The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone

by D H Sidebottom

  “If you could get onto a decorator and make an appointment. Then I need you to rally the security staff for me, I need a word.”

  He nodded with a happy wide smile, turned and I watched his huge form slip through another door at the bottom of the hallway. “He’s a good guy” Mason said beside me and I smiled up at him.

  “Yeah, I got that. Seems a bit slow but he seems loyal and easy going.”

  “Spot on.” Mason praised as he pulled me against him and rested his lips on the crown of my head, “What do you need me to do?”

  “Nothing, go sort out what you need to do, I got this.”

  He lifted an eyebrow, “You sure you can handle them this early?”

  I smirked at him, my lips twisting at the corner as I raised a brow of my own. He laughed, kissed my forehead and cupped both my cheeks, “Love you, baby.”

  “And me, you.”

  I gave the two women a huge smile as I walked into the office and gestured to the large sofa for them to sit as I sat beside them. The image of the two girls fucking on here jumped into my head and I made a mental note to replace the thing as soon as possible whilst I kept my hands in my lap and away from the leather material of the probably diseased sofa.

  “I want to ask a favour,” I said as I cast them both a glance. Rachel nodded as Angela told me to go ahead, “Would it disturb you if I came in whilst you are with a customer and take notes on the room security and set-up whilst you’re entertaining?”

  Both shook their heads immediately and replied with a no.

  “Thank you. Have either of you noticed anything funny going on around here?”

  They both thought it over but shook their heads yet Angela held something in her eyes, a question eager to be voiced and I nodded in encouragement to her.

  “Uhh, how long have you been married to Mr Fox?”

  “Four years” I told her openly, I needed these women to be open with me so I returned the favour.

  “Wow” Rachel breathed, “We had no idea he was even married. I don’t think Rebecca did either” she said with a grimaced warning in her tone.

  “Oh, she knew.”

  They both exchanged a glance and I smiled at them, “I’m well aware of Rebecca’s relentless push on my husband. Don’t worry, she’s gone . . . for good.”

  They both sighed and nodded, “Thank God, hated her, nasty bitch.”

  I laughed and nodded, “I’ve called her worse. Is there anything else I need to know, Olga for instance.”

  They both flinched and I narrowed my eyes on them, “What?”

  “Well she . . . she kinda has a thing for your husband” Rachel divulged and I smiled slyly.

  “Yeah, I picked that up. Don’t worry, I can handle Olga.”

  Angela cringed, “She’s kind of a . . . big woman, Ava. Offensive cow when she starts.”

  “Does she bully you?” I asked bluntly, needing all the information I could get.

  “Well, not really but, well she likes to boss everyone around, just took the position of top girl without being allocated it.”

  I nodded, knowing this kind of woman. “Don’t worry, she won’t for long. Anything else?”

  They both shook their heads as they glanced at each other. “Okay, I’ll be in your rooms in a while. I will check with your clients first, just to make sure they’re okay with a voyeur but I need you to make a list of any of your clients you don’t like, for whatever reason, we’ll get rid.”

  They both sighed heavily as if relieved they would no longer have to entertain the smelly gits. “I can’t believe Mason lets anything other than class into his establishment.”

  “To be blunt, Ava, it’s not Mr Fox fucking them, he isn’t aware of any undesirables.”

  “Well he should.” I answered, thoroughly pissed with Mason for letting these girls deal with anything less than clean; totally unacceptable.

  They each laughed and left me to log onto the system, the images from the cameras firing up and I realised only the corridors and reception room were covered, none from the private rooms, or other areas where sex occurred.

  This place needed a complete overhaul, safety wise, the security of the girls was the main priority. Anything could happen in those rooms, which had been doing, and nobody would be any the wiser.

  A knock sounded on the door and Gabe entered, followed by two sturdy looking men. “Security” he told me and I frowned at him.

  “Where are the others?”

  “This is the others.”

  “What the hell? How many girls work here?” I asked, totally astounded that this was the extent of the protection the girls received.

  “Approximately forty—fifty” the short bald guy answered, his expression knowing exactly what was going through my head.

  “Mason brought in extra guys when Yvonne . . . died, but they have gone now it has calmed down.”

  I nodded and scoffed as I sucked on my lips in thought, “Any of you have friends in this business?”

  “A couple, Mrs Fox, but can I be blunt?”

  I nodded as I encouraged him. He twisted his lips “Since Ginny died as well . . .”

  “What the hell?” I barked as Gabe elbowed him in the ribs in warning. I pointed a finger at Gabe, my annoyance shining through my features as he shrank back a little from me. “I am now your boss Gabe, I need to know every little thing, no matter how big or small, then you make sure I know it. You get me?”

  He cringed slightly but nodded as I turned back to the tall guy, “You have anything to say?”

  He twisted his lips, his eyes dark and condemning as he glared at me, “Or even a problem with me?” I added as I regarded his hatred.

  “Nope.” The simple word was laced with vehemence and I tilted my head in question at him.

  “You have a problem, then let’s deal with it . . .” I paused, requesting his name but his eyes narrowed further.

  “Carl, but what I don’t seem to comprehend is where you have been for the last god knows how many years then you turn up, barking orders at people, causing turmoil with the girls and condemning how Mr Fox works, he aint gonna be pleased you’re belittling him in front of his staff.”

  I couldn’t hold back the bark of laughter at his disapproval of me, completely without warrant as he didn’t know me, but then again, I didn’t know him so I held back and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

  “Carl, let’s get one thing straight,” I stood up and walked round the desk to him as he stood firm, his glare piercing straight through me. I could tell he was an alpha male the way he held himself and his little regard for other people’s opinions and feelings. To him, his wants came first, foremost and above all.

  He squared up to me and hell, if that didn’t fucking irritate the fuck out of me, obnoxious prick. He was a six foot something giant, whereas I was a five foot two little woman. His utter abhorrence with women shone through in his expression and I knew I needed to bring him down a peg or two. Working with women and hating them was a recipe for disaster.

  “I’ll be telling Mason exactly how shit this establishment is run. I’ll be telling him how disrespectful he has been to his girls. I will be telling him how utter bullshit his security is and I’ll be sure to tell him how fucking stupid he has been. You understand me, Carl? Because unlike you, I’m not afraid of Mason. He hurts me; I hurt him right fucking back, harder. I will not having him disrespecting these girls the way he has been doing and I will not have any—any of my staff look at me like I just stepped off the shit train with twat written on my forehead. I run this place from now on Carl, and if you don’t like that, then you can take your hateful opinions and your deep-seated anger out of my fucking door. Understood?”

  To say the man was security, he was a complete knob when it came to defence. Within seconds of my lecture he had grabbed my neck and slammed me up against the wall, my face squashed into the peeling yellowing wallpaper. What he didn’t realise was, it was me . . .

  Within another second, he foun
d my elbow wedged between his top two ribs, my five inch heel embedded in his shin bone and the back of my skull bouncing off his nose.

  He was down before I took my next breath, before either Gabe or shorty were on us and before the stupid prick could blink.

  “Holy Shit!” Shorty spat as Gabe rumbled out a little chuckle.

  “Could have told you not to rile her Carl, but it was more fun watching you learn the hard way.”

  “You fucking bitch” Carl grumbled as he pulled himself from the floor.

  “I could have told you that if you’d even bothered to ask, now get out arsehole.” I gave him a warning glare as he yanked open the door and banged it so hard one of the hinges screamed in pain, before it rattled in the frame and shook the room with vibrations.

  I turned to Gabe and Shorty and smiled softly as I refixed my hair in the manky mirror fixed to the wall, the scum and a crack that ran through the middle of it had me peering into the tiny intact corner at myself. “That doesn’t happen often but I need you to be aware I can look after myself. Your priority is the girls.”

  I picked up the phone and dialled Layla as the men left, gently pulling the door closed behind them to stop the thing falling off the wall after its mistreatment.

  “Hey, love.” I could read her smile through the phone and it brought my own forward. Layla, Mason’s best friend, was as tough as they came. She wasn’t the strongest physically, but her determination, her inner force and her potency to enjoy life always came through in her voice and the tone calmed me immediately. I loved this girl as much as Mason did.

  “Hey hun, Is that gorgeous hunk of yours around for a word?”

  She laughed loudly, “No he’s not but Lucas is here.”

  I returned her laugh as Lucas greeted me, “How rude is my wife, Ava?

  “She’s really rude, Lucas. I need you even if she doesn’t.”

  “What’s up, sweetheart?” he asked as I heard Layla’s giggle echo through the phone.

  “Okay, keep your hands off her for two minutes, I need you. I need an overhaul of security surveillance at Allure, discreet micro cameras to hide in the privates, a system where I issue members with access passes and software that allows me to do regular identity and criminal checks. You do anything like that?”

  “I do and it’s about time, I was gobsmacked with just the open area protection when I was last there.”

  I didn’t argue with him about his attendance here. It seemed like everybody knew about Allure except me but that wasn’t Lucas’s fault. I know Mason would have threatened him into silence.

  “Good, when can you come and scope the place out? Quick as possible Lucas, and don’t forget I’m one of your wife’s best friends and should jump the queue.”

  He chuckled, “Tomorrow?”

  “Perfect, I love you.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  I ended the call then looked at the other name I had selected on screen for a long while, my nerve and gut tensing as I needed this person’s specialty and knew no one else would do the job better.

  I blew out a breath as he answered and my throat constricted tightly causing a squeak to break out before I found my voice.

  “It’s Ava Fox, I need your help.”

  Silence greeted me for a couple of seconds, then, “Where do you wanna meet?”

  Chapter 27

  Mason

  HE ANSWERED THE door then shut it quickly but my foot wedged in the door and pushed it back before he could close it in time.

  “I need a word.”

  He stared at me through the gap, his whole face contorted in both rage and fear but give him his due, he stood his ground, holding the door tightly and preventing me from pushing it any further.

  “We can either do this on the doorstep, with all your neighbours listening,” I gestured with my eyes to notify him of doorways on his landing sliding open stealthily, but not quietly enough for me to be unaware as hushed breaths echoed around the corridor. “Or we can do it in privacy, Kade. Your choice.”

  He huffed loudly, his shoulders heaving with his anger but his resignation saw them eventually slumping with a nod of his head as he opened the door wide for me to enter.

  “Thank you” I said gratefully as I took in his apartment.

  It was pure bachelor pad, its light colours and deep toned décor notifying me of his single status. No feminine touches had been applied at all; no pictures adorned the walls, no knickknacks cluttered the place and no soft edges were to be seen anywhere in the open plan area.

  A large queen sized bed feasted on the space in one corner, the sheer size of it seemed to dominate the room as the other furniture slid into the background. Even the dark wood kitchen area seemed insignificant against the mammoth bed.

  “Nice place” I told him honestly.

  “I doubt you’ve come here to compliment my digs. What do you want, Mason?”

  I inhaled long and slow before I turned to him. His body was in defence mode, his fists tight by his sides ready to be used if needed, his feet were slightly apart as he braced his body in preparation to fight and his expression, wary and alert.

  “Calm down, I haven’t come here for a fight.”

  His shock showed clearly on his face and my lips twitched as I felt his palpable relief. “I need to know what the hell is going on with you and Courtney.”

  His brow pinched in both confusion and defiance, “I really don’t see how it concerns you. What my relationship status is has nothing to do with you.”

  “It does when it involves my friends and upsets my wife” I retorted as I helped myself to a whisky from a crystal decanter on his sideboard, the tell-tale aroma of the expensive brand making my mouth water as the deep timbered scent curled around my senses and lured me in. I downed the shot in one and refilled my glass as Kade deliberated over my last statement.

  He sighed heavily and sank down onto a chair in front of an open, but fake, log fire. “Look Mason, what exactly do you want to know? Just ask then we can get this over with and you can get the hell out of here and leave me alone.”

  I smiled to myself before turning back to him and seating myself opposite him on the small leather couch. “I want to know if it’s serious between you both.”

  His jaw clenched faintly as his chest heaved vividly. He stood and poured himself a drink before returning and reclaiming his position afore me. “Why, Mason. I don’t understand what it is to you?”

  I leaned forward, placing my glass on the small table between us as I rested my elbows on my knees and stared straight at him, “Because my wife is still in love with you.”

  He reared back, as I knew he would, my honesty and openness stunning him and surprising him through to his core.

  “I need to know how you feel. Do I have need for concern or is it real between you and Courtney?”

  He remained still and flabbergasted into silence, his eyes narrow in suspicion but his heart hammering in his chest, I could see the telling frantic beat of his heart in the pulsing throb at the base of his neck, its thump hypnotising and enticing.

  “Did you love her? When you took her in your pool house, did you love her, Kade?”

  His adam’s apple bobbed rapidly but he nodded once honestly, “Yes.”

  I nodded as my own heart beat sped up, my gut clenching as I approached the next question that needed to be answered just as truthfully. “Do you still love her?”

  His brow puckered into a frown as he cocked his head, his eyes penetrative and inquisitive. “And if I did?”

  “Just answer the damn question, Kade. Don’t fuck with me.”

  I leaned back into the sofa and rested my ankle on the opposite knee as I threaded my fingers and rested them in my lap, preventing me from giving in to my need for dominance and control and doing something stupid.

  I either needed to beat him to a fucking pulp or fuck the shit out of him, my dick hardening torturously at the thought.

  What the hell was wrong with me? I hated this bastar
d for what he had done to my relationship with Ava. The photos of them in that damn pool house refused to leave me, denied my want for peace but all at once fired a need in me as the pictures floated around my head, especially the one of Kade’s face between my wife’s firm slender thighs. His tongue in her sweet pussy, fucking her into oblivion with it, driving her wild with desire as her face contorted with both rapture and lust.

  I closed my eyes and dragged in a breath as erotic images of my cock slipping into Kade’s tight ass as he pounded Ava’s delicious wet pussy with his tongue filled the space behind my retinas.

  Fuck, I didn’t need this. Not now, not while I needed to take management of the situation between Kade and my wife.

  “Answer me, Kade, do you still love her?”

  He stared at me for a few moments then squared his shoulders and pulled in a deep breath. “Yes.”

  I twisted my lips and closed my eyes again, this time frantically attempting to rein in my anger and jealousy.

  “Yes Mason, I loved her then and I still love her now. Happy now? You got what you came for, now leave. I suppose you wanna beat the shit out of me, finish me under either your fists or the muzzle of a gun. Well do it quick, Mason cos’ I am so sick of all this bullshit.” He stood before me, his face red with both passion and rage, and his body solid and mean as he finally told me his secrets.

  “Your wife . . .” he continued, “Your wife was the best sex I ever had, Mason, in fact no, I made love to your wife, Mason. We had a connection, I felt it. I knew she cared for me then and I honestly didn’t do it to hurt you. I didn’t go after her thinking, oh I’ll fuck Ava to get at Mason. Fuck, I knew you would kill me if you ever found out, but you know what? She was worth that and more, Mason. God damn it, she is worth pain and so much more. She is worth facing the devil in hell for. I know you understand that because you feel exactly the same and if someone told you that you weren’t allowed to love her would you stop? No, and I can’t either, I’m sorry, I can’t.”

  I regarded him with sinister appreciation, his openness and frankness calmly esteeming. I did understand what he was saying because like him I would do anything for Ava. I would scour hell for anything she demanded, dig to the core of the earth for her dreams and my awareness of her feelings for Kade saw me here this evening. But could I do what I came here for, ask what had been on my mind as I had knocked on his door, even tell him of my intentions when I found myself here?