Page 37 of Keep This Promise
I take a seat and laugh softly. “I’m sure she appreciates your care.”
“I don’t,” Blakely says without pause.
“She’s kidding. She does. She’s just frustrated because she has a meeting with the attorney after lunch. Ignore her.”
“Oh? Is everything all right?” I ask.
Blakely sighs heavily. “It will be. I was involved in a stupid case a few months ago, and the trial begins in like three or four months. The prosecutor just wants to meet with me again to go over my story and make sure everything is accurate, and I’m prepared to testify.”
My interest is piqued. “What is the trial about?”
Blake and Brie share a look before Brielle begins. “It’s a long story, but a few months ago, my brother was killed. I was the only eye witness, but I suffered a head injury that left me with partial memory loss. It was horrible, and . . . we ended up hiring a private security team to help us because my husband is friends with the owner. In the midst of uncovering everything, I stumbled into some crazy stuff. Spencer and I worked to uncover my memories, which led to me finding out I had been engaged to Spencer and no one knew. Blah, blah, long story there. Anyway, after we thought we had figured out who killed Isaac and it was all behind us, Blakely came to Rose Canyon and unveiled a whole other underground trafficking ring that had ties to people here.”
“Emmett was almost killed, I was kidnapped, and we caught the asshole,” Blakely finishes. “Now it’s time to make sure he can never harm another girl.”
My eyes must be saucers as I try to absorb that information. Theo sent me here to be safe, and now I’m finding out about this? Jesus Christ, how the hell is this better than being in London? Still, I find the only words I’m capable of speaking. “That’s . . . terrible. I don’t even know what to say, quite honestly. I’m a little terrified to be here now.”
“I promise you, this town is incredibly boring, and I’m not really sure how the hell we ended up with any of this happening, but it’s fine because he’ll be in jail the rest of his life,” Brie says. “Anyway, I grew up in this town, and the most exciting thing that happened was when we won the regional championship. It’s truly that lame here.”
Clearly not. “I’m not sure a trafficking ring and a murder are lame.”
Blakely’s hand moves to cover mine. “It’s really all Brielle’s fault. If we can get rid of her, the trouble might disappear.”
Brie slaps her arm playfully. “Bitch. I am not the drama. Am I? Oh, God, am I?”
“You’re absolutely the drama.”
“Really? Because I feel like you’re way more dramatic than I am.” Brie smirks and then turns to me. “She’s totally more dramatic.”
I smile. “I feel as though I am the drama now.”
“You totally are,” Blake says with a wink. “But we apparently thrive on it, so welcome.”
“Thank you.”
The waitress takes our order, and then a portly man walks over. He’s short and has a mustache that loops a bit at the end. “Hello, girls.”
“Hello, Mayor Stengel,” Brie says first. “I didn’t see you when we came in.”
He rests his hands on the back of both their chairs. “I just got here. It’s lovely to see you both, and who is this?”
“This is our friend Sophie. She’s a friend of Holden’s,” Blake explains.
“Ahh, I’ve heard wonderful things about you from my wife. It seems Mrs. James is quite fond of you as well. Welcome to Rose Canyon, I’m Mayor Stengel.”
I nod. “It’s nice to meet you as well.”
“And you’re from England?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Wonderful. You’ll have to bring some culture to this town. A few years ago, we tried to do a festival of cuisine from around the world, but it ended up being a barbeque with the same food as always,” he explains.
“I don’t know what culture I could bring, but I will endeavor to do what I can.”
“I like you already.” He chuckles. “Have a nice lunch, ladies.”
I wave as he walks off, heading to another group, who all greet him enthusiastically. Blakely sighs heavily. “I know I have zero reasons to dislike him, and yet, here I am, plotting his demise . . .”
