Page 6

Soul

As I rode into the cemetery, I thought I saw a man on a bike parked up behind some trees. I could not see if he had a cut on, but as soon as I pulled in, he rode out.

Strange, were we being watched? I couldn’t see why I would be; I was not exactly important to the club. But on arrival, I found the staff looking concerned and puzzled.

“What is it?” I asked.

Trevor, our undertaker, looked up. “A wreath. It was here when we arrived. Julie brought it in but wasn’t sure what to do. We’ve only been here ten minutes.”

Which was about right. Julie, the receptionist, looked pale, and I moved forward, and my jaw locked on seeing the wreath. It was white lilies and carnations and had a sash across it. R.I.P RBMC, it stated. Only two clubs would have the guts to send this. It was either the Bloody Scorpions MC or the Screaming Barons. Both were assholes.

“Take it to my office, and don’t worry about it,”

I said to Mariah, who did the makeup for the bodies.

She nodded and picked it up. She got to the doorway leading to the offices when she screamed, dropped the wreath, and stumbled back as quickly as she could. A yellow scorpion with brown spots skittled towards her.

Julie shrieked and leapt onto a chair as Trevor grabbed Mariah and dragged her up out of reach. I strode forward and stamped on it.

“Did it sting you?”

I demanded, turning to Mariah.

She shook her head violently.

“All of you, let me clean this up, and I’ll take the fuckin’ wreath. Trevor, order in coffees, snacks, and whatever else anyone wants. And from now on in, if you find anything like this, don’t touch it, call it in immediately to the club. Mariah, go calm down and have a few minutes. You’ve had a bad shock.”

“Is it poisonous?”

Mariah asked.

“No, it had been de-stinged.”

Mariah relaxed.

“This was somebody’s idea of a joke,”

I said, and she nodded.

I didn’t want to tell her that, actually, she had been close to death. You couldn’t de-sting a scorpion as far as I knew. The Maine Chapter of the Bloody Scorpions had a nasty habit of breeding these fucks and leaving them as a calling card. Each one was deadly. The Bloody Scorpions did not give a shit if an innocent died. The scorpion that had headed for Mariah would have killed her.

I scooped the remains up and carefully checked the wreath before phoning Warden. He promised to come immediately, and I carried the jar with the dead scorpion and wreath to my office.

An hour later, Warden arrived with Slasher and Dynamo. She eyed the wreath warily.

“Both of you step away,”

she ordered, and with a frown, I did.

“Dynamo, I already checked the wreath,” I said.

“For babies?”

Dynamo asked, and I paled.

“Really?”

I demanded, stepping back.

“You wanna risk it, Soul? Let me check.”

Dynamo lifted the wreath with her telekinesis and placed a plastic tarp under it, which she’d brought with her. She carefully lowered the wreath and, wrapped it up, and then shook it violently with her powers. After a minute, she stopped, and we peered at the see-through wrap. To my relief, there weren’t any babies.

“Thank fuck,”

Warden muttered. “I wouldn’t want to call in pest control for a scorpion infestation.”

“Because that’s the worry, Prez,”

I snapped.

“Show me the jar,”

Warden said, ignoring my sarcasm.

I motioned to where it sat on my desk, and Warden eyed the mess inside. “It’s a Deathstalker Scorpion. Pretty obvious who this is from.”

“In retaliation for disturbing their shipment?”

Dynamo asked.

“We cost them over two hundred k. I’d say so. And three of their brothers are headed to prison. They lost their pipeline and need to find another way to ship their victims,”

Warden said.

Last month, we had got intel that the Bloody Scorpions were shipping women through Maine. We’d hunted down their route and sent the Feds after them with an anonymous tip. The women and children had been freed, four culprits had died, and three Bloody Scorpions and two buyers went to prison without bail.

No doubt they realised we’d shopped for them.

This was their retaliation. The biker I’d seen in the graveyard had been a Bloody Scorpion. He’d been watching to make sure I was here today. Once I had, I guessed he thought his job was done. Fucker, I couldn’t even say I got a good look at him, but I bet the cameras had.

“Better check the CCTV. There was a man waiting for me when I came this morning. He rode off when I arrived,”

I explained.

“Dynamo,”

Warden said as he dropped into a chair. He looked thoughtful as Dynamo rounded my desk to access the cameras.

“What are you thinking, Prez?”

“This was more than a strike at one of us. They came after our newest member. Bloody Scorpions wanted to show we couldn’t protect you. It failed, luckily, but it could easily have succeeded.”

“Think they thought I was a weak spot?”

“No. Nobody who joins us is weak. They know that. But this was a message. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been with us, you’re tarred with the same brush,”

Warden said.

“Are you expecting me to turn and run?”

I asked, confused.

“No. Maybe they did, but we need to inform Blue and Priest of this and let them make an informed decision.”

Dynamo and I snorted.

“They ain’t going nowhere,”

Dynamo replied and spun my laptop. “It’s Freak.”

There was a clear shot of Freak grinning at a camera. I wasn’t too sure about names and faces and needed to brush up. But I thought Freak was the Bloody Scorpions’ Sergeant-At-Arms.

“Bastard. That fucker has a death count higher than most,”

Warden growled.

“Doesn’t care who gets hurt, either. Asshole is vile,”

Dynamo hissed.

“You’ve had run-ins with him,” I stated.

“Threw that cunt halfway across a warehouse. Don’t know how he fuckin’ lived,”

Dynamo retorted.

“Think Bloody Scorpions are ramping up?”

I questioned, and Warden nodded.

“Could be they’ve learned of the beef we’ve got with Screaming Barons and thought they’d throw a few rocks, too,”

Warden replied. “I’ll get Undertaker to call church tonight.”

“When you gonna talk to the prospects?”

Dynamo asked as she rose.

“Priest and Blue won’t quit,”

I agreed with Dynamo’s earlier statement.

“No, but they need to be informed. It’s fair. I do not play bullshit games.”

Warden got to his feet. “Burn that shit, Soul. It ain’t got no place in our life. If you see anyone lurking, call it in. Don’t tackle it alone.”

“Will do, Prez.”

◆◆◆

Church was mandatory, and I arrived with ten minutes to spare. I saw Priest and Blue behind the bar. Iona was in a corner with Lindy, Rosalea, and Lindy’s daughter, Lissy. Lissy had returned home and had been pretty quiet, which was at odds with what I had heard about her. I’d caught Lindy and Spice looking at her with worry in their eyes several times.

Undertaker called church, and I headed towards the doors. Inside, I took my seat as others followed me in.

Warden sat at the head with Undertaker on his right side and Blister on his left. Warden was staring at us as we entered.

“Phones and weapons outside?” he asked.

“Checked and locked,”

Bogeyman said, entering last.

Warden nodded. There was a locker where we left that stuff. It was not allowed in church. Church was sacred. No phones, no interruptions, no distractions, and certainly no fucking weapons.

“Church is in session,”

Warden declared, banging his gavel. “I know this was unexpected, so we’re not doing reports. That can wait until our usual meet. But we’ve got a problem. Bloody Scorpions raised their head today and aimed at Soul.”

Everyone turned to check me over, and content I was intact, they nodded and re-faced Warden.

“What happened?”

Pipe demanded.

“They sent a wreath to us all and stuffed it with your friendly neighbourhood scorpion. Unluckily, the fuckin’ thing nearly got Mariah, the make-up artist. Luckily, the bitch can move fast, and she managed to not get stung,”

Warden explained.

“I took pictures and will send after church,”

Dynamo said.

“Tell them the rest, Dynamo,”

Warden ordered.

“The assholes have been putting mama scorpions in their surprises. You might avoid big mama, but the baby fuckers get you if mama misses. I’ve heard of three instances and eight deaths,”

Dynamo explained.

“Jesus, it would be like an infestation,”

Noble exclaimed.

“Exactly. These fuckin’ things ain’t native to the USA. If you hear word of where the Bloody Scorpions are breeding them, we’ll blow it up,”

Undertaker said.

“No doubt, they’re breeding them at their clubhouse,”

Kosmic mused.

“Think so? I wouldn’t say so. If one of those fuckers’ escape, it’s bye-bye Maine chapter. Nah, they have somewhere warm where they breed them, and I reckon more than one place,”

Vogue disagreed.

“You okay, Soul?”

Rook asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah, was pissed it nearly got Mariah, but I stomped it good,”

I replied.

Wyvern and Anubis both snorted.

“So, we need to be careful of suspicious packages,”

Griffin stated. “Ain’t nothing new there.”

“McKay is also showing his face. After that scene with Iona, they went quiet, but Soar and Cipher both saw a group of Screaming Barons heading into a dive bar near Lincolnville,”

Warden said.

“We’re being hit from two fronts?”

Thunderbird asked.

“Yeah, got a problem with that brother?”

Warden demanded.

“Fuck no, just means I can fry more asses than usual,”

Thunderbird replied. I almost laughed. Shit. That was the truth. Thunderbird had Atmokinesis, which meant he could create and control thunderstorms. The man could hit a dollar from a mile away. His strikes were that precise.

“Good to hear.”

Warden chuckled. “Shore up security around the business you run. The diner opens next week, and Cécile is running it. And Etienne’s opening a boat making shop. Security should be pretty tight on those two as they’re new businesses, but the rest of us may have let shit slip. Find it. Because if Blister, Bogeyman, or Vogue find a weakness, you’re being fined a thousand bucks for each one.”

“Make it a priority,”

Undertaker ordered.

“Yeah, at one k per fuck-up, I think I will,”

Romeo replied.

Several brothers snorted in agreement.

“Keep your eyes open. I want a report on any sighting of a Bloody Scorpion or Screaming Barons. Even if you just drive past them. Don’t let the one time you fail to report be the one time someone gets hurt. Am I clear?”

Warden demanded.

“Yes, Prez,”

everybody chorused.

“Anything else?”

Warden questioned.

Everyone shook their heads, and Warden banged the gavel again. “Church is finished.”

Bryony

I glared at the receptionist as she asked me to take a seat and wait.

“Beg your pardon? I was informed this was the utmost urgency, and now I’m being told to wait?”

I demanded.

“Mr Kane is busy but will be with you shortly,”

she simpered.

“Aw, good for him. Tell him to make an appointment.”

I turned on my heel and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

the receptionist squealed, alarmed.

“Home. I have work to do. Mr Kane isn’t the only one who is busy. I was in the middle of an extremely important project when I was informed to come immediately. If I knew I’d have to wait, then I would have finished my task. Sadly, my time is far too valuable to sit around and waste. Make an appointment and I’ll book you in when I have time,”

I said and continued walking away.

“Mrs Brighton!”

a male voice called.

“Yes?”

I replied, and I turned back.

“I’m sorry, I can see you now,”

Mr Kane said.

“Number one, my name, as you’ve been informed twice before, is Miss Teague. You blatantly ignore that in an attempt to either infuriate me or throw me off stride. It could even be an underhanded insult that you do not care to remember my name. Number two, making an obvious power play like you just did is a waste of my time. I don’t have time to mess about pampering to some idiot’s ego. Number three—”

“Please, shall we take this into the office?”

Mr Kane said as I was winding up. He glanced, and I saw several staff around, shamelessly eavesdropping. They each looked amused.

“Are Maci and the teacher waiting, or are you wasting more of my time?”

I demanded.

“No, they are on their way. Would you like coffee?”

“No, thank you.”

I followed Mr Kane into the office and took a seat.

Less than a minute later, Maci entered with two teachers behind her.

“Someone explain and quickly, because my patience is at its limits,”

I snapped. I raked Maci with my gaze and noted she looked belligerent but otherwise fine.

“Maci called Mrs Kingston a liar,”

Mr Kane said.

Keeping a sharp leash on my temper, I nodded. No doubt Mrs Kingston had told a lie. I sent Maci a look, and she glared at me. Okay, Maci thought she was in the right here.

“What about?” I asked.

“Excuse me? That doesn’t matter, but she clearly disrespected me,”

Mrs Kingston exclaimed.

“Actually, it does matter. Because if you lied, and Maci was calling you out on it and was within her rights to. The context matters,”

I retorted.

“Well, I never,”

Mrs Kingston stated.

“Indeed, I’m sure you’ve never.”

I left the meaning dangling and faced Maci as Mrs Kingston grew puce. “Explain, honey.”

“Mrs Kingston said that bad children go to hell. That’s a lie,”

Maci explained. My jaw dropped open.

“What?”

Maci repeated her words and added, “Mrs Kingston said I should get used to that idea.”

Lost for words, I turned to Mrs Kingston, who scowled.

“Was that before or after you called her a liar?”

I finally asked.

“After.”

“What did she lie about?”

“Mrs Kingston was telling Mrs Knight that who she slept with was none of Mrs Knight’s problems…”

Maci started, and my eyes bugged out. “She said Mrs Knight was a jealous, dried-up old hag. That’s a lie. Mrs Kingston then said she wasn’t having an affair with Mr Kane, which was also a lie. And she said Mr Kane didn’t do her favours, which was another lie.”

I held my hand up. “Thank you, baby. Can you go back to class?”

“Sure. Love you, Mom.”

Maci tilted her head for a kiss, which I dropped on her. As Maci left the office, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife. As soon as the door shut behind Maci, I exploded.

“Are you telling me you dragged me down here to deal with a fucking lover’s tiff that my daughter overheard?”

I shouted.

Mr Kane began spluttering. “The issue is Maci—”

“Maci called Mrs Kingston out for being a liar, which she clearly is. And that conversation is no way appropriate for a school where small ears can and did overhear. What the hell are you running here? No action will be taken against Maci. However, I’ll be making an official complaint that my daughter knows Mrs Kingston is banging Mr Kane!”

“You can’t—”

“What? Tell the truth? Maci is seven years old! What on earth makes any of you believe that a conversation like that should be held in school? And should it happen, it shouldn’t occur in front of kids! I’m completely and utterly disgusted. Maci is to be removed from Mrs Kingston’s class immediately, and she is not to have contact with either of my children. Should I discover Mrs Kingston is even spotted near them, I shall be contacting lawyers. My seven-year-old daughter knows what an affair is! Christ!”

“Mrs Bright—Miss Teague. I’m sorry. Please let me try to resolve this in-house,”

Mr Kane spluttered.

“What’s that meant to mean?”

Mrs Kingston demanded.

“I don’t know, but this is going to the school board. Fuck me!”

I exclaimed and walked out. The office was much fuller than before, and most of the people looked amused. I noted the name plaque in front of the receptionist’s desk. Mrs Knight. The receptionist was blushing deep red.

“Yeah, I’d be ashamed if I were you,”

I sneered at her and stormed out.

I couldn’t believe I had been called up the school for that pile of shit. I drove home in a right snit and braked heavily on my drive.

Soul had been working on his bike outside when I arrived, and I nodded at him.

“Hey, you okay?”

he asked, his head popping over the fence. “You look pretty mad.”

“Mad?”

I exploded and spewed what had just happened all over him. At first, Soul looked pretty amused, and then it faded as he heard exactly what had happened.

“Damn!”

he said when I finished. I was breathing heavily and shoved my hair out of my eyes.

“Can you believe the bare-faced cheek?”

I demanded.

“In all honesty, no. That’s rather shocking.”

“My little girl now knows what an affair is and has learned a fine insult today. Maci has a mind like a sponge. She soaks everything up. She’ll remember that and watch her use it… and in the correct context as well!”

Soul laughed, and I gaped at him. My anger chewed on itself for a few more moments before I also saw the funny side.

“Oh, shit. I can’t imagine who Maci will use that on,”

I cried, giggling.

“She’s a handful. But I agree, she’ll use it in the right context,”

Soul said, still chuckling.

“Lord help that child,”

I replied, leaning back against my car.

“Ain’t no helping her, there’s nothing wrong with her,”

Soul declared, his eyes warm. “How are you feeling?”

“Calmer now. I guess it doesn’t matter either way. They’ll be joining a new school when we leave.”

“You don’t have to move, Bryony. None of us would ever hurt the kids. Why don’t you come over for a drink later and I’ll tell you what happened to me. It ain’t pretty. Maybe Priest can come too if you’re not uncomfortable, and you could listen to our stories?”

Soul offered.

I studied his eyes; they were kind and open. Soul was offering me a hand in friendship. As much as I didn’t want to accept it, there was something genuine about him.

“Okay. The kids go down at eight as it’s a school night. Say eight-thirty?”

“Yeah, want us to come to you? That way, you don’t have to leave them alone?”

Soul offered.

“That would be really kind,” I agreed.

“See you then, Bryony,”

Soul said and ducked back down. I headed into the house and sighed. I do keep getting into these situations!