“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.
She was pretty sure he had his mother to thank for making him feel those things made him less than … less than his brother. Less than a man. Ironically, those were the qualities she found his most endearing. He was also generous and giving despite being hurt over and over. He could so easily have pressed charges against her sister. God only knew what that watch cost. But he hadn’t and she’d be forever grateful to him.
Kade deserved a woman who could embrace those things that made him unique, which she did, and be there for him one hundred percent, which she obviously could not. No matter how much she loved him, and she did.
She loved him in a way her younger self couldn’t have imagined, and she wanted to give him everything. But she was pulled in two different directions, the twin she loved, who had no one else by her side, ever present. Always demanding.
As if on cue, a knock sounded on her bedroom door. After Kade had left, she and her sister had both retreated to their own rooms. They’d eaten dinner separately, each alone with their thoughts. Lexie hadn’t been ready to deal with her sister, and she suspected Kendall had been too upset and humiliated by everything Julian had done to face Lexie.
Apparently Kendall was ready now.
“Come in,” Lexie called out, bracing to deal with her sister. She pushed herself upright in bed as Kendall walked in, looking no better than Lexie felt.
She still wore the same sleep clothes she’d been in when she’d met Kade yesterday, her hair was a tangled mess, and her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. Lexie had a feeling she was looking in the mirror.
“Can I sit down?” Kendall asked softly.
Lexie nodded. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Not really.” Kendall eased herself onto the bed and folded her legs beneath her.
“I’m sorry about Julian. You never should have been targeted by that bastard.”
Kendall shrugged. “I shouldn’t have done the things I did either. I knew I wasn’t feeling right. I knew the meds Dr. Kay switched me to weren’t working, but I was riding the high. I’m the one who got myself in debt. I’m the one who stole Kade’s watch. It wasn’t Julian who did those things. It was me.” Her voice caught as she choked on a sob.
Lexie wanted to pull her twin into her arms, but she understood this was a breakthrough and Kendall needed to have it. So she waited for her sister to pull herself together and to go on.
Kendall shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m so sorry,” she said, rocking back and forth. “I’m humiliated, and I don’t like the person I’ve become. I’m so lucky your boyfriend is such a decent guy or I’d be in jail right now.”
Lexie expelled a long breath, grateful her twin was coming to these realizations on her own. She met Kendall’s gaze. “He’s not my boyfriend,” she said, correcting that misconception.
“But I thought you two were involved.”
“We were. Until he accused me of stealing and betraying him with Julian.”
Get the fuck out.
She shivered at the memory of his cold, accusatory tone and how he’d thrown her out of his office as if she meant nothing to him.