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This area of Mexico was arid, without a ton of vegetation, so he hadn’t exactly been hiding or lying in wait. I guess I’d just been so into my own head that I’d never seen or heard him approach me from behind.

I’d been too busy gleefully snapping photos and marveling over the strewn field.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d remained unconscious after that blow to my head, but when I’d finally opened my eyes, I’d woken up here in this large, run-down structure, chained at the ankle to one of many concrete slabs in the building.

There was no way in hell that I could possibly escape my shackle.

I’d come to that conclusion days ago when I’d rubbed my palms raw trying to find a weak spot in the chain that didn’t exist.

The restraint was almost as thick as my forearm and tight around my ankle, and the chain was cemented into the ground.

I shivered as I rubbed my upper arms.

It was early September and it wasn’t cold in Mexico, but I was completely naked, and the cold cement floor was getting more uncomfortable every night.

I wondered for about the millionth time how often this large structure was filled with victims.

I was the only captive here right now, but there were many chains on many slabs of cement scattered around the large dirt floor.

It didn’t take an astrophysicist to figure out that this was a holding facility for human trafficking.

Shit!

The risk of crossing the border had seemed minimal at the time, but this area of Mexico wasn’t completely safe.

Kidnappings did happen here, but they were usually done for ransom and not sex trafficking. There was a cartel presence, but I’d thought coming in and out of this area would be fairly safe during the daytime.

I’d done a day trip here years ago with my best friend, Nina, and it had been fun and uneventful.

There was a community of American expats in Rosarito and plenty of people from the US still visited Rosarito Beach for weekend getaways because of the short distance from the border in San Diego.

Americans generally weren’t targeted, so I’d thought the risk would be worth the reward.

Turns out…I was wrong.

I put a hand to my growling stomach.

My only food over the last ten days had been a few pieces of stale bread, and I only got water sporadically.

I was quickly losing strength, and that terrified me.

If I got much weaker, I wouldn’t have the energy to run when I got the opportunity to escape.

I knew that withholding most food and water was intentional. Obviously, the traffickers wanted their captives helpless.

Rescue was the best solution to my situation, but I had no idea if anyone had even noticed that I was missing yet.

I’d recently given up my position at the observatory. I worked from home, and the only friend I had who would worry about my absence was working out of the country now.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take Nina to get concerned and report me as missing.

I wasn’t a social person, and I didn’t have a circle of friends who would notice my absence within days.

My stomach lurched as I suddenly heard the key turn in the squeaky lock on the other side of the facility.

Crap!

I still hadn’t gotten used to the daily visits from my jailer, Rico.