Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

“Hey, Thea, hate to tell you this but your dad’s here. I cut him off and he’s fallen asleep against the bar. The boss isn’t happy, but I’ve managed to stop him from calling the cops if you’ll come get him right away.”

Part of her wanted to tell him to call the police. At least then she could be sure he wouldn’t be home tonight. Her wrist ached. It was psychological rather than physical. The bruises only hurt if she banged them. But the memory was still raw and hurting.

She’d thought about telling Carrick after he’d said that stuff about letting him know if she had a paper cut. But she knew he didn’t want to hear all about her darkest shit. They’d just met. Just had their first date. He didn’t want all her baggage. She didn’t want it.

“Thanks for calling me. I’ll come get him.”

“Sorry, Thea.”

Ending the call, she dragged herself back out the door. Twenty minutes later, she made her way into the dim bar.

The smell of body odor, stale beer, and cigarette smoke assaulted her, turning her stomach. It was a smell she was all too familiar with. That stench was something she associated with her father.

There had been so many bars like this where she’d gone to find him and drag him out. Back when she’d actually cared. When she’d figured he might be worth saving.

She no longer thought that.

So, what are you doing here?

That was a good question. One she had no answer to. Maybe she was simply a masochist. After all, the thought of Carrick spanking her turned her on.

Yeah, but Carrick would never harm her. Wouldn’t make her feel powerless and small. That she was so certain a man she’d known a week wouldn’t harm her and yet a man who was supposed to love and care for her would . . . well, that said everything, didn’t it?

Yet, there she was.

There was still a tiny part of her, deep inside, a little girl crying for her daddy to protect her. Soon, that little girl would completely disappear. And she wondered if that time wasn’t very, very close.

“Thea!” Danny waved over at her, his face filled with worry. “Shit! I’m glad I caught you. I tried calling you again.”

“You did?” She pulled out her phone and saw it was dead. Shit. And she hadn’t texted Carrick. Guilt filled her but she couldn’t do anything about that right now. “Where is he?”

Danny grasped her wrist and started dragging her through the surprisingly large crowd of people. She flinched and tried to pull her poor, bruised wrist free, but he tightened his hold until they were walking through a door and out into the employees only area.

“Ouch! What are you doing?”

He finally let go of her wrist and she cradled it against her chest. Shock filled his eyes. “Fuck! Did I hurt you? I didn’t mean to. I just needed to talk to you before they found you.”

“I hurt my hand the other day. It’s fine.” She showed him the bandage and he didn’t say anything about the fact he’d grabbed her wrist not her hand. Even though it throbbed something wicked, she forced herself to lower her hand to her side.

She knew all about not showing weakness.

“What’s going on? What do you mean you needed to talk to me before they found me?” she asked.

“About ten minutes ago, some nasty looking guys grabbed your dad. My boss was riding my ass about him, and I was explaining you were on your way when they came in and dragged him out the back.”

“What the hell? Where is he now?” Fear thrummed through her. “You just let them take him?”

Who had him? Were they going to hurt him? Shit.

“I tried, but my boss held me back. Thea, he recognized one of them. He’s an enforcer for Derrick Silvers.”

She froze. Shit. Fuck. Derrick Silvers? There were few people in New Orleans who didn’t know who Derrick Silvers was. He was bad news. He was slime. A crime lord who had his fingers in almost every underground deal going. Drugs, gambling, and prostitution. He’d been arrested several times but usually evidence went missing.

Or witnesses did.

“Why . . . why would Silvers’ guys grab my dad?” He was a small fry. He couldn’t be mixed up with Silvers, right?

“I don’t know, Thea. But whatever he wants with him, it can’t be good. And you need to stay the hell out of it, understand?”