Page 43 of Keep This Promise
Spencer shakes his head. “No, we’re all just trying to figure our shit out. People keep secrets for a reason, and I think Sophie is the same.”
“Do you think her story has holes in it?”
“Oh, I definitely think there are holes. I think she has secrets, and I don’t think they’re small either. However, she doesn’t know you or trust you—yet.”
Emmett speaks before I can say anything. “The other option is that she is telling you the truth and her husband lied to her. In that case, she’s dealing with coming to terms with that too.”
“If her husband really didn’t tell her about you, there was a reason, and maybe she really doesn’t know what it is,” Spencer finishes. “We can debate this for days, but Sophie seems to be staying, which will give her some time to open up to you. In the meantime, we can see about Jackson’s company looking into Sophie’s husband and what he might have been involved in.”
I hadn’t even thought about that. As much as I hate the prying into her life, it would really help if we knew what her husband had gotten mixed up with. “Tell him to be discreet, not that he wouldn’t, but we don’t need anyone asking questions and alerting them to where Sophie might be. I just need to know what he was involved in that would cause his wife to have to flee.”
“She might be involved and is playing games with you.”
“I don’t think she is. We’ve talked about her life back in England, and she seemed to be happy.”
Spencer rubs his chin. “None of this adds up. If he was good with money and knew there was a possibility this was going to happen, why not set her up with a really good exit strategy? Why not make sure she had money, a place to live, and her own security? It’s what I would do if it were Brielle.”
“Unfortunately for us, he’s dead, so we can’t get those answers.” As much as I’d like to because Spencer is right. If my wife had to disappear, I would make sure she wasn’t left to the mercy of others.
Unless that was the point. That she must rely on my kindness and stay here.
Emmett lets out a long sigh. “Well, Jackson was here not long ago, and I have to call him this week anyway. I can mention it and see if he’ll help us out.”
“Why was he in town?” I ask, wondering if it has anything to do with the girl who turned up in the Pacific Northwest.
“To, once again, try to persuade me to come consult with them.”
My eyes widen at that. “What?”
“Yeah, he’s considering opening a branch up here and asked if I’d be interested in working for him. I don’t know.”
“You’d be perfect for it,” Spencer says. “You ran a military unit, you have the combat experience, you know the area, and I’m pretty sure you’d make a fuckton more money than you are now. Plus, if what Holden thinks is true and that girl in Seattle has something to do with Portland, it would give you a lot of tools at your disposal.”
Emmett runs his hand through his hair. “I need to think it all through. In the meantime, I’ll see if Jackson will look into that girl in Seattle.”
My eyes find her again, blonde hair up high on her head, blue eyes sparkling as she smiles at Brie and Blakely. I want this. I want her to come to dinners and raise our daughter here. I want what my two best friends have—a family. I will protect them, but in order to do that, we have to know the truth about what she’s hiding from.
“And see what he can find out about Theo,” I add on, not taking my eyes from her. “I need to know what I’m up against.”
ChapterThirteen
SOPHIE
“Mummy, I had an accident,” Eden says with tears in her eyes.
This is the third time this week that she’s had an accident, and it breaks my heart to see her so upset. I worry that she’s struggling to adjust to all the sudden changes in her life, but bedwetting has always been something Eden struggled with. Plus, she’s been drinking a lot of water, so that probably isn’t helping. “It’s okay, darling, let’s go clean it up.”
She wipes at her cheeks, and we head into the bathroom. I clean her up as best I can and change her clothes. “Eden, did you wait too long?”
“No, Mummy, I didn’t even feel it.”
“All right.” I’m not sure what to say to that.
“Can I have a drink? I’m thirsty.”
I smile and nod. “Of course, just a little since it’s close to bedtime.”
Grabbing the bag of soiled clothes, I walk out, holding her hand. Blakely is outside the door. “Is she okay?”
