Page 32 of Johnny Gun

He lifted his bag, moved four feet down to the next tree sitting at the edge of the path, then pulled out another sensor to prep for installation.

“How’s progress?” Axel asked from across the way.

Johnny glanced into his bag. “I still have five sensors.”

“You may not need them all,” Axel said. “Max is coming up to you. When you meet, the entire path will be covered with sensors. Once the system is on, there’ll be no surprise visits.”

“What should we do with the leftovers?”

Visoring his eyes, Axel glanced at the top of the gravel path where it opened to the city road. “Not sure yet. Maybe I’ll have Tank install what’s left on both sides of the road. Cover every direction.”

“Sounds good.” Johnny dropped to one knee next to the tree. He held the wires ready to install around the trunk. “Are you showing Deacon how to operate the system in the computer?”

“I’ll instruct Deacon and one more. This guy has to be someone he trusts implicitly and is savvy with computer stuff.”

Johnny G exhaled a slow breath. Had Axel found out about the snitch, or was he just following instincts developed through years of fighting rival MCs? He hoped it was the latter. One more person aware of the situation was too many. The snitch had to be caught in the act.

“Viper fits the bill,” he said, and Axel nodded in agreement.

He finished securing the last sensor, almost at the same time Max finished with his.

Waving his bag, Johnny G shouted to Axel, “We’re done.”

“Has anyone seen Tank?” Axel yelled back.

“I’m right here,” the big guy answered from the side of the house. He carried a stepladder. “Motion lights are installed all around the roof fascia but need to be connected.”

“Find Pilot,” Axel instructed. “He’s our resident electrician. You come down here. I need you to finish setting up the leftover monitors along the road. There’s only a few.”

“Be right there,” Tank answered.

Johnny G held his bag open at Max. “Drop yours in here, and I’ll give the bag to Tank.”

“Sure,” Max said, upending the contents of his bag into Johnny’s.

As Max finished, Johnny G tied the bag, then headed toward Tank, who was coming down the path from the house. His phone buzzed in his chambray shirt’s pocket. During this job, perspiration was a given, so he’d left his cut in his room. He pulled out his phone. A text from Viper popped up.

If you’re not done, make any excuse & leave. Take the main road & ride past the bar. Two corners later, turn left on Sierra. Enter Inkjunction tattoo parlor on your right. C U there.

I’ll be there ASAP.

Luck was on his side. He was finished with the sensors and his new shadow hadn’t returned. A doubt crept into his mind. He texted Viper again.

Where is the tattoo parlor?

LOL. I sent Gomez in the opposite direction. Hurry. Before the nosy bitch returns.

Johnny G chuckled to himself. The slippery Dalton vice president showed another humorous facet of his personality. Dude played the game well. He must have noticed Gomez’s interest in Johnny G and got rid of him with a perfect excuse.

As he trod down the path to give Tank the bag, he called out to Axel, “If you don’t need me, I’m going out for a ride.”

“Sure. I don’t need you to instruct Deacon,” Axel said. “Go have fun.”

Johnny G waved, passed the bag of sensors to Tank, and hurried to the house. He fled into his bedroom, changed shirts, and put on his cut.

As he exited into the hallway, Isolde approached from the kitchen. Though his heart vaulted, he kept his composure. Still, he couldn’t stop his eyes from probing deeply into hers. Lord, his emotions overflowed… But a strange tenseness in her posture put him on edge.

What’s wrong?He nearly asked out loud. Her eyes shifted sideways, and he followed her direction. Trent had just entered the hallway. He walked several feet behind her.

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