Page 38 of The Tourist

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.

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