Free A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) by Nikki Lynn Barrett

This whole thing of fighting with Becca drained him of any rationality he still had left. He stormed off to the apartment, hearing Vince's car tires over the cracked pavement and wondering what the hell else was going to happen tonight.
    The door was closed but not locked. Good, because Hunter didn't have a key and he'd really hate to bug Rissi right now if she didn't already hear the chaos before now. He opened the door and searched the apartment for Becca. He found her in the bathroom cleaning up her scraped knee.
    He shouldn't have taken the journal and thrown it away, no matter how it pissed him off. Too late now unless he wanted to dive in the dumpster and get it, but doing that wouldn't fix the problem. It was so much more than one little thing.
    Her cheeks were red and flushed and her eyes were bloodshot, but she barely shed a tear.
    Hunter knelt beside her. "I'm sorry." His words came out in a regretful choke. Why did he have to screw up again?
    She turned away, continuing to swipe at the blood. She'd hit it pretty good. Hunter noticed a small bit of gravel embedded in the middle of the large gash. She was having a hard time with shaky fingers and her fist kept clenching again.
    "Let me help," he whispered, feeling like the scum on the bottom of a shoe. "You're shaking." Like she didn't know that? Good one, idiot!
    Becca moved to sit on the edge of the tub, facing him. Hunter carefully removed the small rocks and cleaned her knee.
    "We'll hire a private investigator. We'll do as much searching on our own as we can." Hunter broke the silence as he unwrapped a bandage and smoothed it over her knee. "Whatever it takes, however much it costs, I'll help you find the truth. Whatever your grandparents know or don't know, we'll find it out. I promise you that." Shoving aside the peroxide, washcloth and box of bandages, he sank down on the blue-green rug before her, taking her hands in his. "I know I'm not good with promises most times, but this one I'm certain on."
    She gave a slight jerk of her head. He wanted to pick her up, wrap her in his arms and beg for her to forgive him, but a knock on the door put a stop to that. Becca squeezed his hands, her eyes wide.
    Hunter sighed. "It's just Vince. He really wants to talk to you. He went to park his car." Some people never took a damn hint!
    "I know you're in there!" Vince called.
    Hunter climbed to his feet, helping Becca up. He slid an arm around her shoulders as she hobbled next to him to the door. Becca yanked it open and they both waited for Vince to say something.
    He glared at Hunter for the longest time before he spoke. "I don't suppose you'll let me in so we can have this conversation away from prying ears? I'm surprised the neighbors haven't come out already."
    Becca took a step back, ducking under Hunter's arm. Each step she made with a limp was like a stab wound in his gut. At least she'd only fallen instead of being hit like he original thought, but still. If he hadn't acted out on impulse, this wouldn't have happened. Vince passed him and walked inside.
    "So ... you're really moving." Vince waved his hands at the chaos of packed and unpacked boxes.
    "What's left to keep me here?"
    "I don't-" Vince turned to Hunter, mouthing a silent plea for help.
    Hunter held back a retort. "She asked what's left to keep her here."
    "You have a job you love, don't you? Friends? Family?" Vince tried to plead his case. Hunter hid an eye roll. So convincing. Not!
    A sound escaped from Becca's throat. "I lost my job because I don't have a voice, my friends understand why I'm going, and what family? My grandparents made it clear ages ago they never wanted me."
    Once again, Hunter interpreted.
    "I can't convince you to give me a chance?" Even though it came out as a question, Hunter could tell it was more of a statement.
    Becca shot to her feet. "You don't want me by your side for love! I don't know what your motives are, but you don't love me. What is it you want really? I'm tired of