Page 44 of Burned By Love

“Is it Christy?”

West shook his head.“It’s Sal’s father.”

Jonathan sucked in a breath.He remembered Kent.They’d only talked a few times, and he hadn’t known what to make of the man.He still didn’t.Sal’s behavior was obvious to everyone, including his father, but Kent had never said anything about it.Sal was an adult, so maybe that was why, but he’d never even tried to protect Jonathan.Sal had never hurt Jonathan in front of his father, but Kent had to have known, right?Everyone in their clan had known.They’d looked at Jonathan with pity every time he visited.

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“Just to talk to you.I can tell him to leave, though.”

That would probably be the best option, but Jonathan had things to say.Hopefully, Kent wouldn’t try to kill him when he did.At least Jonathan was already in the hospital.

“Will you stay with me while I do?”he asked.He wasn’t sure he could do this on his own, but he didn’t have to.

“I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

That was uncompromising, but Jonathan was fine with it.He didn’t want to compromise.He wanted this to be over.“I’ll talk to him, then.”

West looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead, he nodded and stepped out of the room again.A few moments later, he came back in with Kent trailing behind him.

Jonathan stared at the man.It had been a while since he’d seen him, but he still looked the same—tall, with graying hair and dark eyes, as handsome as his son but with a softer edge that Sal would never have.Kent was a quiet kind of person.He didn’t need to yell to be respected.He didn’t need to scare people for them to follow his lead.

Jonathan had never thought badly of Kent.He was angry that Kent hadn’t done anything to stop Sal, but no one else had, either.He wasn’t even sure that Kent and the others knew just how bad Sal had become toward the end.He didn’t want to talk about it, and he wasn’t planning to.He just wanted this day to be over so he could go home and sleep.

“It’s good to see you, Jonathan,” Kent said.

He kept a respectful distance from the bed, which was a good thing because Jonathan was pretty sure that West would have snapped if Kent had come any closer.

“I would say the same, but I’m not sure it is,” Jonathan said.

Kent nodded.“I wanted to apologize for Sal’s behavior and my own.”

Jonathan frowned.“You’re apologizing?”

“My son hurt you.I didn’t know how badly things had turned until I spoke with the police earlier.I didn’t realize what he was doing, but that’s not an excuse because I should have.He’s not only my son.He’s also a member of my clan, and I should’ve kept him under control.I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t, too.I needed your help, but I never got it.”

Kent still didn’t look angry.“I feel it’s partially my fault that my son is the man he is.When his mother died, I was desperate to keep him happy and safe, and I overcorrected.I turned him into a spoiled, arrogant man who thinks nothing of hurting people.I’m sorry you had to deal with that, Jonathan.I didn’t realize how bad things were, but I know now, and I’ll try to fix what Sal did if I can.”

Jonathan could see that West was trying very hard not to snap at Kent.Jonathan didn’t think that Kent would hurt either of them if West did, but he was tired.He didn’t want to be angry, especially not when Kent was apologizing.

Should Kent have done better?Yes, and not only because Sal was his son.He was here now, though, doing the right thing.As far as Jonathan was concerned, it was enough.

“What will you do if Sal attacks me again?”he asked.

“He won’t be able to do that for a long time.He’s going to jail.”

Jonathan sucked in a breath.“Really?”

“What he did was unforgivable.He destroyed your store.He could have killed you.Me and my clan have never stood for things like that, and we never will.My son will have to learn that the hard way.He won’t ever trouble you again, even if, by some miracle, he gets out of prison.I’ll make sure of that.You will never have to worry about him again for the rest of your life.”

Jonathan wasn’t sure that was a promise Kent could make, but he was okay with that.“All right.Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you for being so gracious about this.I don’t think I would’ve forgiven me if I were you.”

“Someone told me once that Sal’s actions don’t reflect on me, and the same goes for you.Neither of us is responsible for what Sal did.He is.”

“That someone was smart.I suppose I’ll have to work on that.”

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