Nativity: Festive Novella (Heart of Stone #11) Read Online Free Page A

that.”
    There was a silent pause and just as I
was about to push the door open, Katie’s next words stopped me.
    “How do you do it, Mum?”
    Ava sighed heavily and I heard them
shuffle about, presumably taking a seat at the table. “Because I have no other
choice, baby. It’s kill or be killed in this life.”
    “You ever wonder what your life would
have been without my Dad?”
    Ava snorted. “Sometimes. But then the
pain in my chest becomes unbearable. You need to understand, Katie, that your
Father has put up with so much from me. Both you and George seem to think that he
is the one at fault for the way my life has gone. But you know what. I wouldn’t
have even got this far without him. He’s not just my rock, Katie, he’s my soul,
my warrior. He would fight for me with his last breath. He would offer up his
soul to make sure I kept mine. And yes, he’s had his moments.”
    Katie snorted this time. “Moments? I’d
say he’s had a few.” She didn’t say it with revulsion, just stating the truth.
    “And I’ve had more than a few.” Ava admitted
openly, “But anyway, what I’m saying is, this is our life. You either take hold
of it and learn to love it or allow it to drown you. You have no idea what I
have done to survive and like you, yes I have hated myself for things I’ve done
but there’s nothing I can do to change who I am. Baby, you can’t let this take
you down because I can assure you, as a Fox, you will kill again.”
    I stumbled backwards, my heart
threatening to beat out of my chest. What the hell? What the fuck did she mean
‘You will kill again ’? Again? Again meant she’d done it before!
    They both stared at me when I flung the
door open, Ava rolling her eyes and sighing and Katie looking at me like I’d
found out she’d committed murder. Ironic, huh?
    “What the hell?” I barked at Katie,
making her rear back in horror when she witnessed the wrath start to take hold
of me.
    “Katie, go to bed,” Ava said calmly.
    “Like fuck!” I turned on Ava. “What the
hell is going on?”
    She glared at me, giving me warning with
her eyes. “Calm the fuck down and I will explain.”
    “Calm – the – fuck – down?” I growled as
I slowly made my way over to her. Katie scuttled off the chair and stood in
front of her mother.
    “Dad… please…”
    “Katie,” Ava cut in. “Go to bed. Now!”
    In a dilemma, Katie flicked her eyes
between me and Ava, her face tight with worry. “Mum...”
    “Now, Katie!”
    I was struggling to breathe, my chest
heaving as my lungs adapted to the fierce invasion of oxygen. My whole body was
humming with anger and adrenaline, sweat already slicking my palms as my fists
clenched tightly. I closed my eyes, trying my best to rein it in but it was too
hard. “Go to bed,” I grated, my teeth clenched tightly as I tried to control
myself in front of my baby.
    I didn’t open my eyes until I heard the
door click shut. Ava was sat on a chair, calm as fuck, looking up at me.  Swallowing
tightly, I cleared my throat and licked my lips. “Explain.”
    “Sit down.”
    I shook my head, locking down her stare
with my own, both of us battling with each other to stay composed. “No.
Explain.”
    She bit her lip and clicked her tongue,
quirking her eyebrow slightly. “I will explain when you get your head out of
your ass and calm – the – fuck – down.”
    She gasped when I grabbed her arm and
pulled her out of the chair, dragging her body flush to mine so she could feel
my temper as well as see it. “Don’t push me, Ava. I’m not doing so well right
now. Don’t play one of your childish fucking games with me. Why the fuck did
you say again when you said Katie would kill? Oh and let’s not forget
the ‘As a Fox’ part. You know damn fucking well I didn’t want this life for the
kids!”
    And still she stood there, staring at
me, serene and un-fucking-ruffled. “If there’s anything that I remember from my
school days,” she spouted coolly,