Page 26 of Soul

“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 hadAtmokinesis, 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, andCécile 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.

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