The Taken One

THE TAKEN ONE A FALCON FALLS SECURITY NOVEL BRITTNEY SAHIN The Taken One By: Brittney Sahin Published by: EmKo Media, LLC Copyright © 2023 EmKo Media, LLC This book is an original publication of Brittney Sahin. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting [email protected] Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, brands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Chief Editor: Michelle Fewer Editor: Ashley Bauman Proofreader: Judy Zweifel, Judy’s Proofreading Cover Design: LJ, Mayhem Cover Creations Image License (front/back): Alejandro Caracuel Ebook ISBN: 9781947717350 Paperback ISBN: 9798386618636 Created with Vellum This book is for a special person. It’s for you. It’s for you on the days when you may want to give up. Don’t. It’s for you on the days that it feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There will be. And it’s for you on the days that are amazing and bright. On the days your dreams come true. ALSO BY BRITTNEY SAHIN Standalone Until You Can’t Let Me Love You The Story of Us Becoming Us Someone Like You My Every Breath Stealth Ops Series: Bravo Team Finding His Mark Finding Justice Finding the Fight Finding Her Chance Finding the Way Back Stealth Ops Series: Echo Team Chasing the Knight Chasing Daylight Chasing Fortune Chasing Shadows Chasing the Storm Falcon Falls Security The Hunted One The Broken One The Guarded One The Taken One Dublin Nights On the Edge On the Line The Real Deal The Inside Man The Final Hour Hidden Truths The Safe Bet Beyond the Chase The Hard Truth Surviving the Fall The Final Goodbye CONTENTS Music Playlist Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Epilogue Also by Brittney Sahin Falcon Falls Crossover Info Family Tree Where Else Can You Find Me? MUSIC PLAYLIST Spotify Most of these songs are paired with chapters based on the beat/vibe of the music. Enjoy! Hope (feat. Winona Oak) - Parker remix - The Chainsmokers (prologue) Last Night - Morgan Wallen (playing at the bar in chapter 1) On My Way - Kate Linn (chapters 3-4) OUT OUT (feat. Charli XCX & Saweetie) - Joel Corry, Jax Jones (first half of chapter 7) Feels Great (feat. Fetty Wap & CVBZ) - Cheat Codes (second half of chapter 7) Roller Coaster - Luke Bryan (chapter 11) On Tonight - Chase Rice (chapter 17) Calm Down (feat. Selena Gomez) - Rema, Selena Gomez (chapter 20) Darkside - Alan Walker, Au/Ra, Tomine Harket (chapters 32-33) No Time Soon - Jordan Davis (chapter 35) A Little Bit Dangerous - CRMNL (chapter 34) Ciao Adios - Anne-Marie (chapter 37) Wannabe - Dylan Schneider (chapter 39) Going, Going, Gone - Luke Combs (chapter 40) Love You Anyway - Luke Combs (chapter 41) My Person - Brandon Ray (chapter 42) PROLOGUE SUMMER 2010 - THIRTEEN YEARS AGO - WASHINGTON, D.C. She leaves tomorrow. And now of all days, I find out that . . . Gray allowed the thought to circle down the drain, remembering he was at a bar to numb the pain, not aggravate it. But the second glass of whiskey had yet to ease the band of discomfort stretching tight in his stomach. The pain reminded him of his days as a teenager in Dallas, when he’d belly flop into his pool, trying to prepare himself for becoming a SEAL. Not that he wound up going that route, but thanks to his stupidity, he could outswim most men in his battalion. Well, I could swim. Now I have to learn how to do that all over again too. “And you don’t think there’s a chance Tessa didn’t make the connection?” Jack asked. Gray looked over at his best friend sitting beside him. They were at a whiskey bar in Brightwood, a neighborhood in the northwest part of D.C., not far from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He’d spent most of his summer in rehab there after his accident almost four months ago. “You’re not serious, right?” “I guess I can see why she wouldn’t want you to know,” Jack said with a shrug. “Conflict of interest.” He raised his glass to his lips, his eyes moving to the wall of whiskey behind the bar. “And not for nothing, but when I couldn’t get through to you, she did.” Gray grumbled, thinking about the first time he’d met Tessa. Two months ago, his physical therapist, Terrance, had introduced her as a “PT hopeful,” there to shadow him and learn from the best. And yeah, Terrance was one of the best. I’m walking because of him. And, well, because of Tessa too. When Gray had first set eyes on her, he’d grunted and demanded she work with someone else. He didn’t need some gorgeous young woman with big brown eyes pitying him.