Searching for Me

By Kaydee Mavericks

People looking at my life would think 'wow she's so lucky' but I'm far from it. Five years ago my entire world changed. The older I get the more I start to think that maybe what I know about my family is all an illusion. Maybe the family business isn't just what it looks like on the outside, but the cause for my devastation when I was sixteen.
I never thought five years later my world would start to unravel around me. Some parts amazing, other parts a nightmare.
The amazing part was hard to let in. He was everything I wasn't looking for but turned out to be everything I needed and more.
The nightmare was… well let's just say a nightmare. Something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I knew I would need to fight with everything that I had to make the nightmare go away.
My name is Gabriella Ashford and this is my story.

18+ WARNING contains bad language, violence and some explicit sex scenes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaydee Mavericks
• Release date: May 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781536577921

Book preview

Searching for Me

Kaydee Mavericks

Copyright 2015 Kaydee Mavericks

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 each 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 author and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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

Cover Designed by Melissa Gill @ MGBookCovers

Cover Photo by Mandy Holis @ MHphotography

Editing by Sarah Burns with SBB Author Services

Dedication

To everyone out there who is searching for themselves, know that no matter how long it takes you will always find your way. Whether you continue your search on your own or someone you were least expecting helped along the way. You will find out what your journey is.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

People looking at my life would think ‘wow she’s so lucky’ but I’m far from it. Yes on the outside my life looks amazing, I have a nice townhouse I share with my best friend, and my family has more money than I ever knew possible. But when you dig in deep, you see the true life that I live. I live everyday remembering my parents being murdered. Everyday reliving that day and everyday just trying to get by. Seeing your parents murdered isn’t something any child should have to witness, but having to stay quiet while it occurs is even worse. When it happened, I knew if I wanted to survive that night, I would have to stay quiet and not move a muscle. Even after the killers had left I didn’t move for so long that my body ached all over. I thank God every day that my brother, Max, was staying at a friend’s house that night. After what seemed like forever, I left the house and went to my best friend’s not knowing what to do. I was only sixteen when they were killed but I still knew that the men responsible weren’t good people.

Don’t get me wrong, I have my uncle and aunt who took my brother and me in when we lost our parents, but the more I’m here, the more I realize that maybe my family, including my parents, aren’t what they seem. And maybe the family business isn’t all that legal.

My name is Gabriella Ashford and this is my story.

Today is my twenty-first birthday and my Uncle Stephen has decided that he needs to throw me an extravagant birthday party. Not once even asking me if this was something I wanted. Did I? Hell no, I wanted to go to a club and hang out with my friends. But I would never tell my uncle no. He’s like a father to me and I respect him too much to disappoint him in any way.

My Uncle Stephen and Aunt Lori took my younger brother Max and me in when our parents died five years ago and they’ve been our rock.

My brother is three years younger than me and started his freshman year at the University of Southern California.  The program he is in requires that he is abroad for the first semester. I love that he decided to go to the same college as I attend. I’m a senior pursuing a business degree.

My uncle has always talked about me working for him at Ashford Finance and I thought that is what I wanted. Only now, that I start to see more and remember more, I think that AF is just a front. A front to a much deeper business that I’m not even sure I want to be a part of.

Just as I slip on my dress my bedroom door slams open and in walks my best friend, Kaci. Kaci and I have been close since before I can remember. We met in kindergarten and have been best friends ever since.

Hey doll, you look hot! She says to me as I’m trying to balance and put my heels on.

You don’t look half bad yourself, chick. I love that color on you. Kaci is wearing a deep emerald green strapless dress that clings to every gorgeous part of her body. Kaci has the body every girl wishes she could have. The funny part is she doesn’t even care; she eats whatever she wants and never gains a pound. I, on the other hand, have to work like hell to keep my body in shape. Don’t get me wrong, I have a banging body, I just have to work harder than she does.

The dress I’m wearing is probably a little shorter than my uncle would approve, but hell, I only turn twenty-one once, why not live it up. It’s a deep purple dress that wraps around me with flowing material. It’s tight on me, but doesn’t look too tight. I’ve always been told that purple is my color. With my dark hair and my unusual grey eyes, everyone says that the color makes everything pop.

Are you almost ready to go make your debut birthday girl? Kaci asks in her crazy-girl voice. She knows I want just about anything for my birthday besides this party. Hell, I would’ve been completely happy with sitting in our house watching movies all night, but no, when my Uncle Stephen decides he is doing something everyone has to drop everything to make sure he’s happy.

Yeah, let’s get the party started! I tell her and we go arm and arm out the bedroom door.

We walk into the ballroom, yes my uncle’s place has a ballroom, I don’t know of too many people who still have them, but he does. We are trying to stay unnoticed as long as possible. Yes, I know this party is for me, but I really don’t want all these people I don’t know touching and talking to me.

We are standing back in the shadows so to speak when my uncle notices me. He walks over and pulls me into a hug. Happy birthday, Gabs, I can’t believe you’re already twenty-one.

Hugging him back, Thanks, Uncle, and thanks for the big birthday bash. I say to him, trying to make my voice sound like I love this.

He says that I’m welcome and moves on to hug Kaci. Make sure she mingles with all her guests, Kaci. He says with a wink and is off to talk with his best friend John Morgan.

Mingle my ass, can we leave yet, Kaci?

Laughing and pulling me along, No doll, we need to mingle.

At least there is good food at this party. That is one thing I can always count on with Uncle’s parties is the food. After Kaci and I fill our plates, we make it over to the table where my aunt is sitting.

Ah, it's the birthday girl, my aunt shouts loudly, Happy birthday, sweetie. I know this isn’t what you wanted and thank you for putting up with your uncle. You know he loves his parties, he just never understands how not everyone is like him.

This is why I love my Aunt Lori so much. She gets me and reminds me so much of my mom. She is my mom’s younger sister. When she married Uncle Stephen, she not only married him but his business as well. It was actually because of her that my uncle and dad worked together. They wanted to keep everything in the family and with her and my mom being so close they thought it was an awesome idea. The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that whatever my dad and uncle were into led to my parents’ death. I would never voice my opinion out loud, every time I learn something new I grow more distrustful of what’s really going on. I’m sure my aunt doesn’t know everything that goes on, but she has to know that not everything is legal.

I know, Aunt Lori, uncle loves his parties. I just wish I didn’t have to come to them all. I say to her with a dramatic sigh.

Sit and eat, then maybe dance a little and we can see about getting you out of here so you and Kaci can go do whatever you had planned to do before this party.

Thanks, Aunt Lori, I love you.

Love you to, girly. Just know your parents would be so proud of you. She says hugging me tight.

Saying thanks, I go back to eating the food, not wanting to talk about my parents any longer. The night didn’t seem to drag as much as I thought it would. My brother Max and my cousin Dane have stayed with us most of the night. I keep looking over at Kaci and my cousin and I swear that there is something going on with them. Maybe it’s just the drinks that I’ve had making me see things that aren’t actually there.

As the night continues to go on, I feel eyes on me. I know is sounds stupid because this party is for me, but the feeling I have isn’t someone just looking at the birthday girl. No, this feeling is something completely different. Looking around again for the billionth time thinking it was going to be like all the other times I’ve looked for the looker and never saw anyone, my eyes land on the hottest man I’ve ever seen.

He’s standing with my uncle and John. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man look that good in a suit. The black and white suit makes him look even darker and more mysterious than anyone I’ve noticed tonight. He has his hands in his pockets and he’s leaning up against the wall just staring. I watch him for a few minutes not wanting to break our eye contact. His deep stare is starting to make my body feel hot. At the same time as my uncle says something to him, Kaci grabs my arm and asks if I’m ready to head out, breaking the spell between me and Mr. Mysterious.

Yeah, let’s go say goodbye to my uncle and aunt then we can go.

We walk over to my aunt and tell her we’re leaving. She hugs me and tells us if we need a ride to call her. Now it’s time to go say goodbye to my uncle. I don’t know why I’m hesitant, maybe it’s because he’s still standing there but I suck it up and head over.

Kaci stops me in my tracks, Wow, do you see that hottie standing with your uncle? Damn he is fine.

I laugh at her because yes I see him he’s kind of hard to miss, especially now that he’s looking right at me again. I pull Kaci along and interrupt my uncle’s conversation.

Uncle, John.

Hey, Gabs, are you having fun? My uncle says and John just nods his head in greeting.

Yes it was a blast, but Kaci and I are heading out. I just wanted to come and say bye and thank you.

Well, all right then have fun you two and call if you need a ride. Oh wait, I don’t think you’ve met John’s son. Gabriella, this is Kaleb. Kaleb, this is my niece Gabby.

He comes a little closer and extends his hand. Knowing the correct etiquette, I put mine out to shake his.

It’s nice to meet you, Kaleb. The minute our hands touch it feels like flames are roaming throughout my entire body.

The pleasure is mine, Gabby, and happy birthday. He leans