Family Ties: A Captured Series Novella Read online

  Family Ties

  A Captured Series Novella

  Published by Clydeside Publishing

  Copyright ©2015 Karen Frances

  All rights reserved

  All characters, incidents, and events are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. This work is based purely from the authors imagination.

  All songs, song titles contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

  Cover design by

  Aimee Coveney, Author Design Studio

  www.authordesignstudio.com

  Editing by

  Sally Orchard, Under The Lilac

  www.underthelilac.co.uk

  Proofreading by

  Nichole Strauss, Perfectly Publishable

  www.perfectlypublishable.com

  Interior Design and Formatting by

  Christine Borgford, Perfectly Publishable

  www.perfectlypublishable.com

  Family Ties

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Books by Karen Frances

  About The Author

  This is for my readers.

  You asked for more about Libby and I hope in this novella, I give you that.

  A special THANKS to everyone who helped put this novella together at short notice.

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS the first I’ve seen you in weeks outside uni. Is Jeff keeping you locked up here?” Kirsty asks, sipping on her wine. I try and let her dig at Jeff go un-heard; it’s easier to do that than argue about Jeff. He has certainly managed to come between Kirsty and I.

  But she has a point. It seems like I’ve not seen her in forever, and I’ve missed her. Really missed her lately. It is not the same being in class together; we don’t get a chance for a proper catch up. With uni almost finished, it leaves me wondering when we will actually see each other, because I know she avoids being around him. Which has me concerned about our friendship, where will it leave us, if one of my closest friends and my boyfriend cannot stand to be near each other.

  All I’ve done lately is stay at home, with Jeff popping over most nights. Jeff and I haven’t even had a proper night out in weeks. We used to go all the time, nice restaurants, meeting friends in the pub or clubbing. I did have a social life, and a good one at that. I’m getting tired being stuck at home; I should be enjoying being young.

  Kirsty is one of my closest friends, considering we’ve only known each other a few years. We met on our first day of uni and just hit it off. I feel as though I’ve known her all my life.

  “Ha, bloody ha. You know you’re not funny.”

  “Oh, Libby, come on even you know it is. Tell me what is it that’s keeping you with him? He must be really good at something, because can I give you my opinion? You know what, you are getting my opinion whether you ask for it or not. It’s about time it was said.” She shifts on the sofa to face me. Her face straight. “Libby, you and Jeff, you’ve run the course.”

  “But . . .”

  “No buts—hear me out. I would have to be blind not to see there is something not right with you two. Does he even know I’m here with you tonight?”

  “I’ve not spoke to him today, so no I’ve not mentioned our girlie night,” I tell her. But it makes me think, if I had spoke to him today, would I have told him? Probably not, knowing how he feels about Kirsty.

  “Libby, this isn’t you. He’s changed you and you can’t even see it. Are you scared of him, is that it? Jeff’s no good for you, when will you realise it?”

  “No, I’m not scared of him.” I shake my head at her. “He’s not so bad. You just don’t like him, I get that. We’re not always going to get on with each other’s partner. Can you not just accept that?”

  “Oh, I know that. Yeah, I don’t like him; I’ve never tried to deny or hide it. Something just doesn’t add up in my book with him. Just the same, as he doesn't like me. And hey, look what’s not too like?” I laugh at her usual boldness. “But that’s not the point I’m getting at. You used to go out and have fun, not as much fun as me, but you still went out. I get you’ve been busy, and when you’re not at uni you are over at the hotel, but come on. Being in the house most nights can’t be good for your health. We need a night on the town, just me and you, a club and some serious dancing.”

  Maybe she’s right; a night out just the two of us would be perfect. Kirsty fit in with all my family and friends straight away, except Jeff. I don’t know why the two don’t get on. God, even Ethan and Lindsay both love her even though she sat flirting with Ethan, my twin brother, the first time she met him, although she knew all about Lindsay. It’s just the way she is. I can always tell when Kirsty is in full flirting mode; she sits and twirls her long blonde hair through her fingers.

  “I could do with a night out,” I tell her, knowing this is what she is desperate to hear.

  “Of course you could. Why don’t we go out Saturday night, hit the town and paint it red, or any damn colour you want.”

  “You have a date Kirsty.” I tell her with a smile.

  “Who has a date?” Jeff says, entering the living room. “I hope it’s not this weekend; we have a function with the bank on Saturday night.” He kisses my hair from behind me. I can feel myself cringing. Kirsty just shakes her head.

  “Do we?” I ask, now with curiosity. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

  “No honey, I mentioned it last week. Let me go and get a drink and I’ll join you both.” He leaves and goes to the kitchen, I presume to get a beer from the fridge.

  “Libby,” says Kirsty. “You can’t stay with him. I saw your reaction to him. God, he creeps me out at the best of times, but I won’t sit back and watch him drag you down with him, because believe me it’s going to happen. Sooner rather than later. He’s trouble.”

  “You don’t know him like I do. He’s kind, considerate, sweet and loving, shows me respect.”

  ‘That may be so, but you don’t love him.”

  Jeff joins us in the living room, sitting on the couch opposite. Kirsty is one of my closet friends, but does tend to stay out of the way when he’s around, which seems to be all the time at the moment. He has hinted about the two of us moving in together, but I’ve been reluctant to agree. He has said how much fun it would be, but I don’t see it yet. Maybe Kirsty does have a point, especially given the fact at the moment I don’t have any social life unless it revolves around his job.

  As I watch him, getting comfy on the other couch with his beer in hand, he picks up the television remote and starts flicking through the channels. He’s made himself right at home as he does most nights. Maybe it’s just the way I’m feeling tonight, but I can’t be bothered with him. I am now thinking it must be close to my time of the month, feeling as irritable as I am. I was really looking forward to just sitting chilling with Kirsty and a bottle of wine, then a long hot soak before bed.

  “Don’t let me interrupt you,” he says above the noise of the television.

  “It’s all right, Jeff; I was just getting ready to go anyway,” Kirsty tells him. “Walk me out,” she says, standing up.

  We walk out into the hallway and Kirsty opens the door. “Libby, please think about what I’ve said. I mean it. Something just doesn't sit well with me, but I can’t put my finger on it. And as I said, you don’t need him to drag you down.”

  “I love him,” I tell her.
<
br />   “Do you? Just think about that because I don’t see it. There’s no spark between you, no chemistry. I love you and I want you to be happy and, in my opinion, right now you’re not very happy. Look, I will call you tomorrow about Saturday. Where are Ethan and Lindsay tonight?”

  “I believe they’re away for dinner, Lindsay was feeling a bit down today when I saw her earlier,” I tell her. “Call tomorrow night, I’m working at the hotel during the day with Luke,” I tell her as she gives me a hug. “Speak soon.”

  I glance next door, to my brother’s driveway; it’s only Lindsay’s car there so he must have made it home early enough to take Lindsay out. She was really low when I saw her, complaining of being uncomfortable. I suppose that’s how you feel towards the end of a pregnancy. I called Ethan at his work to see how she was and he said she’d been like that for a few days now, that’s why he was planning a night out. To see if it would cheer her up.

  I turn back and stand, watching Kirsty walk down the street, until she turns the corner. Closing the door, I sag against it. I was relieved this morning when Jeff left saying he had to work late and probably wouldn’t see me until tomorrow. It must mean something that I still want my own independence. Maybe Kirsty is right, although that would have to be a first, even for her. Maybe I don’t love him as much as I think.

  “Libby, what are you doing?” Jeff calls.

  “Nothing.” Nothing at all, I think. I sigh.

  “Well hurry up, I could do with something to eat.” I walk into the kitchen shaking my head. Opening the fridge, I take out cooked chicken and some salad and place them on the worktop and I start preparing the salad.

  I stop and stare at the knife in my hand. Seriously, what am I doing? Kirsty is right, I have changed. The old me would tell him to make it his bloody self. The old me would ask him what he was doing here tonight. I pick up the knife and finish what I am doing. When I have the salad prepared, I grab another beer from the fridge and take it through.

  “Thanks, Lib,” he says as I hand him both. “Come and sit with me. I missed you today.”

  “No Jeff, I’m going to grab a shower whilst you’re eating.”

  “Run a bath instead and I’ll come up and join you once I’ve finished.” I knew that’s what he would say if I had mentioned a bath, that’s why I opted for a shower.

  “I really want to wash my hair, so I’m going for a shower. Are you staying over?” I ask the question even though I already know the answer.

  “Yeah, of course I am. I’ll be up as soon as I’ve finished this.”

  I bend and kiss him on the head, because I’m really hoping that he finds something interesting on the television to watch and I’m fast asleep by the time he comes up the stairs.

  Does that make me a bad person? I hope not. I grab my phone and walk upstairs, Ethan has texted.

  In the city having dinner, Lindsay is much better. See you tomorrow or if your light is on when we come home, we will come in. Is Kirsty there or Jeff? xx

  I reply; Kirsty is just away, but Jeff is here xx

  Ethan; Ok maybe see you both later xx

  I know I won’t be seeing either of them tonight, because I plan on being asleep shortly even though it’s still early. Luke wants me at the hotel early in the morning, which is good. It means I should be away before Jeff leaves for work in the morning.

  Now that my course at uni is almost finished, I will be spending more time over at the hotel. Kirsty plans on taking a year out; I thought she might go traveling but she’s not sure what she plans on doing yet. I spend a lot of time at the hotel already. Stewart Hotel and Country Estate is owned by my dad, Phil Stewart. Dad is too busy with his PR business to run the hotel himself. His dad, my grandfather, owned the hotel and it was left to my dad when he died.

  I’ve always dreamt of working at the hotel since I was a little girl. My grandfather always had both Ethan and I at the hotel any chance he could get. Ethan was never interested in working there, but I always knew I would end up there. I do hope that one day I will be managing it, that’s what I’ve been studying for the last few years. I’m sure my dad has already spoken with Luke, to make sure he teaches me all he knows.

  Luke is great to work with; he has been at the hotel for years, he worked alongside my grandfather. I’ve spent many weekends working at the hotel since I was fifteen. I love working in the kitchen, because I love my food. It’s no wonder I have to spend time in the gym working it all back off.

  I switch on the shower then strip, and step in and let the water wash away the day. I spend extra time conditioning my hair, with its length it always takes such a long time. I’m relaxed until I hear the bathroom door open. Jeff.

  “Lib, I thought I said for you to run a bath and I would join you?”

  “I told you I had to do my hair.” Switching the shower off I grab a towel.

  “Switch it back on, I’ll join you in there instead. It’s been far too long since I’ve been inside you.” He has a huge grin on his face. He quickly removes his clothes and steps into the shower beside me. “Turn around with your back to me.” I could never resist the smile that he has just now. A smile that means so much, but yet there seems a dark shadow hanging between us, something I can’t explain.

  I smile back doing as I’m told. He kisses my neck roughly, not sweet and loving. His hands wrap around me and tug hard on each nipple. I hear a strangled moan coming from him as I feel him, all of him, digging into me. His hands start moving and finally stop at my hips, pulling my hips upward and pushing me over at the same time, so I’m standing in the shower bent over with my hands resting against the wall.

  I could try saying no that this isn’t what I want, here and now, but I’m as well getting it over with. At least when I get into bed, I might be able to sleep. But I have a feeling Kirsty’s conversation earlier is going to play on my mind.

  He pushes inside me quickly without warning. It’s almost painful. No, it is painful. I close my eyes, hoping that it will be over as quickly as he started. He pounds into me hard and fast. Lifting one hand away from my hips, he grabs my hair, startling me, pulling it until my head comes back. I feel his lips on my neck and back again, kissing me roughly, his teeth nip against my skin. It feels as though he’s biting me.

  This isn't finishing quick enough for me, as he continues pounding. This is the roughest he’s ever been with me and I really don’t like it. He slams into me over and over. The rhythm is picking up. I can’t move in the position I’m in. I feel as though I’m going to fall or sink to the ground. Again and again until he finally comes to a stop, stilling. He kisses my back once more, pulls out of me and steps out the shower.

  I stand upright and let the water fall over me again.

  “Babe, don’t be too long,” he says grabbing a towel and leaving the bathroom.

  What the hell just happened? Why did I let that happen? Switching the water off I step out. The towel I take from the radiator is warm against my now very cold body. I take another towel for my hair, wrapping it up on my head. It’s only when I walk past the mirror, I see it. Just one quick glance has me turning back toward the mirror.

  I stand at the side, for a better look. My back and neck are all marked, he has bloody bitten me. One of the marks has fresh blood on it. I take a cotton pad and dab it lightly against it. Why would he mark me like this? I take my robe and wrap it tightly around me and walk back into the bedroom. He’s already in the bed; I had thought, no had hoped, he would go back downstairs and watch a bit more television. I sit at the dresser and start brushing and drying my hair.

  I see him watching me in the mirror; it’s making me just a little uncomfortable, his eyes never leaving me. I spend more time, than usual drying and straightening my hair, so all I have to do in the morning is pull the brush through it before going to work. When I’m finished, I walk over to another set of drawers and open the top one, it has my pj’s in it.

  “Don’t bother with those, just come into bed as you are. I might n
ot be done with you.”

  He must be kidding. It usually wouldn’t bother me going to bed with nothing on, but something just doesn't add up. Tonight doesn’t feel right.

  I choose to ignore his request and go ahead, putting on a vest and shorts.

  “Libby, did you not hear me?” Now it’s time to stand up for myself.

  “Oh, I heard you, but I’m feeling tired. I have an early start over at the hotel,” I tell him, hoping that my answer will mean he gives me some peace for the rest of the night. I climb in the bed and turn my back to him, staying as far away from him as I can.

  I feel him moving closer to me in the bed. He puts one arm under my head, the other hand moves my hair out the way. I can feel him looking over his handy work. In the two years we’ve been together this is the first time he’s ever done that. He leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “Goodnight, Libby. Love you.”

  “Night,” is all I can manage. I eventually fall into a troubled sleep.

  I hear a buzzing and feel a weight shift across me. My eyes dart open. Jeff is just lying back down in bed with my phone, switching it off.

  “Who is it?” I ask.

  “Ethan, but I know you’re working early so I’ve just switched it off.”

  “I’m awake now, so give me it and I can find out what’s wrong.”

  “Well, if you’re awake we can finish off what we started earlier,” he says pulling me toward him. His hands slide under my vest and he pulls and nips on each breast in turn, almost violently. It’s bloody sore.

  Just then the landline rings.

  “Fuck!” he curses.

  “I need to get that.”

  “Leave it; whoever it is can wait till the morning.” He pushes me down on the bed and pins me in place with his arms. I struggle a little, but it only makes him grip me harder. The phone goes straight to the answer machine.

  “Libby, please I need you.” It’s Ethan’s voice, he’s crying.

  “Jeff, get off me.” I push him away with everything I have. I pick up the phone.