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Prologue
Callie - Three months after my 24th birthday
Inever planned on being back in this office staring at the same scratched-up floorboards that I used to stare at as a teenager when my father would lecture me about the responsibilities of being an Ashford. Here I am. After years on the run, I let my guard down and gave in to the illusion of living a normal life. I accepted the possibility of even having a family one day. I thought I could move on from my past. I should have known it would catch up with me. All the years I spent bouncing from town to town, keeping as many people as possible at a distance. I always made sure I had a way out, a backup plan if I ever encountered a messed-up situation. All of it was for nothing because here I am, right back in the one place I never wanted to be.
I should have been more prepared. I should never have let myself get complacent. Instead of watching my back, I was living in my fucking fantasy world. A million thoughts are racing through my mind. I thought I had found a man I could confide in. I trusted this son of a bitch, and he brought me right back to my father and everything I’ve been running from.
Realizing I've zoned out for the entire speech he's been reciting over the last few minutes, he walks towards me and grips my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"You need to learn your place, Callie. You may be Gabriel's daughter, but I will not tell you again." His gaze appears so intense that any other girl would be instantly thrown into submission.
"Fuck you." I spit.
That was not the response he was looking for because he ripped me out of my chair and slammed me against the wall with so much force that a photo frame fell to the ground, and glass shattered around us.
"Do I need to force you to your knees and shove my cock so far down your throat that you remember exactly who I am to you?" He hisses.
"Don't fucking touch me. You’re nothing to me, and I’ll never be yours." My lip curls up in disgust.
He leans in so close that I can feel his breath on my neck, making me want to gag, and whispers in my ear.
"You will be mine, and I will force that attitude of yours right into submission if I must. Now be a good girl, go to your room, and get changed. We have an important dinner to get to. There is someone who’s been waiting to see you. I believe you remember the way." His smug smile adds flames to the burningfire inside me.
When he finally leans back to give me the space I desperately need, I bite my tongue and slip out of the old office, walking right up the stairs to what used to be my childhood bedroom.
Chapter 1
Callie - My 24th birthday
It's been a long time since I've celebrated my birthday, but this year everything’s different. I finally feel a sense of happiness for the first time since I turned 18. My life has evolved so much since landing in Braxton Falls. This small town drew me in like a moth to a flame. I fell in love, and it feels like home in a way I can't explain.
Most days, I try not to allow myself to focus on my father or my fucked-up upbringing, but today, the memories keep finding ways to draw me back in. My birthday. It's always the worst on my birthday. I want to be focused on my bubble of bliss, but I’m continually drawn back into thoughts of the life I used to live and how I got here.
I've spent the past few years moving from town to town every few months. It was the easiest way to ensure my father and his secret society never found me. I never planned to stay in Braxton Falls, but when I met Julian and Avery, I couldn't leave.
Julian and I met at the grocery store close to where I lived at the time. Living life always on the move makes things a constant struggle financially, so when the cashier told me my total was $8.16 more than what I had in my pocket, I was trying to figure outwhich items I could live without for the next week. Just as I was grabbing the ground meat to have her take it off my bill, he swooped in like Prince Charming and handed the cashier a ten-dollar bill to cover it.
I smiled and tried to tell him it wasn't necessary, but he looked at me with the kindest expression and said, "A beautiful girl like you should always have everything she needs."
Normally, a line like that would make me cringe, but the way he said it seemed so trusting. He was genuinely giving me a compliment. I accepted his gesture, thanked him, and made my way out of the store to head back home. As I was walking out, I heard him running up behind me.
"Excuse me, Miss. If this is too forward, please forgive me, but something about you makes me think I’d regret not asking you out. You wouldn't, by chance, want to go grab a cup of coffee with me, would you?"
I’ve always passed on these kinds of advances. The idea of dating felt like a betrayal to Maxton's memory. I had a few one-night flings here and there when I felt the urge to be dicked down, but I never allowed myself to get close to another man since his death. Julian had just been so kind that I couldn't say no to him. Part of me knew it was time to try and finally move on if I wanted any chance at a normal life. It was just coffee. I figured it would be harmless. There was no way he would be interested in me with my dull brown hair and hazel eyes. I’m petite, but to most people, I’m invisible. There's nothing about me that would stand out in a crowd, and I like it that way. Itmakes it easier to blend in. If that's not enough of a deterrent, after he found out about my boring life, he would move on and forget all about me. I told myself to just go on the date. I might as well get a nice cup of coffee and banana nut muffin out of this whole ordeal. That's not what happened, though. He found a way to stick around.
Julian is the typical tall, dark, and handsome type that all the girls swoon over. He’s a few years older than me and has the most stunning almond-shaped green eyes, black hair that is always gelled to perfection, and a jawline that you could crack a tooth on. He has the perfect shade of sun-kissed skin and more muscles than I think he knows what to do with.
While being good to look at is definitely a plus, it's always been his selflessness that drew me in and gave me the courage to trust him. He would give someone the shirt off his back if it meant they were more comfortable. In my world, people like him don't exist. Somebody always wants something from you. My own family planned on using me for their benefit, so finding Julian has always felt like a rare anomaly. He is my blessing in disguise, and here we are today, about to reach our 1-year anniversary, celebrating my birthday at my favorite restaurant in town.
He snags a tortilla chip from the tray in front of us, dipping it into the spinach artichoke dip. This dip is one of the best things on the menu. They make it extra creamy, and every bite feels like heaven is melting in your mouth.
"I have a business meeting on Tuesday in Atlanta with some of the senior members of my company," he casually tells me, and my face drops with disappointment. "I’ll be heading out of town Tuesday morning, but it'll be a quick trip this time. I should be back home with you by Friday evening. We can spend the whole weekend together snuggling up and watching movies."
"You're leaving again? I wish you would’ve waited until tomorrow to tell me." I grab another chip and shake my head at him.
"I wanted to give you as much notice as possible. I know it's been a bit frustrating." He pulls up one side of his mouth to give me a comforting smile.
"Julian, they keep pulling you in for more and more of these meetings lately. I feel like I've barely seen you over the last month." I furrow my brow and glare up at him. He needs to know how annoyed I am.
