Franco's Fortune (Redemption Book 2) Read Online Free

gleaming white walls, high-end
stainless appliances and ceiling height cabinets. She tried the
back door, making sure the deadbolt held. Someone had broken in
through the back door and ransacked the place just two weeks ago.
She shook her head at Franco’s admission that he hadn’t had a
security system at the time and had had one installed last week.
Damn the man! Living in a house like this with no security system.
She’d get someone to replace the back door with a steel one. She
checked the basement last. Satisfied all was secure there, she
headed back to the kitchen.
    As she sat at the granite center counter to type in
some notes, a sound permeated the quiet. She froze. There it was
again. A key turning in the front door lock, then the door opening
and closing. Jo hadn’t reset the security alarm. The hairs on her
nape stood up.
    She glanced at the clock on the microwave. Franco
wasn’t expected home for hours, and Harris would call when they
were on the way. She pulled her Glock from the waistband of her
pants. Cautiously she crept out of the kitchen, staying close to
the walls, and made her way to the living room. Adrenaline pumping
and her body on alert, she primed herself to fight. Hugging the
dining room wall, she peered into the living room. A young
dark-haired woman holding a huge tote bag stared back at her.
    “Who are you?” Jo raised her gun. “You’d better talk
if you know what’s good for you.”
    Fear in her eyes, the woman dropped the bag and ran
for the door. “Stop!” Jo shouted.
    Trembling, the woman turned around, her hands
raised.
    “Start talking,” Jo growled.
    ***

Chapter Three
    “P lease,” the woman sobbed.
“Mr. Franco give me key. He say all okay. I’m legal.”
    “Mr. Franco? Legal?” Jo lowered her gun. “It’s okay.
I’m a friend of Mr. Franco’s.”
    The woman put her arms at her sides and backed away.
Terror shone in her deep brown eyes. She blinked rapidly. No more
than twenty-five, her long-sleeved T-shirt and ragged jeans hung
from her skinny frame. With a shaking hand, she brushed back
strands of black hair that had come loose from her ponytail.
    Pity for the woman tugged at Jo’s heart, but she
tensed, ready to defend herself if needed. She’d learned the hard
way that the most innocent-looking people could be the most lethal.
“I won’t hurt you,” Jo said. “What are you doing here?”
    “I clean for Mr. Franco. See?” The woman pointed to
the large tote bag she’d dropped. Her attention riveted on the
woman, Jo reached over and picked up the bag, dumping its contents.
Cleaning supplies fell onto the Oriental rug.
    Relaxing slightly, Jo blew out a breath. “Why did
you try to run?”
    The woman folded her arms across her chest and
backed farther away. “Mr. Franco’s lawyer say I okay. Please don’t
send me back to Mexico. Family here.”
    The woman was truly frightened or she was one hell
of an actress. Jo’s instincts told her to believe the woman. They’d
asked Franco if anyone had keys and he’d said no. He’d lied.
    “No one’s sending you anywhere,” Jo said. She
engaged the safety on her gun and tucked it back into her
waistband. “Let’s gather up this stuff and you can leave.”
    “I have to clean.”
    “Okay, since you’re here you can clean. But you
can’t come back for awhile.”
    “I no clean, Mr. Franco no pay.”
    “Don’t worry. He’ll pay.”
    <><><>
    Frustration had Jo pacing the living room, unable to
keep her churning nerves under control. She’d double checked all
the locks again, written her lists. She mentally ticked off the
items that needed to be second nature while she was on this
assignment. Gun with her at all times: check; security alarm set at
all times: check.
    She’d probably worn a path in the expensive-looking
Oriental carpet by now. She glanced at her watch for the hundredth
time. A little past seven. Harris had phoned that he and Franco
were on their way. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she