Shadows In Durango

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

As the minutes ticked by, the anticipation of my first shift grew. The VIP lounge was pristine and ready, the glasses gleaming under the soft ambient light. The bar was stocked, and I felt a wave of confidence wash over me as I arranged everything in its place.

I could do this....

The first customers trickled in a group of four older men, their faces weathered and their voices gruff. They sauntered into the VIP lounge with an air of casual authority, their laughter echoing off the walls. They glanced at me briefly as they approached the bar, their eyes sharp but not unfriendly.

"Hey there, sweetheart, you're new!" one of them said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "We'll have four whiskeys, neat." He concludes, as I smile and make a move.

I nodded, my hands moving with practiced ease as I prepared their drinks - praying for things to go smoothly.

The familiar motions of pouring the amber liquid, the clink of ice in the glass- it all felt natural. The men watched me in silence, their conversation picking up as they returned to their seats, drinks in hand. I breathed a sigh of relief. If all my customers were like this, the night might not be so bad after all.

The hours slipped by in a steady rhythm as I glanced down stairs to see the dancers swaying their hips on the poles. It seemed that they didn't strip, only danced, which for some reason made the fact that I was working here feel less illegal... The VIP lounge saw a handful of other patrons, each group coming and going with little fanfare. I managed to keep up with the orders, my confidence growing with each successful transaction. I even found a moment to practice a few cocktail recipes, adding my own flair to the drinks.

The lull in activity gave me a chance to catch my breath and prepare for the next wave - as my little tip jar started to collect some notes for me to take home which made me smile.

I was wiping down the bar when I heard the sound of laughter- loud and boisterous-carrying up the stairs. My heart skipped a beat as the unmistakable thumping of heavy footsteps approached the VIP lounge. This was the loudest group so far... which caused goosebumps to rise in anticipation.

Then they appeared.

Daryl, Vincent, and a large group of guys, most of whom I hadn't seen at school before, filling the entrance to the balcony. They were a rowdy bunch, their presence commanding the room as they piled into the VIP area. Daryl's eyes sparkled with mischief, while Vincent exuded his usual air of confident arrogance. The sight of them almost knocked the air from my lungs as I ducked down behind the bar to catch my breath.

Panic surged through me as they made their way towards the bar, still oblivious to my presence as I pretended to be wiping an imaginary spillage from the floor. This was not how I envisioned my first shift, but I was determined to handle it with grace...

How were they even allowed in here? In VIP too at that?!

The group suddenly changed their mind, pointing towards a table by the edge of the balcony, as they dispersed to their seats, and I took a moment to steady myself.

Maybe they couldn't see me and thought there was no bartender...

But I was being silly, this was my job! I have to serve them and get over my fear, plus, Daryl wasn't all bad.

I still hadn't seen Vincent since Daryl had told me not to buy and deliver his lunch, so I feared his wrath more than anything else...

The noise level in the VIP lounge had increased significantly with their arrival, the air thick with laughter and boisterous conversation. Despite my initial panic, I found myself slipping back into the rhythm of my job, focusing on the tasks at hand and trying to go undetected for as long as possible.

As I continued to serve drinks, my nerves started to settle, and I found myself getting into the rhythm of the job. However, I couldn't shake the anxiety that gnawed at the edges of my mind knowing Daryl, Vincent, and their rowdy entourage were just a few steps away.

I hoped they wouldn't notice me. Maybe they'd be too engrossed in their conversations to pay any attention to the bartender... perhaps Vincent and Daryl would even stay away from the bar, having one of the others come up to order instead...

But unfortunately luck was not on my side.

Just as I was beginning to feel a bit more confident and secure, I glanced up and my eyes instantly locked with Vincent's - his daggers piercing holes through my face.

His expression shifted instantly from carefree amusement to a dark, almost furious glare. He rose from his seat abruptly, the force of his movement causing his chair to scrape loudly against the floor. My heart pounded in my chest as he marched towards the bar, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Sofia?!" His voice was low and menacing, dripping with displeasure as I was shocked that he even cared to remember my name since I was only known as his personal 'lunch lady'.

I felt my face flush with a mix of fear and embarrassment. "Vincent?" I stammered, trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism.

"What the fuck are you doing in here?!" His voice was louder now, drawing the attention of his friends and the other VIP guests.

Daryl, who had been deep in conversation with another guy, looked up at the commotion.

His eyes instantly widened in surprise and he quickly got up to make his way over, his bewilderment evident as I pleaded back with him for silent support.

Vincent's jaw tightened, and he leaned over the bar, glaring at me with an intensity that made me want to shrink away and disappear. "Why are you working in my bar?" he demanded to know, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Your bar?" I echoed back in disbelief, feeling the ground slip from under my feet.

Did I hear him right?

"Yes, my fucking bar," he spat out, his eyes blazing with anger. "I own this place. So tell me, what are you doing in it?" He grits out without remorse.

"I—well, Tito hired me," I managed to explain, my voice shaking. "He said he needed some help, and I needed the job. I didn't know..."

Vincent's expression momentarily softened only slightly, but his voice remained harsh. "This is no place for a seventeen-year-old girl," he snapped. "You shouldn't be in here."

"But I need the money," I blurted out, my voice breaking. "I... I live with my brother, and we need the money." It was a lie, but I hoped it would be enough to make him reconsider and not question further why I lived alone... Vincent's eyes narrowed, his posture rigid as he considered my words. For a moment, I thought he might actually throw me out, but then Daryl stepped in like a knight in shining armour...

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"Vincent, come on man," Daryl said, his tone a mix of concern and frustration. "She just started here. She didn't know it was your place. Let her stay? Tito put her up here, it's always quiet up top so it will be no hassle." Grateful, I offered Daryl a thankful nod as he returned the gesture and looked to Vincent for his final verdict.

Vincent looked between Daryl and me, his anger still evidently simmering beneath the surface. "This isn't a joke, Daryl. She shouldn't be working in here. What's with you two anyhow?!" He accuses, as my cheeks instantly flush. "Look, I'll keep an eye on her myself," Daryl promised, his voice firm. "We all can, She obviously wants this job, Vin. Don't take it away from her on her first day - that would be shitty to do to anybody."

Vincent hesitated, his gaze shifting back to me. My eyes were watery, and I could feel the tears threatening to spill over. "Please, Vincent," I whispered. "I promise I'll work hard. I just... I really need this job right now." I find my words escaping, embarrassed by how desperate they sound.

He stared at me for a long moment, the tension palpable between us.

Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But if anything goes wrong, you're out the door. Got it?"

I nodded quickly, relief flooding through me. "Thank you," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Vincent shook his head, clearly still unhappy with the situation, and turned to walk away cursing under his breath. Daryl stayed behind for a moment, giving me a reassuring smile.

"You'll be okay," he said softly. "Just keep your head down and do your job. I'll make sure nothing happens to you either - I told you he wasn't all bad, he just needs talked around sometimes."

"Thank you," I replied gently, my voice shaky but grateful for his help in handling the situation for me.

He nodded and then followed Vincent back to their table, leaving me to catch my breath and steady my pounding heart.

The night was far from over, but at least now I had a chance to prove myself and to keep my job...