The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (109 page)

“Can I see them?” I asked as the uncontrollable urge to hold them tore through me.

“I’ll get the nurse.” He smiled but bent to kiss me tenderly on the lips. “I love you so much Ava, when . . . when you screamed on that trolley and . . . the blood, it was . . . it was everywhere . . . I thought . . . I thought . . .”

He broke down, his head buried against my chest as he sobbed and sobbed, proper wailing cries which broke my heart and brought my own tears forward. “Shush Mason, I’m okay baby, I’m okay. The babies are okay, we’re gonna be fine,” I soothed as I stroked his hair and planted kisses on his head.

The nurse peeked her head through the door, smiled gently as she saw the scene before her and then gestured five minutes with her fingers. I nodded and turned my attention back to my man, he needed me for a change. It was usually him consoling me but this time it was down to me to give him the love and devotion he so needed.

“Shush, baby,” I whispered as his sobs calmed and he climbed on the bed fully, careful of all the tubes and wires inserted into various parts of my body, lay beside me and wrapped me up carefully in his embrace.

“I love you,” he breathed against my neck as he nuzzled me.

“And me, you Mason, with everything I am baby.”

CHAPTER 29

MY BREATH WEDGED in my throat and my lungs seemed too big for my body, my hands shook and my blood coursed through my veins as I saw my beautiful babies for the first time; they were tiny, gorgeous and absolutely perfect.

A sob tore through my throat as I saw them hooked up to what looked like every machine in the hospital.

“It’s just to monitor them, they’re doing brilliantly,” the nurse said. She reminded me of a sergeant major with her near shaved head and stern expression but she had the softest calming voice I had ever heard.

I nodded and turned my attention back to the two little incubators. “Hey,” I whispered as I leaned in further to observe them more.

“Would you like to hold them?” the nurse asked as Mason sunk into a chair beside me.

“Yes!” I choked out. She beamed at me and proceeded to unhook some things and connect some other things before she lifted the girl out and manoeuvred her and the wires over to me.

The feeling of pure love, worry and adoration shrouded me as I held my daughter for the first time, she was absolutely stunning and I knew then that she would break many hearts, from her large eyes to her curly copper hair and her tiny nose.

“Hi Katie,” I whispered.

Mason choked back a sob as he heard her name for the first time. His hand slid into my hair and he placed a kiss on my head.

“Katie?” the nurse asked and I nodded.

“Katie Hope Fox,” I informed her as she wrote it down on her clipboard. “Katie after my friend and Hope after my mother.” I smiled thoughtfully as I stroked her smooth chubby cheek with the back of my fingers.

“Would you like to hold your son?” she asked Mason, who grinned widely at her. She chuckled and leant over the crib. “Daddy’s back,” she said to my baby boy.

I gathered that Mason had been a regular visitor while I had been out cold. “Any names for this one yet?” she asked as she lay him in Mason’s arms.

“It’s Daddy’s choice.” I smiled as I leaned over to take a look at my handsome boy. Mason tipped his head at me and I nodded eagerly.

He kissed our baby on the head. “George Mason Fox,” he whispered.

A tear slipped free from my eye. “George after his step-grandfather and his Uncle and Mason, for me of course.”

I frowned quizzically at him. “His uncle?” I asked.

He nodded. “Kerrie’s twin, my brother was named George,” he said softly as he planted another tiny kiss on George’s wispy brown hair.

I had known they wouldn’t be identical but I was amazed that they were so different; each of their features seemed to be the complete opposite of their sibling; from their hair colour, the shape of their eyes and the size of their noses.

George was a little bigger than his sister but Katie seemed to be a little longer and I instinctively knew that George, being the bigger of the two would protect his sister with his very soul and that knowledge thrilled and comforted me.

“They’re so beautiful,” I sighed.

“They are, but with our looks baby they didn’t have much choice,” Mason winked at me.

Katie gurgled and fidgeted in my arms and my heart swelled to an enormous size as she opened her eyes and stared straight at me. “Hey, sweet pea,” I whispered. “You are gonna want for nothing Katie, I’m gonna make sure you have so much love, you and your brother. I will be here through everything and I promise that no-one will ever hurt you.” I kissed her forehead and turned to see Mason regarding me, his eyes glazed and his lips sucked severely behind his teeth.

“I promise Ava, I promise to take care and protect you all.” His face was pained and I knew he was referring to the unconventional relationship we had.

Grabbing his hand, I brought it to my lips. “I know Mason,” I said adamantly but he looked away. “Hey, none of that today,” I stated. He looked back at me and nodded hesitantly. “We are a family Mason, whether you’re with us or not.”

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then opened them, once again displaying all the love, warmth and dedication he felt for us.

There was a tap on the window to the side of us and I looked up to see Courtney, Sam and Marcy beaming at us.

“You’re not supposed to have too many visitors but I’ll let them in for five minutes.” The nurse smiled and she waved them in.

All three wasted no time and within seconds they were at our side, cooing and ahhing at my children. “Oh Ava, they are beautiful,” Marcy declared, hugging me with eyes full of tears.

Sam slapped Mason on the back and then kissed my cheek. “Congratulations Ava,” he whispered as he placed a gentle kiss on each of the babies’ heads.

I looked up and saw Courtney regarding us from the edge of the room, her face tight as she tried to rein in her emotions.

“Aunty Courtney, meet Katie and George,” I said to my friend.

She gulped before approaching slowly and squatted in front of them both, stroking their faces softly and declaring to each of them to protect and love them as tears slid down her face.

“Speaking of George, I rang him last night,” she said as she stood and kissed my cheek. “He’s on his way.” She grinned at me knowing I would be ecstatic at the thought of George coming.

“I’m afraid times up,” the nurse told them and they nodded.

“You need anything, Ava?” Courtney asked but Mason shook his head at her.

“No, I fetched all Ava’s stuff in last night.”

She smiled and nodded. “Okay, mama and papa, I’ll see you later.” She bent to kiss me again and then kissed Mason on the cheek and I heard her tell him to take care of me but I knew he would anyway.

* * *

I was allowed home ten days later but I was anxious about leaving the babies behind.

“Ava, they’ll be fine,” Mason said as he unlocked the cottage door and ushered me in. I inhaled deeply, relaxing instantly at the familiar smell of my home.

“I know.” I sighed with tears in my eyes.

“Come on, I have something to show you.” He grinned and my brow furrowed.

“What are you up to?” I asked hesitantly but he took my hand, leading me upstairs and into the spare bedroom.

My mouth dropped open as I exhaled noisily.

The room had been transformed into a beautiful nursery, all decorated in lemons and soft greys. There were two white antique metal cots, two changing tables, two little wardrobes and drawers but what took my breath was the wall above the cots. Above each one, the babies’ names had been painted beautifully in a script font and the effect was stunning.

“Oh wow!” I breathed. Mason embraced me from behind, his chin resting on the top of my head.

“Do you like it?” he asked quietly.

I scoffed, “I love it.” I swallowed heavily and his mouth found my ear as he nibbled on my earlobe.

“I did it myself,” he divulged and I turned wide eyed to stare at him.

“Really?” I was stunned. He nodded and smiled shyly. “Mason . . . it’s amazing. It’s perfect.” I palmed his face and pulled him down for a kiss. “I love you” I breathed against his lips. “Thank you for . . . for everything, but most of all, for our perfect children.”

He kissed me this time. “No Ava, it’s me that should be thanking you; you’ve made me complete, baby.”

* * *

The next few weeks were exhausting as my life revolved around visiting the hospital, spending time with my man and preparing for the babies to come home. They were doing great and I was told they should be able to come home in a couple of weeks.

Every morning when I stepped into the nursery at the hospital they appeared to have grown and become stronger and I couldn’t hold back the grin that erupted on my face every time I looked at them, they gave me so much joy and love already.

Mason tried to visit as often as possible and always made sure he spent the weekend with us but I understood the weekdays were hard but he phoned me every night for an update.

The following Saturday morning I was rushing about, trying to clean the house as I got things ready for my hospital visit when my phone rang.

I looked around manically for it, cursing when I couldn’t spot it. I eventually found it under a pile of ironing on the table. My heart skipped as I saw who it was and with shaking hands I swiped the screen

“William, please tell me you have good news?” I asked as I closed my eyes.

“Oh, the best Ava, the fucking best,” William laughed. I collapsed into a chair and calmness settled over me for the first time in weeks.

CHAPTER 30

“NATE,” I SAID as I heard him answer his phone.

“Hey Ava, how are you?” I sensed the smile behind his voice.

“Excellent Nate, in fact I’m better than excellent but I need a favour.” I grimaced as he paused.

“Why am I worried, Ava?”

I laughed. “Don’t worry; you don’t have to do much . . . I just need you to make an appointment with Commissioner Delaney. I know he won’t entertain an appointment with me so I need to do it in your name and . . . I need you to come with me,” I asked apprehensively.

He was silent for a moment. “Ava . . . what are you up to?”

“I can’t tell you yet but please, Nate,” I begged, “I really need you to do this.”

He sighed heavily. “Okay, I’ll text you a date and time,” he said slowly, “But you have to promise me Ava, that you’ll be careful.”

I smiled at his protectiveness. “I promise Nate and I promise to tell you everything once I have done this.”

“Okay, give me an hour,” he said and ended the call. I rang the hospital and told them to inform Mason I was running late and I made my way over to The Black Panther.

* * *

“You ready for this Ava?” William chuckled. I knew it would be good by the look on his face. I nodded and he inserted the disc into the slot beside a huge screen and it fizzed and then exploded to life.

My eyes widened, my jaw dropped and my body broke out in goosebumps. I glanced at William who laughed at my expression. “Oh yes, Ava,” he declared.

I closed my eyes in relief. “Oh William, I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for this.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “Ava dear, Mason has been a good friend to me, he’s helped me out plenty of times and I want to see him happy just as much as you do.”

I stood and embraced him, holding him tightly and then planted a kiss on his cheek as I turned my attention back to the image on the screen.

Robert Delaney was dressed in a pair of tight leather shorts and he was holding a long black leather whip. Three naked men were bent over in front of him as Robert whipped each one to within a breath of their lives. They were laid out on the floor bleeding and comatose as he still continued to whip them. Then he dropped the whip to the floor and buggered each unconscious man. His face was bright and clear on the screen and it would be impossible to pass this person for somebody else.

“I also have another little surprise for you, Ava.” William grinned wickedly as he ejected the disc and inserted another. “I managed to get hold of this from a friend, I can’t disclose their name because they want to remain anonymous but . . . enjoy, if that’s an appropriate thing to say that to this recording.”

The screen buzzed to life again to show Robert being fucked by a large fat man but underneath Robert was another man laid flat and naked. Robert had what looked like a leather cat o’ nine tails wrapped around the man’s throat. My mouth went dry as I continued to watch the scene before me.

Nausea rose as I watched Robert simultaneously bugger the man while he choked him to death.

My eyes were huge as it revealed Robert and the fat man desperately try to resuscitate the dead man, but when they eventually realised they couldn’t rescue him Robert loudly told the other man to dispose of the body and make sure he did a good job.

I was astounded as I turned to stare at William who nodded slowly. “
Jesus,
” I breathed and nearly passed out.

William sat beside me on his couch, taking my hand and circling my palm with his thumb. “Breathe Ava, just take some deep breaths sweetheart,” he said calmly. I choked as my lungs filled with a sudden blast of air.

He walked over to his desk and dialled a number into his phone, “Beverly could you fetch Miss Stone a brandy please.” He replaced the receiver and came back to me. “Nice and slow, Sweetheart,” he stated as I leant my head between my knees.

I recovered and took another look at the image on the screen and then looked back at William. “Nasty.” He shook his head in dismay.

He walked over to his desk as Beverley came in with a glass of brandy and a soft smile. “There you go, Miss Stone.” She flicked a glance at the screen and then looked at me sympathetically before disappearing through the doorway.

William approached me with two brown envelopes. “There’s two copies of everything here Ava; both discs and some stills. I have kept two copies for insurance purposes and if anything should happen I have all the information I need to out him. You need to put your copies in a safe place but separately, sweetheart. A safety deposit box or something similar, you need to cover your ass from every side in this,” he warned.