The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  He gulped again. “Rooms where you can . . . you can interact with others or act out some . . . fantasies.” He cringed and my eyes widened as I understood what he meant.

  “Did you . . . did you, you know?” I asked inquisitively even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

  “Ava,” he scolded at my question. I didn’t need to ask again, his warning confirmed my thoughts.

  I shook my head to clear the images I didn’t want to see as the waiter came over and cleared our plates away. “More wine, sir?” Mason nodded in a silent reply.

  All of a sudden I saw him freeze and sort of cower slightly which I thought was rather odd but then I found out the reason why.

  “Mason,” a small brunette purred as she approached our table.

  Mason stood in greeting again and I eyed her suspiciously. She was quite stunning, a little wisp of a thing but her clothes screamed wealth and status. “Tamara,” Mason addressed. Her eyes slid to me and after a swift perusal she turned back to Mason, shelving me instantly, obviously thinking I wasn’t worth her attention.

  I snorted at her dismissal and picked up my wine. “How are you Mason, darling?” she hummed, placing a hand on his forearm. I curled my lip.

  “Very good, thank you. You?” I could see the nervous stiffness to him as his eyes kept swinging to me to check for a reaction but I remained silent. I knew immediately that they’d had a sexual relationship. I tried to rein in the rage that was bubbling away in my stomach.

  “Oh, I’m good. You should give me a ring though.” She smiled a full blown ‘fuck me’ smile. I coughed vaguely and Mason cringed faintly.

  “Tamara, let me introduce my girlfriend, Ava Stone.” He smiled as he gestured to me. I saw the shock on her face and inwardly smiled.

  Yes love, it was strange for Mason to have a girlfriend instead of a ‘fuck whore’ like you.

  I stood and gave her a ‘he’s mine’ smile. “Pleased to meet you, Tamara.” I held out my hand but she just stared at it, her lip curled in disgust and the rage bubbled a little more.

  Shit, calm down Ava! I scolded myself. The last thing Mason needed was me knocking the bitch out in the middle of the most exclusive restaurant in London.

  As though Mason read my thoughts, he took a step towards me as if ready to pull me back when I struck. I growled at her dismissal as Mason grabbed my hand, squeezing it. I took it he was telling me not to react, but she was really pissing me off the way she was looking at Mason as though she was going to rip his clothes off in the middle of the restaurant and ravish him.

  I held out my hand again. “I said, I am pleased to meet you, Tamara.”

  I gave her the death glare. She paled slightly and took my hand. “Ava.” She nodded stiffly and my lips twitched at her discomfort.

  I felt Mason’s hand pinch mine again. “If you’ll excuse us Tamara, we’re in kind of a rush to finish our meal. Desperate to get home . . . you know how it is,” I winked exaggeratedly as I slipped my arm around Mason’s waist and reached up to kiss his cheek. He turned into me immediately, catching my lips and giving me a chance to show her a ‘he’s mine’ kiss.

  Tamara coughed and huffed. “Yes, excuse me,” she hissed and walked away stiffly.

  “Sorry.” Mason winced as we sat back down and studied our next course.

  I smiled across the table to him, heartened by his guilt. “Mason, I do know you had other women before me. It’s their reaction to me that pisses me off, not the fact that you have screwed other women.”

  I saw the shock in his expression at my words. “Really?” he asked cautiously.

  “Yeah.” I shrugged, “I don’t like the pictures it puts in my head but I know you weren’t a saint before you met me, Mason. I accept you’ve had other relationships.”

  I took a fork full of the roast duck in redcurrant jelly jus that was placed in front of me. “Ooh, that’s good too.” I licked my lips and held some out for Mason, he nodded as he tasted my food and grinned.

  “Wow, do you know how great you are?” He beamed and I shrugged, confused at his reaction to what I said.

  “Why?” I asked around another mouthful.

  “You know how laid back you are? Whereas me, well I get jealous if another man so much as looks at you.”

  I chuckled, “I didn’t say I didn’t get jealous Mason, but I understand we’ve all had a past.”

  I bit my lip as a thought darkened my mood. “Ava?” he probed softly. I diverted my eyes. “Ava, tell me what’s wrong,” he persisted.

  “Well, it’s just that well . . . I’m sorry for . . . you know . . .”

  He scowled at me, “What Ava? Just say it.”

  I looked down at my plate. “Well it’s just that . . . that I’ve been ‘taken’ a lot, you know and I’m surprised it hasn’t . . . well hasn’t turned your stomach.” I gulped and pushed my pea crush stuff round my plate.

  I heard him inhale sharply and I lifted my eyes to his. “Why are you always apologising for who you are, Ava?” he snapped. “Your past doesn’t bother me at all; I don’t see it like you do. There is nothing sordid or dirty about it. If anything, the experiences you suffered have made you into the wonderful, confident, beautiful woman that I have fallen in love with.”

  He reached over to cup my face. “Ava, I love you for who you are. Jesus, the way you look at me sometimes, blows my mind, baby. We fit together perfectly; like you were made for me, and I can’t get enough of you. You’re you and you are who I have fallen in love with.”

  I reached out and cupping my hand around the back of his neck, pulled him towards me and kissed him tenderly. “Thank you,” I whispered. He locked eyes with me, holding them until he knew I was confident of his truths.

  The rest of the night saw Mason introducing me to two more men and another couple of his ‘whores,’ much to his annoyance. By the time we had finished I could tell he was desperate to get out of there.

  “I’m so sorry, Ava,” he apologised as we pulled away from the restaurant, his face sombre.

  “Hey, it’s fine, you just know a lot of people that’s all. The food was wonderful though, thank you.” I kissed him and smiled. “Even through all the interruptions, I had a lovely night.”

  His expression softened and he took my hand, sweeping his thumb gently over my knuckles but I could tell he was still simmering at the nights events.

  By the time we pulled up at Mason’s house he hadn’t spoken a word all through the journey and his mood had plummeted.

  As soon as we entered the house he pulled out the whisky and poured himself a large measure.

  “You okay, baby?” I asked. He just nodded sternly and I sighed tiredly. “I’m gonna take a bath, okay?”

  He glanced at me as though he realised I was making my getaway. “Sure” he replied flatly.

  I turned and headed for the stairs, rolling my eyes at his mood swings; they were so tiring and I was too exhausted to deal with it.

  By the time I had finished my bath, Mason was nowhere to be seen and he still hadn’t appeared when I climbed into bed. I fell asleep almost immediately but not before I heard him angrily shouting at someone on the phone, but I was too shattered to go and investigate.

  I felt him slip into bed a while later, looking at the display on the clock, I was surprised to see it said 4:30 . . . What the hell had he been doing all night?

  I didn’t speak, I had the feeling he was a little too drunk. He pulled me to him as I feigned sleep. “I love you so much, Ava,” he whispered but his voice was full of broken emotion and my heart clenched at the sound of it.

  I knew something was on his mind, something was worrying him. I made myself remember to take some time to talk to him and find out what was on his mind, but not tonight; tonight I needed some sleep, my body was still recovering from everything it had been through lately.

  He pulled me tighter to him and soon his breathing levelled out. I knew he was asleep but my concern for the man I loved with all my heart kept me awake that
night.

  I managed to drop to sleep ten minutes before the alarm . . . isn’t that always the damn case!

  CHAPTER 36

  THE REST OF the week went by in a blur and I was so busy with work I didn’t leave each night until gone 6pm much to Mason’s displeasure, saying I should be resting but I was meticulously training for my new job. By Friday night I was ready for the weekend to relax and recuperate and try and find time to have that talk with Mason.

  Mason’s mood had worsened and he was drinking every night, spending every evening at the club and not returning until the early hours. I was getting a little pissed with him for leaving me alone every night but I also understood it was work and he needed to be there.

  Something was definitely worrying him so Friday after work saw me baking abundantly as he spent yet another night out, telling me he had an emergency at work.

  I tried to hide my disappointment as I walked in and he walked straight out, telling me he had to go in early. He gave me a barely there kiss and left without saying goodbye.

  I was starting to wonder if he was struggling with the monotony of our relationship, especially since we hadn’t made love for over a week and to be honest I was a little hurt, so I had phoned Courtney and invited her round for a girlie evening.

  Just as I had taken the chocolate orange cake from the oven she arrived, holding wine, face packs, nail varnish and DVD’s.

  “Hey, babe” she grinned as I let her in. “Ooh, something smells good” she sniffed and sighed. “I miss your cooking Ava, you should really invite me round more you selfish bitch.” She winked and had me laughing already. God I loved this girl.

  A few hours later saw us both in fluffy robes and Courtney painting my toe nails as OneRepublic blasted from the speakers.

  “So, are you gonna talk to me or do I have to prise it out of ya’?” she mock growled and I smiled, she could read me so well, knowing I was worried.

  I slumped back on the sofa. “It’s Mason,” I started. She nodded as she concentrated on my nails.

  “I gathered that babe, but what’s he done?”

  I sighed heavily and she glanced up at me, making me grin as her tongue poked out of her mouth in sheer attentiveness to her toe nail painting skills. “I dunno Court, there’s something seriously wrong.” She frowned but gestured for me to continue. “He’s out every night; he doesn’t come back until I’m in bed. He’s here but not here if you know what I mean. He’s angry all the God damn time and he’s drinking heavily. It’s like he’s worrying about something but he won’t let me in.”

  I smiled at her when she started adding little diamonds on the pattern she had created on my big toe. “Wow hun, you’re really good at that. I’m gonna wear open-toed sandals tomorrow for the barbeque and show them off,” I grinned. She smiled happily at me. “You should start charging, you’d make a fortune.”

  “I was thinking about doing one of those courses, you know,” she shrugged.

  I nodded encouragingly at her. “Yeah, go for it.”

  She shrugged again. “It’s expensive though, Ava and you know my wages don’t pay a lot.”

  “Yeah, but you’ll make it back when you start earning,” I encouraged. “I could lend you the cash if you want,” I offered.

  She shook her head. “No Ava, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

  I swat her head gently. “Hey, you’re my bestie and I love you. Call it an early Christmas present then.”

  She grinned animatedly. “Really?” She jumped up with glee and hugged me. “God I love you Ava Stone,” she giggled then settled back to down to finish the job.

  “Hey, you should print some cards off and I could hand them round to people at work,” I told her and she nodded rapidly.

  “Good idea, babe. Anyway back to Mason,” she said, her tongue peeking out again as she started on the other foot.

  I sighed heavily. “He frightens me Courtney . . . when he’s had a drink, he gets really angry and I can hear him punching things downstairs. I have to pretend to be asleep when he gets in,” I admitted.

  She leant back on her heels, narrowing her eyes on me. “Has he ever hit you, Ava?” she asked seriously and I shook my head.

  “No! He wouldn’t but I dunno, it’s just frightening to see the rage in his eyes. It’s kind of like he’s not in there, that another evil version of himself has possessed him.” I laughed sheepishly, embarrassed by my confession but she didn’t laugh.

  “Have you spoken to him?” I shook my head.

  “I’ve been trying to find the time all week. I’ve been training for my new job so I don’t get in while 6:30 then he goes as soon as I come in.” I sighed and my eyes welled up.

  Courtney shot up and sat beside me, propping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me into a side hug.

  “I think . . . I think he might be . . . back with Rebecca.” I hissed her name as another tear fell.

  “Oh babe, he loves you. I’m sure he wouldn’t.”

  “But what if he’s back on the coke, Courtney? He’ll not even be able to control himself,” I choked out and she huddled me deeper.

  “Ava, talk to him tomorrow. Promise me,” she demanded. I nodded, knowing I desperately needed to before it went too far.

  “Hey, come on . . . girlie night. Get that popcorn on and I’ll crank up the DVD.” She grinned and walked over to the player, ejecting a disc that was already in there.

  I saw her frown deeply at it and I walked over to see what it was. “What is it?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “I dunno but look.” She showed it me and my jaw fell. It was a regular disc but someone had stuck a sticker on it and the words froze my blood.

  ‘WHORE!’

  I swallowed heavily and passed it her back. “Play it.”

  “Ava . . . I don’t think we should babe,” she whispered, looking at me with concern.

  “Play it, Courtney,” I snapped. She sighed but slipped it into the player and came to sit beside me on the sofa.

  I hit play and a start-up screen came into view with the word ‘play’ beside the word ‘whore.’

  Courtney grimaced. “Ava . . . I really . . .” She didn’t finish as I pressed play and the picture faded into an image of a kitchen. My stomach flipped harshly when I realised it was Mason’s kitchen. It showed me and Mason stood at the counter whisking pancake mixture, him behind me as he held the whisk with me. My heart beat faster once I realised what the clip was showing but I couldn’t bring myself to switch it off.

  It zoomed in to show Mason’s hands slip round to cup my breasts and nibble my neck.

  “Oh shit Ava,” Courtney breathed and reached for the remote.

  “Leave it!” I barked. She flinched but didn’t turn it off.

  The film then proceeded to show me and Mason having sex in the window seat and after it faded out, it faded back in to Mason’s front room at night, the lamp lighting the room softly as I came into view, pulling Mason over to the sofa and straddling him as he peeled off my red silk dress, showing me wearing a red lace bra and thong as I rode Mason hard.

  Courtney had gone pale and she was struggling to breathe. “W. .w. .hat the h. .hell is this?” she stammered.

  I couldn’t speak as the next scene came into view. It was the night of Brian’s party where Mason had pressed me up against the wall and fucked me roughly.

  “Jesus, Ava” Courtney spluttered. “You know if it wasn’t so creepy I’d find this quite hot.” She stared at me, her eyes wide.

  “Why the hell would Mason be making home movies without telling me?”

  “Mason hasn’t made these, Ava. I don’t think he would write whore on it do you?” she countered as we both struggled to take our eyes off the screen to see what came next.

  The next clip showed the bathroom and Mason nailing me on the vanity unit. “Is sex always like this with you and Mason?” Courtney asked with a slight giggle. “Jesus, I need a man like that.”

  I slapped her arm. “If you don’t min
d, we’re not watching it for entertainment,” I scolded but she just giggled again.

  “Sorry babe, it’s just a bit weird watching your bestie have sex . . . and very good fucking sex at that.” she chuckled. “I told you I didn’t want to watch it, Ava,” she sighed.

  The next part of the movie took our breath.

  The screen went white and some writing appeared.

  I’M GOING TO ENJOY

  WATCHING YOUR

  WHORE SCREAM IN PAIN

  WHILE SHE DIES

  Oh Shit!

  We both stared at the words in shock.

  “Oh Fuck, Ava!” Courtney puffed and sagged into the sofa.

  I turned slowly to look at her, my mouth wide. “Why the hell didn’t Mason tell me?”

  Courtney softened her eyes. “Oh babe,” she whispered as she saw my expression.

  I was fuming! Something so serious and he kept it to himself.

  “Well at least we know why he’s acting up.”

  I scoffed. “But why would he stay away from me? It doesn’t make sense Courtney; surely this would make him want to stay near me. Somebody is trying to kill me and he leaves me alone every fucking, bloody night.” The rage was surfacing and I was furious at him.

  I could tell by Courtney’s expression that she agreed with me. “Yeah that is a bit fucking low!” she hissed as she realised the seriousness of the situation and Mason’s lack of attention.

  I rubbed my hands over my face. Courtney reached over and finally shut down the DVD but I walked back over to it and ejected the disc.

  Picking up my phone I dialled Mason’s number; it rang once and went to voicemail. I pursed my lips at his obvious decline of the call.

  “Do you think there are cameras in here?” Courtney asked absentmindedly, looking round the room. I shivered and looked around.

  “Fuck, I hope not,” I answered. “I’m sure Mason will have checked after he received it.” She nodded but not convincingly.

  I picked up my phone again and dialled Sam. “Hi,” he shouted over some loud music.

  “Where is he Sam?” I asked bluntly. He paused.