A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) (37 page)

Vince fell as well, and Hunter made his move to get the gun out of his hands. He kicked it away, sending the thing skittering across the floor. It stopped just before the hole Sylvia had fallen through.

"Hunter!" The sound of another male voice startled him.

Vince groaned and moved. Hunter called out. "Jesse! In here! Hurry! Call the police now!"

"You...won't..get-" Vince stuttered. Hunter punched him in the jaw.

"Don't you talk any more, you bastard." His fist hurt, but Vince's head snapped back. He turned the man on his stomach and grabbed his hands, yanking them behind his back. There was nothing to keep him there, so Hunter straddled him and kept his hands bent at an awkward angle. There was a huge, red, bloody knot on the back of Vince's head.

"Shara just called them." Jesse entered the building. "Where's Becca?"

"I don't know. Sylvia wasn't the one behind this mastermind. This is Vince. He-" Hunter couldn't say it. Vince struggled, as he muttered and cursed. Hunter jerked his arms again. "I need to find her."

Jesse searched around, then ran toward the far end of the building. He returned carrying some kind of cord in his hands. Hunter wasn't sure what it went to, but he guessed some kind of electrical plug. Jesse tossed Hunter the cord, and he immediately wrapped it around Vince's wrists, making sure to jerk and tug incessantly.

Shara and Joe ran in next.

"Go find Becca," Shara instructed. "I'll make sure this ass doesn't go anywhere." She kicked at Vince. "Where the hell is she, huh?"

"Go to hell," Vince spat. "You all would do what you had to in order to protect yourselves. That's all I did!"

Hunter had the inclination to slam his face on the floor, but he jumped up to search the building for Becca.

"I'm coming with!" Jesse said. "We'll split up."

He wasn't about to argue. Hunter took the doors on the left side, and Jesse checked the ones on the right. They each called Becca's name, but if she was awake, or alive, then she might not be able to respond.

Hunter stumbled toward the next door and shoved it open. Something shiny caught his eye. He bent to inspect it. Becca's engagement ring. Dread squeezed his heart. He picked it up and hurled his body against the door. "Jesse! She's here!" Becca lay curled on the floor in the corner. Her unmoving form scared him. "Bec!" he yelled, rushing to her side. Hunter's knees hit the floor hard as he gathered her in his arms. He immediately checked for a pulse as the sound of sirens surrounded them.

Becca was alive. She had a pulse. He scanned her body, checking for any visible wounds. He found none.

Jesse ran in, jumping over the chair in the way, and scooted on the other side of Becca. "She's-"

"She's breathing. I don't know what Vince did. He must have given her something to knock her out. He's a ... he's got access to things."

He'd injected her with something. Damn that bastard!

The sirens grew louder, and moments later, shouts and warnings rang out.

"Let's go." Hunter lifted Becca in his arms and held her close. It was over. Finally, the nightmare was over.

Becca shivered hours later as they still weren't able to leave yet. The paramedics took Vince away, but not before he admitted his plans. He'd been arrested, but had to seek medical help when Sylvia beamed him on the head. Sylvia had been shot by Vince afterwards, and she fell through a hole in the floor, resulting in her death. Hunter stood with one of the police officers, showing him every single text.

Jesse took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. "I'm sure we're almost done," he offered up as a thought.

"Doubt it,"
Becca signed, realizing he probably didn't know what she was saying. At his confused frown, Shara interpreted. When Becca woke up in Hunter's arms a while ago, she of course had no voice.

"Is your voice loss one of the aftereffects from your injuries you sustained in the crash?" He plopped on the ground beside her. "I guess I have a lot to learn. I want to be able to understand you." His gray eyes searched her face.

"It is. Every time I'm traumatized by something, sometimes even the simplest things, I go mute."

Shara once again told Jesse what Becca signed. "It's been on and off the past few months because of all this. It's over, Becca. It's finally over." Her friend leaned against the wall. Hunter and Joe were still talking to the police.

The nightmare may be over, but the emotional damage was far from. She'd always known Vince didn't love her, but the things he said today and the way he acted, she'd never expected those. Becca went to twist her ring and gasped when she didn't feel it on her finger. Where did it go?

Hunter made his way back to them. He held out a hand to Becca and scooped her up in his arms. "We can go now." He nuzzled her neck as he held her close. "I can't even wrap my mind around all this. All that matters is you're safe. Sylvia can't threaten us any more, and Vince will get what's coming to him." His tone was full of anger, same as Becca felt. Still, she couldn't help but sympathize for Amelia, who'd lost her daughter. She was really gone this time. Sylvia wouldn't be coming back.

Becca wrapped her arms around his neck, taking in all of Hunter's warmth and comfort. She had so much to tell him, from what Sylvia said, to Vince's comments.

"Do you want me to drive Becca's car back to the house?" Shara asked.

Becca fished for her keys in her purse and handed them to Shara.
"Thank you."

"I'll meet you there in a little while. Someone might want to call Todd and Beverly. This is going to hit the news soon, if it hasn't already."

"I did." Hunter kept Becca close to him. "I'm supposed to let them know when we're home." Becca leaned against him. They were both shaking.

"You gonna be okay to drive?" Jesse asked Hunter. He seemed hesitant to leave their side.

"I'll be all right. I'm ready to get us out of here," Hunter insisted.

"I can drive if you need me to, Hunter," Joe offered. Becca didn't understand why he was here at first, but Shara filled her in earlier that he'd shown up to bring them some things.

"Okay. That might be a good idea. I'm not ready to let Becca go, even though I know she's going to be in the car with me." Hunter ran his hand along the side of her face. "When I saw that picture come in..." He shuddered. "It's over. I just have to keep telling myself the worst is over."

Tears filled Becca's eyes. Today had been a scary reality.

"Oh angel, I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you cry." Hunter wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Let's get out of here and in the comfort of home." He handed Joe his keys.

The entire car ride home, Hunter and Becca curled up together in the backseat, clinging to each other. No one said anything. Joe didn't turn on the radio. There was no reason to say anything. Hunter leaned his head on Becca's. Warm breaths escaped his lips, tickling her skin. She closed her eyes and held tight to the man she loved with all of her heart.

She barely recalled getting home, but then again, Becca was in a daze. Hunter kept an arm around her waist as he led her out of the car and into the house. Shara had already arrived and was waiting for them, and Jesse pulled in soon after.

"If there's anything you two need, call me. I'll get out of the way for the night, but don't hesitate, okay? That was one hell of a scary night. I'm glad it's over. In the end, that's what matters." Shara bear hugged both Becca and Hunter. "I love you guys."

"We love you, too. Thank you for everything," Hunter said.

Becca barely comprehended everything. She could hear the voices, knew who they were and why they were here, but she couldn't shake the fuzzy surroundings feeling.

"Thanks for interpreting for me earlier." Jesse stood nearby.

"Jesse, why don't you and I go talk. I'll show you the letter. Let's give Hunter and Becca a little time to themselves," Joe suggested.

The room emptied pretty quickly. Hunter leaned close to Becca. His face came into clear view, and she shook herself out of the odd state. "You're still shivering," he whispered, pulling the ends of Jesse's jacket tighter around her. "I'm going to turn up the heat a little more. How about some hot tea?" He brushed stringy hair from her face.

Becca nodded, not wanting to pull her hands from the warm jacket pockets. It wasn't that cold in the house, but she couldn't get the shivers to stop.

"Come on. Sit down. I'm afraid if I let you go, you're going to fall over." Hunter gently eased her to the couch. He brought her a blanket, which he draped over her before he went to turn up the thermostat.

She had no idea how long she sat there, lost in her thoughts. Her mind was a jumbled mess, and she couldn't piece too many coherent thoughts together if her life depended on it.

Becca rubbed at her wrists, even though there was nothing there any more. She recalled the cool metal around them, and the way Vince carelessly did what he did. She shuddered, then remembered again she didn't have her ring on. Did Vince take it off? Had she lost it?

Hunter entered the living room, carrying two steaming hot mugs. He set them both on the table, then curled up on the couch with her. Becca repositioned herself so she could talk to him.
"I lost my ring."
Tears cascaded down her cheeks.
"I know it's not the biggest thing to be upset about, considering, but.."
She shook her head, painful sobs erupting from deep inside.

Hunter reached in his pocket. "I found it right outside the door of the room you were in. It's right here, angel." He gently picked up her hand and slid the ring back on, then brought her hand to his lips. "I think we're both going to need to continue to talk to our doctors, especially after this. I only got bits and pieces of what was said to you. When you're up to it, I want to hear your side."

Her fingers were shaky.
"I'll tell you now."

"You don't have to right away."

"I know. I woke up in a room with Sylvia. She said she was on the island with us, and that you left her to die."

"I don't remember her being there. Not at all. All I know is through these dreams."

"Maybe you did what I did, blocked it out. Not intentionally, but look at the whole thing with Vince and Stuart Ellis. It took another memory to bring that one to light. Maybe our subconscious minds pushed it away."
The room heated up, helping to ease Becca's constant shudders. Still, she wrapped the blanket around her tighter.

"I guess that makes sense. So she came after us because we left her to die?" He shook his head.

"She also said Rusty didn't die right away. She tried to help keep him alive and that he was looking for me. I don't know what else she may or may not have done. I don't think I want to know."

"Vince grabbed her right after she left the painting at the gallery," Hunter stated. "He wanted her to die so his secrets could go with. Apparently I was supposed to die with her."

"And he was going to forge marriage papers, then dope me up on medication. Play it off as if I'm the grieving fiancée who went crazy. The one thing that bothers me is that he claimed I had a violent streak. He says I killed Stuart Ellis, and that I attacked him because he told me the truth."

"I don't think you did, Bec. I think that was Vince messing with your head." Hunter sounded very sure. Becca didn't note a hint of disbelief in his voice at all.

"What if he never admits to it? What if they come looking for me once they open up the case?"
The thought crossed her mind just now. Oh God!

Hunter grasped her hands in his. "I don't know, but I strongly believe he did it. Don't do this, Bec. One thing at a time, okay?"

She pulled them away to sign.
"He said he provoked me at work to go after him for witnesses."

"I knew that man was bad news, I just didn't know how right I was. I want to go tell off the Langes so bad," Hunter growled. He lifted his mug to his lips.

"I still want to clear Rusty and Anne's name, so maybe we should. You and Jesse can come with. Then after that, I want nothing more to do with them. I owe them nothing, and they owe me nothing."

"They owe you years you can't ever get back and a piece of sanity because of that ass Vince," Hunter started, then sighed. "That's just my anger talking."

"It's really over."

"It is. We can work through this and move on. No more looking over our shoulder. No more fear. We're going to get past this. You and I together." Hunter held out his thumb.

A smile played on her lips as she sealed their special promise shake. They were going to be okay. It would take time, and a lot of healing, but Becca knew in her heart that they'd made it through the darkest of the storm.

A week before Christmas, Becca, Hunter, and Jesse took a flight to Vermont to visit the people she once called her grandparents. It took Vince being arrested for them to contact Becca and want to talk.

Today, Hunter and her brother would stand by her side as she said her piece, hear what they have to say, and leave their lives completely. Vince's sister was also going to be there, as she'd had no idea that her brother had been the reason behind her daughter's accident. She'd always thought Debbie Lange lost control of the car.

Becca's voice came back two days ago. The press was everywhere with this, and she had so many questions to answer as the police worked on building a case against Vince.

She swore months ago that she never wanted to come back to this house again. Becca fought a wave of dizziness as she stood on the front porch. Hunter clasped her hand, and Jesse took the other. "We're right here with you, Bec." Hunter brushed his lips against her cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered, then let go of Jesse's hand to ring the doorbell.

The door opened seconds later. The man she'd always called Grandfather stepped out. "Come on in," he said roughly and stepped aside. His gaze landed on Jesse, but never said anything.

Jolts of anxiety shook her world like massive earthquakes. With each step inside the house, dread filled Becca's heart. Rusty and Anne deserved this though, so she forged ahead.