Decay (Heart of Stone Book 13)

by Sidebottom, D H

  I cried out when his strokes became much slower but way deeper, his hard thrusts making my chest press into the edge of the vanity when he leaned over the top of me.

  “Tell me, Ava.”

  My teeth were vibrating with sheer rapture and I wasn’t sure if my vocal chords would actually work.

  His thumb flicked my clit over and over, the need to come growing more intense by the second. But then he fisted my hair and pulled me back against him. “Tell me!” he demanded. “Otherwise you won’t come.”

  Forcing back the tremor in my throat, I choked out the words he needed to hear. “Bite me.”

  Sucking air through his teeth in relief, his mouth dropped into the crook of my neck and his teeth did my bidding, sinking deep into the flesh and triggering my climax. I cried out in ecstasy as Mason growled and forced himself deeper, his cock jerking inside me as he came hard.

  “Fuck, fuck,” he choked out as his forehead came to rest on my upper back and both his arms slid around me to hold us both up.

  My body thrummed with pleasure, my bones almost liquefied as we both came down to Earth, our deep breaths in perfect symmetry.

  “Twenty two years,” he said on a sigh,” And it still feels like the first time.”

  Looking over my shoulder, I smiled, taking in his handsome face. “And my heart still loves you as much as the first day I fell in love with you. If not more.”

  He gazed at me, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “It’ll be okay, Ava. I promise.”

  I nodded, even if I didn’t hold the same conviction as my husband. How would it ever be okay again? How would my heart ever heal from losing my best friend?

  And my son?

  Fifteen

  Katie

  The snow was coming down hard, huge white flakes covering everything around me. I looked up to the sky, the grey void notifying me that there was plenty more to come.

  A shiver raced through me and I wrapped my arms around my body, my thin dress doing nothing to stop the stop the chill from biting at my bones.

  The flowers I held tickled the top of my arm. Two tiny but perfect yellow roses that Steed had presented to me twenty minutes go. They matched the pale lemon piping on my cream dress. The first dress I’d worn since I was around five years old.

  “He’s not coming, Katie,” Steed said quietly, and sadly, from behind me. “We need to get a move on.”

  I scanned the street again, my eyes rushing up and down as I tried to catch sight of my brother. My heart lay heavy. “But he promised he would be here.”

  George had been the only person I’d asked to come to my wedding – and the only person I’d told. I knew my parents wouldn’t approve. I needed my family with me, and George was my twin, half of my soul. His presence, today of all days, was needed. I’d sworn him to secrecy in case Dad decided to do something stupid, but he’d promised me he would be here to hold my hand. The registry office was providing witnesses. And there were no more guests. It looked like one of the two randomees was giving me away.

  Steed’s hand rested on my arm. “Babe. I’m sorry.”

  Shaking my head, I forced a smile and turned to him. He stared down at me in awe, his eyes so full of love that I had to hold back the emotion that bubbled in my chest. Taking his hand, I lifted it to my lips and held his eyes with my own. “Time to produce a Mrs Steed.”

  The grin that rose on his face made me giggle. “It’s about fucking time. Say goodbye to Miss Fox.”

  Quickly turning, he almost dragged me into the small but adequate building. Lecterns and huge urns of flowers made the old place a little less drab, and various rugs had been draped over the shitty brown floor tiles in attempt to lighten the darkness, but I wasn’t there for the décor. I was there to marry a man that not only loved me but made me love myself.

  The registrar swiftly ushered us through to a small suite, quickly introducing us to the two chosen witnesses whose names turned out to be Marie and Marjorie. Marjorie looked at me sadly but when I gave her a wide grin, showing her I was actually excited and not just getting married because I ‘had to’, she soon returned my enthusiasm.

  The service was ultra-quick, a twenty minute blur of repeated words and exchanging of lots of things, including rings that Steed surprised me with. I stared down at the platinum band with three tiny diamonds in throughout the rest of the ceremony, twisting the precious piece around and around in wonderment – it was stunning and perfect. Steed just stared at me with the same look in his eyes for the entire duration.

  And before long the registrar was saying ‘you may kiss your wife’. And my husband did just that, sweeping me backwards as he gave me the most tender kiss ever. He portrayed everything in that kiss, his love for me, his gratitude for marrying him, his devotion to me for the rest of our lives, and many, many promises. When he broke away, his palm laid softly on my cheek, I had tears rolling down my face.

  “I love you so much,” I breathed up at him. “Thank you for making me happy.”

  He shook his head faintly, “Don’t you ever thank me. My love for you is free, without sacrifice. And yours is a gift, Katie Steed.”

  The sound of his surname after my name made my throat ache with happiness.

  We quickly signed the necessary paperwork and waited for our certificate which I clung to proudly. I squealed when he scooped me up and held me to his chest as he carried me out of the building.

  “Aren’t you supposed to carry me into our home?”

  He laughed, dropping me to my feet carefully on the icy pavement outside the office. “I like to be different.”

  I reached on my toes to kiss him. “That’s precisely why I love you.”

  His hand dipped into his jacket pocket and he pulled out an envelope and passed it to me. I frowned up at him and opened it. Another loud squeal burst from me when an itinerary of a luxury secluded island break in Bali had my new name on it. “We’re going to Bali?”

  He nodded excitedly. “Ten days of you and me, naked and fucking wherever, whenever and however the hell we want.”

  “Oh my God,” I cried, bouncing up and down gleefully.

  “But first,” he growled, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck and pressing a tender kiss to my skin. “I’m taking you home and bending you over the dining table. I’m going to lift that pretty little dress over your glorious arse, slide your knickers down and spank your pussy until your cum drips down my hand.”

  I trembled under him, trying to catch my breath. “And then will you fuck me?” I asked, my voice choked with lust.

  “Katie Steed?”

  I jumped back from Steed and turned to the woman stood smiling at me. “Uhh, yes?”

  She smiled wider and passed me a huge bunch of flowers and a card. “For you.” And then she turned and walked away.

  Steed peered down at me, his eyes shifting from my face to the flowers. “Now is not really the time to tell me you have a boyfriend.”

  I laughed. “They must be from George.”

  Shifting the flowers into one arm, I slid the card from the envelope and opened it.

  Many congratulations,

  From Sharon Carver and Rich Vaughan.

  I frowned.

  A faint pop in the air made me blink.

  It was only when I recognised the sound for what it was that I looked up.

  And my world fell apart.

  Steed’s eyes were wide on me, shock paling his face. His knees buckled and he fell into me.

  My arms caught him.

  “NOOOOOO!” I screamed when the blood that poured from his chest smothered my pretty wedding dress.

  People around me started screaming when they saw my husband die right before their very eyes.

  “HELP ME!”

  We both dropped to the floor and I pressed my hands into the wound. “Don’t you dare!” I warned him.

  But it was too late.

  I knew it was.

  I knew because my heart died right there on that street. Ten
minutes after the happiest moment of my life, my life fell apart.

  Sixteen

  Ava

  The fluorescent lights blinded me as I ran through the corridors, the unnatural light already bringing on the start of a migraine. The signs that led me through the hospital did nothing but hinder my way, each one not taking me where they announced they led. It wasn’t until I asked someone that I realised I had to go out of the building and round the back to get to A&E. Why the hell it directed you through to the back of the building then forget to tell you they had renovated and now the casualty unit had its own entrance was beyond me.

  The place was packed when I burst through the doors, my eyes scanning the waiting room for Katie.

  “Ava Fox. My daughter rang me,” I blustered as I pushed my way to the front of the mile-long queue.

  “Name?” a prim receptionist drawled.

  “Katie Fox.”

  She tapped away on her keyboard, then looked over the rim of her glasses at me. “No one here by that name.”

  Shaking my head, I tried again. “She came in with her boyfriend, Dane Steed.”

  Once again she tapped away. I wanted to vault over the desk and make her type faster. Without speaking she nodded her head. “Through the double doors.”

  Gritting my teeth at her attitude, I rushed through the doors. The area was full of people but Katie wasn’t one of them.

  “Can I help you, Ava?”

  Spinning round, I gawped at the nurse smiling at me. “Oh my God, Theresa?” Theresa had been the nurse who had taken care of me after Dane had taken me. We’d become friends and had kept in touch for a few years. The last I’d heard she had gone to work abroad.

  “Hey.” She smiled, pulling me into a hug. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m looking for my daughter. She rang me, her boyfriend was brought in, gunshot.”

  “Ahh,” she nodded, the gunshot probably notifying her exactly who I was after, after all, it wasn’t every day they dealt with shootings – but then again, maybe they did.

  She signalled for me to follow her as she led me into a side room.

  Katie looked up at me when I walked into the small room. I couldn’t help but gasp when her eyes met mine. There was something lost in them now, a cold depth that made me shiver.

  Theresa patted my arm and then left me and Katie alone.

  “Mum?”

  She tried to stand up but her legs wobbled and she collapsed back into the sofa.

  “Baby,” I whispered, the sight of her pain forcing me to weep as I huddled her into my arms. “I’m here, Katie. I’m here.”

  The sound of her soul-wrenching sobs killed something inside me as she clung to me, her fractured heart and her shattered soul begging me for help. I rocked her, my arms holding her tight as she broke. Her cries suffocated me. She begged me to help her, begged me to bring him back, and all I could do was hold her, unable to answer any of her prayers.

  “What happened?” I finally asked when her sobbing turned to soft weeping.

  She stared at the floor for a while before she lifted her hand. Very gently she ran her finger over a ring that decorated her finger.

  “Oh my God, Katie. You married him?”

  Her exhausted eyes found mine and she nodded. “Yes. Ten minutes before he died I became Mrs Steed.”

  My heart broke at her revelation and a stupid, stupid wretched whine erupted from me. “Oh baby, I’m so sorry.”

  She was limp as I hugged her to me again, her body empty of everything.

  “He was the only one who knew.” There was something sinister in the tone of her voice, and I froze.

  Almost not daring to ask, I lowered my voice. “Who?”

  She pulled away from me, the darkness in her eyes filling me with anguish when they met my own. “You know exactly who. George.”

  I couldn’t answer her. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a card then passed it to me. Blood splattered the picture of a white lily on the front and I stared at it for an age before I found the courage to open it.

  “Fuck!”

  I knew I should have finished the bitch in prison when I had the chance. Once again it all led back to me and my heart died.

  “George was the only one who knew I was getting married today.”

  Shaking my head, I frowned. “But Sharon Carver’s husband killed Debora and Becca. Why would George be involved with her?”

  She shrugged. “Sharon, I don’t know. But I know why he’s involved with the Vaughans.”

  It all slotted into place and I sighed. “Drugs.”

  She nodded. “I wondered where the fuck he was getting so much from when he hasn’t been to work in over eight months. I did think you were subbing him…” She nodded, acknowledging my denial when I shook my head. “The Vaughans have been trading crack and heroin for information on us.”

  Realising your own son is the very reason your family is being destroyed kills a part of your soul. Half of me refused to believe it, but the evidence made sure to kill that hope.

  “He killed Courtney,” I whispered, shame flooding me with my son’s actions.

  Katie closed her eyes, the agony of my admission too painful to deal with. I knew how she felt.

  I burrowed into the sofa, curling my legs under me as I tried to hide within myself.

  “I couldn’t see him, Mum,” she stated. Puzzled, I shook my head. “The shooter. I couldn’t find him.”

  “You never would have, darling. Snipers are paid hefty amounts for that very reason.”

  I could read the need for vengeance written on her face, and I took her hand.

  “It’s Sharon and Vaughan that deserve your wrath. The shooter is unbiased; he’s just paid to do his job. His target is faceless to him. You know this, Katie. Finding him or not will not get justice for Steed.”

  Nodding, she wet her lips. “We do it soon.”

  “I promise.”

  “And George?”

  I flinched at the pain in my heart. “I don’t know. Your father’s dealing with George.”

  She frowned, looking around the room. “Where is Dad?”

  Sighing, I shook my head. “I don’t know; he was gone when I woke this morning. I’ve been trying to get hold of him but his phone is off. Sam doesn’t know either, and I don’t want to bother Greg.”

  She gulped, her eyes in her lap. “What am I gonna do without him, Mum?”

  Reaching out, I stroked down her long beautiful hair and smiled gently. “You’re going to live for him. You’re going to fight to be happy. You’re Mrs steed now, you give that name honour, Katie. You give your husband a wife he would be proud of.”

  She fell into me, her sobs tearing me apart.

  “And you make them pay,” I whispered. “We’ll make them all pay. That I can promise you.”

  Seventeen

  Mason

  Fuck!

  My eyes quickly swept the dark room, my vision distorted as I tried to focus through the swelling.

  I couldn’t believe I’d been so damn fucking stupid. I’d gone to talk to Rich Vaughan. Find out why he was so adamant to take me out. I always took back-up, yet my mind had been so absorbed with George, and Katie and Ava, that I’d simply walked up to his front door and knocked, stupidity making me think I could work things out with him. I’d presumed he just wanted a piece of London that was mine, or rather Katie’s now.

  What I hadn’t expected was playing right into his hands. The fucker had been expecting me. I wasn’t sure why, but his men had jumped me as soon as I’d climbed out of my car.

  Nothing made sense. Expect that I was screwed.

  My body ached. I’d already taken a beating and I’d woken up in this dismal, damp room not ten minutes ago, tied to a chair with a rope so thick there was no manipulating it.

  I’d wanted to sort Vaughan before I tackled George, who was the greater problem, more to Ava’s mental state than anything else. Hence why I had foolishly acted like the big fucking man an
d taken on something that had already been set in motion.

  Blinking at the brightness when the door opened, I squinted at the silhouette that was highlighted in the doorway.

  Rich Vaughan tutted and sighed as he took a step into the room and into sight. Flanked by two of his men, he waited until they’d stepped inside then he closed the door and turned to me.

  “Who’d have thought the notorious Mason Fox would be such an easy take.”

  Gritting my teeth because he was right, I looked up at him. “I came to see if we could sort this shit out, talk about what you’re after. There was no need for all the fucking guns and drama.”

  Pursing his lips, he tipped his head and considered my statement. “Well I apologise for that, but here was me thinking you would be a little harder to take down.” He clicked his tongue. “So, actually, you just came here to talk?”

  “Well I hardly came to take you out by myself.” The man was a dick, no other word for him really. “Even I’m not that stupid.”

  He nodded slowly. “So, you didn’t come on behalf of your daughter?”

  Frowning, I peered at him. “What? Why would I come here because of Katie?”

  He clicked a finger and pointed at me as if he’d just figured something out. Then he laughed. Rearing back a little when he leaned into me, I watched him closely.

  “Ah, we seem to have our wires crossed here, Fox.”

  He was making absolutely no sense, and I was slowly losing my temper. “What the fuck are you on about?”

  He dropped to his haunches in front of me and smiled, the sight making my hairs stand on end. “This morning your daughter married Mr Steed.”

  My mouth opened but nothing came out. What the fuck?

  Vaughan nodded. “Yes, I was surprised too. Such a bitter little bitch, your daughter. I’m surprised someone actually dared tackle that cold piece of ass.”

  He laughed when I struggled against the restraints, anger biting into me and making me want to rip the prick a new arsehole.