The Tourist (Sold #1)

14. Diego

CHAPTER 14

Diego

T he house is silent. I’ve spent the last hour or so in my office, trying to keep myself busy. I know I should be catching up on the work I set aside so I could spend the day with Chloe, but the gnawing worry about Serena combined with my concern for her best friend is never far from my thoughts.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve found myself caring for Chloe more than just as my sister’s friend, and there are moments when it seems she feels the same way about me. But knowing she’s not ready for any kind of relationship, maybe never, I push my feelings aside and get ready for bed.

Just as I’m about to turn off the bedside light, my phone rings, the sound jarring in the quiet of the room, and the screen displays Eaton's name.

I answer immediately. “Eaton.”

“I’ve got another possible lead on Serena,” he replies. “I’ll get back to you with more details, but I wanted to let you know now because we may need to leave tomorrow.”

“Another possible lead?” I snap, my frustration bubbling at the number of times I’ve had calls like this one over the last six months, and they’ve all come to nothing. My sister is still missing. “You better have something solid this time. Time is running out for Serena and for us to prove to our competitors and enemies that we’re in charge. We can’t afford any more dead ends.”

“I know,” Eaton responds with an edge of apology in his tone. “I’m doing everything I can. I’ll call you as soon as I have more.”

“All right,” I respond, “Just make sure it’s something real this time.”

I hang up.

The brief flicker of hope from Eaton's call quickly gives way to the familiar dread. I check my messages and toss the phone aside. Lying back on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind starts racing again, tiredness refusing to claim me.

A soft knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I sit up as the door creaks open and Chloe steps inside, her face etched with worry.

“Can I stay with you tonight?” she asks. “I… I feel safer with you.”

“Of course,” I say without hesitation. “Come here.”

Chloe crosses the room, her steps timid. She slips into the bed beside me, her presence immediately soothing some of the tension I’m carrying. She lies close but not too close, respecting the invisible boundaries we’ve set between us.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I admit, surprising myself with my honesty. “I need company tonight.”

She looks up at me, her eyes softening with understanding. “Has something happened?”

“Eaton called,” I explain. “He says he has another lead on Serena, but we’ve been down this road so many times. I just… I can’t help but worry this is another false hope.”

“We’ll find her,” Chloe smiles at me. “I believe that.”

I nod, appreciating her confidence, but the doubts still linger. I need something to take my mind off the incessant worry, and talking with Chloe does that.

“Why did you decide to be a journalist?” I ask her, wanting to distract us both from thinking about my sister.

She smiles. “I wanted to make a difference by reporting on important stories and shedding light on issues that need attention. I never thought I’d end up living through something like this, though.” She pauses before she continues, “They say you write best about the things you know. I guess that’s true. Now I have a story to tell that I hope will help others.”

Her words hang in the air, a poignant reminder of the journey we’re both on.

Shifting slightly in the bed, I take Chloe in my arms and hold her gently. I feel the warmth of her body against mine, and for the first time in a long while, I feel a flicker of peace and something else, something I don’t want to examine too deeply at the moment.

“Thank you.” I murmur. “For being here.”

She snuggles closer, her head resting on my chest. “Thank you for everything.”

It doesn’t take long for Chloe to fall asleep, and the steady rhythm of her breathing makes me sleepy in turn. As I close my eyes, I can’t help but think about the bond developing between us. Chloe’s becoming an important part of my life, and I worry what it will mean for us both in the future.