Creature grunts in agreement. “Yeah, I think VP’s got it bad for little Miss baker.”
Jigsaw smirks. “Aww, I didn’t think Krampus had a heart.”
Bates laughs, adding dryly, “Oh, he has one; it’s just marred with scars and rage.”
I slam my palm on the table. “Are you all done laughing at my expense?”
Bigfoot chuckles. “Relax, Krampus. If we can’t bust your balls at Church, this shit would be boring as fuck.”
Drac raises his hand, cracking the gavel against the table in anger. “Enough!”
The room settles down, but the prospects are still chuckling, going on and on about different sugar withdrawal synonyms.
Drac clears his throat, grabbing everyone’s attention. “We need to discuss a couple of things before we get into the heavier shit. Word around town is that the Misfits are holed up somewhere in Fallon. They’re not our problem right now, but I want us to keep our guard up. Just because they’re in Fallon doesn’t mean they won’t come back to Fernley.”
Phantom nods. “Fallon’s a dead-end town, anyway. They won’t last there long, but at least they aren’t breathing down our necks.”
Hannibal scribbles a note on his pad. “Good. Less noise for us.”
Drac’s gaze hardens. “Now, we need to talk about Moseley and his sudden resurgence. I knew he wouldn’t stay dormant for long, but I never expected this…”
The air changes instantly.
Drac continues, “He’s escalating. They put cameras on the warehouse in Silver Springs. Not just on the warehouse itself, but on other buildings as well. It’s going to be difficult to keep pulling recon on them with that many eyes on us.”
Pinhead scowls. “That’s a challenge.”
Voorhees leans forward, elbows digging into the worn wood of the large oak table. “Or it’s a cover for what he really has going on. Tell ‘em, Krampy.”
Everyone’s heads swivel my way.
“Krampus?” Drac questions.
I don’t answer right away.
Every instinct in me wants to keep this locked down, dead and buried where it can’t touch her, but Voorhees is watching me, and Gremlin won’t meet my eyes.
Drac’s voice drops. “What’s going on? Is this about what you heard that night?”
Silence stretches.
Finally, I exhale through my teeth. “Moseley’s trafficking women.”
The room erupts into mumbled chaos.
“The fuck?” Jaws snarls, half-standing up out of his chair.
Bates curses. “Say that again?”
Gremlin finally looks up. “He’s selling women.”
Voorhees’ jaw tightens. “And it gets worse. Krampy’s little baker is on his list to sell to his new hired gun. Rico.”
Chupie mutters under his breath, “That’s fucked.”
“No,” I growl, my voice rising in anger. “What’s fucked is he thinks he can get away with this.” My fists pummel the table, breathing increasing to violent puffs.
Drac holds up a hand, forcing order. “What aren’t you telling us?”
