Incineration (Heart of Stone) (17 page)

Mason strode down the stairs “Ava Don’t go” he pleaded when
he heard my phone call. I shook my head at him “I can’t deal with you when
you’re like this Mason” I told him and he frowned “Like what?” he demanded and
I huffed “So bloody angry all the time” I cried and ran my hands through my
hair, still in search of my shoes “Where the hell are my shoes?” I shouted as
the taxi pipped.

He rushed over to me “Ava please, I’m sorry. I just get so
angry when I think of other men touching you” I laughed bitterly and shook my
head “And how do you think I feel Mason. You know I haven’t slept with anybody
properly before you. But you…you have a string of whores before me, not to even
mention Rebecca!” I yelled “Oh fuck it!” I resigned and exited the house
without my shoes. He stood on the doorstep and watched me climb in the taxi.

He was still stood there as we pulled away and drove off.

I paid the driver and climbed from the car and as I
approached my front door an eerie sensation enveloped me…something felt wrong.
Quickly glancing around my surroundings and not finding anything untoward I
fished my key from my bag and went to unlock the door. I froze when I noticed
my lock had been forced, the wood around it splintered and the catch was
hanging off. My heart pounded as I slowly opened the door, peering around as I hesitantly
walked in.

At first glance there seemed nothing out of place, until I
walked into the kitchen and my legs trembled when I saw a crisp, white lily
laid on the table, it had blood streaked over the petals and the sight of the
harsh redness against the virginity of the white flower caused my blood to
freeze.

Rummaging through my bag without taking my eyes of it, I
pulled out my phone. My throat was starting to close in and I unsteadily sat on
a chair, my eyes still nervously flicking around every corner of the kitchen.

Selecting Mason’s number I pressed connect and he answered
almost immediately “Ava, I’m sorry” he started to apologise for this mornings’
behaviour but I shook my head, consciously aware that he couldn’t see but still
needing the comfort of doing something normal, other than cast an eye over
everything. “Mason” I croaked, swallowing harshly against the scratch in my
throat “Ava?” he asked, his tone full of concern “Mason” I rasped, trying hard
to gulp my scream away “Baby? What’s wrong?” he was stating to panic
“Someone…someone’s been in…in my house” I stuttered “What?!” he growled “The
front door lock is broke and there’s a…someone has put a…a lily on my table” my
voice was trembling and I heard Mason suck in a breath “Baby, wait there. I’m
coming over” he said harshly and I nodded absent minded. “Ava?” he urged when I
remained quiet “Yes, yes okay” I stammered and I heard Mason talking to
somebody “Baby, Sam’s driving me so stay on the line to me” I murmured an
acknowledgement “where are you in the house Ava?” he asked slowly, recognising
my terror. “Erm…I’m still in the kitchen” I heard background noise and Sam
saying something to Mason and I stood and walked over to the back door,
checking it was still locked.

My finger slid over the petals of the lily as I frowned. Who
the hell would break in and leave a lily on the table? “Have you checked the
rest of the house Ava, or just the kitchen?” he was speaking slowly but softly
“Just…just the kitchen. There’s a lily on the table” I told him again “I know
Baby, we’re nearly with you”

I walked through the hall and opened the door to the lounge
and peered in but couldn’t see anything wrong and climbed the stairs to my
bedroom. My legs trembled as I climbed and I had to hold on to the hand rail to
keep me upright. “Baby, what are you doing?” Mason asked, apprehension surging
through his voice.

I was silent as I listened for any noise, cocking my ears
left and right as I tiptoed across the landing “Ava?” Masons voice was harsher
now “Shush” I whispered “Ava, what the hell are you doing?” he asked slowly “Shush
Mason, I’m listening” I whispered again as I progressed towards my bedroom,
anxiety tearing through me when I saw the door ajar; because it was an old
cottage it was always cold so I shut the doors to keep the heat in each room.
“Ava, what are you doing?” his voice had started to tremble in panic and he
hissed at Sam “will you put your fucking foot down!” I shook my head at his
temper “I’m just checking my bedroom” I breathed “Ava! No! Wait for me!” he
demanded but I pushed my door open and as I stepped into the room I gasped
loudly and whimpered at the same time. “
AVA!!!”
he shouted as I heard
tyres squeal outside and car doors slamming.

I heard Mason shout me as he charged into the house. “AVA?!”
he screamed “Up here” I whined quietly, my vocal chords closing up “Ava?” he
cried again as I heard him bound up the stairs with more heavy footsteps
following him. He charged into the room and froze behind me “FUCK!” he hissed
as he took in the scene.

My bedroom had been trashed; all my bed and bedding had been
slashed, feathers and stuffing littering the room. My underwear had been
shredded, my bra and knickers cut into strips, multi-coloured pieces of silk
and cotton scattered all around the room. My perfumes and toiletries had been
swiped off the dresser and shards of glass were decking the carpet but what
really took my breath was the word ‘
WHORE’
splashed across the wall
above my bed in red paint, or what I hoped was red paint. I couldn’t take my
eyes off the viciousness in the words “I’m far from a whore” I rasped.  Masons
arms circled me, spun me and pulled me into his chest “Baby, let’s go
downstairs” he breathed gently, leading me from the room.

He sat me in a chair at the kitchen table and started
searching through my cupboards, as Sam walked into the kitchen, talking to
somebody on his phone. Mason glanced at him and Sam gave him a slight shake of
his head as he filled a tumbler with the vodka he had found and passed it to me
“Drink that Ava” he ordered and I nodded and knocked it back, draining the
glass in one “I need to phone the police” I said quietly and Mason’s eyebrows
raised but he didn’t comment and he took my hand “Ava, I’ll deal with it but I
need to know, is this the first time anything like this has happened?” he
questioned and I frowned at him “What?” I asked, confused as Sam picked up the
lily from the table and after searching through my cupboards placed it into a
freezer bag and sealed it.

 Mason squeezed my hand “I’ve only known you for a few
months Ava, and I don’t know if you’ve…if anything strange has happened before”
I shrugged but shook my head unsure “Are you sure you’ve not noticed anything?”
he asked again, narrowing his eyes on me “Well last night I…I…” I shrugged
again “You what?” this time it was Sam who interrogated me “Well it sounds
stupid…” I glanced away, chewing on my finger “Anything Ava” Mason urged “Well
I kind of felt somebody watching me last night, kind of a sensation of being
followed” I lowered my eyes felling stupid “Just the once Ava?” Sam probed and
I shook my head “No, a couple of times. It was strange, like my body was
frightened but wasn’t sure what of” I glanced at Sam and he took my hand and
squeezed.

Sam was an ex undercover agent and was now paid very highly
by Mason as a hit man/bodyguard but he had the sweetest heart and genuinely
seemed to care about me.

I saw Masons’ quick glance towards his hand but he seemed to
take a quiet breath and relax himself, and his attempt to compose himself made
my heart swell. I took his hand and squeezed it and he winked at me “It’s gonna
be okay Ava but I think you ought to come and stay with me for a while” he saw
my hesitation and carried on “Please Baby, just until we find the wanker that’s
done this” I sighed “Do you think it would be better if I stayed with Courtney?”
I cringed, not sure how he would react “No, you will be safer with me” he
stated in a tone that told me not to argue with him. I nodded, knowing I
wouldn’t be able to relax in my house. “This is my home” I sobbed, angry that
some unknown person had took away my comfort and security in my little cottage
“I know Baby but I’ll sort it, I’ll get some cleaners in” he said but I shook
my head “No Mason, I don’t want some stranger going through my underwear” I
scowled when he glared and huffed “Baby, you’ve got no underwear left” he
shrugged when I pursed my lips at his bluntness and then I shuddered “Did you see?”
I whispered, not wanting to say it loud for some stupid reason.

He narrowed his eyes at me “Did I see what?” he stood and
went to check the back door as Sam phoned for a locksmith “Did you see what he
had done on…on my bed?” I gulped and retched as the image swam before my eyes.
He turned sharply “What do you mean ‘what he had done on your bed’?” he looked
intrigued but angry at the same time; Mr Cross and Mr What the Hell were
playing together “He had…he had…you know” I couldn’t say it, my stomach churning
at the thought.

Sam sat down beside me when he ended his call and took my
hand again “Ava, this is a good thing. I can get a sample from it. So don’t
think of it other than a good thing, okay?” I grimaced but nodded “Will someone
tell what the hell you’re on about?” Mason demanded and Sam sighed heavily and
glared at him “The bastard masturbated on her bed” he snarled and Masons face
shut down instantly, a haze glazed his eyes, his fists clenched and he bit his
bottom lip as he took some deep breaths.

I stood quickly and went over to him, taking his hand in
mine I cupped his face “Mason” I said softly but he continued to glare at
nothing “Mason” I encouraged a little sterner and the haze cleared but he still
seemed somewhere else. I turned his head towards me and brushed my lips over
his “Mason” I whispered against his mouth and his hand cupped the back of my
head and his mouth opened as he deepened the kiss, his tongue invading my
mouth.

I saw Sam leave the room and go upstairs as I tried to kiss
Mason back to awareness. His hands slipped down my back and cupped my bottom
and as I moaned softly I felt him snap back to me “Ava” he whispered and I
stroked my thumb across his cheek and smiled gently at him. He studied me for a
moment “I’m sorry about this morning Baby” he said guiltily. I nodded “We’ll
talk later” I smiled and he gave me a brief kiss “I better go and see if I can
find some clothes to pack, minus the underwear” I scowled and Mason pulled me
back “I’ll go and do it, I don’t want you going back in there and I’ll order
some underwear to be delivered to mine in the morning” I huffed “Mason, you
won’t have a clue what I need” he glared at me “Ava, I’m sure I can grab some
clothes for you” but I persevered and shook my head “I need some work clothes
for tomorrow, you don’t know what I need” he narrowed his eyes harshly “What do
you mean ‘work clothes for tomorrow’?” he asked seriously. “I start at NSC
tomorrow Mason” I told him and my stomach flipped when I saw his face darken
and I quickly jumped in “Don’t Mason!” I warned and he turned away from me.

I could see his fists clench and his shoulders rising and
falling as he took some deep breaths trying to rein in his temper “But I just
thought you would return to work for me” he said with a slight growl to his voice
but he didn’t turn back around “I don’t think that’s a good idea Mason” I said
cautiously, my teeth nibbling rapidly at my finger. He turned swiftly, gazed at
my finger with a slight fire in his eyes but nodded once “We better go pack then”
he stated and disappeared through the doorway, climbing the stairs two at a
time in his temper.

Rolling my eyes I followed him up and gritted my teeth as I
walked into the chaos that was once my bedroom. Mason was stood glaring at the
intimate deposit on my bed and the pair of knickers that had been used to smear
it over my bed, the only pair of knickers that hadn’t been shredded. I slid my
arm around his waist, realising how hard this was for him and he slid an arm
back, kissing the top of my head and squeezing me.

I smiled at him before I pulled away and dragged the case
down from the top of the wardrobe and started to fill it with clothes “I’m
going to wait here for the locksmith Ava and make a start on this” Sam said “is
it possible I could take your house keys so I can unlock the back door as I’ll
need to get to the bin?” he asked and I nodded, removed my car key and passed
them to him as Mason picked up my case and made for the stairs. He turned back
to Sam “Let me know if you get hold of him” he said and I frowned “Get hold of
who?” I asked narrowing my eyes as they both gave each other a quick glance.
Mason shook his head at me “No-one, come on let’s get out of here” he ordered
and pulled me towards the stairs.

He placed my case in my car boot and held out his hand for
my keys. I frowned and looked at his hand in question “I’ll drive” he
announced, his hand still outstretched “Why? I’m quite capable” I scowled but
he shook his head and raised his eyebrows at me. I huffed, shook my head and
gave him the keys, finding it easier to give in to his childish behaviour
thinking we were going to have a serious chat about his need to control.

Mason was attentive and sweet that night. He ran me a bath,
lit all the candles and brought me a glass of wine and as I relaxed lazily in
the warmth and security of the bubbled water, while he ordered Chinese
takeaway, which we ate curled up on the sofa as we watched an old black and
white film.

We made love slowly and tenderly, both needing the unhurried
passion, to cling to each other for as long possible while we merged our souls
and fell in love a little more.

I woke Monday morning, stretched my aching muscles and
scurried to the toilet, vomiting fiercely “Eugh” I whinged as Mason held my
hair and stoked my back “You okay Baby?” he asked as he wrung a facecloth with
cold water and gently wiped my face. I nodded “I think it’s just the nerves of
my first day” I dismissed and stood on shaking legs, desperate to brush my
teeth.