Page 61 of Always Salty

I thought about it for a moment and said, “I could do it. But I’m not an expert. I think you’d need an expert, and I have a suggestion if you don’t mind spending the money.”

“Who?” he asked.

“Brecken, Shasha’s wife, has some brothers that their whole job is to build and fortify businesses and homes that can withstand a siege. I think that if they can do it, they’d be great options. And if they don’t have the immediate availability, they’d know someone who does.” I pulled out my phone and sent the contact to his phone. “I’m good at protecting people or killing them. But not in a security mindset.”

“Dima,” Keely scolded me. “This place isn’t secure.”

I flashed an impish look at her and said, “This room is. I checked it.”

Her brows rose. “You did?”

I pulled out the small device from my pocket that I’d turned on when I’d walked in the room and said, “It blocks radio frequencies. Nothing that we say will make it out of this room. Not even our phones would’ve worked until I turned it off.”

“Oh,” she frowned. “Do you think that we should be worried about what’s here?”

“I think that the board members are feeling the squeeze, and they’ll do just about anything to make sure that they stay where they want to be,” I said. “From what you shared about Copper’s last meeting with them and you, I think they might be really feeling that squeeze.”

“That’s why I’m not in an office, or Keely’s office yet.” Copper sighed. “I’m still pretty far behind the technology curve. I have Apollo coming out soon to hook up our entire building with cyber security, but until then, this is the only room he assured me was safe. And he also told me not to use anything of the company’s equipment until he could get a look at it.”

Keely sighed. “It sounds like this is going to be a long six months.”

Copper grinned. “I can’t wait.”

I giggle before I argue. Gotta start my engine.

—Keely to Dima

KEELY

I couldn’t believe I’d just forwarded that email.

Copper had eloquently laid out my resignation with the sleep center, giving all the information that I’d penned to him over the years as to why, and I’d signed my name to it, copied it verbatim, and then sent it off.

I was…freaking out.

I hadn’t been without a job since I was fifteen and realized that nothing was ever going to be handed to me the way that my father had always predicted it would be.

Closing my laptop with a pounding heart, I got up and went in search of Dima.

We were at his place for the night…not that I’d gotten much choice.

He’d told me he had to watch his nieces and that I would have to stay at his place tonight because he didn’t think my place was baby-proof enough.

I had honestly not questioned him and packed an overnight bag, but I might as well have left it at home.

Because, when I’d gotten into Dima’s place, I found that he’d fully stocked his entire place with me in mind.

He had my deodorant in his drawers next to his.

He had my favorite brand of hairbrush—one that I’d gotten from Tractor Supply that was actually made for horses.

He even had my free and clear laundry detergent that I shopped specifically for from Target right next to his Tide.

It was…great.

I loved that he knew what I preferred.

All of my other exes would’ve gone to the grave before putting that much thought into me, my likes and dislikes.

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