Page 25 of Soul

“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.

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