Page 35 of Always Salty

Cutter’s, Copper’s, and Chevy’s eyes were also on Shasha.

“Why do you ask?” Copper asked carefully when Shasha didn’t reply fast enough for his liking.

“It’s just that…” He shook his head, his eyes going around my apartment. “How secure is this place?”

“Secure,” Cutter said at the same time Copper said, “Very. I checked it out myself when I got here.”

Shasha looked like he struggled with some thoughts for a long moment before saying, “I’m trusting you with my brother’s life here.”

“Okay…” I hesitated. “Why?”

“Because if who took that shot is who I think it is, you could incriminate him,” Shasha explained.

“Why do you think it’s your brother?” Copper asked.

“That’s the thing,” Shasha admitted. “I feel like he’d have only done that if she meant something to him.”

Shock tore through me.

“Is that why you’re here?” I asked. “To ask how we know each other?”

“Partially,” he admitted. “But also, I wanted to talk about some of the information I sent Dima up there to get.”

I looked at my brothers. “In that case, I’m headed to bed. I’m too tired to listen in on this one. Also, no, I’ve never met your brother. But if he did kill Alexander Pettigrew, I’m eternally grateful. And I’ll also name my first kid after him.”

Shasha’s lips twitched. “There are very few people in the world that could’ve taken that kind of shot. Even less that would’ve been in the area. If my brother didn’t do it, it would be too coincidental that he’s there at the same time as another trained sniper. Anyway, his name is Dima Semyonov. You’ll know him when you see him.”

With that cryptic comment, I left the men alone to do what they would, forgoing the breakfast that they were cooking.

I’d eat later…when my excitement at the thought of Alexander Pettigrew being dead wasn’t riding me so hard.

I used to be sorry for everything, but not anymore. I wish I acted worse.

—Dima to Shasha

DIMA

I listened to my brother and Keely’s brothers talk for an hour as I drove back home.

I’d intended to stay in the area a little bit longer to sell the lie I’d given to Shasha, but found myself unable to concentrate being that far away from Keely.

When I arrived home an hour later, the brothers had left the apartment, Shasha had gone to work, and Keely was sound asleep in bed, a small smile on her face.

I replayed her excitement from earlier at hearing that Pettigrew was dead.

Excitement would be too small of a word, really.

She was euphoric.

Overjoyed.

Which made me feel like I was on top of the world.

Not that she would ever know that it was me.

Sure, Shasha had told them that the coincidences were there, but they didn’t have confirmation.

I wasn’t sure that I’d ever give her confirmation.

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