Tolerance (Heart of Stone) (28 page)

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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and I took a deep breath and nodded and then he
passed me another envelope “And this is Commissioner Robert Delaney’s copy” he
smiled and then he passed me a A4 sized white envelope “And this Ava is a
little gift for you that I had undertaken” he smiled softly at me and I noticed
a tear in the corner of his eye.

I frowned and opened the envelope, taking out the
document. I puffed out a large breath and a sob tore from me as I read it and I
turned my stunned face to William who smiled tenderly at me “I had the baby
tested as soon as she delivered. Her or Mason didn’t have any idea, I have
friends everywhere Ava” he explained with a wicked chuckle as I sobbed out a
relieved cry and closed my eyes as I took everything in “I don’t know what to
say William” he shrugged “It’s a pleasure Ava. You love Mason so much that
you’re willing to risk everything for him and that tells me how much of a good
person you are” he side huddled me and kissed my cheek “Now go raise some hell”
he chuckled and I beamed at him and for once everything in my life seemed to be
slotting nicely into place.

My phone rang as I exited the bank “Nate” I answered
hopefully “Ava, I’ve managed to secure a meeting for next Friday at 4:30, that
was the earliest” he told me and I smiled to myself “That’s perfect Nate” I
said as I ended the call and made my way to the hospital, desperately needing a
cuddle from my babies.

I frowned when I arrived and Mason wasn’t there “Have you
seen Mason this morning?” I asked Glenda, the nurse who had taken care of my
babies with me since their birth. She shook her head “No, I was surprised by
his absence” she told me as I lifted Katie out of her crib and Glenda placed
George into my other arm “Strange” I frowned.

 
I spent the next
hour tending to the babies and then went outside to phone Mason “Avaaa…” he
answered and I froze. Was he drunk? It was only lunchtime “Mason…
are
you okay?” I asked cautiously and he laughed loudly “Am
I? I don’t know Ava” he slurred and I frowned severely “Mason, tell me what’s
wrong baby” I pleaded and my heart froze at his next words “Everything’s
fucking wrong Ava. You’re fucking wrong, the babies are fucking wrong, hell why
don’t I just give up!” he shouted and I knew in that moment he had taken some
coke

“Where are you Mason?” I asked slowly “I have no fucking
idea but there are lots of pretty ladies” he snorted and the bile rose in my
throat “Mason, I need you to tell me where you are?” I asked more sternly but
he ended the call as he said hello to somebody. My heart was beating too fast
and my breathing was heavy and irregular.

I dialled Sam “Sam, are you with Mason?” I asked quickly
as soon as he answered “No, why” he asked hesitantly and I knew immediately he
was aware of something going off with Mason “Sam, tell me. I don’t care what it
is just fucking tell me” I demanded and he sighed “Rebecca’s father is making
him move out to America Ava” he breathed.

I closed my eyes and exhaled “FUCK!!!” I snarled “When
did he find out?” I asked “Last night, he rang me in a panic. He didn’t know
how to tell you Ava. Delaney has him by the balls, there’s nothing he can do
about it without risking your freedom Ava. Don’t be angry with him” he pleaded
and I sighed “I’m not angry at the situation, I’m angry that he couldn’t tell
me” I fumed “You’ve no idea where he is?” I asked again “No” Sam said simply
“Well he’s fucking coked up again” I declared and I heard his hiss “Shit!” he
paused “Listen Ava, you try his house and I’ll try the clubs okay?” he stated
and I agreed.

 
I rushed into the
hospital and told Glenda that I would be gone for a while and I climbed into my
car. I shouldn’t be driving until six weeks after birth but I hated buses with
a vengeance. I raced over to his house hoping that Rebecca wouldn’t be there.

I rolled to a stop in front of his house and flew out of
my car and into the house, a feeling of unease settling over me. The door was
unlocked and I frowned. He must be here if the door was open.

 
I checked in the
kitchen but there was no sign of him, the lounge was empty so I made my way
upstairs. He wasn’t in the bathroom either so I walked into his bedroom.

I halted as I stepped in and my world crumbled around me.
He was laid naked on the bed as a thin blonde was riding him, the sounds of
slapping flesh and moans loud in the room.

A whimper escaped my throat and my knees buckled as I
grabbed hold of the door frame and my heart shattered into a million pieces but
then Mason succeeded to grind each tiny little fragment into the carpet with
each word that left his mouth “Hey Ava, have you come for that threesome baby”
he laughed and pushed the girl off him as he stumbled over to me.

His eyes were vacant but his pupils were completely shot
and his face was pale and slack “Hey baby, show my friend your gorgeous pussy”
he smiled sickly and reached out to me.

My fury rose to a new extreme, a level I hadn’t achieved
before and I pulled my arm back, way back and punched him so formidably in the
face that his nose splattered and his cheek bone shattered as he crumpled to
the floor.

The girl screamed and scrambled about for her clothes,
pulling them on in frenzy. I kicked him in the stomach as he tried to get up
and then I spat on him, turned and walked out while dialling Sam

 
“You found him
Ava?” he asked out of breath “Oh yeah, I found him all right. You’d better get
round to his house and peel him off the fucking floor Sam” I growled as I shook
with rage

 
“Ava?” he asked
quietly “I just found him fucking some tart in his bed” I whispered and I heard
Sam groan “Ava, wait until I get there sweetheart” he pleaded and I snorted “No
Sam, I don’t want to kill him. I’ll be at the hospital” I informed him.

 
I strode into the
neo-natal, immediately unhooked the equipment from my babies and pulled them in
tight and then I sobbed; uncontrollably, loudly and hysterically until a doctor
came and sedated me.

“Hey” Courtney said softly as I came round. My head was
banging and I felt sick “How long have I been out?” I asked as I pulled myself
up in the hospital bed. She came and sat down beside me “A few hours” she said
softly and I nodded “You okay Ava?” Greg asked from the corner of the room and
I looked over at him. His face was full of pity and anguish as he leant against
the wall “

You heard then?” I lowered my head and he nodded sadly
“Sam rang me” he said and looked at the floor. I bit my lip harshly to stop the
tears “No more, no fucking more” I breathed and Courtney nodded grimly “Oh
babe” she sighed and huddled me up as Greg took a step towards me “It’s just
the coke Ava, he won’t have even realised what he was doing?” he explained or
excused for Mason, I wasn’t sure which “Oh he knew who
I
was” I snorted “he asked me to join in” I laughed bitterly as
Courtneys eyes widened and Greg swore “No more Greg. I have my babies to think
of now, I won’t let him keep doing this to me”

I sighed and swung my legs over the edge of the bed “Just
tell him to stay away from me” I asked him and he cringed “Please Greg” I
pleaded and he tipped his head “I’ll tell him Ava but I won’t be able to stop
him” he shrugged and I nodded faintly.

Courtney helped me off the bed and took my arm “I want my
babies” I said and she nodded “Come on mama” she said bleakly and I let her
escort me to what I needed more than life itself.

I arrived home late and I smiled to myself “Get past that
arsehole” I said smugly as I laughed at the new chain I had fitted on the back
door and slid it across. I brewed a coffee, took a muffin from the fridge and
climbed up the stairs.

I had been in bed reading for about an hour when I heard
the first bang on the front door. I inhaled heavily and turned up the volume on
my IPod as the door banged again. I turned it up louder as I heard him shout
and then my phone buzzed to life, which I hastily declined. Mason spent the
next hour trying to enter my house until I sent him a text

ME

Fuck off or I
promise I will phone the police!

MASON

Please let me in baby.
I’m so sorry Ava, please let me talk to you!!! I love you baby

ME

Don’t ever call me
baby again! Now fuck off before I keep my promise!

MASON

I’m going nowhere
until you let me in!

I grinned as I dialled 999 and told them I was been
harassed by a man who was trying to enter my house.

I heard the sirens ten minutes later and grinned wider as
I watched through the window, as they escorted Mason into the back of the car
as a policewoman knocked on my front door.

I filled in a statement then went back to bed. I knew he
would be furious with me for what I had done but at that moment in time I
didn’t give a shit and I hoped they kept him in that cold bloody cell all
night.

I groaned and stretched out the next morning, my head
pounding and as I turned to look at the clock, I spluttered as I saw Mason sat
in the corner wicker chair.
What the
hell?!!!

“GET FUCKING OUT!!!!” I screamed at him but he just
rubbed his face with his hands “Ava….please” he begged and stood up, taking a
step towards me. I scrambled backwards up the bed and the hurt in his face
pleased me immensely “Ava, I’m not gonna hurt you baby” he said quietly “I told
you to never call me that again!” I yelled “Now fuck off before I phone the
police again” I warned and he sighed deeply and held my phone up “Give it me
Mason” I snarled and it was then I saw the huge purple bruise on his cheek and
the Steri-strip bandage across his nose, and I beamed inwardly, very pleased
with myself

“Ava, please listen to me” he said despondently but I
shook my head rapidly “No!!! No fucking more Mason. I can’t do this. You have
finally succeeded in breaking the remaining piece of my heart...shattered it
into fucking smithereens!
 
NOW GO!!!” I sobbed
and he screwed his face up at my words “No Ava. I won’t let you end this!” he
shouted back desperately “You don’t have a choice, you bastard!!” I yelled as I
scrambled off the bed and realised I was naked.

Mason groaned and closed his eyes slowly and I smiled
inside “Take a good look Mason cause you won’t be seeing it ever again” he
gulped and gazed at me, holding my eyes as I stood there daring him to look at
my body but give him credit, he managed to keep the hold on my eyes.

I pulled on my robe and scurried into the bathroom to
empty my bladder, then switched on the shower, deciding to torture him some
more. He followed me in as I knew he would and I slid my robe slowly down my
shoulders and stepped into the shower, leaving the door open to torment him
further.

I could feel his eyes on me as I soaped my hands and
slithered them round my neck, down my breasts slowly, circling around my
nipples and then down my stomach and in-between my legs, closing my eyes and
moaning as I washed myself “Ava…please” he gulped and I opened my eyes and cocked
an eyebrow at him “Did you want something Mason?” I asked sweetly.

He groaned and closed his eyes and I cast a quick glance
to his groin, smiling wickedly to myself as I saw his obvious hard erection “I
think you’ve got a problem there Mason” I gestured to his crotch “You better go
and find another tart to ease the pressure for you” I sneered. His face went
dark and he bit his lip then his hand swept across the vanity, scattering and
smashing the contents over the floor, glass shattered everywhere and I grit my
teeth in anger as he stormed off.