Jardin’s Gamble

by Roberts, Laylah

  That was the first time he’d spoken.

  “Oh.” She frowned, wondering where he was.

  “Our dad?” Keir asked. “What’s he got to do with anything. Wait . . .” Keir turned to her. “Did he have anything to do with this asshole wanting you?”

  She bit her lip. “He, um, owed Silvers money.”

  “Bastard,” Keir muttered while Ace stared at her solemnly.

  “Keir,” she scolded again

  “He’s not wrong, Thea,” Jardin said.

  “Maybe we should all talk about something else,” Carrick suggested.

  “I’m sure Dad is fine,” she reassured Ace.

  “I don’t care,” he said. “He’s not our real dad. So long as we get to stay with you, Thea, I don’t care about him.”

  She reached over and pulled him close to her. Then she gave Keir a smile. He just gave her a nod back as though in agreement with what Ace had said. Her heart lightened.

  The door to the dining room opened and a slim-built, dark-haired woman entered. She was pale. And thin. Too thin. There was something almost ethereal about her. She was wearing a flowing, dark blue dress.

  Charlotte.

  The sister who’d been kidnapped. She paused and looked around the room, her eyes wide. Thea’s heart broke at the heartache in her eyes.

  Regent immediately rose and slowly, carefully walked toward her, as though she were a wild animal who could take off with a wrong move.

  “Lottie, darling, are you hungry?” he asked her.

  “Not really,” she murmured, glancing along the table. All of the Malone men had stiffened, watching their sister.

  Carrick reached over and slid his hand into Thea’s, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

  “You’re having hamburgers? I love hamburgers.”

  Regent offered her his arm and she slid her hand into the crook of his elbow. He led her very carefully over to the table, to the seat across from Thea. The way he treated her brought tears to Thea’s eyes.

  Like she was precious. Delicate and fragile.

  “Hello, I’m Lottie.” She gave Ace and Keir a smile before looking at her then Carrick.

  She blinked a few times. “Carrick? I didn’t realize you were here. Did I know Carrick was here?” she asked Regent.

  “I mentioned it the other day, darling,” he said as he fixed her a burger, placing it on her plate and cutting it into quarters.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Carrick,” she said.

  “It’s all right, Lottie. I’m so glad to see you.”

  Lottie smiled then looked down at her plate. “Regent, you made it just like when I was a kid. Excellent. Well, if we had burgers more often maybe I’d come down for dinners.”

  “We’ll have them every night if that’s what it takes,” Regent murmured.

  Lottie just patted his hand.

  “You’re all living here?” she asked Thea.

  “Thea and Carrick are mine now, Lottie,” Jardin told her. “As are Ace and Keir. They’re Thea’s brothers.”

  “Oh, it will be nice to have some children around. This old place could use some laughter. I suppose you won’t stay long, though.”

  Thea made a quick decision, seeing Lottie’s sad face. “We’re staying for a while.”

  Carrick stiffened beside her, but when she looked over, he gave her a smile and a wink. She glanced at Jardin, who gave her a grateful look.

  “That’s good.”

  “Yeah, once Gerald moves all the fancy stuff, Reggie said we can have a water fight,” Ace informed Lottie around a bit of burger.

  “Ace, swallow before you talk,” Thea scolded.

  “Sorry.” He swallowed. “You wanna have a water fight with us, Lottie.”

  She swallowed more delicately. “You know, I might just do that. If Reggie thinks it’s okay.”

  Thea expected Regent to object to his nickname, but he just gave Lottie a gentle smile. “Of course, darling.”

  “What about you, Vicky?” She turned to Victor. Oh, he definitely didn’t look like a Vicky.

  But he didn’t even flinch. “Oh, I’m in. I’m going to whip Maxim’s ass.”

  “Hey!” Maxim pouted. “I’m always picked on ’cause I’m the youngest.”

  “No, it’s because you’re the ugliest,” Jardin told him.

  Keir and Ace snickered. Oh, dear Lord, she gave up trying to teach them good manners. This was going to be hopeless.

  “What school do you boys go to?” Lottie asked.

  Keir answered her.

  “And you like it?”

  “Our teachers are nice,” Keir answered. “And we have some friends, but some of the moms are mean to Thea.”

  She stiffened. She hadn’t thought they’d paid much attention to that.

  “And some of the kids don’t like us ’cause we’re poor. I don’t see why that matters. Arthur Pincher’s family has money and he’s a jerk face,” Ace added. “Plus, the principal and teachers always side with him when he says Keir and I did something to him.”

  “Al Pincher’s kid?” Regent asked.

  Jardin nodded with a scowl.

  “Well, that won’t do, will it,” Lottie murmured looking to her oldest brother.

  “I don’t think you’ll find that a problem anymore,” Regent said. “With the amount of money I’ve donated to the school lately, I basically own it. Including the teachers and the principal.”

  He what?

  She gave Regent a shocked look. “What? You . . . you didn’t need to do that.”

  “Regent always protects his family ferociously,” Lottie told her. “He’s very good at it.”

  “Most of the time,” Regent muttered darkly.

  “Well, thank you.” She owed the man a lot.

  “Still, a show of force might be needed, don’t you think?” Lottie said. “Boys, how would you like your new uncles to come visit your school?”

  Keir sat up straight and Ace danced around on his chair. “Hell, yeah! That’ll show Arthur Pincher.”

  It certainly would.

  29

  Thea glanced down at her phone with a frown as she drove, surprised to find the school’s phone number come up.

  Shit.

  Things had been going so smoothly this last week since they’d returned home. Sure, living in the Malone mansion took some getting used to. As did the Malones themselves. But she had Jardin, Carrick, and the boys. She was also growing closer to Lottie, who was kind and funny. And she was smart. Super smart.

  On their first day back, all the Malones except for Lottie had come to the school with the boys. They’d gone in an actual limousine which Ace was still talking about. Even Keir had boasted about how awesome they’d looked walking in flanked by the scary, handsome Malone brothers.

  Okay, those were her words not his. But, still, she’d been in awe of them all. Even with Maxim cracking jokes about checking out the teachers.

  The principal had practically fallen over herself trying to get on Thea’s good side.

  Good luck with that, bitch.

  Still, Thea kept things civil for the boys’ sake.

  “Hello?” she answered the phone.

  “Ms. Garrison, it’s Ms. Mackerly here. I was just wondering if you could come back to the school for a moment?”

  “Is there a problem?” She’d just dropped the boys off and she’d been driving to Jardin’s office. His latest PA had already quit, and he needed some help, even though he insisted he didn’t.

  “Um, yes. Ace has been involved in another fight.”

  “I’m on my way.” She turned the car around, ignoring the honking horns.

  She kept one eye on the road as she hit Jardin’s name on her phone.

  “You better not be driving and talking on the phone, Thea,” was how he greeted her.

  Oh shoot.

  “I’m using the Bluetooth!”

  “Yes, and I’ve seen how badly you drive even while using the Bluetooth, which is why I told you not to drive and
talk at all on your phone.”

  “I didn’t have an accident, and that other car came out of nowhere.”

  Jardin just grunted, unimpressed.

  “I just got a call from the principal. She said Ace has been fighting.” She deliberately didn’t confirm that she was driving. But her ass tingled because she knew he’d know. And, later, her butt would pay the price.

  “That’s odd. I told her to call me first if there were any problems.”

  “Jardin!”

  Damn it, he was unbelievable.

  “It’s called sharing the load, Thea.”

  Actually, it was called being overbearing and unbelievably arrogant.

  “I’ll call Carrick, he’s closer,” Jardin told her. “He can meet you there.”

  “I don’t need any help, I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll call Carrick,” he said firmly. “And Thea?”

  “Yes?”

  “Your ass is toast tonight.”

  The call ended and she shook her head. Yep. Arrogant and overprotective. Those were Malone traits. Not that Carrick couldn’t be just as protective. He just tended to be more reasonable.

  As she pulled up outside the school, her phone rang. Carrick.

  “Hey,” she said. “You really don’t have to come with me.”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen,” he told her. “Wait for me.”

  She let out a sigh. “I can’t wait for you.”

  “Thea, wait for me or I’ll be adding to that spanking Jardin is giving you tonight.”

  “Fine. See you soon.”

  Christ almighty. She climbed out of her car. Her very new car. With the highest safety rating possible. Jardin had presented it to her the day after they arrived.

  She leaned against her car to wait for Carrick. It was ridiculous.

  “Thea.”

  She froze at that raspy voice. A racking cough filled the air. She turned to find her father stumbling toward her. He looked like shit and his stench reached her before he did. She stepped back from him, not wanting him to touch her.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded.

  “Came to see you. Thea, I need help.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve tried to help you in the past. All I got in return were bruises and a broken arm.”

  Regret filled his face. “I’m sorry about that, really I am. But I’m sober now, sweetheart.”

  Sure, he was. That’s why he was breathing bourbon fumes all over her.

  “Go away. I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “But your brothers might,” he told her. “I still have custody of them, don’t I? What if I demanded you return them? The cops would like to know how you kidnapped them.”

  She turned on him. “I didn’t fucking kidnap them and you know it. And you go to the police, they’ll laugh their asses off. You don’t have a leg to stand on. But go if you want. I have the weight of the Malones behind me now. I’m their family. Ace and Keir are their family. And they don’t take kindly to threats.”

  “Please, just a bit of money. Thea!”

  Swinging around, she stomped into the building. She wasn’t going to be a pushover anymore. How often had he stolen from her? Hurt her? She didn’t owe him anything! Although that didn’t stop her from feeling guilty.

  Reaching into her handbag, she pulled out her phone and sent Carrick a quick text.

  Gone inside. My dad was here. Had to get away.

  She walked into reception, surprised to see it empty. But she didn’t wait for that awful receptionist to return. She just wanted to deal with whatever was going on with Ace.

  Knocking on the office, she stormed her way in. She was beyond caring what the principal thought of her at this point.

  And she came to a screeching halt at the sight that greeted her.

  “J-Jenny?”

  30

  Carrick read the text message as he drove.

  Yes, he knew he was being a hypocrite considering he’d spank Thea’s ass for doing the same. But he didn’t have time to pull over. He swore as he read it. Then his swearing became a groan of frustration as he rounded the corner and came into a line of traffic. What the fuck?

  Quickly, he hit Jardin’s name.

  “I’m twenty minutes out,” Jardin said.

  “I’ve just hit traffic. Hopefully, I’ll be there at about the same time. But Thea texted me to say her father turned up outside the school.”

  “What the fuck?” Jardin snapped.

  “She said she was going inside. She’ll be safer in there at least.”

  “Damn it! Fuck.”

  “I know. I know.” He understood the other man’s frustration. “I’ll meet you there.”

  “What are you doing, Jenny?” she asked.

  “It’s not Jenny! It’s Jennifer, you bitch!”

  Jenny, who was looking decidedly worse for wear in a dirty pants suit, with her hair all wild around her face glared at Thea from manic-filled eyes.

  What the hell?

  Jenny also held a gun to Ms. Mackerly’s head.

  Thea did a quick sweep of the room, making sure no one else was in there and breathed a sigh of relief to find it empty. So, obviously, Jenny had made the principal call her to get her to come back by saying Ace had been in a fight.

  She eyed the gun warily.

  “You need to put the gun down before you hurt someone, Jenny,” she warned.

  Carrick would be here soon. She just had to keep the other woman calm. Except what would Carrick do when he arrived? He could get shot trying to protect her.

  “I’ve been waiting for you,” Jenny told her with a crazy laugh. “Been watching you. Waiting for the right time. But those men you’re with keep you close, don’t they? Do you have a magical pussy or something?”

  Ms. Mackerly let out a shocked cry as Jenny thrust her away. She fell to the ground. “He should have been mine, you know. Jardin. He was meant to be mine.”

  She stalked toward Thea, holding the gun up.

  Thea took a step back, wishing she hadn’t closed the door behind her. What was she going to do?

  Jenny’s hand shook wildly as she aimed the gun. Ms. Mackerly lay on the floor, weeping. No help there, that was for sure.

  Thea tensed, fear flooding her.

  Suddenly the door opened behind her.

  “Thea, if you’ll just listen to me . . . hey, what’s going on here?” her father demanded. “Why are you holding a gun on my daughter?”

  Jenny turned to look at her father, just as he pushed Thea to one side. The gun fired and she screamed. Her father fell to the ground and Jenny just stood there, looking shocked.

  She could hear loud voices yelling. People flooded the room. Someone tackled Jenny, not that she was putting up much resistance. Thea crawled toward her father, sobs wracking her body.

  “Dad. Dad.”

  She rolled him over. His chest was covered in blood, his eyes open and unseeing. Tears fell down her cheeks as she shook.

  “Thea, oh, God, Thea.” She was aware of Carrick pulling her back against him, holding her tightly.

  “He saved me,” she mumbled. “He saved me. He’s dead, isn’t he?”

  Jardin moved to the other side of her father, reaching out to try and find a pulse. He shook his head at her. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

  She sobbed hysterically, barely aware of Carrick picking her up and carrying her away, of Jardin’s softly murmured words. Of Jenny’s screams.

  It all faded away.

  Later that night, she sat on the edge of Ace’s bed, watching both him and Keir sleep. They each had their own room, but they’d opted to sleep in the same bed tonight.

  Although they seemed to be taking their dad’s death pretty well. They were having a tougher time with the fact that she’d nearly been shot.

  “Come on, rocket,” Carrick placed a hand on her shoulder. “It’s time you rested.”

  After the shooting, she’d been checked over by paramedics. Then she’d had to go
get the boys and explain what had happened. Then there had been interviews with the cops. All the Malone’s had turned up except Lottie at one point.

  When they’d come home, they’d found that Lottie had ordered pizza. She’d held Thea for a long time, it was obvious she was having a hard time as well.

  Thea let Carrick pick her up and carry her out of the room. Jardin closed the boys’ door behind them and led them to their bedroom. They walked into the attached bathroom, where the huge jetted tub had been filled with water.

  Carrick stripped her while Jardin pulled off his clothes. Then he carried her into the water and sat with her on his lap while Carrick took off his clothes then climbed in. They held her together, running their hands over her as though searching for any missed injuries.

  “That’s it, I’m hiring you a permanent bodyguard,” Jardin stated. “I’ll get Maxim on it in the morning.”

  She sighed and leaned her face against his chest, too tired to fight him right then. She knew it was Jardin’s way of saying he’d been worried. And that he loved her.

  “Maybe I should quit work and stay with her all the time.” Okay, that was a surprise. Carrick was usually the sensible one.

  “Or maybe you should both lock me in a tower like Rapunzel,” she snarked.

  Oh, look, she did have some energy to fight back.

  “That idea has merit,” Carrick said.

  “Thought you’d object to that,” Jardin told her. “But if you’d rather, we can arrange it.”

  “My dad died saving me,” she said numbly. “From Jenny. She hated me because she thought I stole Jardin from her.”

  “She’s got more than a few screws loose,” Jardin muttered darkly. “Cops found all these creepy photos of me in her apartment. And more photos of you. She’d been watching you for a while.”

  “And here I thought I was in danger from Silvers,” she muttered.

  “Our girl seems to be a magnet for psychos and nut jobs,” Carrick commented.

  “Not fair, Jenny was after Jardin.”

  Jardin grumbled something under his breath.

  “He wasn’t a good dad. Not even close. But, in the end, he saved me, so I guess that counts for something.”