Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)

“Maybe, but I

’m only speaking the truth.

She hugged her mother before easing back. “You’ll talk to Dad? Tell him everything?”

Her mother nodded. “Oh, yes. I have every intention of having a long-overdue conversation with him about your brother. Among other things.”

Cassie was about to stand when another question came to her. “The other day, when we met for lunch, you said you overlooked a lot. Did you mean it?”

A sigh escaped. “I suppose I meant we accept the person we love for who they are, flaws and all. Your father has many, especially as a parent. But he’s not all bad. And I try to nudge him in the right direction when I can.” She paused. “Does that help explain?”

Cassie nodded. “It does.” She agreed that you had to accept the other person for who they were. But with her father’s behavior, it still wasn’t what she’d want in a relationship. But Cassie understood her mother better. “I love you,” she said, hugging her mom again.

“Go live your life,” her mother urged.

More than anything, Cassie wanted a life with Derek. At the very least, she wanted the chance to see if they could make it work long term. But first she needed to find a way to tell Derek what her brother had done.

And she needed time before she could decide how to do just that.

* * *

Derek stood in his mother’s kitchen, a printed copy of the online Take a Byte article on the table. He paced the floor, unable to sit still, a host of emotions rushing through him. Anger at Spencer, frustration at his inability to do anything about the revelations. Once out there, there was nothing he could do to prevent readers from delving into his and his family’s history.

And he worried about Cassie, because instead of sticking around, she’d rushed out, telling him to think about what having her in his life meant. As if he didn’t already know. She meant everything to him. Nothing her brother did or said would change that.

“Sit down,” his mother said, breaking into his thoughts. “You’re nervous and it’s driving me crazy.”

Leave it to his mom to make him feel like a child again. He lowered himself into his seat. “Are you okay?” he asked her. “Will you have trouble facing your friends, dealing with people?” He worried about her, especially with his father gone.

“Derek, I hate to break it to you, but my friends don’t read tech magazines, online or otherwise.” She picked up the papers and ripped them in half.

He sputtered, shocked by her cavalier attitude. “What if the networks or other media outlets pick up on it?” he asked.

“This is my life. It has been for years. Do you think just because it’s been made public it changes anything? I know I didn’t do this. Anyone who cares about me knows I wouldn’t do something like this. Other people can kiss my ass.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’m over it. I have been for years.”

She leaned over and grasped his hand. “I just wish I’d realized sooner that you weren’t.”

“Since Dad died, well, since Dad got sick, I’ve felt responsible.”

“You can’t put the world on your shoulders.” She patted his hand. “I’m not your responsibility, though I love you for looking out for me. And I appreciate you showing me this article in case it pops up in other places. I told you to let the past go.”

He managed to smile. “I have. Honestly.”

“Has Cassandra? How is she dealing with this?” his mother asked.

“Not well. For her this was a personal attack too. Her brother knew she was planning to write a series about me. He undermined her intentionally. Not to mention, she feels guilty that the past is being dredged up again. She wants us to take a break so I can think about whether she’s worth the aggravation.” He shook his head, still unable to believe she thought so little of them, of him, that she believed he’d walk away from her so easily.

His mother’s mouth dropped open. “You aren’t seriously doing that, are you?”

“Of course not. But I do need to somehow convince her she isn’t responsible for this. That neither you nor I hold it against her.”

“You young people. You make life so difficult. Overthink everything.” His mother waved a hand through the air. “Go get your girl.”

Derek smiled. It wasn’t as simple as his mother would like to believe. On the other hand, he didn’t intend to let her break them apart over her brother’s behavior either.

* * *

Derek tried to reach Cassie, but she’d turned off her phone. He spent the day hanging with Oscar, meeting his friends for dinner because they were worried and wanted to make sure he and his mother were okay.