“Oh, something came for you today. I have no idea when, but it was on the front counter. I put it under, but forgot.”
We head to the front, and she hands me an envelope like the last one.
As badly as I don’t want to touch it, I do, and fake grin before heading out the door.
“Dragonfly, how was your day?”
I throw the brown package at him and get into the car. “It was great. Until…” I glance at it.
“Fuck. Have you looked?”
Shaking my head, I put the heat on for my seat and buckle up. Burke gingerly opens it and takes out the photos. They’re us fucking against the dead body of my stepdad.
The interior of the car feels like it’s breathing, as if one big gulp of air would swallow me whole and I’d crush into the metal that encases us.
Letting out a slow breath, I glance around, grounding myself with the texture of the leather seats, my lower back getting warm. Staring out the window, I focus on the diner’s bricks and inhale the scent of Burke, tasting the blueberries I snuck from the pie.
“Well, I guess they know more than I thought.” I glance at him, wondering who could be behind this.
The rustle of paper fills the car before he tucks them into the glovebox and pulls out the burner phone. “What did you find on the family?”
I glance at him, and he puts the phone on the centre console.
Curt’s voice comes through: “Haven’t found anyone. Whole family’s dead. No relationships, nothing I can tie to him or Clara.”
“What?” I question.
“Sorry—protocol,” Curt tells me through the speaker. “We wanted to make sure that every base was covered.”
“Fair. Well, I got more pictures, and these are much more damning.” I fidget in the seat. This was supposed to go easy and not be a problem.
Curt lets out a string of curses. “What about security for a bit, Clara?”
“You promised.” I don’t want to feel this way. I should accept the help and let it go.
However, it makes my world feel a lot fucking smaller, even if this makes me dumber than a rock.
“I know. We’ll figure out something else.” He hangs up and I stare at Burke.
He reaches out and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I’ll do whatever I can to keep you safe. I’m sorry it feels overbearing. I’ve never given my trust to anyone since Ryan’s mother. She shattered my heart, and over the years I let it harden me. You bring out softness and life in me I didn’t know I had anymore. I respect your wishes, and we’ll find another way. I can’t lose you.”
I nuzzle into his hand and sigh. He’s been so easy going and caring with me, but I refuse to be controlled again. “I’m sorry I’m a pain in the ass.”
“But what an ass to look at.” He chuckles.
Smirking, I stare out the window as we drive home. My mind cycles through the past, trying to think of anyone that would be tied to Andrew, or even the house, but memories slice through my psyche like a blade, flashing the shameful cuts of the horrors I went through there.
Breathing deep again and trying the techniques we’ve gone over, I grit my jaw as tears form in my eyes.
The injustice of giving everything up in the past, only to be layered with damage from someone else. Like a hand-me-down coat I never asked to wear, a stain on my soul that follows me through life as I navigate through normal adult things.
What I did wasn’t right, but neither one of those men would have ever left me alone.
Their ghosts might haunt me as heavily as their punishments, but didn’t I give enough of myself enduring the abuse I couldn’tescape? The only way out was to strip them of their lives, and now someone who knows too much is laughing in my face.
“Clara, baby, we’re home. Let’s get you fed and in bed, okay?”
My mind clears the heart-wrenching memories, and I stare at Burke, his icy blue eyes filled with concern.
