Julian leaned against the kitchen cabinets, his arm on the Formica countertop. “She had nowhere to go. I wouldn’t turn her out on the street.”
“You’re loyal. Always have been.”
“Where are you staying?” Julian asked.
“At a halfway house for the next six months.”
Julian did his best not to wince. It was Billy’s life and he’d earned his way there. On the positive side, the man had somewhere to go and wouldn’t be hitting Julian up for a place to stay. And there would be rules, restrictions, and people to watch him and keep him in line.
“I got a problem though,” Billy said.
And now Julian knew why his sixth sense had been tingling. “What do you need?”
Billy ran a hand over his short hair. “Don’t say it like that, man. I just owe some people some money. I was involved in some… deals on the inside and—”
“And you stiffed some people?” It wasn’t a difficult guess that Billy had been out for Billy. Even inside prison walls.
“Something like that.” He shrugged like it meant nothing. But if Billy owed people from prison, it wasn’t nothing. “But if I don’t pa
y back what I owe, they’re going to come after me. And that’s no way to start my life on the outside.”
Julian rolled his eyes. “You don’t think this is something you should have thought about before you worked an angle?”
Billy laughed. “Yeah, well, what fun is that if you aren’t always pushing for more? But here’s what I’m thinking.” He kicked his sneakered foot against the floor.
“You’re rich now. Everyone knows you hit those Blink guys up for big money. It was in the news. You can afford to help a brother out.”
Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. “There is no money. I used it all to pay off debt from my sister’s accident.” And what was left he’d put into a trust for Alyssa, but that was none of Billy’s business.
“You owe me,” Billy said, his tone no longer light. “I took the fall—”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. You were dealing. I agree I bought shit from you and they could have arrested me for possession if they’d caught me, but they didn’t. No owing involved.” Julian drew a calming breath. “As for money, you can’t get blood from a stone. I don’t have what I don’t have.”
But he wanted this man gone, so Julian pulled his wallet out of his pocket. “Here’s a couple hundred bucks. I’ll get you another grand but that’s all I’ve got. And considering I’m taking care of your sister, I’d call us even.” Julian did his best to hide his disgust.
He was looking after Alex because he wanted to help her, not because he owed Billy a damn thing. But the other man was too selfish to understand that. Clearly he didn’t give a shit about his sister at all. And Julian wanted him out of his hair for good.
“Fine.” Billy snatched the cash out of Julian’s hand and had it pocketed before Julian could blink.
It was time to define terms. “Fine means fine for good. Don’t come back asking for a handout, because after this, we’re done.” Julian spread his hands, indicating no more.
“Whatever,” Billy muttered. “Just get the cash soon. I like my bones where they belong in my body.”
What a fucking idiot, Julian thought. But what had he expected? That he’d changed? “You plan on hanging around your sister much?”
Billy clamped a hand around the back of his neck, rubbing it like he was stressed. “I’m not the fatherly type, but you never know.”
Julian frowned. “So you came here for money, not to see her. Nice brother you turned out to be.”
“Give me a fucking break.” Billy scowled and stood up straighter. “I gotta go.”
“Don’t let me keep you,” Julian muttered, knowing he would have to pick up the pieces for Alex when she realized her brother wasn’t just a criminal but a selfish asshole, too.
But Julian preferred that to Billy being a permanent fixture around here, bringing around a bad crowd and exposing Alex to his bad influence. He’d just have to see if Billy became an issue or not.
“Don’t forget my cash.”
Julian headed for the door and held it open for his former friend. “Give me a day. I’ll get you the money. How do I reach you?”