Page 25 of Riordan's Revenge

If I’d hugged anyone but their brother, I probably would’ve launched into my feelings on that, along with a blow-by-blow of how I’d tormented him through the door, but I had a strange rush of protectiveness over the man. Even with them.

Cassie: I’m good. Stay safe.

Both ordered me the same, and I set down my phone, testing Tyler’s theory against Bronson’s possible motive. He was already high up in command. Did he want the top spot and therefore had been building a case to prove he’d earned it before overthrowing Red? Or could he be secretly recruiting killer members to help him seize control?

All questions to put to him when we had him in our grasp.

At the end of the table, Riordan, already done with a second loaded sandwich, sat back and regarded me. There was an interesting expression in his eyes. “I remembered something from two nights ago.”

I curled my legs under myself to face him. “Shoot.”

“Moniqua came to find me in the brothel.”

My lip formed a sneer. “Ugh. The ghoul.”

Tyler swung his gaze between us. “Why is Moniqua a ghoul?”

“She haunts Riordan.”

Tyler clucked his tongue with clear judgement. “And you let her blow you?”

At Riordan’s scowl, I cracked up. Tyler really had overheard everything I’d said in the hall.

Riordan ignored the tease. “She mentioned someone told her Alisha and I had been shut away in a room together.”

“Was she jealous?” I would’ve been, and I’d liked Alisha.

“I don’t think so, and that isn’t my point. What if someone was angry at Alisha for being with another man? They could’ve killed her for that.”

Tyler inclined his head, apparently in agreement.

“Got Moniqua’s number?” I asked. “I’ll ask her who was gossiping.”

Riordan watched me for a beat then found his phone and handed it over, unlocked, and with a call list on the screen. I braced myself for how he’d saved Moniqua. If it was under a cute tag, likeMoniorSidechick, I’d throw up.

But there was nothing with her name or anything resembling it.Gen, Ev, Arran, Shade.A few numbers without names.

He gestured at it. “Her number ends six-one. She told me that in the conversation where she asked for my help because the Four Milers had threatened her.”

Had to resist being the mean girl. “She was scared?”

“So she said.”

“I could find her a job in the warehouse? I’ll need to do the rotas soon so can fit her in.”

“I suggested that. She turned her nose up.”

“Probably because she wanted big strong Riordan to step up and protect her. Maybe letting ye fall on her mouth a few times, too.”

Tyler choked on a laugh. Riordan’s glower deepened.

After the conversation he’d just recalled, he’d let her sink to her knees and undo his jeans. Right in the middle of a brothel where people had sex all around me all day, that one act had threatened my very soul.

It had taken everything in me not to storm over and drag her out by her dyed-black hair. I’d walked away. A few hours later, when he came to find me, I’d kidnapped him.

Wow, that was as messed up as the telenovelas I adored.

Gritting my teeth, I held my thumb over her phone number. “If she’s really freaked out, she’ll take the offer.”

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