Atonement (Heart of Stone) Read Online Free Page B

“You understand?”
    “Go – to – hell!”
    Wow! Discipline and behaviour would be discussed in the
bedroom tonight. No way would she be getting away with this.
     
    I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath to calm my
rage. “Tonight, baby. Kerrie can have the kids and me and you are fucking
talking. Make sure you don’t make plans.”
    “I’m going out tonight” She replied quickly and I
frowned. It was rare Ava went anywhere at night. She usually stayed in with the
twins whilst I did the rounds of the clubs and other stuff.
    “No, baby. You’re not listening.”
    “For Christ’s sake Mason, it’s you who isn’t listening, I
am going out. You can watch Katie and Georgie for a change. I have a life as
well.”
    “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
    She exhaled heavily as her eyes fired angrily, “Me? You
need to learn to respect me, Mason. After eight years you still treat me like
one of your damn men. I have made arrangements, deal with it.”
    Enough.
     
    I grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them above her
head. “Enough! Now!”
    She knew she had gone too far when her gaze dropped to
the floor and she nodded slightly. “I’m sorry.”
    I relaxed my hold on her and palmed her cheek before I
slid my hand round into her soft curls. “We need to talk, Ava. I won’t let our
relationship slip away until we have a huge problem. We talk, tonight.”
    She sighed but nodded, “Fine.”
    “Good girl, now kiss me.”
    Her lips twitched as she fought the smile. I didn’t fight
mine as she reached up to me and planted her soft pliant lips over mine. I let
out a small groan as I always did when she kissed me, I couldn’t help it, it
was involuntary; the same as my blood always sank to my cock simultaneously.
    “I love you, baby” I whispered against her mouth.
    She nodded and palmed my cheek, “I know you do, Mason.”
    She planted a small kiss on my lips before she turned and
descended the stairs.
    I watched her retreat and I didn’t miss the fact that she
hadn’t returned my words.
     
    ***
     
    “You know what confidential means Lucas?”
    He stared at me as we entered the building, “Yeah Mason,
I know what confidential means and funnily enough, I’m okay with that. Why I
would want to discuss this with anyone is beyond me.”
    I narrowed my eyes on him, “You have a problem with this ?”
    He barked out a sarcastic laugh. “No” he relented with a
slight shake of his head.
     
    The foyer was full of angry women and I frowned as I
walked into the middle of them and turned to Tracey. “What the fuck is going
on?”
    “Wendy’s buggered off.”
    “Fuck!”
    I looked at Olga and tipped my head towards Lucas, “Take
him up to my office.”
    She nodded once and gestured for Lucas to follow her as I
held my hand up to the enraged assembly. “Shut – the – fuck –up!”
    They all quietened and looked at me and I turned back to
Tracey. “Any excuse why she went?”
    She raised her perfectly manicured brows at me and I
sighed and nodded. There was only one person who could fill in her position and
I fucked myself inwardly for what I was about to do. “I’ll sort it within the
end of the day.”
    Tracey nodded and I trusted her to pacify the girls. “And
the other situation?” she asked with a cringe.
    I understood her worry and I smiled at her and held each
of them at my attention “That’s sorted too. Security will be moving in tonight
so don’t worry, okay?”
    They each nodded but I could still read their hesitancy
and I was with them all on this. “Don’t worry girls, the protection I’m
bringing in are professional and highly trained. Nothing more will happen
here.”
    They seemed more placated with this and I could hear
their mumbles as I entered my office down the hallway.
     
    Lucas eyed me sceptically as I walked in. I nodded to
Olga who returned my nod and disappeared through the door.
    “I want you to access CCTV and any e-mails that were
forwarded from here and