Incineration (Heart of Stone) (38 page)

Standing, he walked over to the front door and ran his
fingers over the broken lock and then turned to look at me. His jaw was tense
and his head was tipped to the side slightly. I shook my head and whimpered and
he bit his bottom lip, now really understanding that things were really really
wrong

 “Wait here” he said sternly and I nodded frantically. No
way was I going back in there.

“Mason” I choked out and he turned back to me “The…the…” I
pulled at my hair to kick my brain into gear “The bed..bed..room and…and…the
r..room” I stuttered out and he narrowed his eyes but nodded once and entered.

I waited and waited and waited some more and when what
seemed like an eternity had passed he came back out. He was angry; in fact he
was
very
angry and he held onto the doorframe in an effort to compose
himself. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled a number “Get to Ava’s
now” he snapped and ended it abruptly. He finally looked over at me and he
closed his eyes, took a deep calming breath and came over to me.

Plonking down heavily beside me he took my hand, stroking
his thumb over my knuckles as he wrapped his other arm over my shoulder and pulled
me into his side.

 We sat in silence until Sam pulled up on the road in front
of us. We must have looked a sight, sat hugging each other in a pool of
gladiola and vomit and the expression on Sam’s face as he gazed at us would
have been quite funny if there wasn’t a slaughtered rabbit in my bed and a room
full of ravaged photographs in my house

“Mason?” he asked slowly and Mason gestured to the house
“Room and Bedroom” he stated simply as he refused to let go of me, huddling me
tighter against him. I wasn’t sure who was supporting who at this stage but Hey!
Maybe we needed each other

“Ava?” Mason said softly and I raised my eyes to his “Baby,
when did you find the rabbit?” his eyes held mine, encouraging me to tell him
“When…when I woke this morning” I sniffed and my stomach revolted at the image
of the rabbit that was swimming through my head. He clenched his teeth together
so severely I heard them scrape against each other and he tightened his hold on
me, his breathing had sped up and his eyes had the glassy look I was getting
familiar with.

Sam exited the house and walked over to us, the same glint
in his eyes as Masons. He dropped down on the grass in front of me and pursed
his lips, tapping his fingers against his knee

“Ava” he said to get my attention and I looked at him
“Listen to me now” he said slowly and I nodded “This needs to get sorted now;
it’s gone on long enough. I need your permission to…to…” he struggled with the
question and I frowned at him “You need to what?” I asked and noticed his sad
expression “Ava, I need to do a detailed search on you” he grimaced as he told
me “Okay” I sighed and he gave me a guilty smile “I’m sorry, I don’t want to
invade your privacy but I need to find this bastard Ava, and anything from your
past life may just help me” he explained and I smiled “Sam, do it. It’s not a
problem” I smiled and he took my hand and squeezed it “Thank you. Right you two
get back to Masons and I’ll get some people over here to sort it out” he stated
and Mason rose to his feet and grabbed my hand, pulling me up off the grass.

I handed Sam my key and climbed into Mason’s car, taking one
last look at my beautiful cottage, wondering if I would ever come back and that
thought saddened me and by the time we got back to Masons I had slipped into a
very dark mood, an angry, self-pitying frame of mind.

Walking into the hallway I turned to Mason “I’m gonna warn
you now. My temper is just under the surface and it’s not gonna take much for
me to blow” I grated through my teeth and turned away from him. “You wanna go
to the gym or cook?” he asked softly and I shrugged, contemplating my options
“Bath then bake I think, I might get charged for the punch bag if I kill it” I
said seriously but I heard Mason chuckle as I ascended the stairs “Oh by the
way, Kerries invited us over for lunch” he shouted as I entered the bathroom
“Brilliant” I muttered under my breath.

Three hours later, after a long hot soak and a toffee and apple
pie we were pulling up in front of Kerrie and Kades, my stomach on the floor of
Masons car and my heart in my mouth.

Mason frowned at me before we exited the car “What’s wrong
Baby? You’ve been weird all the way here” he questioned and I grumbled at him
“Oh nothing’s wrong Mason…apart from waking up with a dead fucking rabbit
staring at me and a redecorated front room” I told him, even though these
things had nothing to do with the emotions coursing through me at this moment…I
was shit scared of facing Kade.

Mason looked chastised and I sighed “I’m sorry. I told you
my mood was black” I apologised and he smiled at me “No Baby, I should have
realised instead of being an insensitive twat” I laughed and climbed from the
car, gritting my teeth and taking a deep breath.

We walked up the path and Mason walked in without knocking
“Kerrie” he shouted. “Over here” she shouted back and popped up from behind the
kitchen worktop. She grinned at us “Wine or coffee?” she asked and we walked
over to her “Wine of course” I joked and Mason laughed “Fridge” she said simply
as she stirred something on the hob.

Mason retrieved the wine and pulling a corkscrew from the
drawer started opening the bottle “Where’s Kade?” He asked and Kerrie snorted
“God knows. He was paralytic last night and we had another row this morning, he
disappeared about 11 and I haven’t seen him since” she shrugged “You want me to
have a word with him?” Mason asked her gently “NO!” I cried and then smiled
sheepishly as they both looked at me wide eyed “Erm, he’s probably struggling
with everything you’re going through Kerrie. You know, being a man and all
that, they struggle with emotions don’t they” I shifted self-consciously on my
feet and grabbed an empty glass, thrusting it towards Mason.

 They seemed to excuse my outburst and Kerrie went back to
cooking whist Mason poured the wine. “Sit down, it won’t be long” she smiled
“Smells amazing” I said, relaxing now I knew Kade wasn’t here “Anything I can
do?” I asked and she shook her head “Just eat” she smiled.

We sat at the dining table as Kerrie placed the mass of
serving bowls, tableware and platters full of a traditional roast dinner “Wow,
this looks great” I grinned, my stomach rumbling loudly in anticipation. Mason
laughed at me “Hungry Baby?” he sniggered and I tucked in “Very, cause you
never feed me” I stuck my tongue out at him and he reached over with his fork
and stabbed my Yorkshire pudding, grinning widely as he shoved it in his mouth
whole “Oh my God! I can’t believe you did that” I pouted as Kerrie slapped him
“Hey, guts” she giggled and we both reached in with our forks and stabbed a
roast potato each, quickly cramming them in our mouths.

His mouth dropped open as he stared gobsmacked at his plate
and then at us “My roasts” he stuck his bottom lip out and then grabbed my fork
and stood quickly, grabbed me by the waist and flung me over his shoulder “You
are so gonna pay for eating my Taters” he said seriously and I glanced at
Kerrie from my upside down position and her smirk showed she was thinking the
same as me “What did you just say Mason?” I sniggered and he paused “I said you
are so gonna pay for eating my tat…OH!” he chuckled and me and Kerrie started
giggling hysterically.

He slapped my arse and then slid me back down “I love it
when you eat my taters Baby” he grinned and I chuckled harder “Oh my God Mason,
please” Kerrie laughed.

“Well this looks fun” Kade said from behind us and Mason
turned me with him to face Kade “Oh Hi” Mason said “We’ve only just sat, come
and join us” he said casually turning back to the table obviously not noticing
Kades red rimmed hooded eyes and the way he was supporting himself on the
doorframe.

I swallowed heavily as he looked at me, a slight curl on his
lips as his eyes swept the length of me. He pushed off the wall and strode
towards me, my stomach clenched at the sight of him and I quickly walked back
to table and Kade took the seat next to me and filled a glass with wine.

Kerrie was sat, giving him a curious look. “Watch your taters
though Kade, Ava likes to eat them” Mason told him and Kade spat his mouthful
of wine back into his glass “Does she now?” he smirked.

 I coughed slightly and shifted in my seat, and then reached
over to take my fork back from Mason “You gonna behave Ava?” he joked as he
held it from my reach. I scowled good-humouredly and reached over the table further,
trying to grab the fork from Masons extended hand

“Not until you promise Baby” he smirked and I reached over,
giving him an eyeful of my cleavage. His eyes dropped fractionally and I made
my move, lurching forward and wrapped my fingers around his.

Kerrie was chuckling happily at our behaviour and Mason was
grinning widely “Baby, put your beautiful breasts away. You still need to
promise me” he winked

“WILL YOU FUCKING SIT DOWN” Kade bellowed and made us all
jump. I quickly shot down in my chair and placed my hands in my lap, thoroughly
chastised “What the Hell Kade?” Mason growled at him but Kade just shot him a
look and stabbed at a green bean.

Kerrie coughed slightly “Hey Ava, I was thinking. That spa
treat you got me was for two people, you fancy going with me?” she asked
hopefully. My stomach rolled as I fiddled with the food on my plate “Erm well…”
a look of hurt passed over her eyes “Oh it doesn’t matter, just a thought” she
said quietly. Now I felt like a complete bitch.

“No Kerrie, it’s not that I don’t want to go” Think Ava,
think “It’s just well, I seem to have a stalker after me and I’m not sure it’ll
be safe to go. I’m not supposed to leave Masons side” I confessed and Kades face
shot to me “What?” he snarled and I cowered at his tone.

Masons hand settled over mine on the table “Baby?” Mason
looked at me, wanting my permission to tell them and I nodded “There’s been a
sick bastard after Ava for a while now. He broke into her cottage and trashed
it; he tried to poison her just before she lost the baby and we received an Erm
DVD” he shrugged sheepishly and Kade scowled “What of?” he asked Mason and I
cringed. This should be fun!

“It was full of movie clips of me and Ava…Erm, well you know…making
love” he glanced at me to assess my embarrassment and I smiled shyly “WHAT THE
HELL?” Kade shot up “Sit down Kade, for god’s sake. I’m sure Ava doesn’t need
your melodramatics” she snapped and he sighed and sat back down “And well this
morning, she Erm, slept alone at the cottage last night and someone broke in
while…while…and…” his jaw clenched tightly and his eyes glazed over.

Squeezing his hand I turned to look at Kerrie, intentionally
avoiding Kades stony face “He broke in while I was sleeping” I sighed and
closed my eyes and my fist clenched under the table “He Erm, put a slaughtered
rabbit in bed with me” I heard Kerrie gasp and Kade growled, a deep rumble and
I was sure he actually bared his teeth so I carried on quickly, trying to take
the attention back to me “And he filled my wall with photos of me. Hundreds of
them” I shrugged and the table was silent while the information soaked in.

Mason sighed “Each and every photo had been ravaged, he
had…he had raked a sharp knife or scissors or something over each picture” he
gulped and took a deep breath. The pain in his voice made me lean over and
plant a tender kiss on his cheek “Hey, I’m okay” I smiled softly and his hand
swept through my hair, then held the back of my head pulling me towards him and
just as his lips settled on mine Kade shot up, his chair fell backwards with a
clang “Fuck This” he spat and stomped off, slamming the front door behind him.

Kerrie looked devastated and Mason frowned “What the hell’s
wrong with him?” Mason asked her and she sighed “You won’t understand Mason”
she said, shaking her head. “Try me” he demanded and I felt her discomfort.

She looked Mason in the eyes “I had an affair” she said
simply and I stood up “I’m gonna go take a walk and let you two talk for a
while” I nodded at Kerrie, encouraging her to talk to Mason. She smiled at me
and nodded her thanks and I quietly left and went in search of the rose garden.

I sank down on the bench in the rose garden. The fountain
was switched on today and the water flowed up the spirals of the columns, across
the branches and trickled down, back into the base. It was absolutely stunning.

I took a deep cleansing breath.

Sam’s words of doing a detailed informative check on me had
me cringing at the thought of what he might find. I hadn’t exactly got a clean
record, being caught numerous times shoplifting and fighting before me and
Katie teamed up. At first she had laughed at my efforts at stealing, finding my
methods hilarious and shaking her head at me, had promised to show how it was
done. I returned the favour and taught her some self-defence moves, building
her muscles and confidence. We made a great team and I missed her every day.

My eyes closed and my head flopped back in the bench as I
smiled softly to myself, reminiscing about mine and Katie’s escapades “Oh God
Katie” I sighed sadly but my heart was now happy for her, finally able to rest
peacefully. It was sympathy for myself that hurt my heart, left behind to drag
myself through life without her.

A tear pricked the edge of my eyes and rolled down my cheek and
I lifted my hand to my cheek to wipe away the tear but fingers gripped my wrist
and my eyes flew open.

Kade was stood in front of me, his head tipped and an
expression of pain, love and compassion in his eyes. I gasped when his fingers
stroked along my cheek, wiping away the tear for me and he softly rubbed his
fingers together, feeling the moisture between his fingers.