Tolerance (Heart of Stone) (29 page)

I rubbed my face with my hands and stole a breath as I ventured
across the floor, hissing and wincing as I stepped over the broken glass. I
hobbled over to the cupboard above the toilet and removed the first aid box as
I slipped my robe back on. I made it down the stairs, trailing a lot of blood
behind me and entered the kitchen

“For fucks sake” I groaned as Mason was stood filling the
kettle “Will you just go” I sighed and slumped into a chair. I lifted one foot
and rested it on my knee as I took the tweezers from the box as Mason turned to
me, his eyes widened as he saw my feet “What the hell Ava?” he declared as he
crouched before me. I shook my head in incredulity “How the hell did you expect
me to get out of the bathroom without stepping on the glass?” I pulled a ‘How
stupid are you’ face and his expression darkened again “Don’t be smart Ava” he
growled and snatched the tweezers from me.

“Mason, will you just go. I don’t want you here never
mind within a foot of me and I definitely don’t want you touching me” I snapped
and grabbed for the tweezers but he moved them from within my reach “Ava, will
you just…please!” he groaned as he bit his lip again “No Mason, you won’t win
me round again. I don’t even want to look at you” I barked and winced as he
pulled a piece of glass from the sole of my foot, I jolted back as he laid his
hand on my leg to steady me “
Don’t
fucking touch me
” I hissed and he winced at the vehemence in my voice but
continued and didn’t remove his hand. I bit my lip in temper and from the pain
of the glass but tried my best to ignore him.

I looked away, breathing heavily as he persisted to
remove all the fragments, then he got a warm bowl of water and started to
slowly and delicately clean the bottom of my foot.

We were both silent and I stole a glance at his face; he
was pale and his frown lines were prominent, marring his beautiful face, his
tongue was poking out of his taut lips slightly as he concentrated on my foot
but his eyes were dead, the sparkle and brightness had gone and had been
replaced with a haunted and pained darkness and the remainder of my frozen
heart cracked a little

“Why Mason?” I whispered and his eyes shot up to mine.
Tears formed in them and he squeezed them shut tightly “I don’t know Ava. I
didn’t even know what I was doing” he spoke faintly and I could hear the
self-disgust in him “Well you
knew
I
was there, you even asked me to join in your fun” I spat at him and he grimaced
“Oh God Baby, I’m so sorry” he whispered painfully but I scoffed “You weren’t
sorry at the time, in fact your moans of pleasure sounded as though you were
far from sorry” I pulled my foot away and hobbled over to the fridge and
grabbed the carton of milk and commenced with making coffee before the nausea
rose with the memories of the image that would haunt me for the rest of my
life. I held up a mug at him in query, even though I wasn’t sure why I was
asking if he wanted one but he nodded and smiled timidly.

We were silent again as I poured and placed his mug on
the table and sat down “We have to sort out a rota for the babies” I said
despondently as I took a large gulp of coffee, the caffeine screaming happily
through my body and I closed my eyes in pleasure “What do you mean?” he asked
slowly and I gawped at him “I don’t want you visiting while I’m there” I told
him and he frowned “Baby please” he swallowed harshly and I glared at him “No
Mason, it’s over. Besides you’re moving out to America so we won’t have this
trouble soon” I declared and watched as the information sank in

 
“Who told you?” he
snarled but I shook my head “It doesn’t matter, what is important is that
YOU
should have told me but you just
took the cowards way out
again
and
got fucking high! What were you going to do? Just fuck off out there without
telling me again!” I slammed, shaking my head in disgust “Baby I…”

“WILL YOU STOP WITH THE BABY!!!” I screamed and threw my
cup across the room in rage, splattering the wall with ceramic and coffee “God
damn it Ava” he yelled back, glaring at me.

I picked up his cup and flung it against the other wall.
I then stood up, walked calmly over to the cupboard and removed a plate, giving
it the same treatment as the mugs “AVA!!!” Mason shouted and tried to get near
me but I propelled a plate towards him and he shielded his face with his arms
as I catapulted another at him, and another and another until I thought I had better
save the last one for my lunch.

I angrily swiped the worktop clear of its contents as
Mason bolted over to me and grabbed the tops of my arms and pulled me against
him tightly. I screamed at him to let me go but he held on tightly and I kicked
his shins angrily, he winced but didn’t release me.

My fury turned to despair and I was soon sobbing as I
struggled against him “Leave me alone” I wept and he held me closer “I hate
myself for what I’ve done Ava, please forgive me…I’m so sorry baby” he choked
out but I shook my head “Not this time Mason, I won’t let you hurt me anymore”

I pulled back and regarded him “Please Mason, let me be.
I can’t look at you without seeing that…that tart on top of you, you’re fucking
face contorted with absolute pleasure, while your fucking hands were all over
her tits. I can’t get it out of my head” I cried and he looked down at the
floor “I know baby” he said simply and I gazed at him gravely and agonized “Let
me go before you crush whatever I have left Mason, please” I begged with a sob.

He looked down and gulped but nodded marginally and
walked over to me, he cupped my face and placed his mouth against my forehead
“I am sorry Ava, for everything. I love you more than life itself and I’ll
never stop loving you Ava…never. But you’re right, I’m no good for you, I can’t
seem to stop hurting you and it’s killing us both” he gulped and sighed
tremulously
 
“Take care of my babies Ava;
I’ll make sure they’re provided for.” He gazed at me for a few moments, his
eyes full of despair and grief “I love you baby” he whispered as tears streamed
both of our faces.

He placed a gentle kiss on my brow and turned to the door
“And me, you Mason” I whispered as he shut the door quietly behind him and I
sank to the floor.

Mason and I clashed twice at the hospital and we then
worked out a rota, the agony of seeing each other was unbearable and quickly
prompted a timetable so we wouldn’t be there at the same time.

As Friday arrived I was sick with nerves and Nate was
getting worried about me “Ava, you don’t have to do this” he urged as he drove
us to Scotland Yard but I shook my head “I have to do this last thing for him
Nate” I had explained everything to him, realising it was unfair of me to keep
him in the dark as he was doing this with me

“No Ava, you don’t, not after what he’s done to you” he
declared “Nate, he has had to do all this for me, not for himself. He put his
own life on hold to give me mine and I have the chance to return his freedom
and I am damn well gonna try, he’s still the father of my children” I swallowed
heavily as we exited the car and my legs wobbled.

Nates arm flew out and I grabbed on to him. He gazed at
me “Ready?” he asked and I took a deep breath, smoothed down my black pencil
skirt and my fitted white shirt; I needed the professional look for this and
had pulled my hair into a severe bun and done my make-up sparingly but stylishly.

 
I nodded and we
entered the building and I swallowed back the sickness as Nate approached the
main reception desk while I clung on to the black leather folder I held tightly
to my chest.

“Hi, Nathan Carter, I have an appointment with
Commissioner Delaney” he stated “This is my assistant, Miss Stone” he informed
her and she smiled at us “If you could just pop on these visitor passes, I’ll
get someone to show you up to Mr Delaney’s office” she said as she signalled to
someone behind her who came round and opened a door for us, gesturing for us to
follow him as we clipped on our badges.

Nate held his elbow out for me and I loved him so much
for his support at that moment “Thank you” I whispered as my voice shook. He
patted my hand and nodded.

We were silent as we led through corridors, a series of
stairs and more passageways until we came to a reception area with two
reception desks. The uniformed policeman informed the secretary of our names
and she smiled pleasantly “If you would like to take a seat Commissioner
Delaney with be with you shortly” she hummed professionally.

Nate led me over to a black leather sofa and helped me
sit down as my body trembled and I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath
“Calm down Ava” Nate whispered against my ear and I swallowed and mentally
prepared myself for what I was about to do.

“Commissioner Delaney will see you now” the secretary
said and made me jump as I hadn’t seen her approach us. I smiled and stood,
willing my shaking legs to carry me across the room. She led us to a door and
opened it and announced Nates name as I took a deep breath and stepped inside,
planting a wide smile of my face and tipped my head

“Commissioner Delaney” I smirked as his eyes widened and
his face darkened. His hand shot to a red button on his desk “I wouldn’t do
that if I were you” I warned as I flung a photograph on his desk and he choked
out a whimper as his face contorted in shock and his hand froze over the buzzer
as he took a look at the picture.

“May we?” I gestured to the two leather chairs in front
of his desk. He nodded once and I smiled falsely “Thank you” I said, amazed by
the levelness of my voice “Now, I think we have a few things to discuss” I said
bluntly and he narrowed his eyes on me “I would like you to return the phone,
the gun and any other evidence you have on me” I asked frankly and he let out a
loud laugh “What for this?” he snarled as he held up the still image of him
stood in the leather shorts and I smiled internally as I knew how he would
react to the non-condemning photo “No not for that” I said and stood and walked
over to his TV screen fixed to his wall

“May I?” he didn’t answer but I didn’t expect him to. I
flicked on the TV and slipped in the disc and turned to watch his face as the
images appeared on the screen. I felt my heart race in elation and my blood
pump furiously through my veins as I knew I had him trapped with the look of
recognition on his face as he watched the recording play on. He paled to an
extreme and his breathing sped up, his lips pulled tight and his fist clenched
“Oh I have more Mr Delaney” I grinned happily as I ejected the disc and
inserted the most damning one.

He gulped and a funny choking noise escaped from his
throat as he realised what he was watching. He closed his eyes in resignation
“Okay, switch it off” he breathed out slowly and I tipped my head and removed
the disc and placed them both on his desk with the photographs “What do you
want Miss Stone?” he asked, his face pale and taut “Mr Delaney, I think you
know what I want” I laughed bitterly “I will keep this information private and
locked away for eternity if you return all evidence to me, every single piece
you have. If you refrain from giving me any tiny little thing I will blow you
so far out of the water you won’t know what’s hit you” I warned “I will precede
to send a copy of these to each and every newspaper, the home secretary, the
director of the metropolitan police force and every news channel on the planet”

He stared at me and I saw the terror in his eyes “I also
need you to give Mason back his freedom, he doesn’t love your daughter and he
never did Mr Delaney” I continued as I passed him the paternity test results
and watched as the anger flitted across his face “What the hell?” he gasped and
I nodded “Don’t tell me you actually believed she was Masons?” I asked and I
actually felt a little prickle of pity for him as his daughters betrayal became
evident “I honestly did think Debora was Masons” he frowned and looked at me “I
am afraid to inform you that your daughter is a lying, deceitful and
manipulative person” I informed him and he looked away “I must also inform you
that I have several copies of these documents in safe places and various people
are informed to go straight to the police and newspapers with these if anything
happens to myself, Mr Carter or Mason. Do you understand?” I asked and he
sighed but nodded “You have ruined my life Mr Delaney and I won’t hesitate to
ruin yours if need be, but I am an honest woman and I will keep my end of the
bargain if you return everything to me and let Mason lead his own life again,
well away from your daughter, who I add deserves everything she has coming to
her”

He stood and walked over to a cabinet in the corner of
the room, bent and opened a door to reveal a safe. After turning it a series of
turns he opened it, reached into the back and removed an evidence bag and
walked back to me, passing it to me with a tremble. “Is this everything Mr
Delaney?” I asked, narrowing my eyes on him. He nodded “I didn’t make copies, I
thought I would wait until I needed to” he sagged into his chair again “Are you
sure because I don’t need to repeat to you what will happen if I find out you
have lied?” he nodded and I saw the truth in his eyes “You have my word Miss
Stone” he tipped his head and I smiled and held my hand out to him “It’s been a
pleasure doing business with you Mr Delaney, but please keep yourself and your
daughter away from Mason” I said levelly and he nodded “I will make sure she
stays well away” he promised and I smiled again “Thank you” I turned to Nate
who stood and shook Delaney’s hand “Until next time Mr Delaney” he smirked and
we walked out of the room, one foot after the other calmly and steadily until
we entered the elevator.