Clutches of Revenge

By Kayee Bradley

Carissa Langford is a businesswoman who dreams of having it all: a successful career and a beautiful family. The death of her father, though, sets in motion consequences that she never could have foreseen, especially when her nasty stepmother with dark allies is left jilted by the will. Ignorant of the storm building around her, Carissa meets Trevor Montgomery, handsome known womanizer. They charm each other, and despite his reputation, Carissa finds Trevor to be the man of her dreams. However, Trevor has a hidden past wrought with heartbreak, and someone is out to get him. Cold, calculating Colton Jamison wants nothing more than to turn Trevor’s life into a living hell, and it doesn’t matter who he hurts along the way. Carissa’s quiet life is now filled with dark obsession, revenge, and murder. As she is dragged further into the abyss with Trevor, she watches her life shatter. Will she be able to survive the terror of one man’s revenge and protect the people she loves from the coming storm?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kayee Bradley
• Release date: Nov 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463603215

Kayee Bradley

As far back as I can remember I have wanted to put pen to paper and create stories. Being the fourth child in a family of five not only is it an interesting placement in itself but add to that the age difference between myself and my siblings. The three were twelve to fifteen years older. Having a sister four years younger, sometimes it was like we had an extra set of parents. Add to that the time frame of growing up in the sixties I have accumulated a wealth of information. Life sometimes dictates other avenues for people for many different reasons and I was one of them. After traveling to many places in this country and abroad with my ex spouse who was in the military I have encountered many interesting people all of my life. I have stored and taken note on many things. As with a lot of military families I needed to work to help raise my children. I worked full time as well as taking courses when I could. This created my first career that would last for 12 years, then when my ex left the military I changed careers and that also lasted many years. Both careers allowed me to meet and become associated with many interesting and diverse people and places. Now at this point in my life with my children being grown I am in a position to pursue my passion, as well as spend time with my grandchildren. I write because I choose to, not for fame, glory or for notoriety but because I can. Who ever takes the time to read my books I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Carissa stood on the back porch of the old Victorian house where she had grown up. As she looked out over the 65-acre estate that belonged to her family, she paused as she watched the water in the lake sparkle in the afternoon sunlight. Carissa smiled, thinking about the times they had gone fishing in her father’s motorboat that tied to the pier. Carissa could almost hear her mother laughing at her and her sister as she scolded them for throwing the worms they had collected at their brother when they were little. She soon became flooded with memories from her childhood, some good and some not so good. Her memories so enthralled her she didn’t hear her brother Ian until he spoke. Carissa, are you okay? He knew where her mind had wandered to because he had been having the same thoughts all day.

She was so startled she grabbed the railing on the porch as she turned around. Ian! My god, you scared me! When did you get here? Is Becky here yet?

No, but she will be. He responded while hugging her, I think she’s going to stay at a hotel in the city though. You know how she feels about Leslie.

Carissa chuckled, Yes, I know, but I can’t fault her. Leslie has always been so mean and hateful to her. Even in school, she was like that with a bunch of kids in their class, and she hasn’t changed. Carissa shook her head as she looked at Ian. I will never see what Dad saw in her.

Ian cleared his throat, then said, Carissa, speaking of Dad, I am afraid I have some bad news.

Bad news? She exclaimed! What could be worse than him dying?

Well, it appears that our sweet stepmother decided to move forward and have him cremated before we arrived. When I got to the funeral home earlier today to find out what arrangements Dad wanted the director informed me it was already done. Ian said.

Shocked, Carissa said, Say what? … How cold! Carissa stopped, took a deep breath, then said, Well, at this point I guess there isn’t a lot we can do. God! Oh my God, Becky!

Ian shook his head and said, No, Becky will not be happy about this. They heard a car pulling in the drive, and they looked at each other, both saying at the same time: Becky!

As Becky parked the car, she could see them coming around the side of the mansion. They were all smiles as Becky hugged them and said, I am glad to see you both even though it’s for a sad reason. Then she took a good look at the expressions on their faces. They had that look like they had something to say but weren’t sure how to say it. What exactly has our wonderful stepmother done now?

Ian told her quietly. Becky let out a sigh and stated, Why am I not surprised? Well, there isn’t anything we can do about this except maybe give him a wake in a few days. Hopefully, when this is all over, we will never have to have contact with that woman ever again. They chatted as they slowly walked around the house to the patio.

Ian Langford was the oldest; he had done well in real estate. Rebecca was five years younger than Ian and was a Corporate Attorney for a law firm in New York. Carissa was two years younger than Rebecca. She lived in London, working for an organization that dealt with international government contracts.

Jason Langford was upset when none of his children wanted to be part of his firm. He was a successful architect; and had built his firm from the ground up, with the hope his children would take it over one day. Unfortunately, that wasn’t about to happen.

Their mother, Rosia Lee Langford died when Ian was in his second year of college, and the girls were still in high school. Unfortunately for the two of them their father took it extremely hard and after a couple of months started drinking more than usual. He began running around leaving the two girls to fend for themselves; he had also taken them out of private school and put them in public school. His reasoning was the public school was as good as the private schools in Boston. It appeared he found every money hungry woman in the town of Boston; they were usually not interested in the girls, or anyone but themselves for that matter and were all fifteen to twenty years younger than he was.

Three years before his death their father had met and married Leslie West. Leslie was Becky’s age, not only were they in the same graduating class, but they were enemies as well. Leslie was a slender, pretty woman, but also a very mean, spiteful, vindictive and nasty woman, the very picture of a wicked stepmother. Her father was an alcoholic who beat her mother and her every time he drank. Leslie had taken an instant dislike to Becky the minute she met her in class. When Leslie married Jason, she did not even try to hide her feelings, but let how she felt toward the children show always. One thing all three of Jason’s children had was their mother’s tenacity; they were not in the least concerned about how their father’s new wife felt about them.

The three of them were sitting on the back porch talking about old times when they heard a car pull up in the front. They looked at each other, smiled as Becky said, Seems like step mommy dearest is here. At this comment, they burst out laughing as they entered the house through the back door.

Leslie was walking through the house and heard them laughing as she approached the kitchen. Well, aren’t the three of you in a jovial mood considering the circumstances of your being here? Isn’t that a little inappropriate now? Leslie said in a sarcastic tone.

They ignored the question as Ian asked. Leslie, now that you have cremated father are you planning a wake or memorial service for him? Something that would allow his family and friends to pay their last respects?

Leslie looked at them and answered, As you know, your father’s wishes were to be cremated. I thought a memorial would be good. I will let the time of this event be at your discretion. She turned to them, looked them in the eye as she stated. I am sure you are all aware the reading of the will is in three days, as for anything else I will leave that in your hands. Now if you will excuse me, I have some things to attend to before I get ready for tonight.

As Leslie turned and left the room, Carissa looked at the other two and said, Well, I guess we have plans for tonight. At this comment, they all laughed.

Leslie heard them laughing as she was heading up the stairs. She hesitated for just a second on the step before she proceeded. Leslie hated them and was fully aware how they felt about her. It was the same when they were in school. Leslie smiled a slight smile as she thought to herself, Laugh all you want; we will see who is laughing when we have the reading of the will.

After entering her bedroom, she went over to her vanity and sat down to check her makeup. On the stand, next to her vanity was a picture of Jason Langford. Leslie reached over and, picked up the picture. Holding it in her hands, she looked at the picture for a few seconds before saying; God, I am so glad you are finally dead. No more nights of being caressed by a slobbering drunk; no more drunken attempts at lovemaking. Leslie continued holding the photo in her hands as she said. It was so easy you know. I only used the sleeping pills you take at night; no one will ever believe it wasn’t an accidental overdose because of the way you drank. Now you are back with your precious Rosia; may you both rot in hell. Leslie then threw the picture across the room.

She was brought back to reality by the beeping of her cell phone telling her she had a text message. She answered; messaging the person, she would be there in about an hour and then finished getting ready to leave. Leslie knew she was now alone in the house except for the live-in housekeeper. She had heard the cars going after she came upstairs. Leslie knew she didn’t need to tell the housekeeper; she wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.

Leslie left heading down the long drive not giving a second thought to where the others had gone or what they had planned for the night. She didn’t care one way or the other about anything they did.

When the three children left their parents’ estate, they headed for Ian’s house where their attorney was waiting for them. Carissa always enjoyed being at Ian’s; he had a lovely five-bedroom house on three acres of land. This was a good thing considering he had four children. Carissa and Becky both liked his wife Stacy very much.

They had dinner with Ian’s family, then they moved into Ian’s office and held a meeting with their lawyer.

Their attorney, Matthew Kirkland, had been their mother’s attorney and his father was their grandfather’s attorney.

They went over everything in the portfolio from ownership of all the properties as well as the collection of antique cars. The three of them were bright enough to know that Leslie would have made sure their father had left the bulk of everything, if not everything, to her. This was fine as far as they were concerned. They only wanted to make sure everything they had inherited from their mother was still intact, which it was. After going over everything and making sure there was no possible way their father could have changed anything their mother had left them they thanked Matthew for his time and told him they would see him at the memorial and the reading of the will.

Once Matthew was gone, and they were alone Ian said, Do you think anyone should forewarn Leslie about the will?

Becky laughed and said, "We all know she is probably going to inherit everything of Dad’s. He should have told her about everything. It is not our place; besides, think of the look