Redemption Key (A Dani Britton Thriller) Read Online Free Page A

of it, sweetheart. I’m a scholar and a gentleman. Hey, we’re Dan and Dani. We could start a dance team.” He winked at her. “What do you say?”
    Dani kept that strange smile in place but said nothing. Oren thought her eyes looked a lot like they did when she was climbing the rope. Caldwell continued, unfazed.
    “So where are you from, Dani?”
    Her lips whitened around the edges and Oren spoke up. “Oklahoma. Dani started out doing housekeeping and when Hesson got arrested, she stepped up and never looked back. She makes a mean mojito, you’ll be happy to hear. Better than mine.”
    “You’re keeping her hidden from me? You lecherous bastard. I do like my mojitos.” Caldwell beamed at Dani, who hadn’t moved an inch. “And if I may say so, you are a vast improvement over Hesson in the looks department. Let’s hope you’re a little less larcenous too. Or at least a better judge of targets.”
    “Poor Hesson.” Oren lifted his glass in salute. “Never did have a lick of sense.”
    Dani watched them drink, her hands still folded on the bar. “If there’s nothing else, Mr. Randolph, I’m going to finish prepping the bar; then I’ll set up the room.”
    “Thank you, Dani.” Oren watched her over his drink as she moved down the bar.
    Caldwell watched her too, his focus on her ass. He arched an eyebrow. “Something you’d like to tell me? Like, are you hitting that? Because I have to say, making your piece call you sir takes some balls.”
    “Do you practice being a pig, or does it just come naturally?”
    He ignored the barb to watch Dani. “She’s a little thing, isn’t she? What’s her story?”
    Oren shrugged. “She’s not much of a talker. She can run like hell, I’ll tell you that. She runs the island every single day. Good worker, too. Keeps her mouth shut. Does her job.” He opted not to mention her helpfulness during his meetings.
    “What do you think?” The agent crunched an ice cube in his open mouth. “Bad breakup? I’ve seen her around the property. She doesn’t seem inclined to make new friends. She’s ducked me a couple times. She ever pick anyone up?”
    “Jealous?” Something in Caldwell’s tone made Oren want to change the subject.
    “You said she runs. Maybe she’s been running a long time. You think Dani Britton is her real name?”
    “If it’s not, it’s a hell of a cover. She’s legal, paid aboveboard. She insisted on it.” Under-the-table employment shocked nobody in this part of the country, not even a federal agent.
    “Insisted, huh?” Another ice cube shattered in his mouth. “Why would she do that?”
    “Because it’s required by law? And she’s a good citizen?” Oren sipped his vodka. “Look, I’ve got Rolly in the kitchen who has been shot no less than three times, at least once by Peg, who scares the hell out of everyone from here to Miami, including the alligators. I’m pleased as punch to finally have a legitimate employee on the payroll, one with half a brain.”
    Caldwell’s voice took on a low and serious tone. “I’m not saying she’s bad news. I’m just saying you should know a little more about her.”
    “What? I’ve got the Wheelers coming in and
she
makes you suspicious? It’s not like she moved in with a drug-sniffing dog. She’s a five-foot-nothing girl who keeps her mouth shut and does her job.”
    “Then there’s no harm in running a background check.”
    Oren emptied his glass. “I think the reason you don’t like her is because she doesn’t like you. She’s impervious to your devious charms.”
    Caldwell shook his head at Oren’s smirk. “You have such a low opinion of me.”

    Dani wiped her hands twice on the towel. She’d nearly cut her fingertip off, her hands shook so badly. She had promised to work the Wheeler meeting. She knew Mr. Randolph appreciated her ability to stay calm around the twitchy men who made everyone at Jinky’s nervous. Even Peg avoided them. She couldn’t say she liked them—she