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The man was a badass.

“I did, sweetheart, and I won’t leave without you.” He swept my broken body into his arms, immediately taking me through the darkened cave.

As I clung to him, I knew I was going to survive.

Pain.

Mmm…

I opened my eyes, trying to focus, but there was barely any light. Reaching out, I prayed my fingers would touch something warm. There was nothing. A sob rose up from my chest. My mouth andthroat were dry, my tongue slightly swollen. I did my best to lick my lips and pushed up from the hard ground. Instantly, a tear slipped down my cheek. The dream had seemed so real. I’d had it twice, now able to memorize every crevice in the huge man’s face.

He was so strong and handsome, so determined to keep me safe.

And he wasn’t real. An ugly laugh pushed up into my dry throat. What a way to die. But the wretched, slimy walls would make for a great ending on my Instagram account. Travel influencer dies of being a dumbass. If I had my phone, I could secretly record videos for TikTok. Wouldn’t that be a hoot.

Just moving created waves of agony, especially as the nervous laugh bubbled to the surface.

“Help… me…”

The whisper was one I’d issued several times. By now, my voice was barely audible. Even making a single sound was pure agony. I pressed my face against the cool stone, clawing my fingers on the grooves as I tried to control my breathing.

No one was coming to help me.

At first, the men who’d taken me had yelled at me to stop screaming, but I’d refused, praying that someone would hear me and help. One of them had taken away my water as punishment, never bringing another.

No one had come.

So I’d finally stopped screaming.

My spirit was strong, but my instincts told me wherever I’d been taken was far away from anyone who’d hear my cries and come to my assistance.

With almost no light, I was no longer certain if it was night or day or how long I’d been here. I’d tried to keep count. I’d done my best to stay alert, but I’d become too tired to move or think but so much.

Every muscle ached, but at least I was no longer foggy from whatever they’d drugged me with. No water. No food. At first there’d been a few drops of moisture oozing between the blocks I’d captured, but my mouth was so dry. Even those had dried up. And it was fucking hot in here. The air was stifling.

What did they want?

Why was I here?

They’d found my phone. That’s the first thing I’d checked. Images of my former life rushed into my mind. Oh, God. I’d never see my friends again. My family.

“Fuck you!” I yelled as loud as possible. This was crazy. I’d been left here like an animal.

No. I couldn’t stand it. I wasn’t going to do this. There had to be a way out.

I slapped my hand on the stone, fighting with myself so I wouldn’t surrender to the despair. By now, my friends knew I was missing. They would have called the Bermuda police. They were looking for me.

But what if I’d been taken off the island?

A sharp, woeful cry rushed up from my throat. I couldn’t think this way. I had to stay alert to remain alive. Pay attention to my surroundings. Memorize every detail of the kidnappers and the location where I was being kept.

Yes, that’s what I’d do.

My father had taught me that a long time ago. He’d done so in case anything like this happened. This had to be about ransom. My father would pay whatever amount they asked and more.

A nagging thought in my mind remained.

Kidnap victims were rarely found alive.