Deviants (Badlands 2)

“Do you need a little more?”

“No, no!” she cried.

“Good, we can move on then.”

Only a soft sob came from her throat as Grimm made quick work of both men on the couch, swiftly coming up behind them and slitting their throats.

“He doesn’t want the B-Badlands, he just wants it to be over. You were pitted against one another on purpose. I told him you had initiated Cali, and he said it was the perfect reason to start a war. He knew you’d win, Romero. You always win.” She was crying so loud it was hard to understand what she was saying.

“He doesn’t care about Arlen, he just needed her as a token of good faith that you wouldn’t come after him. It was her or Cali. I left you Cali! He’s terrified of you, Romero. And the army. He just wants out to start over somewhere else.”

We all shared a look. David wanted out?

“I don’t fucking know what you’re trying to say, and my patience is gone.” I rolled my neck. “Get rid of that bitch, too.”

Luther lazily lifted a shoulder. “I’m gonna keep this one. Her skin’s perfect.” He smoothed a hand down her stomach before standing up and wrapping it around her throat.

Cobra kept her hands at her side so she couldn’t move. Her mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. “Just take a nap, doll,” Luther soothed.

“Noo!” Dhal wailed and attempted to lunge at me.

I still had hold of her fucking hair so I wasn’t sure what she thought she was doing. I slammed her face down onto the table. “The cellar!” she screamed out suddenly, “Check the cellar.”

I wasn’t sure how the fuck she’d got into it, considering it had been closed off for years.

“Go,” I said to Grimm.

He and Luther quickly took off out the front door.

Cobra lifted the now unconscious blonde up and dropped her on the floor so he could have her seat.

“Don’t kill me,” Dhal pleaded.

“I’m not going to kill you, Dhal. Cali is.”

Grimm appeared in the doorway with a look I couldn’t read on his face. “You need to see what’s down there.”

“Let’s go.” I stood Dhal up and made her walk in front of me.

We went to the side of the house where the cellar doors were pulled open. A dank smell floated up from below.

Forcing Dhal down the old concrete stairs, I ducked my head and let my eyes adjust to the shitty lighting. The ceiling slightly lifted up ahead, but I didn’t need to stand straight to see the bodies stacked and piled on top of one another.

“Shit,” Cobra breathed from behind me.

I took in the outliers, acolytes, and delegates. Hanging on the wall and partially draping over the corpses was my flag, the Sigil of Baphomet.

“What the fuck is this?”

“I think the better question is what the fuck is he doing here?” Grimm pulled open a door I’d overlooked to reveal a man tied up, gagged, and passed out.

Fucking David.

“You said he wanted out. What the fuck is going on?” I spun Dhal around to face me, grabbing her up by the throat.

“Your brother wants out. Your brother did it,” she wheezed.

My brother?