Breaking Down My Walls

By Anne Marie Citro

After the torment of her childhood, Taya believes in love for everyone ... except herself. Some things can’t be untaught.
Beautiful and tough, yet the most private woman anyone has ever met, Taya knows everyone has a past, yet she doesn’t share hers. Her past must remain behind her for her sanity and so the only man she has ever loved will move on with someone who hasn’t been destroyed by those who were supposed to protect her.
Then a threat has her past storming back in and taking over.

After looking into the big, baby blue eyes of the deranged little orphan who was dragged, kicking and screaming, into his home, Levi is determined to be the boy who will teach Taya that not every offered hand will betray her.
Playful and gorgeous, Levi’s first passion is the girl who consumes his heart. His second is serving his country, following in his father’s footsteps. When Levi is deployed overseas, he encourages Taya to spread her wings and pursue her dreams, hoping she will come back to her roots and the man who is waiting for her.
Levi is mistaken.

Taya can’t change who she is and has built a life for herself far away from the only man she will ever love.
Can Levi convince Taya their relationship is worth the fight? Can he force her to overcome her fears and let him in completely? Can Levi prove his love is the freedom she has been searching for?
Levi allowed Taya to control their relationship in the past, but now things have changed. He is taking control back, with or without her consent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Marie Citro
• Release date: Dec 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370781461

Anne Marie Citro

Anne Marie Citro grew born and raised in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a large, loving family. Anne Marie is married to a very patient man. He is the love of her life. They have four very cool sons, and the girls they brought into their family that have become daughters of her heart. She has been blessed enough to finally have a beautiful granddaughter after four sons. She has her own personal gaggle of girlfriends, who enrich her life on a daily basis and make her laugh. Caesar Friday is her favourite day of the week. Caesars with the girls and date night with her hubby. She works with special-needs teenagers, that have taught her how to appreciate life and see it through gentler eyes. Anne Marie was encouraged by her husband to follow her life long dream to write. She loves the characters that take over imagination and haunts her dreams. She loves the arts and she has tried her hand at painting, wood sculpting, chainsaw carving, wood burning, metal and wire sculptures. Yes, her husband is a very patient man! Anne Marie is an avid reader and enjoys about three books per week. But nothing makes her happier then riding on the back of her husband's Harley and throwing her arms out and feeling the wind race by. Anne Marie and her husband take a few weeks every year to travel to spectacular destination around the world. Anne Marie is excited and can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for her life.

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By: Anne Marie Citro

Published by Anne Marie Citro at Smashwords.

Copyright 2017 Anne Marie Citro

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for the recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Editing by: C&D Editing

Cover created by: Ravenne Villanueva

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This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Please do not take offence to the content as it is fiction.

Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The authors acknowledge the trademarked status in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

This book contains mature content not suitable for readers under the age of 18. This book contains content with strong language, violence, and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are over the age of 18.

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Chapter 1: Monster in the Closet

Chapter 2: Toolbox

Chapter 3: Circus Clown on Ritalin

Chapter 4: Chew Your Food Better

Chapter 5: This Little Piggy Escaped

Chapter 6: Zero Hundred Hours

Chapter 7: The Black Nun Versus The White Nun

Chapter 8: Gnocchi to Die For

Chapter 9: Such a Johnson

Chapter 10: Open the Freaking Door

Chapter 11: Rocking the Kickstand

Chapter 12: Traveling on a Long Weekend

Chapter 13: Pickle Pincher

Chapter 14: Carefully Placed Blade

Chapter 15: Military Bro Code

Chapter 16 No Stopping an Evinrude

Chapter 17: Combat Boots and Tiny Feet

Chapter 18: Not a Sixth-Grader’s Education

Chapter 19: Tin-Man Made of Metal

Chapter 20: Lasting Impressions

Chapter 21: Small Dog Syndrome

Chapter 22: Dare or Truth

Chapter 23: Boiling Holy Water

Chapter 24: Sparking the Pavement

Chapter 25: Property Of . . .

Epilogue: Heaven Sent

Thank You

Acknowledgements

Sneak Peek

Chapter 1

Monster in the Closet

Seventeen Years Earlier

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Taya lifted her head from the pillow. Mama, did you hear that?

What’s that, sweet pea? I didn’t hear anything—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, get up, Taya. Now! This is what we have been practicing for, Nela barked out in a hushed voice. You’re going to be a big girl for Mama, right? You’re going to do exactly as we planned. Promise, Mama. Promise me that you will not make a sound. Nela dragged Taya out of their bed.

The crystal blue eyes that were identical to her mama’s were wide with fright and filled with tears. I’m scared, Mama. Can’t we hide together? Please, Mama. Nine-year-old Taya cried hard.

Grabbing her daughter, Nela shook her with all her might. This wasn’t a game. She had to get her daughter to understand how important this was. Her life depended on it.

Sweet pea, you promised. I need to know you are safe and that they can’t get you. As soon as I move the boards, I need you to get behind it to your hiding spot. You don’t come out until Deda or I come for you. Promise me, sweet pea.

Quietly sobbing, the little girl nodded.

Her mother pushed her into the hiding spot that had been dug into the wall. Then she wiped her tears with the palms of her shaking hands before cupping her daughter’s frightened little face, knowing this could be the last time she ever saw her.

Taya, you always remember Mama loves you more than chocolate. You’ll always be my little sweet pea. Love you, baby. Now remember, quiet like a little mouse. No more tears. Be a big girl. Nela moved the wooden boards back into place to hide her precious little sweet pea.

Taya reached out before her mother could shut the board completely. I love you, Mama. I’ll be quiet, I promise.

Nela whimpered as she moved the board farther down, listening to her daughter say, Like a mouse, Mama, like a mouse. Nela then grabbed a blouse hanging in front of her and wiped the tears away. If she had been a little faster, she would have been able to move the clothes back into place.

The door smashed in, Nela and Taya screamed in fright. Nela prayed to God that her scream had masked Taya’s, and that the men entering her bedroom hadn’t heard her child.

Four men crowded the room, with Nasser following behind.

Hello, wife. It’s been a while, he said smugly.

What do want? Nela said with a bite.

He chuckled at the stupidity of her question. All I want is what is mine. I want my daughter and wife back.

Taya could see her mama’s profile through the hole in the wood. Her heart was pounding so loud it made it difficult to hear. She stood quietly, though, as her body jumped with silent hiccups after crying so hard.

He must have the wrong people. The man wanted his wife and daughter back. She knew it couldn’t be her and Mama, because her daddy went to heaven when she was three. Mama always told her that her daddy was a good man and loved them both so much.

Nela stood up to the man she ran away from six years ago. Over my dead body. You’re never taking us back to that Godforsaken place. You have another wife. Go back to her. And you have Kamal; you don’t need Taya.

Nasser pulled his right hand back and swung, connecting with Nela’s face with such force that her head snapped back and hit the closet door.

She screamed with the impact, again covering the outcry Taya couldn’t hold back.

The little girl’s body jolted with fear.

With a bloody face, Nela looked into the closet directly at her daughter, silently imploring her sweet pea to be quiet.

Spitting out some blood where his ring had cut the corner of her mouth, she yelled, Bastard!

Nasser had never considered himself a violent man, but women were supposed to know their place in the world. His first wife, Ghayda, and his mother had both known their places.

Where is Thurayya?

Nela scrunched her face at the name her husband had used. Her name is Taya, not Thurayya.

Smugly, he responded, Not on paper.

Coming to her knees to challenge his answer, she screamed, That’s because you changed the paperwork. I named her Taya, and you agreed until your father got involved.

When are you going to learn that is the right of a man of the house? Enough squabbling. Where is my daughter?

With courage she didn’t know she possessed, Nela looked Nasser in the eyes. Gone. She is gone, and you will never find her. I gave her up years ago, so you could never get your claws into my sweet baby.

Looking at all of the little girl’s clothes and toys, he cocked his eyebrows. You’re lying. You have her somewhere. Make it easy on yourself, Nela. Don’t make me hurt you. Tell me where Thurayya is, and I will give you the choice to come with us.

Taya listened to them fighting about her. That monster couldn’t be her father. She knew her mama would never lie about that.

It was so tight in the hiding spot, and Taya’s nose was itchy. She knew she couldn’t sneeze, so Taya wiggled her arm up so she could scratch her nose. Getting her arm up wasn’t a problem, but trying to make it go back down was.

Nasser grabbed Nela by the hair and yanked her off the floor with enough force that, when he pulled his hand away, it was full of long, blonde strands.

Nela screamed, holding the spot he had yanked.

Kneeling on one knee in front of her crunched-up position on the bed, he tried to move his thumb to her mouth to wipe away the blood. She cowered back, afraid he was going to strike her again.

Please, Nela, sweetheart, I don’t want to hurt you. You know how much I love you. Nobody is as important as you and our daughter. I could forgive you leaving me and taking her, if you would just come back to me. We could have the beautiful life we always talked about. From the minute I saw you, I knew I had to have you.

Nela was confused. She had loved Nasser more than any other man she had ever met, and she knew he had loved her. But she couldn’t live in his world, and she didn’t want to raise Taya in that environment. If it came down to it, Nela would rather Taya be raised by her cousin in the States, with no mother or father, than to live in such degradation.

Nasser brought his hand to Nela’s jaw and stroked where a bruise was starting to form.

Nudging her face into his hand, she remembered the magical love they had once shared.

Nasser, move here. Be with me and Taya, please. We can be a family. I still love you, but I won’t go back there. I can’t raise my daughter like that. I want more than submission for her.

As much as he loved Nela, she had always tried his patience, and it was running extremely thin right now. She was in no position to barter.

He moved his hand from her jaw to her throat and started to squeeze.

Taya watched in horror as her mother struggled for air, scratching at the monster’s hands. She was turning red, and Taya was scared for her mama, but she had promised to be quiet like a mouse.

She brought her hand to her mouth and bit the fleshy part. It hurt so much, but if she screamed, she would break her promise to Mama.

Are you ready to tell me where my daughter is? Nasser released his grip, and Nela gasped for breath. Turning to one of the men who had accompanied him, he ordered, Go get some water. Turning back, he then said, Nela, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Tell. Me. Where. She. Is!

Without thinking of the consequences, Nela responded in a raspy voice, When Hell freezes over.

Nasser slapped her again, and she went flying across the bed and onto the floor.

Taya bit her hand harder, tasting blood. Still, she kept quiet like a mouse.

She closed her little eyes as tightly as she could. Maybe the monster would go away if she couldn’t see him.

She heard a thud and a slap. Then her mama screamed so loud it hurt her ears.

Taya’s eyes shot open at hearing the pain in her mama’s voice.

She watched as they picked her mama up and placed her in their reading chair. One of the men then walked to the closet, and Taya closed her eyes in fear. After she heard him walk away, she opened her eyes again to see the man tying her mama’s hands with the belt of Mama’s robe. The monster kept asking Mama about his daughter, but Mama wouldn’t talk. He kept hitting her, and still Mama wouldn’t talk.

Taya couldn’t see her mama’s eyes anymore because they were swollen shut.

Taya closed her eyes again, remembering the other night when Mama had lifted her up and spun her around as they danced and sang to the old American song Sweet Pea. In her mind’s eye, she could see Mama laughing.

Jolting her out of her thoughts, the monster yelled, No, Kamal!

There was a loud bang that made Taya bite down as hard as she could. When she opened her eyes, she saw the monster hugging Mama. Then, when he backed away to yell something in a language she didn’t understand, Taya saw blood coming from Mama’s side, and her head was hanging down.

Taya was so scared she peed herself. She could feel the warmth of the urine traveling down her trembling, cold legs. She could smell the blood and the urine, and she wanted to throw up.

Taya listened to the monster’s crying, heard him saying how he loved Mama and how sorry he was. He kept lifting her head and kissing her bloody face.

Taya knew Mama had gone to Heaven to be with her real daddy. Her eyes filled with tears again, and she couldn’t see past the tears. She blinked and forced the water out of her eyes. Big, fat tears traveled down her little face.

Check the house! the monster screeched.

One man started to check under the bed, while another one came to the closet. The man started moving the clothes out of the way. Next, he got on his knees to move the luggage to make sure the little girl wasn’t hiding behind it. As he was moving it back into place, he saw a line of fluid coming from the back of the closet. He bent down closer and put his finger in the fluid, bringing it to his nose to smell.

Standing up, he yelled for Nasser.

Nasser came running into the room, and the man spoke to him in that same language, pointing towards the closet. Nasser went to the closet and fell to his knees, jiggling the boards. The monster was going to get her.

Taya started to panic, pushing back against the wall and mewing in fright.

When the boards were ripped off, Taya fell out of her hiding spot. Then she scurried back, trying to hide in the corner.

Nasser looked at the little waif of a girl who was covered in blood and urine. He hadn’t seen her in six years, and he might not have recognized her if not for her huge, crystal blue eyes.

Thurayya, my baby, come to Daddy. Nasser opened his arms and tried to coax his little girl out of the closet.

Taya pushed herself farther in, kicking to keep the monster away from her.

I see you are stubborn like your mama. Come, my child; Daddy won’t hurt you. He kept talking softly to the frightened child as he advanced on her. Finally, he was close enough to grab one of her ankles as she kicked out.

Taya screamed, kicking and hitting him, as he dragged her out.

Nasser yelled at the man beside him, and the man pulled the comforter off the bed and threw it to him. Nasser threw the blanket over the deranged child and trapped her in its folds.

Taya fought as hard as she could, but the monster was too strong.

Finally, all her strength seeped from her body, and the monster picked her up. He carried her away from her mama, Deda, and the only house she had ever known.

Chapter 2

Toolbox

It was four thirty a.m. when Taya was startled awake by her ringing cell phone.

Uh . . . Hello?

Girl, it’s Gunner.

With the sound of his voice, she was on instant alert. Taya threw the comforter off her body and sat up, shivering from the cool air coming from the air-conditioner and the dread of what Gunner was going to say.

What’s wrong?

Little girl, we have a problem. He sighed. I’ve never kept anything from you, and I’m not about to start now. It’s your grandfather. He was attacked and is in the hospital. It’s not looking good.

Her deda was her final connection to her mama. She wasn’t ready to let him go.

"Was it him?" It had to be him. She knew it. Gunner knew it too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be calling.

We don’t have confirmation yet. We are boarding a plane in an hour and heading there. Girl, you and I both know this has Nasser written all over it.

Taya heaved out a breath at the thought of Nasser. I am a grown woman, dammit! I don’t get it. Why is he doing this? He knows he can’t take me and keep me against my will anymore. I am twenty-six years old, for Christ’s sake. It’s been sixteen years; why does my father still want me?

I wish I could give you answers. I assumed you’d want to see your grandfather, so I booked you a flight. We’ll meet you there. Without taking a breath, he continued, Like every other time, I have reactivated your satellite phone. Remember, once you get to the Toronto airport, all communication with friends is done until you get back. You hear me, girl?

Taya knew it was nonnegotiable. It was for her and the team’s safety. I understand. See you soon.

Gunner didn’t say goodbye; just hung up. Taya wasn’t offended. That was just Gunner.

She went to the bedroom closet and pulled down the third shoebox from the top. From inside one of the running shoes nestled inside, Taya pulled out the little satellite phone that resembled a walkie-talkie. It was the most reliable form of communication in the world. But like everything else, she had to charge it. It had a separate, non-chargeable battery pack, but she would only use that in case of emergency. She immediately plugged it in, to let it charge as she got ready.

Taya packed a large travel knapsack, then headed to the bathroom for a shower. Whenever she went to Croatia, she dressed like a carefree college kid backpacking across Europe.

Coming back in the room, she took the satellite phone off the charger and read the text Gunner had sent.

The ticket for her flight was booked and ready for pickup at the terminal. Her flight took off at nine thirty a.m. She was going to have to hurry.

Gunner would be at the gate when she arrived in Dubrovnik. If she didn’t see him, she was to head to Fort Lovrijenac in the old city and pretend to be a tourist. Someone would contact her.

She ordered an Uber, then headed out the door to wait.

Traffic was a nightmare due to a six-car pileup, and now she was running late.

Arriving at the airport, she picked up her ticket and headed to the flight information board to make sure it was still on time. That was when she saw the flights to Rome.

Shit! I almost forgot about Francesca.

Taya had planned a trip to Italy with her girlfriend. They were supposed to spend a week with Francesca’s family before traveling all over Italy on a quest to visit all the places Francesca’s mother had planned to see before she passed away. And they were supposed to be leaving in three days!

It broke Taya’s heart knowing she would have to cancel their trip and disappoint Francesca, but she couldn’t risk Nasser finding her and Francesca getting hurt in the process.

She dialed Francesca’s number, and ended up trying to call three times before Francesca’s boyfriend answered.

Hey, Ryder, is Francesca there? Taya rushed out as she proceeded towards her gate.

Sorry, Taya, but she’s in the shower. You want to leave a message?

I really needed to speak to her, but I don’t have time to wait, she responded with urgency. Will you just tell her that I’m sorry, but I have to back out on our Italy trip? I have a family emergency. In fact, I’m walking onto a plane, heading to Croatia, right now.

Sounds serious. Anything we can do to help? Ryder asked, obviously hearing the apprehension in her voice.

I wish you could, but no, this is something I have to handle myself. I’m just sick about leaving Francesca high and dry. She’s been looking forward to this trip, and I feel horrible. I wouldn’t do this to her if it wasn’t important.

Ryder lowered his voice. I need to tell you something.

Even though she was in a huge rush, Taya was curious. Talk quickly. I just went through my last checkpoint.

My band is flying to Italy for impromptu concerts.

A smile curled around her lips. For such a formidable man, he was such a sap when it came to Frankie. I hope you know, I would have been really pissed if you tagged along, but I can forgive you. One more thing, let everyone know I won’t have phone or internet service. On second thought, I’ll text you an emergency phone number, but please don’t give it to anyone, and don’t let them know you have it.

Are you sure I can’t help? I have lots of connections and resources. All you have to do is say the word, and I won’t ask questions.

She was silent for a minute. Then she said in a soft voice, You know, for an ass, you really are amazing. I gotta run. Tell Francesca I love her. Remember, please don’t give anyone the number. Bye.

After hanging up, Taya sent him the emergency contact number, to which Ryder sent a message back that he had received it and wanted her to know he would be sending a small plane to pick her up in Croatia. Ryder didn’t want Taya to forget she had promised to be Francesca’s maid of honor. She was supposed to text her location, and he would have a small plane sent to pick her up and return her to Croatia twenty-four hours later. He wasn’t allowing her to back out of the wedding. Taya knew it had to be the perfect surprise for her girlfriend, and she was in awe of that kind of love. It didn’t hurt that the man was famous and loaded.

Taya then turned off her personal cell phone and shoved it in her knapsack before storing the bag in the overhead bin. Then she got comfortable in her seat for the long flight.

Taya wasn’t sure how Gunner was going to react to her jumping on a plane to fly across the Adriatic Sea for twenty-four hours to be in her girlfriend’s wedding, but she was going. She would just have to explain that it wasn’t a choice. It was something she had to do.

When she had left Gunner, Ana, Katja, the boys, and Florida behind, she made a life for herself in Toronto. Her girlfriends, Caesar buddies or sistas as they called each other, had become as close as Gunner’s family.

Taya’s thoughts then traveled to her deda. If she didn’t know her grandfather was seventy-six, she would swear he wasn’t a day over sixty. She had to remind herself that she hadn’t seen him in a year. Though, the last time she had visited, he had buzzed around like a man half his age. They had walked down the streets of the old, walled city of Dubrovnik, where he had stopped to drop off different things to friends who couldn’t get out much anymore. The neighbors all liked to call him the professor of the walled city because he knew everyone in his community. Twice a month, Deda traveled to his brother’s widow’s house in the north near Plitvice Lakes National Park to help with the farm. He would spend a week there, and then go back to Dubrovnik. Taya’s deda insisted he didn’t get old because he didn’t have time. She loved her deda and often mourned the circumstances that had taken him from her everyday life.

When Taya had been rescued all those years ago, she had gone to live with her mother’s cousin in Florida, as per her mama’s wishes. Going home to Croatia in a panic brought back that terrifying night.

After her rescue, Taya had been treated by a psychiatrist for PTSD—post-traumatic stress disorder. Her therapy had worked well enough, and she had mostly been able to move on, except when she was traveling home to Croatia. The minute the crew started to prepare for landing, her old anxieties would resurface. Taya had to reincorporate all the old strategies the psychiatrist had implemented for her years ago.

Taya still had four hours left in the flight to find the safe place in her head before the captain announced their landing. Mentally, it was time to take out the toolbox the psychiatrist had taught her to fill with coping strategies. It was Taya’s saving grace. She used her strategies to manage the anxiety that threatened to take over her mind.

One was to breathe. Taking deep, calming breaths in through her nose and exhaling through her mouth to slow her heart rate was the first tool. Calmly and slowly, in and out. When Taya mastered the first tool, she moved on to the next.

The second tool was her favorite because it always amazed her how tense she was, even when she wasn’t aware of it. She closed her eyes, still breathing calmly, concentrating first on the muscles on top of her head, relaxing them. Then she slowly moved down every muscle group, right down to her toes, loving when she got to release the tension in her shoulders the most. It always made her smile because she was sure being so tense must look like she had no neck.

Taya knew the third tool was getting back into the routine of her life. Well, that wasn’t happening on a plane to Dubrovnik. Tool three was going to have to wait until the flight home to Toronto.

Her fourth tool was facing her fears. Taya was calm and relaxed, so she knew she could do this. Nasser had broken into her house when she was only nine years old, killed her mama, and kidnapped her. He had held her for eight months and was responsible for all she had endured at the hands of others.

Taya’s mama had told her that her father had died, but that he had loved her and was in Heaven. That had been a lie, plain and simple, and she had been angry at her mama for a long time for not telling her the truth. It had taken many years of therapy to understand that sometimes parents lied to their children to protect them.

Katja had tried to explain why her mama had lied. Deep down, she believed her mama was just trying to protect her from finding out she was related to such a bad man. Katja was wrong; he wasn’t just a bad man. He was a monster. Now Taya had to face the fear that Nasser might be after her again. She had to face the fear that her deda might die.

Her heart was pounding, but she was proud of herself for facing those fears. Time to move on.

The fifth tool was immersing herself in happy events—past, present, or future. Taya had a lot of happy events to pull from, especially lately.

With her eyes still closed, she pictured her trip to Scotland for her friend Gabriella’s wedding. Next was watching her friend Dakota take her first steps after her accident and stroke. However, Taya’s shining moment, and the one she was most proud of, was listening to Dakota speak without a stutter.

As a speech and language pathologist, Taya had worked endlessly with Dakota during her recovery, helping her regain her speech completely. Now she had something to look forward to. Ryder was going to make sure she could stand up for Francesca in Italy.

After visiting her happy place for a good while, she moved on to her final tool—creating bravery to face and fight the fears that had originally caused the relapse.

She knew going back to Dubrovnik was a trigger. With her fear of Nasser, she would have to face the memories of her mama and her kidnapping.

Taya had to remind herself that she didn’t always want to remember her mama’s death. She wanted to remember the good times with her, like when her mama would dance with her, swinging them around, her glorious, long blonde hair whipping around them.

Taya remembered how beautiful her mama was. Katja had said, if her mama had lived, the only two things they would have had in common would have been their height at five foot two, and their unique eye color.

In the pictures Taya had of her mama, she could see her mama had been voluptuous with a curvy figure, while Taya was lean, with no curves and tiny boobs.

Taya exercised and trained like a fiend, making her extremely fit. She didn’t exercise so people would admire her body, though. No, she did it so no one would ever be able to take advantage of her again.

Taya had to remind herself to stop regressing. She needed to build her bravery tool. She was a strong, independent woman with an excellent career. She had friends she adored and loved, who were all a great support system.

Taya’s other support system was the group from Florida. They had taught her a lot about fighting for people they considered their own.

Katja Kovač was her mama’s first cousin, and Ana Daniels was Katja’s best friend from university. Ana was married to David Gunner Daniels. They had three sons: Carter, Zac, and Levi. Gunner met Ana when he was serving overseas. They fell in love, married, and he moved her to the States. Gunner’s grandparents died shortly after their marriage, leaving them with a rundown, oceanfront mansion just outside Daytona Beach.

The couple couldn’t afford to keep it on his Navy salary, but they didn’t want to sell it, either. Therefore, they talked Katja into moving to the United States and going into business with them to create a B&B. Gunner was away a lot, serving his country, so the partnership between the two women ensured the business wasn’t too overwhelming for one person. The three of them got a bank loan and put their life savings into the B&B. They restored the old house to its original glory and had been running a very successful business for the last few decades.

Katja had been the one who had asked Gunner and his team to save Taya sixteen years ago. Then she became Taya’s legal guardian after her grandfather relinquished his rights so Taya could immigrate to America. She raised Taya from the age of ten, alongside the Daniels.

Gunner didn’t pretend to be her father, but he had been the only male figure in Taya’s life. He was not a cuddly man, which suited Taya, since she could never be described as cuddly herself. Gunner had always called her girl from the first time he laid eyes on her. Meanwhile, he referred to his sons as boneheads. Taya was just thankful she was girl and not bonehead.

Next, she thought about how brave Katja and Ana had been by moving to a new country and starting a new life. Meanwhile, Gunner, Carter, Zac, and Levi all showed bravery every day by serving their country with pride and fearlessness.

In a nutshell, the people she had grown up with were all brave. She would use that to help with building her toolbox.

When she thought of bravery, she also thought about all the special needs kids she worked with at the center. Those kids defined the word bravery. They had spunk and fortitude in a world that was cruel to anyone who was different. Those kids also didn’t bullshit.

For Taya, it was refreshing and freeing to be around people who told you straight-out if you looked as bad as you felt, or if you had something stuck in your teeth, or if you had a stain on your shirt. If everyone took the lessons those unique, amazing kids taught, the world would be a better place.

Now that her toolbox was full, she could face whatever happened after she landed in Dubrovnik.

Just as she had that thought, the pilot announced they were preparing for landing.

As Taya’s heart started to race, she quickly went over her tools again.

When they landed, Taya was in no rush to get off the plane. She didn’t struggle with all the people who insisted on bowling everyone else over, all eager to be the first to disembark. Thankfully, she also didn’t need to rush to baggage claim, having just her knapsack.

Once the aisle was clear, she pulled her bag down from the overhead compartment, then slung it over her shoulder, taking three more deep breaths.

Taya made it through customs fairly quickly, then headed towards the doors to meet Gunner. When the doors opened, however, her heart sank. Gunner wasn’t there. In his place was the only other person in the world, besides Nasser, she didn’t want to see.

Hey, Piglet. Long time, no see!

She groaned at the nickname as Levi Daniels smirked, flashing that single dimple of his.

Where’s Gunner? she asked.

Levi tried to take her knapsack, but she twisted out of his reach, which had him chuckling as he mocked, Hi, Levi, how are you? I’m good, thank you for asking. Wow, you look as good as ever. Haven’t seen you in while. It’s okay, I can carry my own bag, thanks. Once he finished his little taunt, he continued in a normal voice, I see you’re still the most stubborn girl ever born.

Taya didn’t reply.

Levi waved his hand in front of her face. Talking here, Piglet.

And you seem to be doing just fine without me. Where is your father?

"He had some things to