Page 5

CHAPTER FOUR

O utside, Johnny G straddled his bike, hit the kickstand, and cranked the engine. Night was upon him, and the clubhouse’s outdoor lights were off, but he trusted his bike’s headlamp to show him the rocky path winding past the lagoon, then back up and out to the main road. The moon was supposed to be full tonight. Soon, a pale silver light would illuminate the woods.

Although his instinct was to throw care to the wind, rev up the engine and fly, he kept a moderate speed. He wasn’t familiar with the area. At this hour creatures crossing the road surprised you. Made no sense to compound a weird night with an accident.

As he rode past the forest, hulking shadows and points of lights dispersing through the trees, his mind returned to the fiasco of tonight’s dinner.

His utter failure.

First, Isolde’s captivating scent had found its way into his nostrils, dazzling his senses. Her appearance in the dining room had slowed his ability to process the complicated nuances of the situation. But the responsibility for controlling his reactions and thoughts didn’t fall on her. It was solely his.

Time and distance had weakened his will.

Months had passed since the last time he’d had a brief and hardly satisfying glimpse of the woman his soul ached for. So tonight, being in her home, deep within the influence of her luminous presence, he’d buckled. The lifelong Dominant in him had essentially flown out the window. Throw into the mix a lecherous, cunning rival competing for Isolde’s affections, and he’d lost his step in the fog of possessive fury. Good Lord, he could’ve pulverized Gomez without the slightest hesitation, then whisked her off to some far away secret spot. A location only he knew about.

To his right, a reflective sign announcing three successive curves coming up on the road He slowed his speed as he negotiated the curves. Once he exited onto the straightaway, a single headlight flashed in his rearview mirrors. This biker had to know the road because he was coming fast.

Although he went on alert mode, Johnny G moved to his far right, giving the approaching bike enough room to pass. But as the rider came nearer, he slowed and slipped to his left. Johnny G gave the biker a quick glance and relaxed. The name Viper gleamed on the rider’s helmet. Smiling, Johnny G tapped on his own helmet in a sign of recognition. Viper nodded, waved at him to follow, then sped up enough to take the lead.

Whether Johnny G wanted to admit it or not, riding behind Viper erased some of his anger, and a sense of companionship comforted his tension. In his rush to escape the clubhouse, he’d violated a bunch of safety protocols.

Riding alone was his jam. He loved it. He usually did it safely, during the day and in familiar surroundings. A lone biker in the dead of night and on a strange road was an easy target for those who disliked people like him. That kind of hate was plentiful and found everywhere. Sure, he’d needed air and space to cool down. Maybe he should’ve gone for a walk instead.

Soon, he noticed the road’s gradual descent. They were out of the woods, and the glow of incandescent urban lights guided them forward. Viper slowed, and Johnny Gun moved to his right.

“We’re almost there.” Viper gestured and yelled above the din to be heard. “Next block.”

Johnny nodded. At the next corner, he saw several bikes parked in front of a low building with a porch that stretched from end to end. Viper pulled into the first empty slot. Johnny G stopped next to him.

“I would’ve missed the place,” he said, dismounting.

“Yeah, Ridley’s a funny dude,” Viper said, releasing his chin strap. He took off his WWII infantry helmet, then hung it on his handlebars. “He doesn’t go for signs. He says, ‘If you know, you know where to go.’ That’s his jam.” He shrugged and walked past him. “Let’s go. You owe me a beer.” Viper pushed the door in and headed straight for the bar.

A handsome young man somewhere in his early twenties working behind the counter called out to him. “Hey, Viper. What’s up?”

“Not much.” Perching on a stool, Viper signaled to Johnny G to do the same. “Brought my friend from out of town to have a beer. Johnny Gun, meet Alan. He’s Ridley’s son. Alan, this is my MC brother Johnny Gun, from Garden City.”

“Nice meeting you.” Alan’s smile displayed a row of perfect white teeth against his smooth, dark brown skin. He offered his hand, andJohnny G shook it and sat on his stool.

“The tab’s on me,” Johnny G said.

“The usual?” Alan asked.

“I’ll take a lager,” Viper replied.

“Make that two,” Johnny G said .

“You got it.” Alan placed two sixteen-ounce glasses—the kid knew Viper’s preference—under the tap and poured.

“How come you’re tending bar? Aren’t you in school?” Viper asked. “Where’s Ridley?”

“Dad has the night off. He’s cutting some of his hours while I take a break this semester,” Alan said, his attention on pouring the beer. “I’ll return in the winter.”

“Sounds good,” Viper said. “Don’t give up on school. It’s important.”

“I can’t.” Alan set the first glass before Johnny G. “Mom would kill me.”

“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’t discover 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.”

Johnny G started to rise, but Stew shook his head. “Don’t get up, man.” He sat, extending his hand toward Johnny G. As they shook hands, Viper held up his beer glass toward Alan. The kid signaled back in agreement.

“Stew, this is Johnny Gun.” Viper gestured at Johnny G. “He and his Garden City brothers rode up to help us with this messy Wolves business.”

Stew folded his forearms on the table. One forearm displayed a single black-and-red eight-point cross tattoo. “You guys did a good thing coming up. The Dalton crew will need backup if the Wolves insist on carrying out their revenge. ”

“Have you learned anything new?” Viper asked.

He nodded. “You have a huge problem. In my last conversation with Josh, our prez”—Stew spoke to Johnny Gun— “he let it slip that someone from the Dalton crew is feeding information to the Wolves.”

Johnny Gun stiffened. “What?”

Stew sneered. “A fucking snitch, man. One of your own.”

“You gotta be kidding me,” Viper hissed through his teeth. “Were you able to find out who, maybe get a hint?”

“Unfortunately, I showed too much interest, and Josh shut down. I had no choice but todrop it. He already knows I’m against the Wolves trying to make nice with us.”

“I get it. You don’t want a target on your back,” Viper said.

“And raise suspicions,” Johnny G added.

“Or get blocked from future information,” Stew finished.

“Beer’s coming,” Viper warned. All three fell silent until Alan set a mug down for Stew, then walked back to the bar.

“How does Josh feel about this payback plan? Will he cooperate with the Wolves?” Viper asked.

“He’s being cagey.” Stew raked his brown hair back from his forehead. “I reminded him about the Wolves’ allegiance with Los Emes.”

“So you know about them,” Johnny G said.

“Rover, the Wolves prez, was overheard at a neighborhood bar we frequent. Had to be drunk.” Stew frowned. “Stupid asshole boasted about their association. According to him, the cartel’s involvement assures Isolde’s successful kidnapping and permanent disappearance. Deacon wouldn’t see his daughter again and would regret the day he betrayed Killer. Gotta tell you, the whole thing freaked me out. I warned Josh this was a bad move. Once we go that route, using civilian family members for revenge, the word gets around and we lose respect. We open ourselves to the same treatment from other MCs. ”

Johnny Gun growled under his breath. While he listened to Stew, his stomach had twisted into knots. The Knight Enforcer had confirmed his worst fears. The Wolves had every intention of delivering Isolde to Los Emes. His original idea, to take her someplace safe, seemed like the best option.

“You okay, dude?” Stew asked. “You look green.”

“Forget him.” Viper waved a hand. “What did Josh say to you?”

Stew sighed. “Josh is a man of few words. He said, ‘I see your point’ and nothing else.”

“I need to know who the snitch is,” Johnny Gun fumed. “Though I have my suspicions.”

“Easy, dude,” Viper said. “It might not be the most obvious guy.”

“Oh… I see what’s happening here.” Stew squinted at Johnny G. “You have a thing for Isolde.”

“So what if I do?” he snapped.

“If I were in your shoes”—Stew settled his back against his chair—“I’d move her out of the clubhouse to a safe location far from here.”

“Hmm… Let’s say he did,” Viper said slowly.

“Should be done quickly and while defense plans are being made. Use the activity to your advantage. The fewer people who know where you two are going, the better. Don’t come back until this mess blows over.”

“I don’t know my way around these parts,” Johnny G muttered.

“Some of us do,” Stew said. “Give me a day or two to dig around a bit. There’s no reason to stay in the vicinity. Shit, the Tennessee border is just yonder. You can take her north. I’ll text Viper when I find secure locations for you. We’ll meet here again. Pick one and don’t tell any of us. ”

“I like it, Viper said. “Deacon will flip out, but eventually, he’ll understand. Isolde’s safety is everything to him.”

“Cool. With that settled, feel like shooting some pool?” Stew asked Viper.

“Why not?” Viper replied.

Eyes wide, Johnny Gun stared at both men. “You’re going to shoot pool? Now?”

“Relax.” Viper smiled. “It’s early. One round and then we go home. We have to sit tight until Stew gives us some locations. For now, Isolde is well guarded.”

He breathed out. Viper had a point. While the guys did their thing, he could make a mental list of everything he needed to put his plan into action. Most importantly, how to convince Isolde to go with him.

Two endless hours, or was it three, had gone by since Isolde had offered to save him food and Johnny took off. As time passed, dejection got the best of her, but she repressed her emotions until Opal yawned and announced she was going to bed.

“He’s not coming, Sydney,” Isolde burst out, unable to contain her disappointment anymore. “Why bother saving him a plate?” She pouted at her busy friend’s back. With the dishes from dinner put away, Sydney was placing the salt and pepper shakers in the cupboard.

“Let’s discuss it.” Slowly, Sydney faced her, setting her fists on her hips. “Your father has no clue of what’s going on, am I wrong?”

Isolde pressed a hand to her chest. “Going on? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Is that right? That’s the standard answer of someone who’s hiding things.” Sydney shook her head. “You’re a terrible liar. ”

“I’m not lying to you.” Folding her arms with a huff, she leaned against the kitchen counter.

“I’ll grant you that. Technically, you’re not lying.” Closing the cupboard door, Sydney approached and gently held her cheek. “You did a good job during dinner. But I’m a grown woman older than you by several years, and I’ve seen many things in my lifetime. I know when someone is smitten, and you have it, bad.”

Isolde jerked her face away. “I have nothing and I feel nothing.” She moved several feet from Sydney. As if the distance would prevent her friend from reading her so well.

“I understand why you hide,” Sydney said. “But I’m not your father and I promise not to judge you or your Johnny.”

“He’s not my Johnny.”

Sydney’s eyes gleamed with sympathy and sadness. “Oh, honey. That man is so yours, he’d walk through fire for you.” She sighed. “I’ve seen devotion in a person’s eyes. Nothing comes close to the way Johnny Gun looks at you. I’m amazed Deacon hasn’t noticed. When he does, he won’t be happy. Your dad’s not ready for you to grow up.”

Isolde swallowed despite the pain in her chest. Should she continue to hold the raging storm inside or let go? For once, it would feel so liberating to lean on a comforting shoulder, someone who understood and wouldn’t criticize. Long months of pretense and repressing her love, of guarding her expression from her watchful father and monitoring her tone of voice had exhausted her.

She grasped Sydney’s hands. “What can we do? I don’t see a way out.”

Returning her grip, Sydney tugged her toward the nook table. Pulling out a chair, she sat and motioned for Isolde to do the same.

“My first thought. Johnny earned a few credits with your father when he volunteered to help the Dalton crew. For both your sakes, Deacon should get to know Johnny a little better. Respect the man and his qualities before he notices there’s an attachment between you two. That would improve your chances of his acceptance. I don’t have much influence, but I’ll do what I can to help you on the sidelines.”

“Thank you.”

“The age difference is your biggest obstacle. Which means you have to show maturity to your father. Force him to see the woman you’ve grown into. Make a decision and stand your ground. It won’t be easy because fathers only see the baby girl.” She sighed. “God, I miss your mother. Elaine would’ve handled this issue in a second.”

“I miss her too.”

“Be patient and careful, Isolde. Don’t let anyone guess how you feel, especially Gomez. You know he has a thing for you.”

“Ugh, disgusting man.” She rubbed her bristling skin. “I don’t understand how Dad hasn’t picked up on the way he…leers at you.”

“It’s a mystery to me…” Sydney paused and glanced toward the doorway. “Hear that?”

“What?”

Sydney smiled. “The sound of boots in the hallway. Your man is back.”

Isolde stood. Twisting her hands, she scanned the counters. “Shit. Where’s his plate? I thought we saved him food. I don’t see it.”

“Easy, girl. Take a deep breath. It’s in the fridge.”

“But it’ll be cold,” Isolde protested. “He won’t like it.”

“We’ll nuke it, and he’ll love it. Get moving, fix him a place setting. I’ll take care of warming his food.”

Fingers trembling, Isolde’s hands flew over the table, setting down silverware he would need to eat his meal. Her heart thudded as she felt a presence at the doorway, and she glanced in that direction. The floor seemed to cave under her feet. But it wasn’t Johnny at the threshold. It was Viper.

She blew out a hard breath. “Oh, Viper… You gave me a start.” She could barely speak, her heart was beating so fast.

“He’s behind me.” Viper chuckled. Striding to the fridge, he opened the door and pulled out a beer. He crossed knowing gazes with Sydney.

So much for Isolde’s secret love. Two people already knew. Her worry didn’t last long. A moment later, Johnny stepped into the space Viper had vacated, and her soul soared with happiness.

“Hungry?” Her voice came out thready and weak.

His smiling blue eyes filled all her empty spaces with a strange peace and a soothing sensation. Everything about him was perfect for her: the long hair with blond streaks, his straight nose, and full sensuous lips she dreamed of tasting and kissing…the muscular physique and calloused hands Isolde wanted to feel exploring her skin. She belonged to him. That was absolutely clear to her.

“Ravenous.” His deep voice was masculine and sexy. An intimate message of affection hung in his words. “Please, don’t bother. Not for me.”

A thrilling heat flared in her cheeks. “It’s my pleasure. We saved food for you.” Now with steadier hands, she gestured at the place setting on the table. “Please, sit.”

“Thank you.”

Isolde’s breath caught in her throat. Johnny lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips. His touch was warm, steady, and firm, and she spun in a vortex. Blinding sparks filled her vision. A current of fire and ice, both burning and freezing, swept through her.

Remembering they weren’t alone in the kitchen, Isolde glanced at Sydney and Viper. Mouths open, they both watched until Johnny released her hand and sat. That was Sydney’s signal to snap into motion.

“Right. I have your plate.” She took the dish out of the microwave and put it in front of Johnny.

“Wow, delicious,” he exclaimed after the first bite.

Standing at his side, Isolde felt awkward and out of place. Should she sit next to him?

Johnny put his fork down and locked gazes with her. “I feel foolish eating alone. Will you sit with me?”

Yes, he’d read her internal struggle.

Where’s your backbone? The mental question pushed her on. There was no good reason why she couldn’t keep Johnny, or any of the MC guests, company. She was doing nothing wrong. Her father could dump his insecurities and jealousies into the trash. She would hold her ground.

As she sat with him, Johnny resumed eating. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Viper silently approaching Sydney. Something about his behavior piqued her attention.

“We need to talk.” He grabbed Sydney’s arm and pulled her close.

“What about?”

“It’s important, and we’re going to need your help. The question is, can we trust you to keep quiet?”

“That’s not fair,” she argued in a hushed voice.

He leaned nearer, murmured words at her ear, and Sydney gasped, covering her mouth. “But? — ”

He interrupted her. “Tomorrow, first thing. We talk.”

“Okay.” She nodded.

“Good. You’re back!” Axel’s voice rang out as he entered the kitchen. He slapped Johnny on the shoulder. “Dude. I worried you’d get lost.”

“Viper took care of me,” Johnny said .

“How did you get in?” Deacon asked as he came right behind Axel. “We waited and waited for you in the front room.”

“We came through the back door,” Viper explained. “It’s closer to the kitchen, and Johnny Gun was starving.”

Oh, hell, there goes our privacy.

“Here. Take my seat.” Isolde stood, speaking to Axel. Johnny scowled, but there was nothing she could do. There was too much interference all around and in between. She could only hope another opportunity for privacy would come up.

“Good night, everyone.” She held up her hand and walked out.