feet.”
“Got it.” Sasha walked straight, putting one sneaker in front of the other until she was ten paces away, then she knelt down and started moving leaves aside.
David stopped on the lower part of the hill, with Allie. “Julian, do you need help?”
“No, I’m done here.” Julian put the gun in the hole and was already covering it up. “Sasha’s digging where we’re going to put the bullets.”
Sasha looked over her shoulder. “This way, we know where they are in case we want to do it again. That is, if Allie doesn’t object.” Allie flushed, stung, and Sasha went for the jugular. “Allie, you’re not in the pact anymore, after what you said. You should just leave.”
Allie reddened and turned to go, but David took her arm.
“No, you don’t have to.”
“Yes, she does!” Sasha shot back.
David pursed his lips. “Sash, you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
Sasha rose, angry. “It’s not nothing when she threatens to tell.”
David frowned. “You were going to kill a squirrel.”
“What do you care? I have the right to do what I want!”
“Not really,” David said. “You don’t have the right to shoot in residential areas with illegal handguns. There’s laws about hunting. Permits. Seasons.”
“So what?” Sasha threw up her hands, looking at Julian to see if he would finally side with her.
Julian turned to David. “She’s right, David. It doesn’t matter what you shoot it with, it’s dead either way.”
David stepped back. “Julian, seriously? You think that was a good idea to go blasting away?”
“That’s what we went up there for.”
“No, it isn’t,” David shot back. “You guys were taking unnecessary risks.”
“Like what?” Julian frowned.
“Like shooting so many rounds, and we left that tree shot up. They’ll find the casings. They’re going to know somebody was shooting up there. And why keep the extra bullets? Why not put them back in the trailer?”
Allie nodded, beside him. “I bet they put up security cameras now.”
Julian smirked. “I think I’ll know if they do that. I’ll find out from my father.”
Sasha couldn’t believe Allie and David had joined forces against her and Julian. “Julian owns this place, Allie. Shut up because you don’t know what you’re talking about. Just shut up!”
New tears welled in Allie’s eyes, but she said nothing.
David took Allie’s hand. “Sasha, don’t talk to her that way.”
Sasha scoffed. “You’re as much of a little bitch as she is.”
“Fuck you, Sasha.”
“Fuck you, too, David. I’m out of here.” Sasha was sick of all of them. She’d seen where the bullets were buried and that was all she needed to know. She turned on her heel and started up the hill, breaking into a jog.
“Sasha!” Julian called after her. “Catch you later?”
“Forget it!” Sasha called back, charging up the hill.
CHAPTER 14
Julian Browne
Julian’s mother entered the room with a tray holding a bowl of popcorn and root beer floats. She had gone to a lot of trouble, but all he could think about was Sasha. It was already past eight o’clock at night, and Sasha hadn’t been home since they buried the gun and bullets. He’d been watching the house, and her room was completely dark. The only lights on were in Bonnie and Clyde’s suite and the family room downstairs, which they kept on when Sasha wasn’t home. Julian didn’t know where she was, and it was driving him crazy.
“Movie night!” his mother said, setting down the tray. “How much fun is this?”
“Fun.” Julian smiled, hoping it looked convincing. “Real butter and everything?”
“Nothing but the best for my baby!” His mother put a napkin in front of him, then a root beer float with a special long spoon. His parents used to entertain all the time, and his mother had shrimp forks, mother-of-pearl caviar spoons, and cake knives. She even had special ice cream dishes, gravy boats, soup tureens, and ramekins; Julian knew the names because she took the time to educate him. Now the only person she was entertaining was him.
“I just love that we get to spend this time together, truly quality time.”
“Right.” Julian glanced out the window, keeping an eye on Sasha’s house. Their family room was cavernous with brown leather sectionals arranged opposite the fireplace and entertainment center, and on the left side of the room, they had huge Palladian windows. It gave Julian a great view of the street, and from this angle, Sasha’s house. The light over her front door was on. He sensed she was punishing him for what happened with Allie.
“Have some root beer float. It’s going