Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 Laura Burton (books to read this summer .TXT) 📖

had ever seen. His face broke into a casual smirk, and he pulled his long hair into a man bun.

“Hey there, baby bro,” his low voice boomed. “I heard you got yourself into a street fight.”

Harry found himself grinning back.

“Jonas, I’m glad you’re here,” he said as they hugged. “I’ve got a huge favor to ask.”

Jonas scratched his stubbly beard and cocked a brow at Harry with intrigue.

“I’m listening,” he said, leaning against the wall. Harry stuffed his phone in his pocket and rested his hand on Jonas’ shoulder. The hard muscle underneath flexed.

“I need you to teach me to be the alpha male.”

Jonas clapped his hands and laughed.

“Oh, boy. This is going to be fun.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Needles and Backbone

“Let me get this straight,” Emily said, pacing Julie’s living room. “You got attacked. Harry’s in the hospital, and you’ve left him to be with the woman who engineered said attack who just happens to be his ex-fiancé?”

Julie’s stomach tightened. When Emily put it that way, it sounded a lot less like an honorable sacrifice and a lot more like she left Harry to the wolves. Poor, sweet, kind Harry. The best man she’d ever met, and she left him to that… woman.

“We don’t know the attack had anything to do with Ebony,” she reasoned, trying to assuage her guilt. Her suspicions were confirmed when minutes before the ambulance arrived, Ebony came running across the street. If she hadn’t been involved, how did she know where they were?

“Oh, please,” Emily said with an eye roll. “You don’t think it’s weird they jumped on Harry and left you alone?”

Julie crossed her legs and Tabby jumped into her lap.

“I defended myself.”

“You defended Harry,” Emily corrected. “You said they were only going for him.”

Julie scratched Tabby’s ears and listened to his deep purr. It was true, technically no one tried to throw any punches at Julie. Even when she fought them, they ran off rather than hit back. As ego-boosting as it was to believe she had scared off three men with her kickboxing skills, it was too easy. Had Ebony told them to beat Harry up only?

“But if it was Ebony, why didn’t she target me? It’s me she wants out of the picture.”

“Exactly,” Emily said coming to a stop in the middle of the room and looking triumphant. As if she had just solved all of life’s mysteries. “If she targeted you, it would only make Harry more determined to protect you. If it was the other way around, she knew you’d decide he was better off without you. Ebony knew you would break up with Harry.”

Julie’s head was spinning. Had she played perfectly into Ebony’s hands?

“What else was I supposed to do?” She rubbed Tabby’s belly making his paws twitch and eyes roll to the back of his head.

Emily sat on the couch beside Julie and tickled Tabby under his chin. The cat purred constantly, reveling in all of the attention.

“I’m just surprised you left so abruptly. Have you called Harry to see how he is?”

Julie looked away, unable to look at Emily’s wide-eyed stare. They had an ability to see right through anyone, and she couldn’t bring herself to tell her the truth. How could she contact him?

“Julie, you have to call him,” Emily said firmly, reading her thoughts. “It’s not fair on either of you to just break it off like this. You told me you were going to marry the man!”

Julie snapped her head back to Emily so fast her neck cracked.

“And say what? ‘Hi Harry, how are you doing? So, I thought you and Ebony needed to figure some things out, so I’m giving you some space. If things are resolved and you’re still interested in dating me, give me a call.’ Yeah that would go down well.”

“That’s not bad actually,” Emily said, looking thoughtful.

“Emily, I would sound like a heartless––”

“No you wouldn’t. And it’s the truth isn’t it? If Ebony was no longer a problem, you would get back together, wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t know. Harry seems a bit too…”

“…much of a pushover?” Emily asked, her brows raised. Julie sighed. Emily was never afraid to say things bluntly. It was a quality she usually appreciated, but on this occasion the words stung. Yes, Harry didn’t stand up for himself. It seemed like the people who worked for him owned him. And during the attack, he didn’t even try to fight back. Ebony’s words echoed in her mind like the bells of Notre Dame.

“When it comes to it, he won’t fight for you.”

Emily put her arm around Julie’s shoulder and pulled her in for a hug.

“It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out,” she said with a sigh as she patted Julie’s hair. “You look exhausted. Go to bed and we’ll catch up later.”

Julie didn’t need to be told twice. She trudged to bed and collapsed in a heap on top of her quilt. Her body had no idea what time zone she was in, and everything ached. She figured after some sleep she’d wake up with a clear head. But her dreams were invaded by nightmarish scenarios of exploding letters and death threats written in blood.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Who’s the man?

“Give me thirty more.”

Harry puffed as Jonas pressed his heel into his back with each push up. His biceps and shoulders were on fire, but he persisted.

“Come on, bro, don’t quit now,” Jonas shouted. Harry finished the final two and collapsed on the cold floor in a puddle of his own perspiration.

“Get up,” Jonas ordered. Harry staggered to his feet and surveyed his reflection in the wall mirror. The outline of his muscles bulged, he looked pumped. His glistening six-pack was rock hard, giving Harry a sense of pride.

Jonas slapped a hand on his back and whistled. Harry’s body was covered in faint bruises, and he ached in ways he never had before. But he didn’t care. He needed to man up and fight for the love of his life.

“Now, go and make me a protein