Ivy (Castle Ink Book 3), page 1
part #3 of Castle Ink Series
Ivy
Castle Ink
Prologue
Ivy
My body tenses as I brace for the next punch, but it doesn’t come. The screams of my six-year-old son, Carter, stops the hit. I hate that he has to see me like this. I have tried for so long to protect him from witnessing what his father does to me.
“Stop. Daddy, you are hurting Mummy. Stop it!” His high-pitched voice echoes around my bedroom. I push to my feet and step towards Tim as he looks down at Carter, tears streaming down his face, pounds on Tim’s thighs, gaining his attention. “Stop,” he sobs, and my heart breaks all over again.
“Get off me, you little fuck. You are a pussy, just like your mother. Fucking worthless,” Tim shouts, saliva foaming at the edges of his mouth. His anger is normally always aimed at me, but I saw the change come over him when Carter stopped him from his nightly ritual.
Before I can stop it from happening, Tim swings his arm around, and the back of his hand connects with Carter's face.
A horrified scream leaves my sore throat as I see my baby boy fly backwards at the force, and his tiny body hits the side of my bed. Carter screams in pain, and that is the final snap in my tortured mind. The will to leave this man is now in full force. He has never hit our son before; raised his voice at him, yes, but never laid a finger on him. Until now. This will be the first and last time Tim touches my son—and the last time he ever lays a hand on me. I was stupid to stay this long, but his emotional abuse kept me here.
I grit my teeth before a high-pitched sound leaves me.
“GET OUT,” I scream at him. He looks a little stunned at my tone of voice. I have never answered back to him or stuck up for myself before. The look of shock doesn’t last long before the anger covers his monstrous face again.
“The fuck you say?” he spits out.
“Just leave, Tim. I need to calm him down. I mean—look at him; you bloody marked him. Just go.” I will say anything to him to get him to leave. I want him as far away from us as possible.
“Fuck it. You aren’t worth my time or fucking space. Make sure he’s in bed before I come home.” I nod my head and cradle my crying son in my arms, shielding him from his father. I have done a piss-poor job up until now. My heart sinks at the thought. Even though Tim has never touched Carter, I have been a shitty mother for letting him hear what has been happening to me. But no more. We are out of here.
Tim walks to the door but stops and smirks back at me.
“Sleep in his room tonight. I might just bring some bird back with me. I need a good shag to forget about the shit lay you were this morning.” My stomach churns at his words. He always threatens to bring a girl back to our house and have sex with her while I’m in the other room. The door closes and both Carter and I relax.
I know what you are thinking: Why hadn’t I left him already? Well, you see, I have no one; no friends, because Tim made me cut off all contact with the ones I used to have; and no family. Not since my mother passed away, just over a year ago, leaving me with a shocking secret she had kept from me my whole life. Tim has a pretty good job with a decent paycheck—not that I see any of it. He has always threatened to take Carter from me if I ever left him. I love my son with all my heart, and I could never risk Tim taking Carter from me
. We are leaving and never looking back. We deserve more. I deserve more. The fear of being with Tim outweighs the risk of being without him. Now is the time for me to start stepping up and taking matters into my own hands.
Chapter 1
Ivy
**Four weeks later**
I look at the sign and sigh. This is the day. The day that marks a new journey for Carter and me. I hope. This is the secret my mother carried around with her for twenty-five years.
I push open the door and see a large group of people standing around. A few kids, also. I grip Carter’s hand in mine and step inside. We stand there for a few seconds, taking in the group. The guy with a tattooed sleeve is looking at us with slightly narrowed eyes, but he doesn’t seem threatening. A girl with long, dark hair and tattoos steps forward.
“Can I help you?” She smiles at me.
“I’m looking for Dex and Jay Castle. I was told they own this tattoo shop.” Another man steps forward. He, too, is covered in tattoos and has dark hair like the other guy, who is still staring between Carter and me. They look like brothers, so I think I have found the right place.
“I’m De—”
“No. Fuck no. What the hell did you do, Dex?” The tattooed girl screams, at the guy with two tattooed sleeves, and I feel the blood drain from my face. Her anger and upset scares me. I just left a violent relationship; I have no intention of having Carter around more violence. Her anger towards the situation makes my heart rate pick up and I start to feel woozy. I sway on my feet, and just when I think my legs will no longer hold me, a man steps around the people gathered and wraps his huge arms around me, taking my weight and helping me to sit on the leather settee. He rubs my back and calls out to Carter.
“Come here, kid. Mummy isn’t feeling well. Come and sit next to her.” His voice is deep with a hint of sexy. A good old-fashioned phone sex voice, as my mum used to say.
Even in my shaking state, his voice clears the fog. Carter comes over to us, but he doesn’t climb into my lap, like usual. He climbs onto the beast’s lap. I can't take my eyes off the scene in front of me. Carter is so wary of men because of Tim, but he has no qualms about this man- a perfect stranger. I know they say that kids know a good person, but I’m shocked to see it actually happening.
A pretty woman hands me a bottle of water and I open it and take little sips. I turn to my son and speak to him.
“Mummy is fine, Carter. See, this nice man helped me, and now I’m feeling better.” I look at the two brothers before taking a deep breath and letting them know why I am here.
“I didn’t mean to cause any trouble, but I was told I could find you here.” I take more air into my lungs and explain further,“My name 𑁋 my name is Ivy Bilson. I am your sister. We all share the same father.” My shoulders drop when I see their faces. I look at Carter and brush the hair off his forehead before looking back at Dex and Jay.
“Bullshit,” Dex grinds out.
I shake my head. “It’s true. Allan had an affair with my mum. She never knew he was married until she fell pregnant with me.”
“So, why now? Why come to find us now?” the other guy says, his tone gentler than Dex’s. So, he must be Jay.
“My mother passed away a year ago. Cancer,” I whisper, as fresh tears appear. The arm around my back, belonging to the beast, tightens. He pulls me a little closer and I feel grateful for the comfort. The three girls that are in the room all surge forward and hug me, offering their condolences.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Ivy,” Jay says. He pushes through the girls and sits on the little table in front of me. He tilts his head to look at Dex and nods in my direction. Dex takes the hint and joins his brother.
“My mother, Maggie, never told me about you boys until her last few days. I looked you up and waiting until I could I ⎯” I stop my words. I don’t want these people to know about Tim yet.
“Until what, babe?” the guy next to me asks—I still don’t know his name. I shake my head, but he pushes. “You can tell us. You’re family now. Plus, have you seen these crazy ladies? They will hook you in and never let you go.”
“Luke,” Dex warns. They lock eyes and silent words are passed between them, but Luke just smirks at Dex.
“It’s all good, brother,” Luke says to Dex. My attention is drawn to Carter when he shifts on Luke’s lap.
“What’s up, Carter?” I ask gently.
“Are these my uncles?” He looks between the men. He’s pretty smart for a six-year-old.
“We are, little guy. What’s your name?” Jay asks.
“Carter, and I am six.” He holds up six fingers. Jay stretches out his hand to shake Carter’s.
“Hey, Carter. I’m Jay.”
Dex sits next to Jay and speaks. “Hey, little man. I’m Dex, but you can call me Uncle Dex and him Uncle Jay, if you want. Do you see those beautiful women over there?” He points to two of the girls and Carter nods. “They are your Auntie Addy and Auntie Cassie. The other two people are Liam and Penny, friends of ours, but they can be your friends too.” Dex’s tone of voice surprises me. He seemed pissed when I told him about our dad. I don’t think he’s going to let me in straight away, but I understand that. It will take time to make him see that we are family. I will do anything to prove to him that we are.
“Okay,” Carter agrees. He turns to look at Luke and asks him if he is his uncle too. His answer surprises me.
“No, bud, I’m not your uncle, but you will be seeing a lot of me.” Luke lifts his eyes to mine as he says the last few words. It’s a silent warning—that I will be seeing more of him. My heart beats rapidly in my chest and my cheeks heat up. I look closely at him and take in his features. He has chocolate-coloured hair that is short at the sides and longer on top. It suits him. The few days old stubble hides his jawline, but I can only imagine how perfect it is. His eyes are what catch my attention. One eye is blue, and one is green, the latter emphasised by the silver of the eyebrow piercing above it. The white t-shirt he’s wearing is stretched so tightly across his huge arms it looks like the material will rip open if he moves. His lips are thin but totally suit his face, and they look kissable. I blush at the thought, turning my head away from him. His chuckle snaps me out of my
“I know—I want to kiss me too, but it’s impossible. You, however, can kiss me whenever you want, babe.” He winks at me and my blush burns hotter.
I knew I couldn’t let Luke into my heart or body. I had to keep myself at a distance. My head knew this new plan, but my heart and body didn’t get the memo.
I am in trouble with a capital ‘T’.
*****
Sat here on the couch, I stare at the two men opposite me.
My brothers, Dex and Jay Castle.
After I turned up at Castle Ink, Dex’s girlfriend, Addy, suggested that I go home with her until the boys closed the shop up and had time to process what has happened—mainly me and Carter showing up unannounced. Jay seems okay with me being here, but Dex is hesitant, which I can understand. Now, as just the three of us sit in Addy’s living room, his eyes bore into me, like he is waiting for me to attack or something.
“So, start at the beginning,” Dex says, his voice carrying a layer of distrust.
I tell them everything about my teenage years and how it was just me and my mum; then meeting Tim, how we started out as a couple, and then getting pregnant with Carter; the way Tim changed over the years, the way he treated me; how things got worse when his job changed; then him being there when my mother died, helping me cope, only to knock me down again.
“He was great for the first few years, then he got distant and verbally abusive after we were together awhile. But he got brave after Carter was born. That’s when the punches and kicks started. He never touched me when I was pregnant with Carter, thank God.” I take a deep breath. “He never once hit Carter—until the day I left. I know you must think I’m weak, but you don’t know Tim. He has a great job with good money. He threatened to take Carter from me every time I threatened to leave him. The way I saw it, was as long as he wasn’t hitting Carter, I could take the blows. I did it for my baby. I needed him to stay with me. I don’t know what Tim would have done if he had taken Carter away from me. I kept as much of it away from him as possible.”
“You aren’t weak, Ivy.” Jay takes deep breath and continues moments later. “I will fucking kill him if I ever see him,” Jay growls out. I cast my eyes over to Dex. He’s just looking at me. I shift me attention away from his gaze, before turning back to him, and his eyes change in front of me—they soften. He shifts in his seat, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and locking his gaze with mine.
“You are not at fault, and I get why you did it. You are not weak, and anyone who says that you are, to me, will meet my fucking boot. What I’m finding hard to get a handle on, is why the hell our father cheated on our mum with yours?”
“I don't know, Dex. My mum never knew he was married until after she told him she was pregnant with me. He flipped and told her he wasn't ready to be a father and she never saw him again.But she kept tabs on you two. She was told by a friend that he died in a house fire. I’m sorry.” I bow my head and crack my knuckles.
“I’m sorry about your mum, too, Ivy,” Jay says. He stands and comes to sit next to me.
“How can you be sure that you’re our sister? Your mum could have lied.”
I stand, anger racing through me. How fucking dare he call my mother a liar.
“How fucking dare you! My mother would never lie to me.” My blood boils at his words about my mother. He doesn’t know her. “Do you know what? Fuck it. I’m sure Carter and me can do this without you.” I pick up my bag and walk over to the door. I hear a hissing noise from behind me, but ignore it.
“Ivy, wait.” I turn to face Dex but keep one hand on the door handle. “I’m sorry. That was a shitty thing to say.”
“It was. For Christ sake, Dex, I look like you both. Even my son is a spitting image of you.”
“I know. But this is all overwhelming. I need time to get used to the idea that I have a little sister.” He offers me a small smile.
“I hear you. Believe me, I do.” I chuckle at his words, happy that in some way he is accepting me as his sister. I wipe away the tears I hadn’t noticed were falling.
“So, who is older: me or you, baby girl?” Jay chimes in as he steps up to Dex’s side.
“I believe you are three months old than me.” I shrug.
“YES! Baby sister it is then. Oh, girl, you do know that you’re not allowed to date until you’re fifty, right?”
“Huh?” I ask. Is he crazy?
“Hey, I have so many years of being a big brother to catch up on. No lad is touching you. Am I right, Dex?” He looks at Dex, who nods.
“Yeah, no fucker.” He winks at me and my heart lightens.
“You do know that I have had sex before, right? I have a son,” I say.
“Ewww, gross. Do not talk about you being poked by a man.” Jay shudders and we all laugh. I think the Castle siblings may be okay. In time anyway.
Chapter 2
Ivy
I drop Carter off at school and make my way to work. I am so happy he’s settled into life here. Penny helped me get him into the Junior school that Connie and Knox go to. I’m glad he has to wear a school uniform, so I don’t have to panic with picking clothes out for him every day, as he has way too many clothes for his age. Money isn’t a big problem for me since my mother left me everything. When I say everything, I mean her house, which I’m going to rent out. Plus, I have a little money to tide us over for a few months, so we’re good.
I did an amazing job keeping it from Tim, but now, thinking about it, it wasn’t so hard as he was so self-absorbed. I know I could have used the money to run, but again, with the emotional stuff he put on me, it was hard to walk away. The fear was always there that he would take Carter from me. Now we’ve gone three months without seeing or hearing from Tim and I almost feel like the old me again. The Ivy before Tim ripped me apart from the inside.
I’m drawing again and now working at Castle Ink. The artistic side runs through the Castle blood and, in turn, I am a Castle. We all love to draw, anything and everything, and I feel this connects us as siblings. According to my brothers, oh my brothers. I will never get used to saying that. I asked them a few days after I turned up if they wanted a DNA test done, but they both said no. We all have the familial dark brown hair, and we have similar eyes. Even Carter looks like the boys.
Anyway, back to me working at Castle Ink. I draw but I don’t tattoo. I have no desire to; I have zero confidence to permanently mark someone's body.
So I make designs up for customers and just sketch for the fun of it. Having the freedom to draw again has taken me back to my teenage years, when I used to love the scratch of my pencil over the paper. My mum saw my passion and pushed me to study Art at college, so I did. But that is where the happiness dies for me. My mum fell ill for the first time before I started college, and then I met Tim. He was there for me through all the bad times. He would spoil me, buy me gifts, take me places.
We were together from the time I was sixteen, and I fell pregnant just after I turned nineteen. It was amazing for the first few years, but over the years, Tim changed towards me. He would call me names and try to provoke fights with me if I smiled at a man or had anything to do with other men. Carter was a few months old when the hitting started, and his words became even more nasty and heartbreaking.
He would tell me I was worthless,that no one would ever love me, and that he was only with me because of Carter—not that he bothered with his son. He would use him when he wanted something from his parents, but even they hated us⎯I guess image means more to some people. I hated them too.
“Peaches.” I smile when I hear the nickname he has given me. My heart skips a beat. He knows what he does to me; he uses every opportunity to get me to blush, and so far, he has succeeded, but I’m wising up to his advances now. I don’t blush as much around him, and I am fucking proud of myself for that. The last three months have been hell. He flirts like crazy with me, but then goes out and sleeps with other women. It hurts to watch, but I have to keep him at arm's length, for my own sanity.
“What, Beast?” I reply, keeping my attention on the paper in front of me. I’m sketching a tribal and flower design for a man’s sleeve.
