When the Flame of Love Fades (Sierra) novel Chapter 302

Chapter 302 Old Ghosts and Fresh Bruises

The lively atmosphere froze in an instant. No one had expected Shane to show up.

Maddox was the first to react. He quickly stood and greeted him.

“Shane? What brings you here?”

“Weekend’s coming up. A friend invited me out to hang. Thought the air might be cooler this way, so I came. Didn’t expect to run into you guys.”

As he spoke, his gaze slid toward Sierra–then locked directly onto Johnathan.

“Long time no see, Mr. Yaeger.”

“It has been a while, Johnathan said coolly. “Heard you were injured. What, all healed now?”

The air around the group turned weird. Most people didn’t know the full story, but they did. Shane had gotten the beating of his life from Jade–and it definitely had something to do with Johnathan,

But Shane was a hard bastard. He didn’t flinch at the dig. Instead, he smiled and answered, “Good as new. Appreciate your concern. Mr. Yaeger.”

“Hope you don’t forget the pain just ‘cause the scars are gone.” Johnathan said with pointed sarcasm.

Shane chuckled. “No need to worry, Mr. Yaeger. You should probably focus on your own problems. Who knows? One of these days, something of yours might just get taken.”

Til be waiting I’d love to see who thinks they’ve got the balls.”

They went back and forth like that, thinly veiled barbs laced with tension–but neither made a move to rip the mask off just

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A group on the other side was waiting for Shane, so he didn’t linger. He turned to head back but looked over his shoulder at them–pausing briefly to glance at Sierra.

Too bad for him. She was stone–cold sober now. No dazed look in her eyes.

Shane shoved whatever was swirling in his chest back down and walked away.

“Fuck! What the hell is he doing here?” Mateo muttered in frustration.

They’d just wanted a chill night out–and then he showed up, that lunatic.

The mood was officially ruined. Nobody felt like hanging out anymore, so they all packed it up early.

They hadn’t brought anything with them, but everything had already been prepared–clothes, toiletries, whatever they might need. It was all tailored to their usual habits.

As soon as they stepped inside, Johnathan pinned Sierra against the door.

His kiss was feverish, desperate, like he wanted to consume her whole.

Serra didn’t think too much of it–just figured he’d had a bit too much to drink.

was tipsy too, the alcohol buzzing through her system, and she responded to him without hesitation

They didn’t even make it to the bedroom.

Sierra had always known Johnathan was strong, but that night gave her a whole new definition of the word.