Page 19 of Johnny Gun

“Yeah, she would.” Viper laughed, then spoke to Johnny G. “Alan’s mom teaches high school English. She’s big on getting an education.”

“Smart,” Johnny G mused. “An education is everything. Gives you an edge. I should listen to my own advice and get my certificate.”

“Well, there’s no chance she’ll let me drop out.” Alan chuckled, putting Viper’s beer before him. “Enjoy.” He tapped his knuckles on the counter, then moved to another customer.

“Nice kid.” Johnny lifted his beer to Viper. “And by the way, thanks for coming after me.”

Viper raised his glass, then took a long slow drink. “Blade is a good friend. He asked me to keep an eye on you. During dinner, I picked up on your problem. It’s a big one, my friend.”

“That obvious?”

“Blade again.” Viper nodded. “Gomez is an asshole. If he looked at my daughter the way he does Isolde, I’d kill him. Deacon’s blind to it. I don’t know why.”

“Talk about in your face.”

“I’d try to open his eyes to the situation, but right now, we need every man on hand, even fucking Gomez. Whatever you do,don’t let that guy figure out you and Isolde have a thing. He’ll tell Deacon before you can say good morning.”

“He can say whatever the fuck he wants. Nothing’s going on between us.”

Viper sighed. “Not yet, maybe. But if given a chance…” He put his glass down. “Why did you volunteer? You know Deacon won’t approve of you two. He’ll make your life difficult.”

“I don’t give a damn what Deacon thinks, and I didn’t come looking for his blessing. Isolde’s safety is all I care about. The Wolves are after her. They’ll have to fucking go through me first.”

“Shit, man. Blade didn’t lie. I get it. You’ll protect Isolde to your last breath.”

Staring at his beer, Johnny G didn’t reply. Why bother? Words came easy. Anyone could speak them. Actions, on the other hand, expressed a man’s purpose and his heart. It would take him a lifetime to explain his feelings for Isolde.

“So you’re the silent type,” Viper said. “I like it. I’m glad I followed my instincts and brought you here. Let’s go sit at a table.”

“Where?”

“Just follow me.” Viper picked up his glass and stood. Jerking his head toward an empty table opposite the pool tables, he said, “This way.”

Johnny Gun held his curiosity until they reached the spot shrouded in shadows. Once he sat, he asked, “What’s with the mystery?”

“My friend’s meeting me here soon.”

“Not a Spawn brother, I gather.”

“Correct. Stew rides with the Hell Knights. He was recently voted Enforcer. Shifter and I served with him in the military. He’s the one who alerted Shifter to the kidnapping plan.”

“Wait. Are you saying Shifter didn’t pick up the chatter?”

Viper laughed. “No. Shifter’s damned talented, but he didn’tdiscover the conversation between the MCs on his own. Stew told him what to search for.”

“What made him tell you and Shifter?”

“Stew’s a righteous dude. He’s old-fashioned and believes in the old ways. If there’s a beef between MCs, it’s up to the brothers to resolve the matter or fight it out. We don’t involve family, especially our ladies, in MC business to spare them from retaliation. If a wife or ol’ lady gets involved with the MC, she becomes fair game. The unspoken agreement has been there forever. If an MC breaks it…”

“The MC can’t be trusted,” Johnny Gun finished for Viper. “I know for a factthatoutside influence has corrupted the Steel Wolves and changed their attitude.”

“Yes, and…” Viper paused, glancing at the front door. A tall man had entered the bar. He wore a leather cut with no insignia, colors of any kind and no T-shirt underneath, exposing muscular shoulders and sinewed arms. “We can go straight to the source. Stew’s here.”

When Viper waved, the guy nodded and headed in their direction.

“Riding incognito, huh?” Viper asked.

Stew smiled. “You know me.”

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