Page 27 of Burned By Love

Jonathan’s eyes widened, and he shook his head at West.West knew it would be better for him to keep his mouth shut, but he couldn’t.His dragon was pushing at him to grab Sal and slam him against the table, and West felt like snapping at him was better than that alternative.

“Am I?”Sal asked with a smile.“Has Jonathan told you about me?About how much in love we were?”

“We were never in love,” Jonathan whispered.“You manipulated me.You got me to stay with you through fear and pain.I never loved you, Sal, and I don’t think you can love anyone but yourself.Why are you even here?You don’t want me back.”

West knew why Sal was here.He might not have loved Jonathan, but he loved the power and control he’d had over him.That was what he was looking for.Even though he and Jonathan weren’t together anymore, when Sal did things like this, he still controlled Jonathan, andthatwas what he wanted.

“My father asked about you,” Sal told Jonathan instead of answering his question.“I can’t imagine what he’ll say when I tell him you’ve been dating another dragon shifter.”

“Sal, please,” Jonathan begged.

West caught Jonathan’s hand and squeezed it.Jonathan looked terrified, which made West wonder what was up with Sal’s father.He hadn’t wanted to push Jonathan for answers, and he still didn’t, but he felt like once Sal was gone, they’d need to have a conversation.At the very least, West had to know what he was up against.

“I’ll be sure to let him know,” Sal said as he stepped away.“I hope you have a nice evening.Sweet dreams, Jonathan.”

West wanted to go after Sal and give him a good shake, but instead, he turned his attention to Jonathan.He didn’t think Sal would come back.He’d said what he needed to say, and it was clear from the way he hurried away that he couldn’t wait to get out of there.

“I’m so sorry,” Jonathan said in a trembling voice.He tried pulling his hand away, but West held onto it for a moment longer.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“How can you say that?Sal found us.He threatened you, and he’s going to tell his father that I’m seeing another dragon shifter.”

West let go because it was what Jonathan wanted, but if Jonathan thought that this would be enough to get West to stop dating him, he was wrong.“What’s up with that?Who’s Sal’s father?”

“I knew better than to do this.I shouldn’t have involved you in this.”

“Jonathan.You didn’t involve me in anything.You asked me on a date, and I said yes.Now tell me about Sal’s father.”

Jonathan bit his lower lip.West hated that their first date had ended like this, but maybe there was still a chance to make things right.They couldn’t forget what had just happened, but West wouldn’t let Jonathan go home to freak out about Sal’s threats and wonder if the man was watching him from his bedroom window.

“He’s the leader of the local dragon clan,” Jonathan said.“I know you’re not part of the clan, which is why I didn’t tell you.I was hoping I wouldn’t have a reason to.”

West slowly nodded.He’d heard about the clan when he’d first arrived in the city, but he’d never planned on becoming a member, so he hadn’t reached out to them.It wasn’t like he had to or anything like that.The city wasn’t their territory.It was just where they lived, and as long as West stayed off their properties, he didn’t have a reason to get in contact with them.

It looked like he’d been right not to want anything to do with the clan.If Sal’s father was the leader, West could only imagine what kind of mess the clan was.

“All right,” he said.

Jonathan blinked.“All right?”

“I’m not afraid of Sal or his father.”

“They’ll hurt you.Sal always said that I was his and that he wouldn’t allow me to be with anyone else, but especially not with a dragon.He said his father would make sure that didn’t happen, too.He said that his father was the leader and that he could do whatever he wanted with the dragons in the city.I don’t want you to get hurt, West.I especially don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

“Sal’s father doesn’t have any kind of power over me.He might be the leader of their clan, but anyone who isn’t part of that clan doesn’t answer to him.He can’t hurt me, and he definitely can’t tell me not to date you.Sal can’t, either.As long as you haven’t changed your mind and still want us to date, I’m not going anywhere.”

“I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.”

“If something happened to me, it wouldn’t be because of you.It would be because of Sal.I’m not going to push, and if you really think it would be better for us to stop seeing each other, I’ll respect your wishes, but don’t do it because you’re scared.Don’t allow Sal to win.”

It took what felt like forever, but Jonathan eventually nodded.It felt good to know that he wouldn’t dump West because of what had happened, but West knew this wasn’t over.Sal was used to getting what he wanted, and what he wanted was Jonathan.

He’d only get him over West’s dead body.

Chapter Nine

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