Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

Kendall had known, just as Julian had, that Alex was no doubt covering up her feelings about her neglectful brother. Kendall had also related to Alex’s situation because she was struggling to keep her relationship with her twin from falling apart. Another quality Julian admired about her.

Kendall was loyal, and he hoped her sister appreciated just how much she was willing to sacrifice. And she was emotionally strong. Even if she didn’t comprehend that, Julian saw all she’d been through and overcome without bitterness or anger.

She had attributes he wanted in a partner, even if he hadn’t known he was looking for one. And apparently, just as he figured it out, he was in jeopardy of losing her.

“Maybe it’s Karma reaching out to bite me in the ass,” Julian muttered. “I used her, hurt her, and now that I can’t live without her, I might just have to.” His chest contracted painfully.

Nick eyed him seriously. “The solution seems obvious to me. Are you going to sit around and let fate and Kade Barnes dictate what happens in your life?”

Julian blinked at his friend’s blunt, astute comment. Just like that, the solution came to him, bursting through his brain.

“Like hell I am.” Looked like it was time for him to pay his one-time friend a visit and have his say.

Chapter Twelve

Early the next morning, while Kendall was on her way to Maryland, Julian walked into the chrome-accented office space of Blink, located in a renovated garage in Soho. Just as he’d expected, his arrival made waves because he’d shown up here before—during his asshole days—and people knew Kade didn’t want anything to do with him.

Whispers and stares greeted him as he walked across the open floor plan. He did his best to ignore them and headed for where he saw Lexie standing. As she was her husband’s personal assistant, Julian wasn’t shocked when he had to get past her to see his one-time friend.

He strode up to the desk where Lexie stood, arms folded across her chest. For all that she and Kendall were twins, Julian would know his girl in a heartbeat. The woman dressed in a pencil skirt and white blouse, giving him the wary eye, wasn’t her.

Lexie rose to her feet, rocking back on her heels. “Well, this is a surprise.”

“I can’t imagine it is,” he said calmly but firmly. “Do you really think I’m going to let Kendall fight my battles for me? I’d like to see Kade. Please.”

A flicker of something lit her gaze. Admiration or respect were probably too strong, but on some level, he’d shocked her.

“You’re going to stress him out,” she said, concerned for her husband and the anxiety they both knew would be triggered by this confrontation.

“Probably,” he agreed.

She frowned at that. “My sister must have strong feelings for you or else she wouldn’t put all of us in this position.”

Julian hoped Kendall loved him, too. But that wasn’t something he planned on mentioning to her twin before he’d ever had a chance to tell Kendall.

“Are you going to announce me?” he asked with a raised brow. “Or do I get the honor of surprising Kade?”

She narrowed her gaze and blew out a long breath. “I’ll be right back.” She walked into her husband’s office, closing the door behind her.

He glanced around, relieved neither Derek nor Lucas seemed to be at the office. Assistants huddled around their desks chatting and whispering, but no sign of the other co-founders. He was grateful for the reprieve. Julian would rather deal with one old pal at a time.

He’d have his hands full enough with Kade. Back in college, Julian had been closest with him, which was why the rift was probably the greatest between them now. But it was past time to make amends, not only because of his feelings for Kendall but because he was genuinely sorry for putting Kade through the shit he had. He’d had an immediate bond with Kade, and in retrospect, Julian should have gone to him with his problems. Life would have been a hell of a lot different if he had. But if there was one thing AA had taught him, it was that there was no looking back. Only apologizing, learning, and going forward.

A few short minutes later, which felt more like an uncomfortable hour, Lexie stepped out and motioned for him to join her. “Come on in.”

He stepped toward her. “I don’t mean anyone any harm, Lexie.” He wanted Kendall’s sister and Kade’s wife to understand this wasn’t a game to him. This was his life, too.

She grasped his arm in a desperate grip. “I hope you mean that, because you’re talking about the two most important people in my life.”

He believed her. He just wasn’t sure she gave Kendall, the new Kendall, enough credit. “If you love your sister as much as you claim, you’ll start to trust her judgment and let her make her own decisions.” And on that note, he passed her by and walked into Kade’s office.

He came face-to-face with his old friend. Dressed in a pair of faded jeans and an old light blue tee shirt, Kade stood by his aluminum desk, rubbing the face of his watch with his thumb. A soothing gesture to his OCD. Kade had always found those.

“Ever since I heard the news that Lexie found you with Kendall, I wondered if you’d have the balls to show up here,” Kade said by way of opening their conversation.

Julian shook his head at the man’s insinuation. He’d been a lot of things. He never wanted to be a coward.

He met Kade’s hostile gaze head on and offered up the one thing he’d never given him. “I’m sorry.”