Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

Suddenly, she found herself slammed against the wall of the container, Silvers’ hand was around her throat, pressing down on her airway.

She raised her hands, trying to tug at the hand that was tight around her throat, but he just pressed down harder.

“I warned you not to push me. You’d do well to heed me; I’m not a man you want to get on the bad side of.”

He let her go and she slid to the floor, coughing as she attempted to force air into her lungs.

Shit. Shit.

Her entire body trembled in reaction.

“I didn’t let your father do anything. He is the one who made bad bets. And I’m not a bank. My interest rates are rather steep,” he said calmly, moving over to grab his glass he’d left on the table while he was strangling her. Wouldn’t do to spill a drop of booze, obviously.

And she just bet they were steep.

She forced herself to stand, although she stayed leaning back against the wall. “I don’t have fifty thousand dollars.”

And even if she did, she wouldn’t want to spend it to get her asshole dad out of debt. Why had she come out tonight to get him?

Even if she hadn’t, she had no doubt those guys would have found her. Maybe when she had the boys with her. She shuddered at the thought.

Silver looked her over. “That much is obvious. I brought you here tonight to test your suitably to do some work for me.”

Work? She could just imagine what sort of work he was talking about. She swal

lowed back the rising bile.

“I’m not prostituting myself to pay back his debt.”

He strode back toward her, and she froze, terrified. Prey waiting for the predator to lash out. He raised his hand and she tensed, waiting for the pain. Instead, he tucked her hair behind her ear. Much like Carrick had earlier.

But with Carrick, she hadn’t had to fight the urge to vomit. She hadn’t been shaking in terror.

God, had it only been three hours ago she’d been laughing with him on his back porch. That seemed so far removed from the situation she now found herself in it was laughable.

“You know, there’s something about you, Thea. It’s strange. I’ve never liked my women mouthy. I like them obedient. I like them quiet. Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. Maybe all along I needed someone strong to stand by my side.”

“Stand by your side?”

“Hmm. Like I said, I was going to give you an ultimatum. Work for me or I’d kill your father. But now . . . now I think I want something different. It’s time I had something more permanent in my life. I need an heir.”

Was he . . . was he saying what she thought he was?

“Are you seriously asking me to carry your child?”

He smiled. It wasn’t pretty. Or handsome. Or kind.

“Of course not.” He wrapped his hand around her hair and tugged. Hard. She couldn’t stop the whimper that crossed her lips. “I’m telling you that you’re going to carry my child.”

She shook her head. No. Not happening. Tears filled her eyes, but she wasn’t sure if they were due to the pain he was inflicting or fear. She forced herself not to let them spill. She couldn’t show weakness.

“Nobody tells me no, Thea. Is it really such a bad proposition? Instead of becoming a whore, you’ll be the mother of my child.”

He was seriously delusional. How could he think she would have his child? Why would he even want her? Then again, she was under no illusion her usefulness would eventually run out.

But, wisely, she said nothing. Her breath heaved in and out of her lungs.

“Instead of living a life in poverty, you’d have everything you could desire. Money. Power. Your life. Think of your brothers. Don’t you want them to have the best of everything?”