The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone (68 page)

“No! He wouldn’t but I dunno, it’s just frightening to see the rage in his eyes. It’s kind of like he’s not in there, that another evil version of himself has possessed him.” I laughed sheepishly, embarrassed by my confession but she didn’t laugh.

“Have you spoken to him?” I shook my head.

“I’ve been trying to find the time all week. I’ve been training for my new job so I don’t get in while 6:30 then he goes as soon as I come in.” I sighed and my eyes welled up.

Courtney shot up and sat beside me, propping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me into a side hug.

“I think . . . I think he might be . . . back with Rebecca.” I hissed her name as another tear fell.

“Oh babe, he loves you. I’m sure he wouldn’t.”

“But what if he’s back on the coke, Courtney? He’ll not even be able to control himself,” I choked out and she huddled me deeper.

“Ava, talk to him tomorrow. Promise me,” she demanded. I nodded, knowing I desperately needed to before it went too far.

“Hey, come on . . . girlie night. Get that popcorn on and I’ll crank up the DVD.” She grinned and walked over to the player, ejecting a disc that was already in there.

I saw her frown deeply at it and I walked over to see what it was. “What is it?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I dunno but look.” She showed it me and my jaw fell. It was a regular disc but someone had stuck a sticker on it and the words froze my blood.

‘
WHORE!’

I swallowed heavily and passed it her back. “Play it.”

“Ava . . . I don’t think we should babe,” she whispered, looking at me with concern.

“Play it, Courtney,” I snapped. She sighed but slipped it into the player and came to sit beside me on the sofa.

I hit play and a start-up screen came into view with the word ‘play’ beside the word ‘whore.’

Courtney grimaced. “Ava . . . I really . . .” She didn’t finish as I pressed play and the picture faded into an image of a kitchen. My stomach flipped harshly when I realised it was Mason’s kitchen. It showed me and Mason stood at the counter whisking pancake mixture, him behind me as he held the whisk with me. My heart beat faster once I realised what the clip was showing but I couldn’t bring myself to switch it off.

It zoomed in to show Mason’s hands slip round to cup my breasts and nibble my neck.

“Oh shit Ava,” Courtney breathed and reached for the remote.

“Leave it!” I barked. She flinched but didn’t turn it off.

The film then proceeded to show me and Mason having sex in the window seat and after it faded out, it faded back in to Mason’s front room at night, the lamp lighting the room softly as I came into view, pulling Mason over to the sofa and straddling him as he peeled off my red silk dress, showing me wearing a red lace bra and thong as I rode Mason hard.

Courtney had gone pale and she was struggling to breathe. “W. .w. .hat the h. .hell is this?” she stammered.

I couldn’t speak as the next scene came into view. It was the night of Brian’s party where Mason had pressed me up against the wall and fucked me roughly.

“Jesus, Ava” Courtney spluttered. “You know if it wasn’t so creepy I’d find this quite hot.” She stared at me, her eyes wide.

“Why the hell would Mason be making home movies without telling me?”

“Mason hasn’t made these, Ava. I don’t think he would write whore on it do you?” she countered as we both struggled to take our eyes off the screen to see what came next.

The next clip showed the bathroom and Mason nailing me on the vanity unit. “Is sex always like this with you and Mason?” Courtney asked with a slight giggle. “Jesus, I need a man like that.”

I slapped her arm. “If you don’t mind, we’re not watching it for entertainment,” I scolded but she just giggled again.

“Sorry babe, it’s just a bit weird watching your bestie have sex . . . and very good fucking sex at that.” she chuckled. “I told you I didn’t want to watch it, Ava,” she sighed.

The next part of the movie took our breath.

The screen went white and some writing appeared.

I’M GOING TO ENJOY

WATCHING YOUR

WHORE SCREAM IN PAIN

WHILE SHE DIES

Oh Shit!

We both stared at the words in shock.

“Oh Fuck, Ava!” Courtney puffed and sagged into the sofa.

I turned slowly to look at her, my mouth wide. “Why the hell didn’t Mason tell me?”

Courtney softened her eyes. “Oh babe,” she whispered as she saw my expression.

I was fuming! Something so serious and he kept it to himself.

“Well at least we know why he’s acting up.”

I scoffed. “But why would he stay away from me? It doesn’t make sense Courtney; surely this would make him want to stay near me. Somebody is trying to kill me and he leaves me alone every fucking, bloody night.” The rage was surfacing and I was furious at him.

I could tell by Courtney’s expression that she agreed with me. “Yeah that is a bit fucking low!” she hissed as she realised the seriousness of the situation and Mason’s lack of attention.

I rubbed my hands over my face. Courtney reached over and finally shut down the DVD but I walked back over to it and ejected the disc.

Picking up my phone I dialled Mason’s number; it rang once and went to voicemail. I pursed my lips at his obvious decline of the call.

“Do you think there are cameras in here?” Courtney asked absentmindedly, looking round the room. I shivered and looked around.

“Fuck, I hope not,” I answered. “I’m sure Mason will have checked after he received it.” She nodded but not convincingly.

I picked up my phone again and dialled Sam. “Hi,” he shouted over some loud music.

“Where is he Sam?” I asked bluntly. He paused.

“I don’t know, why?” he answered but not before he hesitated long enough to grab my attention.

“Tell me Sam, where the fuck is he?”

“Ava, just leave him,” he advised quietly as I heard a door click shut and the background noise disappear.

“I will not just fucking leave him Sam, where the fuck is he?” I was gulping for breath in my fury.

“He’s at the club where he told you he would be,” he lied slowly, trying to calm me.

“Okay, so if I come down there; I’ll find him will I?” I asked angrily.

I heard him hesitate again. “Ava, please. You need to let him deal with this on his own. Don’t be up when he gets in,” he warned and I exploded.

“WHAT THE FUCK SAM? WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HIM?”

I could sense Sam’s guilt as he sighed. “Ava, sweetheart. Please . . .” he gulped.

“Oh fuck off, Sam!” I screamed and disconnected.

Courtney looked at me with sympathy and it was only because she was my best friend I didn’t smack her. “I don’t want sympathy Courtney, I want fucking answers,” I growled.

She held her hands up, “Ava . . .” she sighed.

“I’m sorry, hun” I closed my eyes and sagged down onto the sofa. “I need to get to the bottom of this,” I told her. I was determined it was going to be tonight.

CHAPTER 37

COURTNEY LEFT, AGAINST her wishes. She had wanted to stay to make sure I was okay but I sent her home, needing to deal with Mason alone. I turned all the lights off and settled on the sofa, awaiting his return.

At 4:30 he crashed through the front door. I stayed silent as he bumped into everything on his way to the kitchen. I heard him scramble around for something in the cupboards, swearing when he obviously couldn’t find what he wanted.

“Fuck it!” he snarled to himself and walked into the room, presumably to grab the whisky bottle from the cabinet in here.

He dragged himself across the room and switched on the lamp when he finally managed to get to it. He jumped when he saw me and narrowed his eyes. His pupils were shot and bloody, he had a few days growth and his clothes were crumpled . . . he looked like shit!

“Hey, darling.” I smiled sweetly.

“What the fuck are you doing up at this time? You need your sleep,” he admonished sharply.

“As though you care.” I scoffed and he glared at me.

“What the fuck Ava, of course I care,” he hissed and turned round to grab the whisky bottle but his reactions were too slow and I got to it before him, grabbing it and storming into the kitchen, I poured it down the sink.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he shouted and grabbed my arm, trying to pull the bottle back.

I slammed the empty bottle on the counter. “I think you’ve had enough, Mason.”

He grabbed both my arms. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he snarled.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What the hell is wrong with me?” I scoffed and pushed him back but his grip tightened on me. “Let go of me, Mason,” I demanded slowly but he stood glaring at me, still gripping my arms in a painful hold which I knew would bruise by tomorrow.

I pushed him more forcibly and he stumbled back this time. I stormed into the room, him hot on my trail. The pure rage coursing through me was the only thing giving me courage to stand up to his fury. He rushed around in front of me, his face full of rage and his fists clenched. I regarded him and shook my head sadly. “Why won’t you talk to me, Mason?” I asked sorrowfully. I saw a flicker of remorse in his eyes but he quickly shut it away and glowered at me.

“Ha! She wants to know why I won’t talk to her,” he scoffed and gestured to nobody in particular then settled his gaze on me again. He started slowly stalking me, leisurely walking towards me.

I backed into the wall, I was starting to get a little afraid. It was obvious he was high and I was unsure of what he would be capable of in this state.

His hands slammed at the side of my head as he caged me in and I swallowed heavily. “You want me to talk to you, Ava? Cos’ all I wanna do is fuck you till you shut the fuck up,” he spat coldly. The malice in his voice turned my blood to ice. My eyes widened and my breath halted at his vicious words.

He cocked his head but then grasped my chin harshly in his thumb and finger and pierced my eyes with his dead empty ones.

My breathing sped up along with my pulse. He crashed his mouth on mine, kissing me roughly. I refused to give him a reaction so I stood still as his tongue tried to force its way in but I remained tight lipped.

He pulled back slightly. “Kiss me, damn it,” he ordered and came back down for another, bruising my lips and pulling at my nearly healed stitches. It now was getting painful, I pushed him back and slapped him hard across his stony face.

His eyes widened with shock and then he growled viciously. I wondered if I had gone too far. I gulped as my eyes filled with tears but I refused to let them fall, denying him a reaction to his callousness.

He pulled his lips angrily between his teeth and punched the wall beside me. “FUCK YOU AVA!” he roared as he stepped backwards. I took the opportunity to slide past him, not wanting to be caged in again.

“What do you want from me, Ava?” he thundered.

I turned to him and flung the DVD at him. “ANSWERS MASON, I WANT SOME FUCKING ANSWERS!” I screamed. His face paled as he saw the disc fall at his feet.

He looked up at me, his face now showing pain and horror. “Where did you find that?”

I shook my head. “If you don’t want me to see things Mason you should learn to hide them. You left it in the DVD player.” I told him quietly.

He raked his hands through his hair. “
FUCK!”
he hissed. “You weren’t meant to find that.”

I scoffed. “Well fucking obviously. What is it Mason, you wanted to keep it to yourself? You like to sit watching us fuck, eh?” I asked full of disgust.

“ARGHHHHH” he screamed, swiping the contents of the sideboard onto the floor and punched the wall again . . . twice!

“Oh for fucks sake, Mason,” I slammed and turned to leave but he grabbed my arm again.

There comes another fucking bruise!

He swung me round and stared straight into my soul. “Ava,” he whispered painfully and lifted his hand to my cheek. I flinched. He gasped and pulled away. “Ava . . . I wouldn’t hurt you.”

I laughed bitterly. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing now, eh? What is it Mason? What are you hiding?”

He spun round, pulling at his hair in agitation. “You won’t understand,” he snapped and placed a hand on the wall, resting his forehead on it.

“Try me, Mason. We can’t work this out if you won’t tell me,” I pleaded, calmer now but he shook his head and sighed.

“No Ava, you won’t.”

I bit my lip, preparing myself for the answer to my next question. “Are you fucking somebody else?” I asked quietly.

He turned sharply. “No! No Ava,” he swore but I shook my head sadly, hurt at his refusal to talk to me.

“I’m sorry Mason. I can’t do this anymore,” I sobbed, the tears now finally flowing.

He dashed over to me. “Ava, please,” he begged but I just shook my head.

“I can’t deal with secrets and lies, Mason. Your fucking mood swings are killing me. You are obviously back on the coke and I refuse to let you make me suffer with you.”

He stood silently begging with his eyes. I sighed sadly and turned to leave. “Ava . . .” he breathed and I paused, waiting for an explanation but he remained silent.

I let out a sob and carried my weary legs up the stairs. Pulling my case from the wardrobe, I flung some clothes in it; not caring that they would be crushed and creased. The need to get away from him spurred me on and after retrieving my toiletries and ramming them into my case, I yanked the zip round, snagging it twice in my haste.

Pulling it behind me I descended the stairs and saw him stood in the kitchen doorway looking broken. “Ava, baby please . . .” he choked out. The ache in his eyes broke my heart. The pure need and desperation in them giving me reason to reconsider my decision.

I walked over to him and cupped his cheek gently. He rested against it, closing his eyes and pressing a kiss into my palm.

“I love you Mason, I always will. You helped heal me and give me back the confidence I needed. I will love you for eternity for that alone,” I whispered.

He opened his eyes. “Then stay,” he begged softly but I shook my head slowly.

“I can’t, Mason. You’re crushing my heart. You make it bleed, drop by fucking drop and soon you’re gonna squeeze it dry and destroy it completely.”