Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys 2)

Kade dropped him and, still breathing hard, stepped back, glaring at the other man in disgust. “Get the fuck out.”

“I’m just worried about Kendall,” Julian said.

Kade let out a bark of disbelief. “The time to worry about her was before you fucked with her head. Now leave before I call the cops and have you arrested for trespassing.”

“I’d go if I were you,” Lucas said to Julian, punching the elevator button to emphasize his point.

“Fine. I suppose it’s too much to tell her I came by?”

Kade started toward him again, and Lucas grabbed him by the arm, pulling him back.

The doors opened and thankfully Julian stepped inside. He glanced at Lucas, and he could swear he saw a hint of regret in Julian’s gaze.

Lucas waited until Julian was safely gone before turning to Kade. Around them, the office staff had gathered, to watch and to gossip.

“Come on. Let’s go into your office and talk.” He slapped Kade on the shoulder and led the way into his friend’s office.

Unlike Lucas’ messy desk, Kade’s setup was stark and clean, courtesy of his anxiety and OCD tendencies. Kade had himself under control, but a confrontation like this wouldn’t be good for him.

“Want me to call Lexie?” Lucas offered.

“No. I don’t want her to know about this. She’ll get worked up and worried that Julian will get in touch with her sister. Which he’ll do over my dead body,” Kade muttered.

Kade ran his fingers back and forth over the glass of his Patek Phillipe watch. It wasn’t just a symbol of success; it meant something to Kade. Julian had known it and targeted him accordingly, going so far as to get Kendall to steal the watch.

Lucas frowned at the reminder. “Can I get you something to relax you?” He didn’t know whether or not to offer Kade a drink.

“No.” Kade reached into his pocket and shook out a pill.

Lucas didn’t say a word. He just waited for his friend to take it with the bottle of water on his desk. “Kendall’s doing better, right?” he asked of Lexie’s sister.

“Much. After she checked herself into the treatment center, she really dedicated herself to life changes and improvement. That’s why I don’t want Julian anywhere near her.”

“We can put security on her.”

Kade shook his head. “She deserves to live a normal life. But I’m warning you—”

“He’ll stay clear. I’ll talk to him myself,” Lucas promised.

Kade had been about to lift the bottle of water to his mouth and stopped. “You’d deal with that asshole?”

“For you, man? You know I would.”

“Thank you,” Kade said.

The three men became friends in college, back in their first-year fraternity days, before Lucas had dropped out due to sheer boredom.

But they’d already started working on Blink, and back then, Julian had been a part of things. Before drugs had become more important to him than anything else. As far as Lucas knew, Julian had been clean for a while. He certainly looked clear and stable today.

Lucas nodded. “Go home to Lexie.” She was the only person who could completely calm Kade down. From the day they’d met, there’d been an innate bond and understanding, though it’d taken them awhile to get past their initial mistrust.

“I’ll do that.” Kade ran a hand over his short hair before packing up his things for the day.

“I’ll head out with you. Just let me grab my things.”

Before he could walk out, Kade asked, “How’s it going living with Maxie?”

Lucas was glad his friend was distracted by something other than Julian. “I wouldn’t say I have her wrapped around my finger. But … it’s going.” And they were sleeping together every night, and she wasn’t complaining. Far from it. He hoped he had the woman in a sex-induced coma.