Page 38 of Burned By Love

Taylor swore.“I see.Do you want to stay in the engine?”

West looked at him like he was nuts.He had to be kidding, right?

Taylor sighed.“Of course you don’t.”

“It would be stupid of me to stay in the engine.Austin and I should go inside, like always.”

“You will, but I don’t want you distracted.We don’t know where your boyfriend is, and while I hope he’s outside waiting for us to arrive, I don’t want you to put yourself or anyone else in danger because you’re focused on him and not on the fire.”

“I’ll do my best, but I can’t make promises.”

It should’ve been enough for Taylor to order him to stay in the engine, but after watching him for a moment, Taylor nodded.“I trust you.Don’t make me regret it.”

That was not a promise West could make because he didn’t know if he could keep it.The only thing he was sure of was that he would do anything to protect Jonathan.As long as Jonathan was out of the shop and safe, West would be able to focus on the fire.If Jonathan wasn’t, though, West didn’t know what he’d do.

“You think it’s Sal?”Austin asked.

“Who else?”

West stayed on the edge of his seat until the engine started slowing down.As soon as it was safe to do so, he flung open the door and threw himself out, frantically taking in the scene in front of him.

The waiting area of the shop was burning.Christy stood in front of the shop, wringing her hands and staring at it with desperation.She turned, gasped when she saw West, and threw herself at him.He caught her easily, and while he wanted to comfort her, he didn’t have time.“Where are Jonathan, Daniela, and Ethan?”

“Daniela and Ethan went home.Someone trashed the shop, and we had to call the cops.”

That was two fewer people West would have to worry about.“Jonathan?”

West hoped that Jonathan had gone home, too, but he knew better.This was happening for a reason, and it involved West’s boyfriend.Sal wouldn’t have set the shop on fire if Jonathan hadn’t been there to see him do it.He wanted to hurt Jonathan, and this was a sure way to do it.

“He was inside when I went to the coffee shop.I ran back when I saw what was happening, and I tried going in, but I couldn’t.I called out for him, but he didn’t answer.”

West gritted his teeth and nodded.This was what he’d expected, but he’d hoped for another answer.“I’ll find him,” he promised.

“I know you will.It’s Sal, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know who else would trash the shop and set it on fire.”

“If I ever see that asshole again, I’ll kill him myself,” Christy said with a growl that West found impressive considering she was human.

“West!”Taylor called out.

“I have to go,” West told Christy.“Stay as far away from the shop as you can.I don’t want to have to worry about you, too.”

Christy nodded and stepped away.West ran back to the engine, where Taylor was giving orders.

“Jonathan was inside when Christy left,” West said.“He probably still is, and I don’t think he’s alone.”

Taylor frowned.“You think someone started the fire and is still inside?”

“It has to be his ex-boyfriend.”West lowered his voice.“He’s a dragon shifter.”

“All right.You and Austin go around the back and get inside the shop.We’ll work on the fire from this side.Hopefully, your boyfriend managed to get to the back rooms.They’re still safe for the moment.”

West prayed he had, but he knew that Sal had something in mind when he’d set the shop on fire.He’d want Jonathan to see it, which meant Jonathan had been close to the fire and might still be.Sal didn’t have to worry about the flames, after all.He could stand in the middle of them and watch as Jonathan’s world burned around him.

Christy would have to get in line if they ever got their hands on Sal because West wanted the first go at him.

He and Austin didn’t have to talk or even look in each other’s direction as they worked.They’d been doing this for a few years now, and they were in sync.Austin didn’t hesitate to let West walk into the shop first.He didn’t tell him to be careful, but they both knew that Sal was still around and might attack.

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