Outcasts (Badlands 3)

I closed my eyes, shakin my head as Cobra laughed and held out his hand for a fist bump.

“I bet that made ya feel real badass, didn’t it?” I asked.

“Brat, we both already know I’m badass.” He took my hand and began leading me forward.

Three acolytes from Lucy’s followed closely behind us. The other three were circling around in their SUV.

Cobra fell into conversation with Kat and Blue. By their responses and lack of remorse over Parker, I knew Grimm’s first assumption was correct, he’d been using them.

I truly hoped the two of them made it all the way through this.

They were outcasts—just like I was not that long ago. We were all lookin for somewhere we belonged.

This hell was easier to survive with family who willingly went through the worst of days right along with you.

Or in my case, you had a man by your side who opened your eyes a bit to how beautiful it could be. Even the valley with its dark shadows, pinkish walls of rock, and odd lil critters occasionally peeking out at us held a quality of natural beauty.

I glanced over at Grimm and saw he had what looked like a smirk on his face.

“Why are you in such a good mood?” I asked. I couldn’t help but smile at em. He was so damn gorgeous.

“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m going to do what I do best, and after that’s done, I get to take you home.”

“Yeah, about that next generation thing…were you talkin about kids?”

He was quiet so long, I began wondering if I’d shoved him back in his bubble.

“I know you’re only nineteen, but I’m damn near thirty-years old, Brat. If not now, when?”

“I don’t care about your age, Grimm.”

“I wouldn’t give a shit if you did.”

“I love it when you get possessive,” I smirked. “Is this coming from you getting to play daddy in the woods the other day?”

“No, but I look forward to daddying the fuck out of you whenever you get out of line.”

For real? He was going to owe me a wet floor sign he kept this up.

The thought of havin my reaper’s babies one day was enough to make my ovaries implode. Hell, any woman would sign up for

that job just to experience the epic ride his cock was. And his wicked tongue.

Still, this was pretty damn huge.

“Shouldn’t we figure out our future first?”

“Already know what I’ll be doing six years from today, and so do you, because your ass will be right beside me with a big stone on your finger.”

“I…will? You believe in?” I asked with a quirked brow.

“Our vows will be made before our friends, the forces of darkness, and all the gods of the pit, at the church of Satan.”

Ooookay.I waited for a punch line. I should have known that as Grimm had told a joke a total of maybe five times, that was the truth drenched in dark humor.

I almost tripped over my own two feet when I realized he was as serious as he could be. Holy hell, I could see the virginal sacrifices now. He took his Satanism way too seriously for me to say that joke aloud.

As if he’d heard it. Cobra laughed under his breath. “You’ll see it all go down when Cali marries Rome.” He nudged me with a canteen of water, and I gladly accepted.