Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

He always did.

They automatically knew they’d pick an apartment and be together in the evenings, unless she had therapy or he had AA or an appointment.

She’d ruined that.

She hadn’t gone home with him after dinner with Alex, and he’d taken that to mean she needed space. She’d told him she was leaving for Maryland in the morning, and she hadn’t heard from him. Not a phone call or a text.

What did she expect? By changing their routine, by rejecting his offer to come over, hadn’t she all but asked for that space? She had. And she didn’t like it one bit. Nor did she reach out, because she just didn’t know what to say.

At their sister shelter, she found a group of dogs that had been kept in an elderly woman’s apartment. She’d hoarded the dogs, then passed away. They’d come into the shelter dirty, matted, hungry, sad, and pathetic.

They’d since been groomed and checked out by a vet, and there were so many it broke her heart. But in this group, she saw potential. Friendly dogs, loving animals who just wanted to please. She’d keep an eye on a few and maybe be able to suggest them for Lauren and Brian, and one in particular for Alyssa. Time would tell if they got along with other animals, if they were good with children, if they could be trained into an easygoing emotional-support dog.

She’d love to share all this news with Julian, but she couldn’t. And not because he wasn’t reaching out on his own. No, she couldn’t tell him because it wasn’t fair to get his hopes up that they could return to their old relationship if she was just going to have to walk away, breaking both their hearts.

So she pushed her own wants aside and dove into work at the Maryland shelter for the weekend, sticking to her personal vow of radio silence.

Until she could figure out how Lexie and Kade felt. And what she wanted and needed to do.

* * *

Julian buried himself in work. He set up calls with people who wanted to hire him and continued work with existing clients. If he didn’t have a personal life, he could damn well focus on his business. The only drawback to the productive weekend was a persistent visitor.

Billy.

For a guy who wasn’t very brotherly, in his own words, he sure as hell seemed to want to be with his sister. On Friday night, Alex was home and Julian had no choice but to let Billy in. He hung out for an hour, and Julian refused to leave him alone with Alex, which, he could tell, annoyed the other man to no end.

Julian didn’t care. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Billy wanted something more… and he was determined to make sure he didn’t get it.

On Saturday, Billy returned. From his clear displeasure when Julian opened the door, he obviously didn’t realize Julian worked out of the house and would always be home.

He arrived with his eyes bloodshot and bleary. He was hungover and not a sight he would want Alex to see.

“Where’s my sister?” he asked, leaning against the frame.

“Working. You know, at a job?” Julian asked with sarcasm. Something Billy knew nothing about. He doubted the other man would try to find decent employment no matter what the court system dictated.

Billy frowned. “Where’s she work?”

That was on a need-to-know basis, and Billy didn’t need to know. “She doesn’t need to be disturbed at work. If she wants you to know, she’ll tell you.” Julian kept a hand on the partially open door.

Billy shoved a sneakered foot in the door. “You can’t keep my sister from me.”

“I’m not. She’s not here. And you said you weren’t the brotherly type, so what gives? Why the hell are you hanging around?” Julian asked.

“None of your damn business.” Billy spun and walked away, and Julian did what he’d been itching to do since he’d opened the door.

Slammed it closed.

Saturday night Julian took Alex out for dinner. She’d sensed his bad mood, and he’d already told her Kendall was away working this weekend, so she was smart enough not to bring up the subject again. He convinced her they should put their phones away so they could talk over their meal. Better for him because he obviously wasn’t going to hear from Kendall while she was gone and he needed a distraction.

After they finished dinner at a Mexican restaurant, Julian decided to broach a subject he wasn’t sure Alex had given any consideration.

“So have you thought about college?” He caught her mid-sip of soda, and she choked on the liquid. “Sorry. You okay?” he asked.

She nodded, her eyes watering a little. “Yes. And to answer your question, I decided there was no way I could afford it.”

She didn’t meet his gaze, and his heart squeezed tight in his chest. “What if you could? What if I helped you?”