Tolerance (Heart of Stone) (35 page)

“If Courtneys staying does that mean you have to sleep in
my bed tonight?” he asked and I laughed as he waggled his eyebrows “Well I
suppose but no more sex Mr Fox, you have another six weeks to wait yet, this
was just a mid-season special offer” I winked as I picked up my clothes and
pulled them on.

He groaned and rolled over “Ava, you’re gonna kill me” I
smirked as I leant over him and kissed his bare stomach “Come on stud…up!” I
grabbed his hand and pulled him upright and he wrapped his arms around me,
holding me against him “I love you baby, thank you for today” he said with a
sigh and I kissed the top of his head “Hey, I’m proud of you. You did well
today Mason” and I
was
proud of him,
he had come to me instead of the drugs and I hoped we had finally turned a
corner and were on the up, but I wasn’t holding my breath, this was mine and
Masons relationship and it was never easy.

Courtney and I were chatting and I was diverting her from
her agonised thoughts of Greg. Mason and Sam had disappeared into his office a
couple of hours ago and I knew they were sorting out revenge tactics for Greg’s
stabbing and I was worried this was gonna turn into a full scale war with
whoever had done this.

“I have my first scan next Thursday, will you come with
me?” Courtney asked and I beamed at her “Of course” I grinned, my best friend
was having a baby and it was now my turn to support her. “Greg will be fine
Hun” I reassured her and she nodded “Whatever happens I still don’t know what
he wants though Ava, he said some pretty nasty stuff and he must have been
thinking them to say them” she looked at me and I could see the pain in her
eyes “Hey, whatever happens, you are gonna be the most wonderful mum and I’m
always here to help you” I pacified and she smiled “How’s you and Mason doing
now?” she asked and glanced towards the stairs to make sure the men hadn’t
emerged

“Really good, he’s trying you know so…” I shrugged and
took another drink of the non-alcoholic wine I had bought on the way over for
Courtney “Does that mean you’re staying?” she asked hopefully and I bit my lip
in thought “I dunno Hun, we’ll see if he keeps it up. I love him but when
children are involved you need more than love to survive” I said and she nodded
“Don’t I know it” she admitted as the men exited the office and they both
looked stern

“Ava, I need to go out” he said bluntly and I narrowed my
eyes on him “Why?” I asked with a cock of my head but he shook his head at me
“It doesn’t concern you” he barked and I reared back. He rubbed his face “Sorry
baby, I’m just a bit uptight” he apologised and kissed my forehead “I won’t be
long” he advised and left with Sam “I don’t like this” I told Courtney and she
nodded her head “Me neither, something’s going down Ava”.

Courtney went to bed and I curled up with a blanket and
waited for Mason, I was worried. Something didn’t feel right and I couldn’t
seem to breathe properly with a niggling worry and I was flinching at every
movement, there was just something ringing my internal alarm but I couldn’t put
my finger on what.

I heard a noise outside and I bolted upright, listening
intently. I prayed it wasn’t Mason drunk or high. I tilted my head as I heard
it again. I flung the blanket back and stood up.

The room was in darkness and I spun round as I saw a
shadow pass the window. My heart was hammering in my chest and I watched in
horror as the doorknob rattled “Fuck!” I hissed. I looked down at myself to
find I was just wearing shorts and a vest.

Grabbing my phone I dialled Mason “Ava” he said sternly
and I flinched at his coldness “Are you outside?” I whispered, choosing to
ignore him. He
paused
“No Why?” I swallowed the lump
from my throat “Because someone is trying to get in” I hissed

“Shit!!! Hold tight baby I’m on my way” he near yelled at
me. I jumped as I heard something at the kitchen window and then a loud smash
of glass

“Fuck Mason” I whimpered “Baby? What was that Ava?” he
shouted.

My breath froze and I dropped my phone as I stared
immobile at the man in front of me, my lungs were screaming at me for air and
my legs wobbled

“Ava….” Mason shouted through the phone and I tried to
shout back and all that came out was a gurgle

“Hello Ava” he sneered at me and I screamed, a high
pitched blood curdling scream as I stumbled backwards “Ava…..” Masons faraway
cries filled the silence of the room. I shook my head rapidly, refusing to
believe the image in front of me.

Half of his face looked like it had been burnt off, he
didn’t appear to have a top lip, one of his eyes was wide and raw as his eyelid
had disappeared and all down one side of his neck the skin was missing and
black.

I screamed again and Courtney shouted from the top of the
stairs “What the fuck?” she stammered as she too took in the sight of him
“Fuck…No, it can’t be” she gulped.

Dane cocked his head and smiled…well kind of grimaced
“Two for the price of one” he laughed loudly and then my heart froze as one of
the babies started crying. Shit…not now!!!

His head snapped to the side and he tipped his head to
listen with his good ear “Oh my! Let’s see if history can repeat itself” he
smiled cruelly and headed for the stairs. “Noooo” I cried as I bolted after
him.

Courtney ran into the nursery and slammed the door shut
behind her and I heard her pulling furniture behind the door; I thanked God for
Courtney. I raced up closely behind Dane and as he got to the nursery door he
started slamming against it with his body “Get away from them you bastard” I
screamed as I sprinted across the landing and dived on him.

We crumpled to the floor but he managed to smash his fist
smashed into my face “You fucking bitch. You’re gonna pay for what you did” he
snarled and it was like déjà vu as we struggled against each other. His fist
slammed into my stomach as he grabbed my hair and cracked my head against the
floor, bright lights swan before my eyes and everything tipped but I managed to
push him away so I could crawl out from under him.

I had to get him away from the babies so I made a mad
dash for the bedroom, he floored me before I even got there as his hand gripped
my hair again and because I was now laid on my stomach, as he smashed my face
to the floor my nose exploded “Fuck!” I hissed “That’s right, paybacks a bitch
Ava” he laughed as his hand pulled at my shorts “Noooo” I screamed and flung my
elbow back and smashed it into his face. He reared back and howled in pain as I
crawled across the floor.

He grabbed me again and this time he succeeded in pulling
my shorts off “Oh yes, look at that” he laughed and I scrambled across the
floor. His knees straddled me and he lifted my hair again and smashed my head
against into the wall at one side of me and then he did it again. I was gonna
pass out any minute and then I froze as I heard him unzip his trousers “Noooo
Dane, please” I begged as a large hand grabbed one of my legs and pulled it
sideways. I was desperately trying to get free and his fist smashed into the
side of my head “Keep still Bitch!!” I was crying loudly and begging
desperately “I enjoyed Greg’s payback but yours and Mason’s is gonna be the
ultimate sweetness” he snarled and thrust into me.

I screamed and grabbed at the carpet, frantically trying
to get free as he thrust into me again. He spluttered and spat all over me as I
tried to wriggle out from under him. His hand wrapped around my throat and
squeezed “Keep fucking still or I’ll fucking end you whore!” he growled with another
thrust. I was gurgling and choking as his grip tightened around my throat.

The corner of my vision had gone black and the rest of my
sight was covered in dancing spots as I felt everything slipping away. My lungs
had shrivelled up, my brain seemed to be swelling rapidly in my skull and my
body seemed lighter as though I was floating. I closed my eyes against the
torture as I felt his sticky cum soak my leg and let the darkness envelope me.

 
I opened my eyes
and was desperately attempting to fill my lungs as I heard noises and shouts
and I heard Mason anguished cries and I smiled faintly at the sound of my man,
my man had come for me

“BABY!!!
NOOOO!!!” he cried as
he scooted to the floor beside me and pulled me onto his lap. I tried to look
at him but I was still struggling to breath, my throat had been crushed and my
head was screaming in agony. My eyes were swollen and my vision was tinted with
blood “Mason” I croaked

 
“Oh Jesus Christ!”
he roared “Fucking find him” he bellowed at somebody “I need to get Ava to
hospital” he was shouting out orders “Where’s Courtney?” he shouted as he
scooped me up and walked across the landing with me.

He stopped suddenly and looked down at his forearm where
Danes sperm had trickled onto it. The roar and howl that erupted from his lungs
made my bones crack and my blood curdle in my veins “When you find him, save
him for me…he’s mine!” he snarled so malevolently and icily I shivered in his
arms.

“It’s okay Baby, I’m here now” he whispered and stroked
my clammy hair off my face. I moaned and rasped “Courtney saved the babies” I
told him, whether he could understand me was a different matter.

“Sam, Car!” he shouted and I saw a flurry of people as I
opened my eyes “Courtney, I need a blanket for Ava” he stood still on the
landing while he waited for the sheet and nuzzled my hair “Jesus Ava, I am so
fucking sorry baby” he whimpered but I couldn’t answer.

I heard Courtneys sob as she brought the sheet “Oh fuck
Ava!” she exclaimed when she saw me “I daren’t open the door in case he got to
the babies Ava, I’m sorry babe…I’m sorry…” she cried and I shook my head and
then winced at the pain

“Sam, are you fucking ready?” he snarled and then we
descended the stairs and exited the house. I could see Sam’s worried expression
and I wondered what I must look like. Nausea rose from my stomach “Mason, I’m
gonna be sick” I grated against the soreness of my throat. He squatted down on
the gravelled driveway and I tipped my head to the side as I emptied my stomach
“Sorry” I croaked when I’d finished “Shush, don’t be” he whispered and kissed
my head.

He bundled me into the back of car, climbed in beside me
and pulled me back onto him. I winced in pain at the movement and he kissed me
again “Sorry” he grimaced and my vision blurred and everything tipped sideways
“Mason…How did…I thought…Mason…” I rasped “I don’t…feel…” and then his
beautiful face disappeared.

Oooh Jesus!!! I ached everywhere. My head was thumping
dully, my ribs hurt and a pain shot through my nose and cheek every time I
moved a single facial muscle. I opened my bruised eyes and fought against the
blur for a few moments.

I could make out Mason sat in a chair in the corner, his
head was slumped to the side and he was snoring softly as a streak of sunlight
filtered through the vertical blind and lit his face, I was amazed how angelic
it made him look. I snorted to myself; Mason was many things but definitely never
an angel.

I lifted my head off the pillow but as the roaring pain
squealed through my head I decided against it and placed it back onto the
pillow. Looking around I found a buzzer for a nurse and stretched out timidly
to press it; within a minute a nurse was rushing through the door. She glanced
at Mason and then turned to me, a bright smile revealed perfect white teeth and
I was sure I saw them dazzle. I inwardly thought she should advertise
toothpaste.

She ventured over to me and I put a finger against my
lips to shush her as I knew Mason wouldn’t have had much sleep “Let him sleep”
I whispered and winced as a pain tore through my cheekbone and jaw as I spoke

“
Fuck!”
I
hissed and the nurse smiled sympathetically “No smiling or talking for a while
Ava” she fiddled about with some equipment at the side of my bed and the blood
pressure cuff tightened against my arm as she shone a light in my eyes with an
ultra-bright torch and made me follow it.

“How are you feeling Ava?” she asked eventually and I
squinted “I’m not sure, my head and face hurt, my ribs are a little sore but…”
I shrugged. She nodded “The police are
wanting
to talk
to you” she sat on the edge of my bed and grasped my hand “Honey, I’m so sorry
to tell you but we found evidence of a sexual assault” she said gently and I
wanted to laugh. How many times had I heard those bloody words?!!!

I nodded and looked at Mason “I know” I said quietly and
she tipped her head “Were you conscious when it took place?” she asked and I
nodded again “I think I passed out after he strangled me” I told her, burrowing
my eyebrows as I tried to remember. She nodded and squeezed my hand “Do you
feel up to talking to the police yet?” I pursed my lips and glanced at Mason
again “I would rather wait until I’ve spoken to my boyfriend. I need
to…to…well, you know, tell him what happened. How long has he been here?” I
asked, dreading the thought of him nipping out to score “All the time Honey”
she smiled and I sighed in relief “He wouldn’t leave your side” she glanced at
him and sighed dreamily, and I knew he’d affected her as he did many other
women. I cringed in anticipation of filling him in with the details but I was
more in need of answers from him, but I knew I had to tread carefully knowing
this could send him back massively.

I sighed and the nurse patted my hand in reassurance “How
long have I been out?” I asked as she gestured to the water jug and I nodded,
then immediately winced “About 18 hours” she informed me and my poor bruised
eyes widened and then screamed at me in protest and I swiftly relaxed them “You
have some extensive bruising to your brain Ava, your body simply shut down to
recover. You’d be amazed at the human natural healing abilities” she smiled
again “I’m Teresa and I’ll be looking after you for your stay in the wonderful
Royal Hotel…5 stars and nothing less” she winked and I smiled at her as she
held a straw to my lips and I sipped, the cool water soothing my painful throat.
I liked her at once, she was a large bubbly girl about my age but what struck my
attention were her perfect teeth and her bright blue eyes, they reminded me of
Nate, the sharpness and twinkle in them set you at ease straight away.