Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

“How? What in the world could you have said that would convince her to at least consider giving me a chance?” he asked.

She lowered herself onto her bed and curled her legs beneath her. “Don’t get mad, but I told her about your mother’s accident and your sister.” She held her breath, waiting in silence as he digested that nugget of information.

“It’s not something I’m ashamed of. At the time I was embarrassed about my mother’s addiction and behavior and wanted to numb the pain. I don’t mind that you explained. I just don’t think Lexie or Kade would buy it as an excuse.”

“She wouldn’t and I didn’t try and sell it as one. Because you didn’t explain it to me that way. I just wanted them to understand that things weren’t as black and white as they might have seemed.”

His harsh breathing sounded in her ear. “Are you okay?” she asked him.

“Not really. You?”

She shook her head despite knowing he couldn’t see. “No.” She was upset that her sister hadn’t automatically trusted her judgment despite understanding why she couldn’t. She knew Lexie’s skepticism had more to do with Julian at this point than with Kendall herself. But it didn’t make her feel any better.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I know how much you love your sister, how close you two are.”

She swallowed hard. He could try to understand, but he couldn’t possibly comprehend the duality of her emotions. First, there was the twin bond. Second, there was the fact that Lexie had been more of a mother to Kendall than her own parent had been. She’d looked out for Kendall when she’d been unable to take care of herself properly. She’d dropped plans and put her life on hold when Kendall wasn’t properly medicated and her behavior was way too erratic.

As much as Kendall wanted to live for herself, she owed her sister a debt she could never repay. Mostly because Lexie had never once asked her to or made her feel as if she owed her. The last thing Kendall wanted to do was put a rift between Lexie and Kade or, worse, put Lexie in the dreaded position of having to choose between them. If anyone was going to make a choice, it would be Kendall. It was the least she could do.

“Kendall? I asked if I could see you this afternoon,” Julian said, his voice low.

She sensed his pain, understood his feelings. She just couldn’t bear his on top of her own right now. “I have things to do around here,” she murmured. She needed time to think. “But I’ll come by in time for dinner so we can talk to Alex together.” As planned.

And a break would give them both much-needed time to digest the current situation—alone.

* * *

Julian tried to lose himself in work, and he did manage to complete one project and begin another for a new client. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to push the conversation with Kendall from his mind. How could he when she’d refused to see him?

He didn’t doubt she had things to do on her day off, but he’d also heard the down tone in her voice. And though it matched his, she had much more at stake than he did in how her sister—and Kade—decided to handle Kendall and Julian’s relationship.

The one thing he didn’t want to do, the place he didn’t want to reach, was one where Kendall felt like she had to choose between Julian and her twin. The Kade he’d known wasn’t spiteful, but Julian had certainly backed him into a corner, and for all he knew, the man had changed. He had no reason to like Julian or to want him in his sister-in-law’s life, no matter how much Kendall insisted he’d redeemed himself in some small way.

Over the course of the day, he decided the best thing for him to do was to stay the course. Keep on working his way back to Kendall and hope that she had the strength to stick by him and her sister found it in her heart to give him a chance. And convince her husband to do the same.

* * *

Kendall met Julian and Alex at a pizza place near his apartment. They’d just finished sharing a pepperoni pizza and were waiting for the table to be cleared. Julian still hadn’t broached the subject of Billy, and he was running out of time to do what he had to do. If he didn’t talk soon, Kendall was going to have to start the conversation.

“So, you two have been acting differently,” Alex said, taking Kendall by surprise.

She was quite perceptive for an eighteen-year-old, but Kendall didn’t want her worrying about anything. “We’re fine. It’s just been a long day.” Longer than the young girl knew.

Although Kendall doubted her sister was intentionally trying to torture her, she’d been tormented by Lexie’s silence nonetheless.

“I wanted to talk to you about Billy,” Julian said, changing the subject from them to Alex’s brother.

“What about him?” Alex sipped on her soda, pulling in a long, loud slurp.

“I know he’s your only family, but he’s not the kind of guy you want to hang around too often,” Julian said, obviously trying to be as delicate as possible.

“No kidding. He and his friends are dirtbags like the guys who stole my money.” Alex scrolled around on the iPhone Julian had gotten her so she could keep in touch between school and work or if she had a problem.

Kendall choked on her own saliva. Okay, maybe Alex didn’t need the speech to be careful about her sibling. But Julian was being careful.

“So I don’t have to warn you to not get involved with any of his friends or his schemes?” Julian pushed on.

Alex placed her phone on the table and looked up, meeting Julian’s gaze. “My brother’s been an asshole since I’ve known him. Before he went in, I had a place to stay and that’s it. And while he was in jail, I never heard from him except to tell me he was getting out. I don’t expect anything from him. Never did.”