Shadows In Durango

*****Daryl's POV*****

I grab my car keys, feeling antsy now with knowing that Vincent and Sofia would be back home tonight.

I had unwillingly offered to pick them both up from the airport to which I was now fully regretting with dread for how awkward it might be...

But with my own feelings put aside, there were far more serious threats at hand and I knew that Vincent wouldn't have called me unless he was truly concerned about it either.

I walk down the hall in search of Reid and Emma, eventually finding them out in the back garden with hot drinks and blankets as they sit under the moon together.

If I hadn't have been in such a pissy mood this week, I would have cackled at the sight of Reid like this, wrapped up in a fluffy lilac blanket holding the warm mug between both hands... he was a sight for sore eyes and I just knew that Vincent would have tore him apart by now for this!

As though reading my mind since I had probably stared through him for far too long at this point, his eyes narrow in on me, presenting a 'don't even think about it' look as my lips pull upwards in to a knowing smirk.

"Cosy?" I all but say, earning a grumble from Reid as Emma glances at me in confusion.

"Very!" She chimes, smiling as I nod once and enjoy every last second of Reid's embarrassment.

"I'm leaving to pick them up, we shouldn't be too long." I inform them both, as Emma's eyes seem to light up at the mention of Sofia being home soon.

"Great, we will wait up!" She smiles brightly, as Reid takes another drink from his mug which causes me to chuckle this time before I walk off.

Despite being in a terrible mood, I knew that I would have my laugh about this later, that was for sure!

I head out in to the driveway, the cool night air doing nothing to ease the tension building up in my chest. My car's headlights flash as I unlock it, and I climb inside, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before starting up the engine. The hum of the engine is steady, but my thoughts are anything but...

It wasn't just about picking up Vincent and Sofia - it was about everything that had gone down between us only days ago which all resulted exactly as I had feared - with putting Sofia in danger!

The fight, Sofia leaving with him, and now, whatever mess Vincent had gotten himself into was all working hand in hand to make me more pissed off and yet, despite all of that, I was still the one driving to go get them.

It made no sense, but that's how things were between us: messy, complicated, and never fully resolved... we show up for one another when we need to and that was that.

The roads were quiet this late at night, giving me time to think as I made my way toward the airport.

My mind drifted to Sofia as I hadn't spoken to her since she left, and part of me was relieved. I didn't know what I would say to her, and the silence had been easier to deal with as opposed to texting when she was spending time with Vincent. But seeing her tonight? I wasn't sure how that would go. Would things feel different between us? Would she look at me the same, or was everything too messed up now after my fight with Vin?

As the airport lights came into view, I pulled into the short-term parking area, killing the engine and leaning back in my seat, this is it...

I check the clock, seeing that they had been due to land ten minutes ago which meant they wouldn't be much longer. I quickly retrieve my phone, sending my location to Vincent, watching it show as 'delivered' which meant he had service. And with another ten minutes of waiting, there they were, walking towards my car - Vincent holding both of their bags and acting like the perfect gentleman.

Vincent, as usual, had that calm, unreadable look on his face. Sofia, on the other hand, looked tired, like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders which suddenly made me feel bad for her again.

She spotted my car first, as I open the door to step out, and for a second, our eyes met. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know...

"Daryl," Vincent greeted as they approached, his voice level but a bit more strained than usual.

"Vincent. Sofia," I nodded at both of them, trying to keep things casual. "Let's go home." I state, making a move to help Vincent.

I helped load their bags into the trunk, feeling the awkwardness settle in as Sofia stayed quiet, her gaze flitting between me and Vincent.

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Once everything was loaded, we all piled into the car. Vincent took the front seat without a word, leaving Sofia in the back.

I started driving, the silence in the car thick enough to cut with a knife. It wasn't until we were halfway back to the house that Vincent finally broke...

"We need to talk when we get back," he said, his tone serious, eyes remaining fixed straight ahead.

I nodded briskly, not sure if I wanted to hear whatever he had to say. But I knew one thing for sure: something was brewing, and none of us were ready for it.

"Did you hear back from your father?" I question, trying to keep my words curt not knowing how much he had actually shared with Sofia yet.

If he was clever, then he would have left out the scary shit to save her the paranoia...

"Yeah, some stuff came through when we landed." Vincent all but responds, clearly telling me with his tone that he wasn't willing to discuss it further with Sofia in the car.

I understood why, and silently agreed with the decision. It was for the best.

The rest of the drive was wrapped in tense silence, broken only by the hum of the car's engine and the low music spilling out from the radio.

Sofia sat quietly in the back, her head resting against the window, eyes closed, though I could tell she wasn't asleep. Her stillness made me uneasy, and I wondered what had really gone down during their trip...

The way Vincent was handling things felt off — more controlled than usual, like he was holding back some serious shit from everyone.

I knew him well enough to recognise when he was on edge, and tonight, he was teetering on the brink of something heavy.

When we finally pulled up to the house, the weight in the car lifted slightly, though not by much. I killed the engine and stepped out, helping with their bags again without saying much. Vincent gave me a tight nod of appreciation before gesturing for Sofia to head inside.

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"Go get some rest," he muttered to her as she visibly sighed.

Sofia hesitated for a moment, glancing between the two of us. I could see the worry flicker in her eyes, but she didn't push. With a small nod, she turned and made her way into the house, her footsteps soft on the gravel path. I waited until she was out of earshot before turning to Vincent.

"What's really going on?" I asked, crossing my arms, my voice low.

Vincent rubbed the back of his neck, his expression hardening. "We've got a problem. A big one." He states, as I throw him a 'well tell me' look.

I raised a brow, waiting for him to elaborate as he takes a steady breath.

"So my Dad offered to do a background check on Sofia to give us more insight in to her family, right? So I had to ask Sofia for his full name which was Frazier Hammond. This is what came through when we landed..." Vincent states, turning his phone to show a text chain with his father as my eyes immediately scan over it.

Vincent: 'Her father's name is Frazier Hammond, she said Isabella is her middle name so she's been going as Sofia Isabella instead of Sofia Hammond.'

Father: 'Frazier Hammond?! Frazier Hammond is one of my lower associates! This shit is beginning to get messy Vincent, and I'm not happy about it, and all over a silly little girl too? Fucking hell! Let me check that it's the same guy I have doing work for us and I'll text you back!

Father: 'Yeah it's the same fucking guy - of course it is - and he has a missing fucking daughter, funny that! What do you expect me to do with this shit son? Have I to work with this man knowing that my own son is fucking his missing fucking daughter?! Call me as soon as you land!!!

I finish reading the last text from Vincent's father, now fully understanding why he had been so worked up in the car.

"Shit!" I mutter, as Vincent groans and reaches up to tug at his hair, finally able to show how he was truly feeling on the inside.

This whole situation was growing messier by the minute, and Sofia didn't even know the half of it yet!

I felt a cold knot form in my stomach. This wasn't just some simple mess that could be cleaned up with a few phone calls... This was serious.