Page 50 of Summer Heat
One side of his mouth lifted in a small smile before he turned and walked out.
Kendall collapsed then, dissolving into a heap on the floor, consumed by huge, gulping sobs. So Lexie did what she always did; she knelt down and took care of her twin, pushing aside the fact that this whole mess had affected her life too.
She’d lost her job and a guy she really cared about because Kendall had once again spiraled out of control.
Chapter Twelve
Kade knew he had to make decisions about a lot of things in his life, starting with Julian. It was unacceptable that he’d go after anyone in Kade’s life, let alone target a woman who’d never done anything to him. Worse, a woman with a mental illness who would never have seen him coming. Kade didn’t just want to stand up for Lexie, he wanted to look out for her sister.
Instead of going to work the next morning, he headed for Julian’s apartment in Midtown. He walked up the stairs of the old brownstone building, his temper rising as he reached the apartment and knocked hard on the door. He timed his visit before nine a.m., hoping to catch Julian at home and, yeah, maybe at a weak moment. Who knew what he’d been doing the night before. For damn sure he hadn’t been with Kendall.
When no one answered, he banged harder. “Julian, open the fucking door.”
Just when he thought he was going to have to turn around and come back later, the door swung open, and his old friend stood in front of him. This was the same guy he’d met freshman year and bonded with from day one. Julian had spent holidays with Kade and his father when his parents couldn’t be bothered. But at some point, drugs had become more important than friendship, and nothing had been the same since.
“Can I help you?” Julian greeted him, arms folded across his chest, dressed for the day in a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt and surprisingly clear-eyed.
Kade brushed past him and walked into his apartment. No way he wanted to have this out in the hall. He waited until Julian shut the door behind him before confronting him.
“I’m here so we can have this out between us. Because only a coward hides behind a woman.”
“You figured that one out, huh? I have to admit it was fun getting one over on you. Did you think I was fucking your girlfriend?”
Kade was too aware of his already fractured knuckles to haul off and punch his former friend. “I’m really glad that gets you off, buddy. Too bad the woman you hurt has other issues. Good job, asshole.”
Julian flinched, and a telltale muscle twitched near his left eye. A sure sign he hadn’t done his homework on Kendall Parker before he’d seduced her and set her up.
“What are you talking about?” Julian asked.
Kade wasn’t about to give away private information. “Nothing you need to worry about now that you used her, dumped her, and she’s completely aware of what a prick you are.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her,” Julian said, his voice low, looking and sounding more like the man Kade used to know. “She seemed like she was up for a good time.”
“Yeah, well, you never were the best judge of character. Where’s my watch?”
“Gone. I pawned it.”
No shock there, Kade thought. “And the cash? God knows you didn’t give it to Kendall to help pay her debts.”
Julian didn’t reply. Again, Kade wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t come here expecting to get anything back.
“It was never about the money. I just wanted you to know I could get to you. Mission accomplished,” Julian said, sounding smug and pleased with himself.
“What do you want?” Kade asked. “What’s it going to take for you to go away?”
“Finally, he sees reason.” Julian’s eyes flashed dollar signs. The greedy bastard obviously thought Kade was here to cave. “Given what I’ve got on you, I want one-quarter of Blink’s net worth. I was there when the four of us came up with the idea together, and I’m going to profit like the rest of you.”
Kade shook his head. “You were drunk and high when we came up with the idea. No way are you taking close to that amount.”
“Maybe you’re forgetting I’ve got Lila. I can blow your cushy life sky-high.” Julian’s grin exuded overconfidence, and that would be his downfall. “I own you,” Julian said.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Kade pushed past him, heading for the door. “Nobody owns me but me.” And he knew just what to do to prove it to himself once and for all.
* * *
Lexie couldn’t get out of bed. She wanted to. She needed to pick herself up and move forward, but she decided she needed time to mourn the relationship she’d had, however briefly. Kade had brought something to her life she hadn’t known she needed. She’d spent so much time taking care of her sister and putting her own needs aside she’d almost forgotten she had desires that most women took for granted.
For a short time, she’d enjoyed being the focus of a man’s attention. And not just any man. Kaden Barnes had shown up in her life and turned it upside down. He was unique on so many levels. Intelligent to a degree she couldn’t come close to comprehending. His arrogance was a cover for insecurities over things he couldn’t control. His ADHD, his anxiety, all things that were a part of what made him unique and defined him also set him apart from others.
