Resolution (Heart of Stone) (22 page)

“Dane,
please” I begged as he slipped behind me and I tensed, wondering what torture
and punishment he was preparing.

“Hey,
Baby” Mason’s’ voice came from the shadows and I frowned.

“Mason?”
I whispered, frantically scanning the darkened corners. “Where are you, baby?”
I asked desperately. “Please help me, Mason.”

I gasped
as I felt Dane press into my back, his hard penis pushing in between my
buttocks. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, willing my brain to shut
down and take me away from here into my own peaceful dream world.

“Ava”
Mason whispered and I opened my eyes and jolted as his face was inches from
mine.

“Mason,
help me” I rasped as I felt Dane push further into me.

“Easy
baby, just relax and I promise you’ll enjoy it” he smiled and palmed my cheek.

I frowned
deeply. “What?” I asked, confusion and uncertainty
restricting my lungs.

“You’re
gonna love it baby, Dane up your arse and me pounding that delicious cunt of
yours.”

My eyes
widened as I realised what was happening before Mason took his erection in his
hand and started working himself. “Mason? What the hell are you doing?” I
whispered anxiously
.

He just
grinned, “Easy, baby.” He took a step closer and I took a step back, my back
pushing further into Dane.

“Please
don’t” I whimpered and Dane cackled behind me.

“But
you’re such a filthy little whore Ava, you’ll love it.”

I stepped
to the side ready to run but Mason grabbed the tops of my arms and held me firm.
“Keep still” he demanded and I frowned.

The first
crack of the whip on my back took my breath away; the second stole the support
of my legs and the third tore the scream from my throat. “Fuck baby, you’re so
hot when you scream.” Mason laughed and Dane lashed again, the crack of the
whip loud in the silence of the room.

I
screamed again as Mason appeared to be holding the poker and I shook my head
hysterically. “Please don’t” I pleaded but he flipped his head back and laughed.

“God,
we’re gonna have so much fun.”

I was
panting now, struggling against the restraints I wasn’t even aware had bound me
to the hook. I heard the keening sound from far away as Mason placed the poker
against my breast, the sound of my skin crackling and singeing was flooded out
by the buzzing in my ears, a loud whining sound that made my head hum.

“Fuck,
this is making me hard” Dane cackled and another scream erupted from my throat
as the poker welded to the skin of my neck.

“Noooooooo”…

“Baby
please” Mason shook me and my eyes flew open.

I panicked
and scuttled up the bed. “No, don’t touch me” I cried as my heart seemed to be
pounding too quickly against my chest.

I shook my
head at him and then punched him forcefully in the face. “Fuck!” he hissed as
he shot backwards, unready for the pummelling I was now giving him, “God damn
it, Ava.” He gripped my arms and shook me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
he yelled as I panted, my eyes wild and large. “Ava” he said softly now,
“Baby?”

I shook my
head in a panic as my lungs finally filled with much needed air. “Mason?” I
wheezed as my eyes welled.

He huddled
me up, holding me tightly against him. “Shush, baby” he whispered in my ear as
a long drawn out whine came from my throat. “I’m here baby, it was just a
dream” he stroked my hair as his other hand rubbed my back

“You okay?”
he asked as I started to calm. I gulped and nodded faintly, “Was it about
Dane?” I tensed and nodded again, not giving him anymore details.

He pulled us
down onto the bed and pulled the duvet up around us. “Go back to sleep, I’m
here” he whispered and I just nodded again.

I lay awake
for a long time after Mason drifted, trying to make sense of my dream. I wasn’t
frightened of Mason at all. I know he had hurt me at the weekend but it wasn’t
intentional, he had just got more intense because of the drugs but there was
still something about the dream that had me regarding Mason sceptically as he
slept.

I traced the
contours of his face with the tip of my finger, amazed and appreciative of his
magnificence. The strong chiselled jaw covered with a layer of stubble that
made him look entirely hot bad boy, the boldness of his cheekbones against the
straight outer lines of his face.

The now
slightly crooked nose that seemed just perfect for his stunning looks and the
way his long, soft dark eyelashes flickered against his lightly scarred skin;
he was pure unadulterated godliness full of sin and delicious wickedness and I
loved him more than life itself but there was something that prickled beneath
the surface of my skin, an itch in my brain and a shiver in my bones that I
couldn’t shake off and I shuddered beside him.

He moaned
and his arm enveloped me and pulled my into him, his wonderful spicy muskiness
assaulted my nostrils and I breathed in deep lungful’s of him, calming me
instantly and I frowned at my reservations.

What the
hell was wrong with me? Why was I suddenly having these unwanted doubts? I
couldn’t bear to be apart from him; I craved him constantly, my body shutting
down without him as my lungs refused to inhale so these thoughts were
completely baffling me.

I closed my
eyes, trying to drift back to sleep but within another thirty minutes my brain
was still in overload and I flung the duvet back, pulled on my shorts and vest
and went in search of coffee.

“Hey” I said
quietly to Neo as I entered the kitchen, not wanting to startle him.

He looked up
from his iPad and grinned, “Hey, can’t sleep?” I shook my head and held up a
mug. He nodded and carried on furiously typing.

I brewed the
coffee and pulled out ingredients for a chocolate cake, the need to bake and
obliterate my thoughts.

As I weighed
and whisked and stirred I felt Neo appear behind me. “You okay?” he asked and I
just nodded but didn’t speak. “You sure?” he persisted and I nodded again.

I slapped
his hand away as his finger scooped into the batter and he chuckled, “Damn you
make good cake mixture.” Another finger dipped and I spun round, brandishing the
gloopy wooden spoon as a weapon, “One more move and your nose gets it” I warned
playfully.

He grinned
cheekily, his eyes lighting up with mischief as he took a step closer to the
bowl. “Bring it on” he laughed as he swiftly gouged a huge portion of mixture
and darted round the table, me hot on his trail trying to smack him with the
spoon. “Not fast enough, Darling” he chuckled as we rounded the table on each
other.

I narrowed
my eyes on him and pursed my lips as I leaped onto the chair, onto the table
and off the other end as he hot footed it into the lounge.

We were both
laughing hysterically as he shot behind the sofa, me closely behind him and
then back towards the door as I hurdled over the couch to catch up.

I was
giggling wildly as I skidded barefoot across the hardwood floor in the entrance
hall and slammed straight into a stony faced Mason. “Shit” I squealed when I
realised I couldn’t catch up with Neo now. “Hey baby” I laughed, “get him” I
chuckled to Mason as I headed off towards Neo again.

I slammed
back against Mason as he grabbed the back of my vest and the spoon skittered
out of my hand and onto the floor. “HA!” Neo declared victorious and I narrowed
my eyes on him.

“You made me
lose” I scolded Mason who had still to utter a single word. I saw Neo’s wary
expression and I furrowed my brow and looked over my shoulder to Mason.

His face was
dark and surly as his eyes bore coldly into Neo. “Mason?” I asked
apprehensively and he slowly lowered his eyes to mine.

“What are
you doing?” he demanded slowly and quietly.

“Well…” I
gulped. “I’m sorry, did we wake you?” I asked, knowing that wasn’t the problem.

He glared at
me and I lowered my eyes from the anger blazing through his. “Why are you
chasing Neo around the house in your fucking pyjamas?” he hissed and I flinched.

“I couldn’t
sleep so I… I was baking and he… he kept pinching the mixture from the…” I
trailed off when Mason cocked an eyebrow at me.

“In your
pyjamas?” he repeated and I nodded faintly.

“My fault”
Neo defended as he walked over to us. Mason’s head slid round deliberately to
regard Neo and he tipped his head with a sinister expression on his face.

Neo stepped
back and raised his hands. “Hey, didn’t mean to cause offence, I was just
trying to cheer Ava up, she looked a bit down” he confessed and I suddenly felt
angry at Mason’s unreasonable treatment to Neo.

“Mason” I
said firmly and he looked back at me, his eyes cold and hard and I narrowed my
eyes on him, a horrible thought spearing my brain and I gasped as I saw his nose
twitch. “
Fuck
” I hissed as I bit my lip harshly.

I saw his
Adam’s apple bob as he gulped.

“Well that
lasted long!” I seethed angrily. I could see Neo’s head switching between the
two of us as my fury slowly rose and I clenched my fists as I took some deep
steady breaths.

“Where is
it?” I asked through clenched teeth. His eyes widened when he realised I knew
and he nibbled furiously on his bottom lip. “I said where is it?” I repeated
icily but he stood stock still and silent.

I was now
struggling to contain my wrath as my lungs were filling too rigorously with
each deep inhalation. “Tell me” I demanded quietly but he still stood immobile.

“THERE ARE
FUCKING CHILDREN IN THIS HOUSE! NOW FUCKING TELL ME!!!” I roared and he
flinched and closed his eyes. “One more chance Mason, the coke leaves or you
do” I ordered and he frowned, his internal struggle obvious across his
features.

I struck my
palm across his cheek, slapping him hard, “You bastard! Get the fuck out” I
yelled.

He blinked,
suddenly aware of what was happening. He shook his head at me rapidly. “Baby,
no!” he pleaded and I shook my head in desolation and dejection.

“Get the
fuck out and go get high Mason because right fucking now I don’t give a fucking
shit.”

I pushed
past him and charged up the stairs, silently begging him not to follow but
hoping he didn’t leave.

I sagged
wearily on the landing as I heard the front door slam shut. Pulling my knees up
I hugged them, resting my head hopelessly on the top of them.

 I heard and
felt Neo slide down beside me. “He’s gone” he said quietly and I nodded. “How
long’s he been snorting?” he asked calmly.

“A while but
it’s got worse ever since Dane and he doesn’t seem to be able to control it
anymore” I divulged.

He sighed deeply.
“He needs rehab, Ava.”

I scoffed at
his words. “I’ve tried that Neo but he refused to go, saying he just needs me
to get him through but I know I can’t give him the support he needs.”

I slammed my
fist on the floor. “God damn it!” I cried, “Twelve fucking hours… twelve bloody
hours, that’s how long he lasted” I shouted, my anger now at a dangerous level.

 I stood up
furiously and went in search of my phone; dialling Sam when I found it, “Hey
Girl” his cheerful voice greeted.

“Sam!” I
barked and I could hear his cringe even if I couldn’t see it. “He’s fucking
tanked up and I’m hoping he’s on his way to you. Can you text me if he turns up
there?”

He sighed
heavily. “Sure Darling. You okay Ava?” he asked despondently and I snorted.

“No but fuck
him. He’s got fucking coke hidden somewhere near his fucking babies!” I yelled.

Sam sighed.
“I’ll get Greg and the boys over to search” he stated and I sighed.

“Thanks. I
don’t want it in the house!” I snapped, “Not near George and Katie.”

 I could
sense his frustration, the feeling of hopelessness and desolation that matched
my own. “I know girl, I know” he breathed. “They’ll be over in about an hour”
he said quietly and I nodded, aware that he couldn’t see me.

“Thanks Sam”
I whispered before I ended the call.

***

Two and a
half hours later I was sat at the kitchen table with Greg staring at three full
bags of coke and a bag of some small white pills.

I ran my
hands through my hair in frustration.

“Chin up,
sweetheart” Greg sighed as he walked to the freezer and removed a bottle of
vodka and taking two glass tumblers from the cupboard, proceeded to pour us a
shot. I smiled gratefully and downed it in one; he filled it again and placed
the bottle on the table. “Let’s get slaughtered, Courtney’s watching George and
Katie” he inhaled sharply, drained his glass and refilled us both again.

“He needs
help, Ava.”

I exhaled
sharply. “Try telling him that” I scoffed as I took another large mouthful and
then sighed and straightened my shoulders. “It’s either an ultimatum or a
locked room” I deliberated and then turned to Greg for his opinion.

He frowned
and pursed his lips in consideration. “Could you cope with a withdrawing Mason?
He’s damn tenacious and unstable when he’s not high so he’ll be a fucking
nightmare doing cold turkey” he posed, “but even giving him an ultimatum won’t
work because he will never stay away from you.”

I nodded,
agreeing with him completely. “Then what the fuck do I do?” I asked as my phone
alerted a message

SAM

He’s just
turned up here, don’t worry, I’ll keep my eye on him x

ME

How is
he? The truth please x

SAM

High,
very high!!! X

ME

You gonna
be okay with him or do you need me to come over? X

SAM

I’ll sort
him sweetheart, try and get some sleep. I’ll ring you if I need you x

ME

Okay,
thanks Sam x

I rolled my
head round my shoulders and downed another full glass of the mind numbing
nectar. “He’s just turned up at the club shitfaced” I told Greg who groaned
loudly. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I declared angrily as I filled my glass, the
alcohol starting to blur my senses.

Courtney
walked into the kitchen and side hugged me as a guy I hadn’t seen before
approached Greg. “Can I have a word?” he asked Greg who nodded and they left
the room together.

“How many
are up there?” I asked, she lifted her brows and puffed out.

“About
eight. You okay, babe?”

She filled
the percolator and switched it on and got a collection of cups out of the
dishwasher. I nodded “You okay staying over and listening for the peanuts?” I
asked as I gulped another swill of vodka. She nodded as she placed sugar and
milk on a tray with the cups and coffee and disappeared back up to the coke
hunters as a grim Greg returned.

He threw
four more brownish bags on the table. “Fuck! More?” I asked shaking my head in
disgust.

Greg slumped
down beside me and held his head in his hands before looking back up at me sadly.
“It’s heroin, Ava” he closed his eyes with a heavy sigh.

I paused at
the sensation of dread that filled every piece of my exhausted body. “
WHAT?
Fuck, fuck!” I groaned and rubbed my face with my hands.

This was
real bad news. “Shit” I cursed some more.  

I sighed
wearily, stood up and took my glass out onto the decking, inhaling the cold
harshness of the frosty air.

I stared up
at the sky. “Give me strength Katie, some of your amazing spirit and courage
because right fucking now I’m struggling, Hun.”

Draining the
remainder of my vodka, I placed the glass on the table and walked down the
wooden steps that led onto the huge paved patio and then down some rickety
steps that led to the lower garden.

I brushed
the foliage and flowers on my way along the path until I reached the small pagoda
in one corner of the garden and sat on the bench, stroking my hands along the
wooden structure, smiling at the memories of me and Mason making love under the
stars one night in the summer.

A tear
spilled free and I wiped it away angrily. “No, damn it” I scolded myself.

What the
hell was I going to do? I hadn’t one single fucking idea and right now I was on
the edge of giving up and surrendering our relationship. I couldn’t do this
anymore. It wasn’t fair on me, it wasn’t fair on George and Katie and it wasn’t
fair of Mason to expect me to tolerate it.

I thought we
had put his demons to rest and I was hopeful for once, but he had taken the bloody
stuff again without any reason for it. I had left him asleep for an hour… one
fucking hour!

I could turn
one of the guest rooms into a cell and try to get him off it the hard way but
could I watch him suffer in pain, sweat and physical torture as he withdrew
fast and hard?

I wasn’t
sure but I suppose it was the only option available at the moment. I sighed,
braced my knees and stood, taking a deep determined breath and headed back into
the house.

Greg,
Courtney and a couple of others were sat at the table. I turned to Greg, “I
need help to clear out the garage” I informed him.

He regarded
me. “You sure about this, Ava?” he asked cautiously and I nodded.

“Yes” I
replied bluntly, “The garage is ideal, I can use the utility room as a
go-through room so he can’t get out when I unlock the garage door but there’s
the toilet and wet room that leads off from the utility to the garage which is
perfect for him. I need a mattress and blankets moving in, the TV from the
bedroom screwing to the wall high enough so he can’t reach it and I need it
connecting to a DVD player outside of the room, a monitor setting up in the
utility room that connects to the garage security cameras and a couple of
buckets, shit loads of bottles of water and some big mother-fucking bolts” I
told him firmly.