The Tourist (Sold #1)

24. Diego

CHAPTER 24

Diego

C hloe is sitting on the sofa, her laptop open in front of her, typing furiously. Her dedication to her work is inspiring. It seems that writing has become her way of healing.

Today, I have something important to share with Chloe. I walk over to the sofa and hand her a piece of paper filled with my thoughts.

“Chloe, I wrote something for you. I want you to read it.”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide with curiosity. She takes the paper from my hand, and I sit down next to her as she begins to read.

Dear Chloe,

I’m so proud of you. When I first rescued you, I wasn’t sure you would survive. You were in such a bad state from the drugs, lack of food, and abuse. But watching you heal and flourish has given me hope for humanity in a world that is so often dark.

When I saw you for the first time, collapsed in that white room, barely clinging to life, I felt an overwhelming sense of despair. You were so fragile, so broken. The drugs had ravaged your body, and the abuse had left you with scars that I feared would never heal. I didn’t know if you would make it through the night, let alone recover. But against all odds, you did.

Every day since then, I’ve watched you grow stronger. I’ve seen you reclaim pieces of yourself that I thought had been lost forever. You’ve faced your demons head-on, and you’ve done it with a courage that leaves me in awe. You’ve reminded me that there is good in this world, even when it seems overshadowed by darkness.

Rescuing the victims of Richard Armstrong and helping Eaton to destroy his father’s evil legacy has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. The horrors I’ve seen haunt me. But you give me the strength to keep going. Your courage reminds me why we keep fighting, and when everything seems hopeless, I always think of you and the progress you’ve made. You give me the strength to keep going.

One day, I will find my sister. We will bring Serena home. It’s my greatest hope. I dream of the day when we can put all of this behind us and start anew. When Serena is back where she belongs, we can begin to build a future free from the shadows of the past.

Thank you for being the light in my darkness. Thank you for showing me that even in the bleakest of times, there is always a reason to hope.

Diego

When she finishes reading, she looks up at me, tears welling in her eyes. “This is beautiful. Thank you, Diego.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I meant every word. You’ve been through so much, and yet you continue to inspire me every day.”

She wipes away a tear and smiles. “You’ve given me so much hope. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

I feel a lump in my throat, the emotion of the moment almost overwhelming. “I’m glad I could help. You’re an incredible person. Never forget that.”

We sit in silence for a few moments before Chloe looks up at me and smiles.

“Can we do something normal together?” she asks. “Can we go on a date to a restaurant?”

“I’d love that,” I reply. “Let’s go now.”

I drive us to a cozy Thai restaurant on the outskirts of Las Vegas. The place is known for its authentic dishes and warm atmosphere. It’s in a very discreet location so there’s no need for me to bring security, which makes us both feel even more like a normal couple.

When we step inside, the rich aromas of spices and herbs hit me, instantly making my mouth water.

We’re shown to a table near the window. “This place is beautiful,” Chloe says as we sit down. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

We browse the menu, and after a few minutes of deliberation, we make our choices. Chloe orders pad thai with shrimp, while I go for the green curry with chicken. We also decide to share a plate of fresh spring rolls as an appetizer.

“Tell me five random facts about yourself that I don’t know,” Chloe says, a playful glint in her eye.

“Okay, let’s see. One, I’m terrified of heights. Two, I used to play the guitar in a band when I was in high school. Three, I have a scar on my knee from a bike accident when I was ten. Four, my favorite movie is ‘The Godfather’… when I’m not watching Marvel movies, of course. And five, I’m allergic to strawberries.”

Chloe laughs. “Those are five good ones. I wouldn’t have guessed some of them. I remember you playing in the band, though. Your music was terrible.”

“Hey, we weren’t that bad!” I snort, leaning back in my chair. “You’re turn. Tell me five random facts about you.”

“All right. One, I can’t swim, because I’m too scared. Two, I have a small star tattoo on my ankle. Three, I’ve always wanted to go skydiving. Four, I have a collection of vintage postcards. And five, I’ve never owned a pet.”

“You want to do something scary like skydiving,” I raise an eyebrow, “but your too afraid to swim?”

She laughs. “I know it’s weird. I guess I like the idea of flying through the air, but water terrifies me.”

Our food arrives, and we dig in. The pad thai is perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of heat, and the green curry is rich and creamy, with tender pieces of chicken and vegetables. The different flavors explode in our mouths

“This is amazing,” Chloe mumbles between bites. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“You’re welcome,” I reply with a smile. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. The owner is a good friend of mine.”

After finishing our meal, we linger in the restaurant for a while. We talk about our hopes and dreams, the future we want to build, and the challenges we’ve overcome as well as the ones we’re facing. It’s an evening filled with laughter, shared memories, and the simple joy of being together. We’re doing something that any normal couple would do, and just for this moment, that’s exactly how we feel.

The waiters start to check their watches when it gets late, so we decide to leave and take a walk. The night air is cool and refreshing and the streets are quiet, allowing us to enjoy the moment as we stroll, hand in hand.

“Thank you for tonight. I really enjoyed it,” Chloe looks up at me.

“I did too.”

When we finally return to the car, I feel a rush of emotion flooding through my body, and turning to face her, I say, “You’re incredible, Chloe. I’m so proud of you.”

“And I’m proud of you. We’re going to get through this. Together.”

As I lean in to kiss her, I’m suddenly slammed against the car hood with a force that knocks the breath from me. Chloe screams, and out of the corner of my eye, I see her being grabbed from behind.

I should have never let my guard down. This is all my fault.

CHAPTER 25

As Diego leans down to kiss me, everything changes. He’s violently thrown against the hood of the car, causing him to gasp out. I scream, and my heart starts pounding in my chest as I feel a pair of arms wrap around me from behind.

“Don’t fight me, or he dies,” a cold voice snarls, and I see the gun pressed to Diego’s head.

Panic floods through me as I struggle against the grip of the man holding me.

“Let her go,” Diego chokes out.

The man holding the gun to Diego’s head laughs. “You’re in no position to make demands. Now, stay still.”

“What do you want?” Diego grits out. I can tell he’s fighting to keep his composure.

I watch as the man leans in closer to Diego’s ear. “You know exactly what we want. Consider this a warning. Back off, or it won’t be just a warning next time.”

The man starts to hit Diego, landing punches that make him grunt out in pain. I’m being held tight, and unable to do anything, I watch in horror as blow after blow lands on Diego. I start to recall images of what happened to me. I see Serena’s eyes, her pain, her fear. Only this time, it’s Diego who’s suffering.

Suddenly, something snaps inside me, and a strength I didn’t know I possess surges through my body. I bite the hand of the man holding me, and it’s hard enough to draw blood. He yells in pain as he loosens his grip, and twisting free, I grab his gun and aim it at the man who’s still beating Diego.

“Stop!” I order. My voice is steady, even though my hand holding the gun is shaking. “Stop, or I’ll shoot!”

The man turns to face me, surprise and fear flickering across his face. I pull the trigger, and the gunshot echoes through the night. The man falls to the ground, clutching his leg, while the man who was holding me runs away like the coward he is.

I point the gun again at the man on the ground. “Why did you do this?” I demand.

He coughs, pressing his hand firmly against the wound to his leg as blood pools on the ground.

“I’m sorry,” he chokes out. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, but I need to provide for my family and keep them safe. I was told if I didn’t do this, my family would be harmed.”

I lower the gun slightly but keep it pointing at him. He seems to be genuinely sorry, but I learned during my captivity to be very wary of men’s true motives. I need to understand what this man genuinely believes.

“How do you feel about the abuse of women?” I ask, my voice lighter but still firm.

He groans in pain, his eyes filled with desperation. “I have a wife and daughter who I love very much. I don’t want to hurt you or any other woman, but I wasn’t given a choice,” he replies.

I slowly lower the gun, and releasing my grip, I allow the weapon to fall while Diego, who has now managed to stand, rolls the man onto his back and pins him to the ground.

“Chloe, take my phone from my jacket pocket and call Felix. I need him to come here, so he can help me tidy everything up.”

I nod, my hands still shaking as I remove the phone from Diego’s pocket and use it to contact his second-in-command. “Felix, we need you. Now. It’s urgent.”

While we wait for Felix, I stand silently watching Diego as he continues to hold the man down. The effects of my adrenaline rush start to fade, and the reality of what just happened hits me.

“I thought all men involved in trafficking were evil, and they all enjoyed hurting women. I believed they were all devils like Richard Armstrong.” My voice trembling. “But this man...he doesn’t seem evil. What he’s done is wrong, but he was given no choice.”

I look down at the man Diego has pinned to the ground. I can see he is terrified of what comes next. He doesn’t have the same evil look in his eye as the man who took me or the one who bought me.

“What is your daughter’s name?” I ask.

“Chloe, you don’t-” Diego interrupts, but I silence him with a wave of my hand.

“Please tell me,” I address the man.

“Emma. She’s three,” he responds. “It would destroy me and my wife if anything happened to our daughter. I fell in with the wrong crowd, and when they threatened to hurt her, I believed I had no choice but to follow their orders. I’m sorry.”

I can’t be sure if this man is telling me the truth. He could be lying to save his life. But something tells me he’s being honest.

“You must always protect your daughter and make sure she never experiences what I did,” I tell him. Then turning my attention to Diego, I ask, “Can we help this man?”

Diego looks up at me with a look of surprise. “I should kill him for attacking us, but we can help him. Not everyone is beyond saving. It’s a lesson I’ve learned while searching for Serena and you.”

Felix arrives and takes control of the situation, ensuring everything is handled efficiently. Diego tells him that the man’s life must be spared, which I’m grateful for. I’m not stupid, though, I know he’ll be interrogated to make sure they get all the information they can out of him.

When we get back in the car, the silence is heavy between us, and I can’t stop thinking about the man’s desperate confession as we journey home.

“Diego,” I break the silence. “I realize now I lived for most of my life with my head buried in the sand. The only issues I was aware of were those I investigated for my news articles. My eyes have been opened over the last few months. I thought everything was black and white, but it never is and never has been. As a journalist, I should’ve known that things are seldom as simple as they first seem.”

He glances at me. “Life is rarely simple. There will always be a curveball thrown to challenge us. For some people it can be life changing, like the experience you went through, but whatever it is, it can make us stronger. As I said in my letter, I didn’t think you’d survive when I first found you, but I’m so thankful you did. Your courage and determination have given me something I never thought possible. It’s given me hope.”