Chapter 17
Seventeen
Burke
Taking care of Clara has been my favourite hobby.
Watching the sparkle return to her eyes and a sense of ease that now surrounds her has been refreshing. I would have her in any context.
I never thought I’d be the guy who saves anyone, and in a sense I haven’t been because she’s so damn strong. Breaking through her walls has taken patience, and proving I’m never going to hurt her has been challenging, but I understand.
With therapy, I have come to terms with the fact that if someone wants to break your trust and walk away, it is a projection of them and not anything I have done.
The only thing I can do is my best, and hope someone will take me as I am.
In just a month, Clara’s organization has already grown into something incredible. Helping women leave situations with their children has filled us with more love than I thought possible.
Anger and frustration often follow, because I don’t understand how a person can hurt another in so many different ways.
Driving home, I hope she’s there, but I know she has accepted the new manager position, and this nonprofit means everything to her.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t wish she’d have more time for me, but I will always stand in the background waiting for when she is ready.
My phone screams through the car, and I push a few buttons before Curt’s voice comes through.
“What’s up?”
“Did you clear a fire and oil drum for the warehouse?” He sounds stressed.
“No. Is that what’s there?” I glance out the rearview and check the mirrors.
Pulling a U-turn, I head toward the place where we have allowed Clara to play. I’m not about to judge how she heals. All I can do is provide for her.
“I checked it out, and she’s in there. I’m going to lay down the law to her. She has to fucking call me. I know she’s independent for a reason, but it’s going to get her killed someday.”
“She’s…” Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I don’t even know what to tell him.
“She’s a danger to herself. I understand what she’s doing, but I’m only here to help. Clara can’t become a man-hater who questions everyone, like I don’t have my own devious past or that I’ve done some fucked things.”
I click my tongue as I pull into the lot. “I’ll talk to her.”
“You give her everything—which is great; she needs that. I’ll do the tough love. I’m used to being the bad guy, anyway.”
He ends the call as I pull up next to his dark sedan.
Getting out, I meet him at the front of our cars. Dark circles line his eyes, and I think he’s gotten greyer. “She’s aging you.”
“You both fucking age me. Let’s go see what she’s doing.”
We walk in the darkness to the side office, and I click on the monitors. It’s a shocking sight with the door slightly open facing the fields to let the smoke out.
Clara has rigged up an oil drum above a fire, and an average-sized man stands holding on to the edges.
When Curt tries slamming through the door to her, I pull on his shoulder. We sit in the office chairs at the monitors, and I turn on the audio.
“You know, pieces of shit like you are everywhere.” Clara stalks around the drum and gathers kindling, which she adds to the fire.
He tries to climb out but keeps falling back down. I’m unsure what she has done to him to keep him in the drum, but it is working well.
She’s gorgeous in her element, strong not only mentally but physically. I gaze at him and remember the case he is tied to.
“Fuck,” I sigh.
“Do you know who he is?”
Leaning back in the chair, I feel like I’m invading her privacy. However, it’s better she has help if it becomes needed, even though I know she won’t ask for it.
“Couple weeks ago, a woman came in and used the services. She went back and tried again. It was very back and forth. When she left for good, he killed her.” Tears stream down my face. I remember this one as if it happened to my own family.
Curt pats my shoulder. “Can’t save ‘em all, but this can’t be good for her.”
“Apparently, it might be. The emotional damage it does, she always takes out on scumbags like this. I have therapists and counsellors on call for anyone who might need to talk it out or want to do the work.”
My memories flick back to the situation. Clara was distraught and didn’t get out of bed for days. I was there to make sure she ate and drank, and eventually she came out of the depressive episode, but I believe it beats inside of her.
She’s a combination of light and love and darkness and death.
“What’re you gonna do, kill me? Like my life isn’t over anyway in the eyes of the law.” The monitor attracts my attention again.
Clara chuckles. “They won’t do fuck all. First offence? Keith, you’ll be out to prey on women again in no time. I want to show you what you did to her.”
He starts to bop around, and as he grips the edges of the metal again, he rips his hands away and holds them to his chest.
The fire underneath burns bright and orange. Clara pours something onto the flames, and he screams out.
“That bitch deserved it. You don’t know what I had to endure to be with her.”
“Men are such fragile creatures. You walked into her life and acted like Prince Charming. You played her like a fiddle until you had her in your web, and then you screamed about what a whore she was or how awful she treated you.” Clara laughs again and continues to circle him.
“Why is it getting warmer?” Keith jumps around and glares at her.
“Because this is what she had to go through. You, the amazing man, got into this drum of your own accord, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know you were a crazy cunt, though.”
Maniacal laughter leaves her, and she pulls up a chair to watch the entertainment in front of her. “Almost like Alma didn’t know what an abusive prick you were? So she got into the relationship willingly, right?”
“I was good to her. You bitches are all the same.”
Clara leans back for a minute and crosses her legs. “Yeah, that’s what the lukewarm water was. It felt good, didn’t it? Even when it was a bit hotter, it felt alright?”
“Yeah, but now it’s too fucking hot and I can’t get out.” His skin is an unhealthy shade of red, and he keeps holding his hands to his chest.
My dragonfly stands and circles him again. “Just like you fucking did to her,” she says, pouring more liquid over the fire. “You made it uncomfortable, and she couldn’t leave. Then you amped it up like this.”
His animalistic screams fill the air, and Keith’s body turns almost as red as the flames under him. “Why?”
“Great question, Keith—why would you want to hurt her? Trap her in a life that tore her apart from the inside out? You shattered her entire being. Alma was a mere shell of the woman she once was, and for what reason?”
Keith tries to get out again but whips his hands back and screams louder. Keith dips under the water and pops back up like a buoy.
“No one will be coming for you. This is exactly what you deserve, because you fucking boiled her alive, man. You took a precious human being filled with love and light and you extinguished every part so she would be your puppet to play with, right? Control her to act the way you thought was right?”
“Yeah, power and control,” he whimpers.
Clara moves out of the frame for a second before returning. The water bubbles, and it turns my stomach to watch a man being cooked.
“Then what did you do when she finally could escape your talons?”
“I killed her because if I couldn’t have her, why should anyone else?”
She spills water on the fire. The orange flames quickly fade, and black smoke fills the area. “And now no one will ever fucking have you.” Clara steps closer and slits his throat.
The knife seems to cut smooth as if sliding through a slow-roasted duck.
“Do you think boiling him made him tender?” I ask Curt, but he’s already at the door.
“She’s gonna decapitate him. Think she’ll live with that?”
I push past him and enter the area she’s in. “Dragonfly.”
“He deserved it,” she says, dropping the knife before his head falls off.
I wrap my arms around her back and hold her to me. The air smells like burnt hair and weird microwaved chicken; Clara burrows against me.
Every ounce of punishment she provides to these guys makes me love her more than anything.
“Guess the love of my life is a vigilante. Didn’t expect it, but I’m not even mad.”
She looks up at me. Tears cover her face, and she reaches for my chin. “You love me?”
“Forever.”
I stumble back as she crashes against me. Gripping her tightly, I hold her together as she falls apart in my arms.
We stand like that for a while until Curt enters the space, his eyes red, and I would like to think he has an emotion or two within his black heart.
“This is new. While Burke’s going to give you everything you’ve ever needed, there are rules, and I’ll be the tough-love guy. Call me, Clara. I’ll set up whatever you want and take care of the aftermath.”
She turns away from me but holds my hand. “But you…I had it handled. I broke his ankles.”
“It was fucking hard though, right? I’ll be here anytime and set up whatever you want. My mother was a victim. I understand, Clara. Call me, okay?”
She steps away from me and gives him a hug. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“Alright, let me clean this up. Magical point made, though. I really loved it.” He grins at her, and she smiles before coming back to me.
“Home?” I ask.
“Can’t. I have to meet the girls at the diner for some planning. Rain cheque?”
I lick my lips and grasp her hand. “I’ll drive you and then go home and make dinner. Let’s go, killer.”