"The bastard. I'm going to-"So he didn't kill her on purpose, or at least by the sound of the version Becca was told, but damn it! Vince kept coming out with more reasons to dislike and not trust him!
Becca grabbed his arm. "Don't go."
"Liane said she thinks he tried to hurt you? She walked in with Vince holding you back."
"No, I ... I went after him. I was distraught. He held me back from hurting him." Becca looked away.
"While this whole thing is bad and I want to punch the man's lights out, we seem to have a bigger problem here. Joe, Vince, you, and I have a common enemy, and I'm not sure what they're trying to accomplish with these texts and secrets. Where the hell is Sylvia hiding? This has to be her doing. She's had years to stew and uncover secrets. She has a reason to be mad at Joe and Vince, not to mention us." But where did Jesse fit in the picture? Working for Sylvia? Keeping an eye on them and learning their darkest moments to report back to her? The more these incidences occurred, the more Hunter realized Sylvia had to be alive. Who else would even want to uncover secrets from their past and play these sickening games? "I should take you home. What do you think?"
Becca nodded. Color returned to her face. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Don't be. You handled it better than me. I don't think I have to say what would have happened if he'd said that to me."
"I acted horribly at work! I went after him with the intent to- I don't even know. I was just stunned and furious." Becca flicked her terrified gaze to the door. "They're going to let me go, aren't they?"
"I don't think so, Bec. Vince provoked you. He shouldn't bombard you at work about some text. He should have waited. Come on, let's go talk to Liane and go home, okay?" Hunter stood, holding a hand out. After helping Becca to her feet, he enveloped her in his arms again. Someone knocked on the door, then it opened, and Liane poked her head in.
"Can I come in?" she asked quietly.
Becca and Hunter pulled apart.
"I'm so sorry about what I did," Becca signed.
"I know, Becca. I only know a little about your history with that man, but it's obvious he's got some issues. Whether or not his niece is here, it doesn't give Vince the right to bother any of my employees. At least this happened in the privacy of a room to avoid a huge fuss. We're going to step up the ante and keep that man away from you, okay?"
"I'm not fired?"
"Hell no! I'm not letting you get away that easily. It wasn't like you went after him out of the blue," Liane reassured her.
"I'm going to take her home, if that's okay," Hunter said quietly, keeping his hand on Becca's shoulder.
"Not a bad idea. You gave me a scare earlier when you didn't respond at all." Liane looked from Hunter to Becca.
"I do that sometimes when I'm very upset about something. I don't always understand it," Becca explained. "It's a scary experience, because I can see and hear everything around me, but it's like I'm far away."
Liane nodded. "I know. It was just strange to see it happen with you. Even knowing what we know about your TBI experience, it was odd actually seeing it. You're ... Oh wow, I was going to say normal otherwise, but you know what I mean."
"She can't be that normal. She's engaged to me." Hunter squeezed Becca's shoulder affectionately. Yeah, he should have shut up, but hoped to lighten the mood just a little. "No, really though, when Becca gets like that, it scares me too, but I've been around enough to know how to get her out of it. The first time..." He thought about when Becca first did this, on the island when they were stranded. It scared him so bad.
"The island." Becca finished when Hunter couldn't.
*****
"Just don't tell her I'm going to talk to Vince," Hunter said to Shara quietly that evening. "Not yet."
"I know. And don't tell her you want me to watch over her, because she hates that. I get it. Just go, say what you need to him, and get back. We'll be fine," Shara promised. "I'll make it look like I'm updating your schedule or something and then keep her company."
"I think that breaking point is coming. It'll be good for her to do it and have it over and done with, but I never realized how much it scares me," Hunter admitted. "I'd hoped the worst was over. Looking for her family is hard enough, but all of this coming back again?"
"You need to be careful, too. You aren't out of the woods with your PTSD, either. Don't think I haven't noticed you space out some. Now that I know what to look for, I recognize it." Shara touched his elbow. "Both of you are under a lot of stress."
"I'm trying. This time is different. I'm aware of the problem and know how to at least keep it at bay," Hunter said. "I know I'm not out of the woods yet."
Shara pointed. "Go, so you can get back. I don't want to have to worry. If you aren't home within two hours, I'm calling a search party. I don't trust that man at all."
"Neither do I, but he's being pulled into someone's game, and I want to figure out how we all fit in." Hunter said goodbye, then headed to the hotel he knew Vince stayed in when he came to visit his niece.
Fifteen minutes later, he stood in front of Vince's room and knocked. He made a vow to himself not to raise his voice or to punch the man's lights out, no matter how much he'd rather do so. Get in, find out what he needed to know, and get out.
The door flew open. The whoosh of air startled Hunter. Vince's surprised gaze landed on him. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk." Hunter shot a foot forward, making sure Vince didn't have any plans to slam the door in his face.
"If this is about Rebecca and earlier, you and I don't have anything to say. The conversation and incident don't involve you."
"Actually, we do. I'm not gonna lie. I want to hurt you repeatedly for what you admitted, but here's the thing. Whatever text you were sent has happened to Becca and I. It's also happened to Joe." Hunter watched Vince's expression very carefully, looking for any clues to whether he was behind them or not.
The startled expression across the man's face proved Becca's earlier thoughts. Vince was just as much a victim in this sense. He pulled the door open wider and gestured. "Come in."
Hunter hesitated for a split second, then entered the room. Vince's suitcase leaned against the chair, and on the table were a pile of scattered papers. The lamp on the dresser didn't provide a lot of light.
"So tell me more about these texts." Vince folded his long legs and lowered himself to sit in the chair. Hunter pulled the one across from him.
"Someone's watching us. That's all I'm going to say. They seem to know things we've talked about recently. If not that, then they're pulling up past hidden secrets. Kind of like yours." Hunter hoped he wouldn't ask about Joe's text. "What did your text say, and have you received any others?"
"Here." Vince thrust out his hand with his phone. "It's just this one. The creepy thing about it is I got the text just as I pulled up to the center. It's partially why I thought Becca did it, because she was there and might have seen me drive up."
Sweet, young, and innocent. She'll never be who she used to be, even if they can save her. How does it feel to know you caused it?
Hunter's stomach flip flopped. He handed the phone back to Vince. "Does your family know?" It had nothing to do with the situation itself, but it did have him curious. More so, did the Langes know?
"No. They all thought Debbie just lost control."
"Because that's what you told them," Hunter accused, thinking he probably wasn't off base.
"Yes," Vince answered after a tense silence.
He held up a finger, preparing to ask another question he wanted an answer to. "And since you and your family dislike me and mine, how do they feel about your niece being in a program I helped create?"
"My sister just wants her to have every chance she can. My father ... he doesn't know. He's ... well, he's sick. Dementia. He has no idea where my niece is at, and it's for his own good." Vince's voice was cold.
"Another thing I want to know." Hunter held up a second finger. "How the hell did you
know what happened in Maryland?"
"Her grandparents have someone watching you guys, okay?" Vince yelled, turning away.
"Why?" Hunter shot up from his seat.
"Because we're trying to track Sylvia. She's obviously out there somewhere, and we want her found before she causes more havoc."
Or before she exposes more secrets. He didn't dare express that thought out loud. Hunter pulled out his own phone, typed Jesse's name in, and brought up a picture. "Is it this guy?"
Vince stared blankly. "This guy what?"
"Whoever the Langes have watching Becca and I. Is it him?"
Staring down at the phone, Vince was quiet for a minute. "No, but I've seen that man somewhere. I can't place where though. Who is he?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Hope faded. Jesse's identity was still unsure. Damn.
"You're being very vague, Hunter. About everything."
"I don't trust you!"
Vince glared at him. "Same goes, but we might have to start somewhere to figure out who this anonymous person is."
Bond with the enemy. Wonderful. What next? Hunter wasn't about to put trust in this man. Vince also spoke vaguely. With the few already uncovered past discretions from this man, he had no idea what Vince was capable of, but sure as hell didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.
Chapter Seventeen
Becca stepped outside, surprised to find Hunter's car in the driveway with him still sitting in it. He stared blankly ahead. She'd contemplated going to make use of the punching bag again after what she learned today, but seeing Hunter home and in some kind of mental distress, all other thoughts faded. Shara left a half hour ago when Becca said she planned to go to bed. A truth, at the time, but she ended up not being able to sleep. Shara didn't tell her flat out, but Becca knew Hunter wanted her there to keep her company.
Darting to the passenger side, Becca pulled the door open. She opened her mouth to calmly coax him out of it, and then realized there'd be a problem. Her voice hadn't come back yet. Ugh! She scooted closer to Hunter, gently prying one of his hands off the wheel. He must have gripped the wheel tight, because now he did the same thing to her hand. With her other hand, she rubbed his right shoulder. If only she could say what she needed to. How did she plan to get Hunter out of this if she couldn't talk?
They sat there like that for almost ten minutes. Becca ignored the pins and needles in her hand and continued to soothe Hunter in silence by keeping contact with him by touch. Then he let out a cry and focused his eyes on her. "Whoa, that's not good," he muttered, then immediately let go of her hand. "Bec, how long have I been here like this? And your hand..."
"I wasn't sure how to help, since I still can't talk." Becca's fingers throbbed as she signed. Hopefully her facial expression didn't show the distress. "What did you mean when you said that's not good?"
"I don't remember driving home. The last thing I recall ... maybe we should go inside. I'm also going to check the car and make sure I didn't hit anything. I don't like not remembering a drive home. How the hell did I manage that?" Hunter pulled away from her and pushed the door open.
Becca followed, studying the car. Hunter kept crouching to inspect. Then he faced Becca. "Well, I didn't hit anything, or there's no dent if I did. That's the longest period of disassociation I've had in a while. Anyway, come inside. I have something to tell you." He held out a hand to her.
Once inside, Hunter took Becca in his arms. "I'm sorry I hurt your hand. Mine both hurt from whatever else I must have squeezed. Let's go sit so I can tell you where I went tonight."
"You had Shara keep an eye on me," Becca accused when they were comfortable on the couch.
Hunter winced. "Not quite. I wanted someone around, yes, especially in your state of mind and with everything else. Look, don't get mad, but I went to see Vince."
She blanched. "As much as I'm angry, I hope you didn't do anything crazy like beat him up."
"I was tempted, I'll admit. I wanted to make him suffer for all the hell he's caused you throughout the years. No, I went because I wanted to find out more about the text, what it said, and see if you were right about him being a real victim in this. I learned a few other unsettling facts while there."
Becca's eyes went wide. With all the truths lately, she had no idea what to expect.
Hunter continued. "The first one is that your grandparents apparently have someone watching us. According to Vince, it's to try and track Sylvia. Strikes me as odd, but they have as much to lose as the rest of us. That brings me to my second revelation. I pulled up a picture of Jesse and asked Vince if he was the one tailing us. He says no, but he's seen him from somewhere before."
"Guess that explains why I feel like I've been followed the past few months, even before the texts started popping up." Becca let out a sigh. "I'm so tired of this."
"You aren't the only one, angel." Hunter slapped the arm of the couch. "Okay, that's it. I think for both our sakes, we need to have even a sliver of something that resembles non-chaos. We could pick a hobby together and get into it, or ... I don't know. I want to give you the kind of life I always wanted to give- take you places without looking over our shoulder. Embrace our relationship the way we should have before we were robbed of it. You know?"
"I do know. I wanted this over with before our wedding. I'd hoped for closure. I didn't expect more of the eerie messages again. I've fought for a sense of stability for twenty years."
"I know you have." Hunter leaned forward and touched her cheek lovingly. "Somehow, we're going to get that. Both of us. Tonight's episode reminds me we both need some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. We're going to find our answers. We're going to keep an eye out and figure out who's trustworthy and who isn't. But we should also give ourselves some kind of comfort in the sense of living the way we want to. I'm not about to let my demons or the past win. You shouldn't either."
Becca thought about it. Hunter had a point. This wasn't him avoiding, either. This was a good balance, a balance they both needed before someone snapped. "You're right. We should."
"Thought you'd agree. Change of subject. Here's a question I've never asked you before. Do you want kids of your own?" Hunter kissed her lips softly. "I wouldn't mind a few more."
"I'd love to have kids of my own," Becca signed with excitement, thinking of her future with this man. Hunter had always been everything to her, and it meant so much more since they explored their hidden, deeper feelings for one another. Even without the past exploding, Hunter became the one true thing in her life.
"A little boy and a girl. Maybe two of each!" Hunter's eyes danced with delight.
"I think we'll have to discuss that one a little more. But at least one of each." Becca smiled. "If we had a son, he'd be as handsome and strong as you are. He'd have your eyes and your devilish smile." The kind of smile that one would have to give in to.
"Devilish, huh? How do we pair together so well then? And our daughter would resemble you. Creative, sweet, loving, and talented. I bet Sienna would be excited for siblings. At least, I hope. She hasn't had to share attention yet."
"She shares you with me," Becca told him.
Hunter raised a brow and folded his arms across his chest. "Actually, she shares you with me!" He laughed. Then his grin faded. "We should definitely hold off on having kids until this whole thing is over."
She nodded, her heart sinking. Sometimes she wondered if it would ever be over. Months ago, she never knew there was something to begin with. Funny how life changes in a blink of an eye. No, it wasn't actually funny, but she had no other way to put it.
"There I went again. Okay, what do you say to going to bed? I'm beat and could use a night curled up next to my soon to be bride." He stood and reached for her.
Becca put her hand in his. Hunter swooped her up in his arms and gave her a grin.
"Practice. I want to make sure I get the carrying my bride over the threshold down pat." He chuckled. "Lots and lots of practice involved."
Becca wrapped her arms around him and gently pulled his face closer for a kiss. She loved this man and all of his goofy, beautiful spontaneousness.
"More practice?" Hunter winked after the kiss ended.
She nodded and trailed a finger along his jaw, then gestured for him to take her upstairs.
"Honeymoon type?" He ran a trail of soft kisses along her neck before whisking her upstairs. She held on tight. When he set her down on the floor at the foot of their bed, Becca tugged on his shirt to show him her answer.
*****
She didn't know how she managed it, but Becca avoided Vince at the center all day. She got her voice back in the morning, which she was glad for, but it would be nice if the whole back and forth thing would quit. Liane wouldn't hear her apology, saying it was over and done with, and they left it at that. Becca expected a ton of strange looks from coworkers, but there'd been none. Liane kept it under wraps rather well. Good. She didn't want to explain all of this to everyone.
With the work day behind her, Becca ran into Brock on the way out. He was heading toward the parking lot. "Hey! Good seeing you." He shot her a friendly smile.
"You too! How are you?" Becca asked.
"Good! Quick question- since you're here and I'm here, can I show you the pieces I'd like?" He gestured back at the Lange Center.
She smiled, loving that this was moving forward. "Sure. That way, I can tell Hunter."
They strolled back to the center and walked the halls. Brock pointed out paintings he had an interest in and explained the reasons. Becca made a note about his choices, reminiscing about the pieces at the same time. Hunter had always been so excited to get something new from her. She had no idea he'd put her works up on these walls or that there was even such a place! Now they had a new opportunity and, despite her past history, Becca was excited about this venture.
"So what do you think?" Brock asked after they returned to the lobby.
"I think this is exciting! Let me run this by Hunter, since I did give him these pieces, but I bet he'll go for it," Becca said with a smile.
A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) Page 16