Jardin's Gamble (Haven, Texas 9)

She didn’t even know where she was. She heaved in a breath. How was she supposed to get home? Had he really just propositioned her and left? She turned to walk back inside hoping there was something in there she’d missed. A phone, something to help her.

But she didn’t see anything. She was stuck there. A sob broke free from her lips. She dropped to her knees on the ground, wincing as her already bruised joints protested.

What the fuck just happened? And how am I going to fix it?

She didn’t know how long she knelt there, but eventually she realized she had to get up and moving. She didn’t even know what time it was. Or how she was going to make her way home. Struggling to stand she moved into the back of the container and looked around. There wasn’t much in there other than a table, the chair where her father had sat, and some blood stains on the floor. She swallowed heavily at that.

Lights suddenly shone through the door, making her cry out. She looked for somewhere to hide as a dark car pulled up. But she was too late to leave the building without them seeing her and there was nowhere for her to hide in there.

So, she stood in the doorway, frozen, watching as a short, squat man climbed out.

“You Thea?” he asked.

Oh, Christ. There was only one reason he’d know her name.

“Yes.”

“Boss said you’d be here. I’m here to ta

ke you home.”

Home? Okay, so at least she wasn’t stuck there. But she didn’t want Silvers knowing where she lived.

“Can you take me to the bar where I left my car?” she asked, hating that she had to ask this guy to do anything.

“Sure.”

Thank fuck. She walked down, shutting the door behind her. It all felt surreal. “They took my handbag.”

He reached into the car and pulled it out. She took it with a nod. She knew she had to be in shock. She slid into the back of the car and let him close the door behind her, then he drove them out of the lot.

What was she going to do?

10

Why the fuck hadn’t she texted him?

He’d made it very clear she was to text when she got home safely. That was hours ago. And nothing. Had she been in an accident? Should he start calling hospitals?

Why hadn’t he found out where she lived?

Because you didn’t want to push too hard, too fast. That’s why.

Carrick ran his fingers through his hair and blew out a breath. He needed to get some sleep. It wasn’t long until he’d have to get up and open the garage. He’d left Thea several texts and one voice message. But he couldn’t sleep until he found out she was all right.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his hand. Relief flooded him as he saw her name. Then his gut tightened in anger.

What the fuck?

Sorry I didn’t text. My phone died. Something came up. Can’t come in to help you.

He didn’t want sorry. He wanted a damn explanation. And saying her phone died wasn’t it. Where had she been for the last few hours? He hit the call button. It went to voicemail.

Fuck!

He resisted the urge to throw his phone against the wall. Was she sending his calls to voicemail? Had she somehow decided on the drive home he wasn’t for her? Had she been using him to get her car fixed and now that she had what she wanted, she was going to push him aside?

Well, good luck with that. Because Carrick Jones wasn’t a man to be pushed to the background.