Page 7 of Mensa's Match

She stared at me with her chestnut-colored eyes, waiting for a response. Silence had saved my ass plenty over the years.

“Riley, girl,” Aunt Nadia said, and I’d forgotten she was in the room.

Riley came to the counter. “You’re not busy tonight. Why are you really skipping Open-Mic night?”

“I just need a quiet night,” I semi-fibbed.

Riley narrowed her eyes. “Nope. I don’t believe that, either.”

I threw my hands up in slight surrender. “It’s the truth.”

“Gamble said he saw you at lunch yesterday.”

Funny how criminals and law enforcement had certain things in common. Nothing got by those Riot MC brothers… and I did my damnedest to make sure nothing got by me, either.

“He did, but that doesn’t change the fact I’m staying in tonight. Let’s plan to hit the Beau Rivage on Tuesday—”

She curled her lip. “It’s too crowded there. Besides, Mensa will be running things tonight.” A calculating look crossed her face. “Which reminds me, Gamble said Mensa talked to you yesterday. Is that the real problem?”

My face froze. Seemed those Riot boys gossiped like women.

“She’s following his orders,” Aunt Nadia said.

I aimed some side-eye at my aunt. “Not orders.”

Aunt Nadia’s chastising look should have left me quaking in my sandals. She smiled. “You’re right. Not orders, you’re keeping his threat at bay.”

“Threat? He did not threaten you,” Riley said.

I shrugged a shoulder. “Not like Aunt Nadia makes it sound, but he wants me to stay away.”

Her eyes widened. “Well, he doesn’t get to decide that.”

Aunt Nadia tossed her hands out. “That’s what I’m saying, and I don’t understand why my niece is heeding that boy’s warning.”

I glanced between the two of them. “I’m not in the mood to poke the bear.” With a head tilt at Riley, I added, “You go and crush it tonight.”

Her brows arched. “I could crush it better if you were there.”

I smirked. “Now who’s a liar?”

“Whatever. Good vibes createmoregood vibes. Think about it.”

Aunt Nadia wandered toward the other end of the counter. “There’s nothing for her to think about. She had no problem ignoring what Mensa wanted when you and Finn tied the knot.” She gave me a sideways glance. “Go give that boy a hard time. It’s a free country.”

I stared at Aunt Nadia. “It’s where he works. That’s not cool.”

Riley chuckled. “And he lives at the clubhouse. What’s the difference?”

I just stopped myself from saying Mensa had a studio apartment near I-10 in Ocean Springs. That would have blown it.

I needed to come clean to Riley.

Which would mean Finn, Mensa, and all the Riot MC brothers would know.

No doubt they’d assume I’d been looking into the whole club, but all I really wanted was to investigate Mensa and lock him away. Nobody was that squeaky-clean. Nobody.

My eyes locked with Riley’s. “The difference is that Iknowhe works at Twisted Talons. I didn’t know he lived at the clubhouse when I complained about your wedding reception being inside a tent.”

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