

Long minutes passed by, as I wheezed in and out in desperation, before I felt strong hands on my sides causing me to shriek loudly in fright.

Screaming loudly, I begin to kick my legs around, feeling the person attempt to restrain me in their hold as my head pounded in a flashing panic.

"Shhhh... Sofia stop it... it's only me... shhhh." I hear the masculine voice flooding whispers into my ear before slowly melting down on to the floor with me.

Winding up in their lap with their arms securely wrapped around me, I don't have the energy left to fight back and instead I just give in and continue to cry.

I feel their hand drawing soothing circles on my back as I tremble, with their soft hushes following each motion, as my breathing began to even out and I close my eyes over.

They weren't going to hurt me... their touch was too soft and gentle for that... I'm ok...

"Calm down, they are here now, I'm going to take care of it all..." I blink up through my lashes when hearing some more people enter my space, looking up to find Vincent to be the one holding me in his arms. I hear some commotion, before he forces my head into his chest, holding me to him and telling me to breathe and to ignore it...

"W-What's going on?" I whimper, as he all but hushes me once more and returns to rubbing my back.

It doesn't take long though, before our surroundings grow silent, causing me to peak up once more.

"Ok let's go." Vincent comments, his face looking softer than usual as he speaks now, his tone surprisingly gentle.

"Where?" I whisper, as he makes a move to stand up, helping me up with him.

"I'm taking you back to my house." He confirms, to which I don't even fight him.

Knowing that it was for the best, I allow him to guide me out of the apartment, glancing towards the area in which my two neighbours once lay - with it now being empty.

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"How much money did you have?" Vincent questions as we head down the stairs.

"Roughly $1400." I breathe out shakily, knowing that I was now jobless and broke as another tear threatens to spill.

We get to the bottom of the apartment building, where some of Vincent's guys who I recognised from the bar stood waiting on us.

It must've been them that he called to help out and I had no idea where my neighbours went...

I find myself tucking away behind Vincent out of view of their curious stares, as Vincent thanks them for coming so quickly.

"All of her stuff from the apartment is in the car, there wasn't much." One guy updates, as I cringe at the statement feeling ashamed once more for my lack of possessions. At least they got what I still had for me, right?

"We've taken care of it, you can see them tomorrow when they are sober." The next speaks quietly, as Vincent doesn't speak on that and instead turns to take my hand, pulling me towards his car. I felt numb, embarrassed, cold, tired and emotionally drained.

I didn't care what happened next, I just went with it.

"Cold?" Vincent questions climbing in to the vehicle beside me, as I nod once and turn to stare out of the window feeling overwhelmed.

In seconds, the car began to blow out hot air, warming my bare legs and arms in seconds before the seat itself began to heat up too.

Vincent drove in silence towards his home, as I felt the headache begin to settle in causing me to whine and hold my head.

"What's wrong? You're going to be ok..." Vincent's tone breaks out into the silence as I sniffle and nod.

"Head hurts." My words come out groggy, as he stops for a second and I realise that we were at the gates to his street.

"I'll get you something to help that." Vincent confirms, before they open to allow us through and he pulls up to his place - the same home I had stayed in only days ago after the party.NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

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He wasn't all bad, letting me stay here once again...

"Sofia, before we go in, I just need to know one thing and we can discuss the rest tomorrow..." Vincent trails off, cutting the engine as I grow tense.

I knew he probably had a million questions but what I feared most was that I didn't think I would be capable of answering even half of them.

"Y-Yeah?" I push for him to go on, bracing myself for whatever it could be.

"There is no brother that you live with is there? You've lived there alone since you came to town?" Vincent turns to stare at me knowingly, as I feel the heat in the car begin to now suffocate me. He has me figured out... there was no use in lying.

"Yes." I swallow, the single word coming out as more of a breath.

He rubs the back of his neck, dropping his head forward as though he was trying to process the whole night.

So much had happened in only a few hours...

I was told to dance at the bar, watched Vincent beat up Reid, got dragged out of there, was fired, forced to show Vincent my home, was robbed and broken in to by my neighbours who were high on my floor and now I was here, back at Vincent's place.

I wish I could tell Emma all about this... but I feared that she wouldn't understand...

"My phone?" I suddenly ask him wide eyed, realising that amongst the chaos I had misplaced it which was extremely inconsiderate after Emma had so kindly gave it to me for free in the first place.

"It's here." He twists to pull it out of his pocket, as I take it back feeling relief flow through me.

Out of charge... damn!

"Let's get you in to bed." Vincent offers, as I suddenly feel grateful that he had stopped with the questioning.

He knew I was a liar, a fraud, and yet he still offered me a bed for the night.

Vincent Walker wasn't all bad... Daryl was right.