Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys 2)

The bartender strode over and placed a napkin in front of each of them. “Can I get you anything?” he asked.

“No thank you,” Lucas said. He wanted to get this conversation over with. A drink was the last thing on his mind.

Julian shook his head. “Nothing for me either, thanks.”

Once the bartender made his way to another set of customers, Lucas leaned an arm on the bar and got down to business.

“You need to stay away from Kendall,” he said to Julian. “Don’t ask about her, and for God’s sake, don’t make contact with her.”

Julian narrowed his gaze. “Kade needs you to talk for him now?” he asked, his face turning an angry red.

“No. I’m here on my own, because if I let Kade do the talking, he’ll do it with his fists.” Lucas leaned closer. “Look, Julian, you used that girl. Worse, she’s got her own issues, and you didn’t give a shit.”

Julian flinched and Lucas knew he’d taken a direct hit.

“I own what I did to Kendall, and I’m fucking sorry for it. I didn’t know about her problems though.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “And that makes it okay?”

“No. I just said as much.” Julian frowned. “You don’t like me and that’s fine. But we both know I was entitled to the settlement I received from Blink. You guys were going to throw everything you could at me to cut me out. I did what I had to do. For many reasons, none of which I plan to explain to you.”

Great. So where did they stand? Lucas wondered. “So what do you want? What was that visit about the other day?”

Julian set his jaw, his tension obvious.

“I regret hurting Kendall, and I want to know that she’s okay. I need to know.”

Lucas recognized Julian’s expression and uttered a silent, resounding curse in his head. He saw that look on Kade’s face when he talked about Lexie. He’d probably see it in his own gaze when he looked at Maxie. Which meant that unless Julian agreed to leave Kendall alone, none of them were finished with Julian in their lives.

Lucas straightened his shoulders and tried again to make his point. “The best thing for everyone is if you live your own life. Far away from any of us. Including and especially Kendall.”

Julian winced and Lucas wondered if he’d actually hurt the man’s feelings.

“Kendall is doing well,” Lucas heard himself saying, the words unplanned. He hadn’t intended to give Julian any information on the woman he’d used for financial gain.

Julian let out a long, relieved breath. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. That’s all you’re getting from me. Not another piece of information, so don’t ask. Don’t snoop around. And for the love of God, don’t provoke Kade.”

“You guys are lucky to have held on to your friendship all these years,” Julian said.

Lucas merely nodded. The other man obviously had more than his share of regrets. Anything Lucas said would only rub salt in a still very open wound. And despite the lawsuit and their rocky past, it wasn’t in Lucas’ nature to want to hurt the man on purpose.

He wrapped things up with Julian, uncomfortable that he couldn’t tell Kade the man was out of his or Kendall’s life.

He headed home, satisfied he’d at least put Julian on notice. It was all he could do.

He hoped Maxie would be up waiting for him, but at the very least, he knew she’d be in his bed. More than progress, he thought. The beginning of a life together.

He walked into the apartment, surprised when Maxie practically greeted him at the door. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Mostly better. But forget about that. I thought you’d never get home, and I didn’t want to call and ask you to leave your meeting with Julian.” She bounced up and down in obvious excitement.

“What’s going on?” He tossed his keys aside and kicked off his shoes.

“This!” She held out a tiny blue drive. “Look what I found!”

“Holy shit, is that Bernardi’s?”