Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“I’ll fix it, Thea. Don’t worry. And if she doesn’t like it, I’ll just buy her business from her. I think she’s been wanting to retire.”

She gaped at him. He was unbelievable.

“You’ll get used to him,” Carrick murmured.

Yeah. She wasn’t so sure.

“Now, the rules.”

Carrick grinned. “Something else you probably won’t thank us for.”

“No going anywhere without telling us,” Jardin told her. “And I do mean anywhere out of the house.”

Jesus. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Seriously,” Jardin told her.

“But when Silvers is no longer a problem—”

“I’m still gonna need to know where you’re going and when you’re coming back. It’s a safety thing. Is that a problem?”

She thought it through. “I guess not.”

“No putting yourself down is obviously one,” Jardin continued.

“No lying,” Carrick added. “That one is for all of us.”

“Yes, communication and honesty are important. If someone has a problem, they speak to the others about it rather than try to solve it on their own or hold it in.” Jardin looked pointedly at Carrick who nodded.

“Anything else?”

“Safety first,” Carrick said. “Always wear your seat belt, stick to the speed limit, no texting or calling while driving, no going out after dark without us.”

“And you tell us if someone threatens you or is a problem. Whether it’s Derrick Silvers or one of those bitches at the boys’ school.”

Her mind swam.

“And I don’t think I need to remind you what will happen if you break the rules, do I?” Jardin asked, patting the side of her ass.

No, he didn’t.

“There is something else,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I’m just imagining it, but I’ve had this feeling like someone was watching me.”

Jardin frowned. “Could have been Maddox. He’s been watching you since he called us.”

“He has? I never saw the rat.”

“Someone needed to keep an eye on you,” Carrick told her.

“This was before I saw Maddox in the diner, though.”

Carrick looked to Jardin. “Could Silvers have found her?”

“I don’t see how. Thea, is there any way he could have put a tracker on you? Did he ever have possession of anything of yours?”

“I don’t think so . . . oh God, my handbag. The first night I met him, his goon took my handbag. I got it back later.”

She grabbed her handbag off the desk. Jardin took it,