Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“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.