Resolution (Heart of Stone) (29 page)

“Fuck!” Sam
hissed, “I’ll get the guys looking for him” he told me and rang off immediately
so he could phone everyone.

“Fucking
hell, Elijah!”  I snarled at him as I grabbed my bag and keys. “Watch the
babies, if you’re even capable of doing that?!” I sneered at him and he lowered
his eyes.

“Shit Ava,
I’m sorry, I didn’t think” he apologised with a guilty expression

“Well
obviously!” I spat as I slammed the door behind me and raced for Mason’s car,
knowing it was the faster than mine.

I screeched
out of the drive and through the large gates before they had even properly
swung fully open and tore down the street, my eyes scanning the road and its
surroundings as I drove. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel.

“Think Ava,
think!!” I hissed to myself as I turned the music up, needing the stimulating
beat to drive my brain cells as well as the car.

My phone
rang and I tapped the Bluetooth symbol on the dash. “Ava?” Greg’s voice came
through as the music automatically paused.

“Greg, you
found him?” I asked quickly.

“No,
sweetheart. Where are you?” I scanned my surroundings.

“I’m not sure,
I’m just driving and searching” I told him as I slowed down and squinted at a
guy sat on a bench by the side of the road but realising it wasn’t Mason I sped
past him.

“Listen, Courtney’s
took my car to get to yours to watch the twins, swing by mine and I’ll come
look with you, you shouldn’t be out on your own, Ava” he told me.

I glanced in
my rear view to check I wasn’t being followed. “I’m fine Greg, there’s two sets
of lights behind me and one just turned off and the other is way back. I’m
fine” I assured him.

“NO! Ava,
fetch me now!” I rolled my eyes at his dominance.

“Fine, I’m
near yours, I’ll be five minutes!” I told him grumpily and ended the call.

I really
hadn’t the time to divert to Greg’s. I needed to find Mason fast. I voice
dialled Mason’s phone again but the voice-mail picked up again.

“God damn it
Mason, I’m seriously worried here baby. Where the hell are you? You promised me
Mason, you promised you would come to me. You told me to tell you how I was
feeling and when I do you can’t hack it… I am so damn mad at you right now” I
growled and terminated the connection before I said something I would regret
and drive him to score faster.

I just hoped
he been strong enough to deny his urge but it had only been a couple of months
since his last hit and the cravings were still strong.

I pulled up
in front of Greg’s and he bounded from the house still pulling his jacket on as
he clambered in.

“Any word?”
I glanced at him before I pulled off again. He shook his head and reached down
to tie his trainers.

“What the
fuck got him in a twist anyway?” he asked as he sat back up and buckled his
seatbelt.

I cringed.
“It was my fault” I glanced through my rear view and saw three sets of lights
but they were quite far back so I wasn’t worried.

“Well I know
you’d had a row, I was there remember” he said as he turned in his seat to look
through the back window, obviously checking our situation too.

 “Well I was
mad at him for what he did with Brooke so I… so I said something I shouldn’t
have” I admitted and he looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“What?”

I kept my
eyes on the road as I rolled my head around my neck and pursed my lips “I… I
asked him how he would like it if I introduced him to a bloke that had banged
me up against a night club wall… as I… as I screamed in ecstasy” I grimaced.

Greg groaned.
“Jesus, Ava.”

Greg leaned
forward and peered at a couple of lovers in a clinch against the wall and I
gawped at him. “Well that wouldn’t be him!” I bit out but a small part of me
knew it could have been him and I bit my bottom lip.

“I swear
Greg, if he gets high and cheats on me again…”

 Greg
settled his hand on my thigh. “I know, Ava” he said softly and now my mind was
wandering, wondering where he was and who he was with. “You don’t think….?” I
asked and shuddered.

Greg frowned
at me. “What?” he asked.

“Well you
don’t think he could be at…
hers
?” I spat out and Greg swiftly turned to
look out of the window.

“No Ava, he
wouldn’t” he said calmly and I scoffed.

“He did
before” I told him and his head shot round.

“W...What!”

I nodded
slowly. “Last time he went on a coke rampage, he ended up in her bed!”

Greg’s face
contorted in pity and compassion, “Oh Jesus, Ava.”

I shrugged, trying
to lighten the mood. “Hey, at least he told me” I said but didn’t feel the faith
behind my words and I obviously didn’t relay it either because Greg’s hand
settled on my thigh again and squeezed.

“You’ve put
up with so much shit from him Ava, he doesn’t fuckin’ deserve you!” he snarled
and diverted his gaze back to our surroundings.

I glanced
through the mirror and saw two sets of lights; one far back and a pair that had
been with us for a while. I furrowed my brow and straightened my shoulders “Hold
on, I wanna check something” I said quietly to Greg.

He frowned
and looked at me as he saw me checking my mirrors but nodded when he realised
what I was doing and gripped the edge of his seat.

I pushed my
foot further into the pedal and kept my eyes trained on the head lights behind
me - he sped up.

“Shit” Greg
took a quick glance over his shoulder. “How longs he been tailing us?”

I shrugged,
“Noticed him as we passed the Slug and Fiddle” I said as I floored the
accelerator a tad more. 

Gripping the
wheel, I prepared for my turning and as I partially past the street I flung the
steering wheel to the left and careered into a One Way Street. “Shit Ava” Greg
cried as I manoeuvred us past the oncoming cars.

Flicking my
eyes into the mirror I saw the car had followed us. “Well at least I know he’s
after us, Greg  swipe my phone and press the icon on screen that says EMS” I
said as I swung us around another corner and onto a high street, Greg fell into
the door but righted himself and when my phone rang back I hit the blue tooth
button.

“Elijah,
Blue BMW reg YH12 GRT” I told him immediately.

“Gotcha Ava,
Registered to a Harvey Leighton” he said.

“Holy shit!”
Greg said and I frowned as I tore into another road.

“You know
him?” I asked as Elijah barked orders to his men.

“Yeah, he
works at the loft” he informed me as he grabbed some sunglasses that had worked
free from the sun visor and were skimming across the dash.

“Never! The
Harvey who works behind the bar?” I asked and Greg nodded. “Wow, he nearly took
me home one night!” I shuddered.

“Elijah… I
need some help here, haven’t a clue where I’m going” I told him as I sped round
a roundabout but our tail just drove over it. “Fuck, hang on” I sped up again
now recognising where we were and Greg yelped as I mounted the curb and raced through
some park gates, his arse repeatedly leaving his seat.

“What the
fuck are you doing, Ava?” he asked and I just smiled wickedly.

Now I had
him! I led him through the quiet dark park. Knowing it like the back of my hand
I headed towards the lake, poor Greg banging his head on the ceiling as I flew
over the grassy terrain.

“Ava!”

I rolled my eyes.
“Hang on, Greg.” I floored the pedal again and grinned to myself when I watched
our tail do the same.

“Come to Mama”
I chuckled under my breath as I sped up more, heading straight over the dark
grassy area and hoping no drunk teenagers were hiding out in the darkness.

As soon as I
saw the twinkle of the lake water I handbrake turned, skidding us round to the
right and then floored the accelerator again, boarding the path as the BMW
sailed straight into the lake behind us.

“Fuck Ava!”
Greg spluttered as he hung his head out of the window to watch the car bob
about on the water before the bonnet tipped and started to sink.

“Jesus
Christ Ava, where the fuck did you learn that?” Elijah shouted through the car
speaker and I grinned.

“It was
Katie’s speciality when we had nicked a car and were trying to outrun the
police” I laughed and silently sent a thank you up to my friend, her help and
guidance still saw me through even though she wasn’t with me.

“God bless
Katie” Greg chuckled and squeezed my thigh as I pulled us back out of the park
and headed towards home.

“Straight
back, Ava” Elijah said. “I’ve got some guys entering the park now to find him.”

I rolled my
eyes, “Yes Elijah” I said as I ended the call.

“God that
man annoys me!” I declared and Greg laughed.

“I still can’t
believe what you did, Ava.”

 My phone
rang and I frowned at the display. “William?” I answered.

“Ava,
Darling” William’s gravelly voice greeted and then he sighed, “I’m afraid I
have your fiancé in my club and he’s in a bit of mess, just thought I should
let you know.”

I grit my
teeth and Greg groaned. “On my way William, can you watch him, I’ll be twenty
minutes.”

Greg and I
walked through the main doors to The Black Panther and I smiled at the big
burly guy on reception. “Hi, I’m here to see Mr Jackson, Ava Stone.”

He nodded
once and pressed a button on his desk and almost immediately the back door
opened and William grinned at me through the glass partition before he opened
the interior door and huddled me into his embrace immediately.

 “William” I
breathed as I hugged him tightly. “It seems I owe you another favour” I smiled
at him but he kissed my cheek.

“Nonsense”
he said as he led us through the door and along the corridor that led to the
main bar.

“Is Mason
okay? He seems a bit… well a bit...” He didn’t finish and I groaned and grabbed
William’s arm before he opened the door.

“Is he
high?” I asked hesitantly and he frowned at me.

“I don’t
think so, just really, really drunk” he offered sadly as he opened the door.

I halted my
step as I saw Mason sat at one of the tables and my heart constricted. I felt Greg’s
hand settle on my shoulder.

“Breathe,
Ava” he whispered and I bit my lip to fight back the tears and the rage that
was simmering in the pit of my gut.

“Has he been
here the whole night or has he disappeared into one of the rooms?” I asked
William who smiled softly.

“No Darling,
he’s been sat at this table all night, don’t worry I’ve kept my eye on him” he
winked and I smiled and then took a huge breath.

“Ava, I
don’t think this is a very good idea” Greg warned and William placed his arm
around my waist.

“Not in here
Ava, please” I nodded at William and squeezed his hand to reassure him.

Closing my
eyes and digging up some much needed patience and tolerance I strode over to
Mason.

 He didn’t
notice me at first and Greg and I just stood watching him. He broke the kiss
and turned to the side, his eyes widening as he saw us then he dropped his
gaze.

I stood
silent as I turned my gaze to the woman sat next to him, realising how much of
a fuck whore she really was when I saw her outfit. She had a black leather
skirt that resembled a belt and I black bra and… well that was it.

I smiled
sweetly to her and she gulped, shifting in discomfort in her seat. “Now did I
not warn you what I would do if I found you with Mason again Rebecca?” I
sneered and she gulped.

I was thoroughly
calm and Greg shifted his feet beside me when he felt the malevolence and fury radiating
from me.

“Take him
home” I told Greg.

“But….” He
spluttered beside me.

“Take – him
- home!” I repeated and he sighed but nodded and went to grab hold of Mason.

“Come on
Mase, let’s get you home, dude” he said as he pulled him from the booth and
Mason slung his arm around Greg’s shoulder.

“Ava…” he
slurred but I raised my hand to him and cut him off. “Baby I… I need you...” I
rolled my eyes to him and cocked my head at him, the ice in my glare made him
take a step backwards.

 “Watch him
until I get back, he wants to score” I told to Greg as my hand shot out and
grabbed Rebecca’s hair as she tried to squeeze past me.

“Ava…”
William warned.

“Don’t worry,
William” I said warmly.

“You need to
use my office?” he asked as Greg pulled a struggling Mason through the door.

I shook my
head. “Nah, I don’t wanna ruin your carpet” I told him and I grabbed hold of
Rebecca’s wrist as I still held her hair. “Let’s walk” I told her quietly and
smiled when I heard a small whimper leave her lips.

“Camera’s?”
I asked William as I pulled her behind me, my anger giving me the firm grip I
needed to hold her.

“Front door,
beginning of the side alley and car park” he informed me frankly and I nodded.

“Thank you,
I’ll be back in shortly” I dragged Rebecca behind me along the corridor and
through the front doors to the wide eyed security guy.

“Everything
okay, Miss Stone?” he asked and I smiled softly at him.

“Everything
is fine, thank you.”

I dragged
her along the alleyway until we reached the bottom where I knew there were no
cameras and I shoved her into the fence; she hit it and slumped to the floor.
“Get up” I snarled but she shook her head vehemently and I turned my head as I
heard footsteps behind me.

William and
big security guy stood a small distance away just watching, and I guess William
was watching out for me.

“GET. UP!” I
demanded and she scurried to her feet at the vehemence in my tone.

“Ava, I
didn’t… I wasn’t going to do anything with him, he just… he just turned up
tonight and… and I was already here” she defended.

I nodded
slowly. “And why didn’t you walk away?” I asked quietly and she gulped.

“Well,
well…”

I landed the
first punch to her face and five minutes later I landed the last to her stomach
before I turned around and walked off, wishing I didn’t have to leave her alive
but I wasn’t leaving a child without a mother, I knew how much that hurt.

William took
my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “I made sure Mason didn’t… well
all they did was kiss. I think Rebecca had other ideas but Mason kept refusing
her so… well I suppose that’s something” he placated and I smiled at him.

“Thank you,
William.”

I removed my
hand from his arm and rubbed my face with my hands, groaning loudly. “He’s just
been through a rather bad heroin withdrawal” I revealed and William halted
beside me.

“Oh Ava,
sweetheart” he sighed and I patted his hand.

“Hey were
good, I’m just grateful he stuck to alcohol and didn’t score.”

 William
nodded but didn’t voice an opinion. “And when are you and Mason going to pay a
visit to the club, Ava?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye and I nudged him
with my elbow, grinning at him.

“Well I did
mention it to Mason but as yet we haven’t seem to find the time” I told him and
he halted again, his eyes sincere and sad.

“I heard
about Dane, Ava sweetheart.” He cupped my cheek, “I’m sorry, Darling.”

I side
hugged him. “Hey, I’m good” I told him as we walked back through the main doors
and my phone rang.

“Hi” I
whispered and he sighed.

“Stay there,
I’m on my way” I closed my eyes in relief at Nate’s voice. I nodded and then
realised he couldn’t see me.

“Okay” was
all I said before I cut the call. God, I loved the male half of my best friends,
he knew exactly what I needed and when I needed it.

I downed the
vodka and slid off the barstool as I saw Nate walk through the double doors and
his steps increased when he saw me.

His arms
enveloped me tightly as he reached me. “Jesus fuck Ava, I am gonna slaughter
your fiancé one day” he growled.

“Who rang
you?” I asked as he continued to hold me.

“Courtney”
he said and I smiled into Nate’s chest. God, I loved the female half of my best
friends, she knew exactly what I needed when I needed it.

I hugged
William goodbye and I let Nate hold me tightly around my waist as he led me out
to his car and I sunk into the seat.

“Home or
mine?” he asked and I desperately wanted to say his but I thought better of it,
knowing Mason would need to be watched tonight.

“Home, I’m
afraid” I told him and he glanced at me as he pulled off.

“Fuck him
Ava, let him get fucking stoned and mess up everything good he’s ever had in
his life if that’s what he wants to do” he spat and I sighed.

“Nate,
please” I pleaded but he shook his head.

“Do you know,
Ava? When I found Liv again after being apart and I found out what her husband
had done to her, I thought ‘Why the hell didn’t she leave him? Why did she put
up with the rapes and beatings?’ Well now I look at you and the exact same
thoughts are racing through my head.” He indicated left and pulled into a
street.

“But…” I
started but he cut me off with his hand.

“Don’t tell
me he would never hit you Ava because I know he probably never would but he
rules you, he fucks up time and time again because he knows you put up with it
and will take him back every time he does. He’s sick Ava, he has an addictive
personality and if it isn’t drugs, then its alcohol and if it isn’t alcohol…”
he looked at me, “well then it’s you or
her
” he breathed the last line
and I inhaled sharply.

Our eyes met
and he knew I understood what he was saying and I nodded and turned to the
window. “I can’t help who I fall in love with Nate; I didn’t pick him out of a
list of nominations that had documented curriculum vitae’s of their lives so I
could pick the best. It just happened and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do
about it… there
isn’t
a damn thing I can do about it… I love him, it’s
that simple and I know he loves me, more than life itself.” I bit my lip,
holding back the tears that were threatening to fall but disallowing them.

He settled
his hand over mine on my lap as he pulled up Mason’s driveway. “I know that
Ava, I don’t doubt that he loves you sweetheart but he’s… he’s tearing you
apart, he’s slowly destroying every bit of passion you ever had and he’s
trampling your identity, your spirit and your fucking heart, sweetheart.”

I sighed and
nodded and we remained in the silence of the car for a few more minutes whilst
I plucked up the courage to go in and confront Mason.

“There is
plenty of room for you, Georgie and Katie, Ava if you need it” he said softly
as he swept my hair from my forehead and planted a soft kiss.

“I know,
Nate” I whispered as I took a deep breath and exited the car.

I stood
immobile and silent for a while after Nate pulled off, pondering his words and
preparing myself for the sleepless night I knew was ahead of me.

As I took a
step towards the house I heard loud heavy revs of engines and then tyres on the
gravel behind me. I turned towards the sounds and frowned as I saw three cars
tear up the drive and squeal to a stop at the side of me.

Elijah shot
out of one of the doors with a huge grin. “We’ve got him Ava, we’ve fuckin’ got
him, he was in the car you turned into a sub” he laughed and I sank to my knees
on the gravel and closed my eyes, taking calming breaths before I opened them
and saw Dane held by the arms between two heavy guys.

I cocked my
head at him and grinned, a pure evil grin that made him shudder. “Well, well” I
smirked and he squirmed in his hold.

“Better go
wake, Mason” I laughed as I saw Dane’s face pale but then he smirked back.

“How’s his
addiction, Ava?” he chuckled and then he cocked his head back at me with a
gleam in his eye. “My friend did a good job of nurturing Mason’s addictive
tendencies.” The curl that donned his lips made my fury surge.

“What?” I
asked quietly and Elijah and Neo came to stand beside me.

Dane laughed
again, a hearty laugh that made his disfigured face seem even more mutilated.
“Well I couldn’t let you have all the fun, Ava. Let’s just say a friend of mine
introduced Mason to the delights of heroin.” He pursed his lips at me and he
knew I understood the meaning of his words.

Neo settled
a hand on my shoulder as I saw Greg and Sam walk out of the house and gawp
between Dane and I, their eyes widening hugely when they realised who was being
held before me.

 “Don’t bite,
Ava” he said quietly in my ear and Elijah grabbed my hand and I squeezed it
tightly, trying to fight back the urge to slaughter the man on my driveway.

I walked
slowly over to Dane, breathing steadily and I rolled my head around my neck,
amazed at how calm I actually felt. I stood before Dane and leaned forward;
taking a chunk of his hair in my grip I yanked his ear to my mouth.

“I am going
to enjoy watching you scream in pain. First I am going to smile whilst I take
the whip and watch it peel through every inch of your slimy skin and then I’m
going to take the poker and make sure it’s good and hot before I ram it up your
fucking arse and I’m going to laugh every second that I witness you beg for me
to finish you” I whispered in his ear.

I heard his
heavy swallow and I patted his cheek. “See you soon” I laughed as I walked away
and approached Sam.

“You know
somewhere for him?” Sam’s eyes didn’t leave Dane’s as he nodded his
acknowledgement. “Will you be able to hold him until the tomorrow afternoon?” I
asked, knowing that I would need Mason by my side for what I was about to do.