Read Online Fortitude (Heart of Stone) by D. H. Sidebottom - Free Book Online

grabbed hold of the chair.
    Shit. Shit. Fuck.
    “She saw us kissing?” I asked as I grabbed hold of his
wrist a little too firmly. He narrowed his eyes on me.
    “Yeah, like I said, she said to leave you both to it and
I put her in a taxi. She was a little far gone.”
    “Fuck!”
    “Are you okay?” Carrie asked when she saw me pale.
    “No,” I shook my head frantically and grabbed her arms.
“Where is she?”
    “Hey,” the tall guy cut in. “Chill the fuck out mate.”
    I turned to him slowly, realisation just hitting me. “And
what were you doing with her?”
    “With who?” he asked as he shook his head in
bewilderment.
    “My fucking wife, arsehole.”
    “Whoa.” He held up his hands and shook his head again. “I
didn’t know she was your wife, I didn’t even know she was married.”
    “You’re married?” Carrie asked as her eyes widened.
    “Yes,” I nodded then shook my head. “Well, no…”
    “Listen,” Tall guy said. “For one, I didn’t do anything
with her. I just helped her to the toilet. And for two, no wonder she freaked
out, she watched you kissing her fucking friend. In my book, that’s pretty
low.”
    “I didn’t know she was her mate.” I defended as I turned
to Carrie and glared at her.
    “Don’t look at me either. I didn’t know you were her
husband.”
    It was all such a fucking mess. “Do you know where she
is?” I asked as I dropped her arms from my grip.
    “Yes,” she nodded. “But I don’t think she wants to see
you. She told me she was done with you.”
    Her words cut deep, even more painful than when Ava had
said them. Women always confided in their friends and told them the truth. And
I had honestly thought Ava was just protecting me, but that she still loved me.
If she had told her friend she didn’t want me, then it must be true.
    But I still needed to see her. Just once more, just to
give my heart that little jolt it had missed so much. Just to give my soul a
moment’s peace.
    “Please, I just want to talk to her. You know, chat over
coffee and catch up.”
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Tall guy said.
    I spun round and grabbed his throat, “I don’t give a fuck
what you think’s a good idea or not. She’s mine, remember that.”
    “Hey, calm down.” Carrie took hold of my hand and turned
me to face her. “If you don’t calm down, I won’t be taking you anywhere.”
    I dropped my hand and managed a sorry, just for face
value, I’d have loved to beat the shit out of him for even looking at Ava, but
that wouldn’t be a good idea in the middle of the club.
    “There is no way you are going to see her like that,” he
defended as he rubbed at his neck. “She could barely stand.”
    Carrie sighed and closed her eyes. “Mason.” I turned to
her when I caught her worried tone. “She isn’t the Ava you know anymore. She
has been through so much that it has stripped her complete identity.”
    Her honesty stabbed me, the thought of what my little
warrior had gone through alone hurt more than I could stomach. “Please,” I
begged once more. “She cut me off so bluntly that I didn’t even get chance to
say goodbye. I just need to see her. Please.”
    “Right, okay.” She conceded and gave a shrug. “On your
head be it.”
    “No way are you going there alone. I’ll come with you,”
Tall guy insisted.
    I spun round to glare at him. “What the fuck does it have
to do with you?”
    He stepped into me, his eyes firing furiously. I realised
he was tougher than I originally thought, I had just caught him by surprise.
And the way he had relaxed in my hold should have told me he was a professional
fighter, but I had been too riled up to notice it. I would never admit it, but
I respected him more for knowing that he was willing to stick up for Ava, even
if he hardly knew her.
    “I picked up your wife. I also frequently pick up my nine
year old little girl, and let me tell you, my daughter weighs more than your
wife. I could feel every