Page 30 of Conquered Obstacles

“Let her have a say as their elder,” Hades agreed. “I will get them brought in and our brother here.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I miss the days when we would just wipe them off the map.”

I swallowed loudly when he left, taking the phone from Jamie. I saw the worry in his eyes when he dropped his cookie. “You’re scared? I’m grieving. My sweet brother used to be the kindest of the four of us and would cry when Zeus did things like that. Now he’s the first to suggest such things. The underworld tainted him, and I allowed it.”

“Sorry,” Jamie mumbled, seeming too confused.

I spoke with Patti and then just brought her to us as Hades arrived with Poseidon and confirmed his minions would bring in the cousins.

Once they were caught up, nothing surprised me more than Patti having the harshest punishment suggestion of the four of us.

“You don’t understand, that drug—people have died taking that drug,” she seethed. “Jamie would never have consented to take it. It’s more dangerous than heroin to a human and most would never just jump to that. That’s basically what they did to my son.”

“First, how is there such a drug? I need to know for the twins,” I worried.

“It won’t work on them, not on immortals. Not that I’ve ever heard, but—it’s something magical. Colton would know more or probably how to get it—”

“I ordered my minions to get their supply and we can track it all down, thank you,” Hades said.

“Well done, Brother,” Poseidon praised, and I nodded.

I also understood Patti’s anger better. “Then I agree. This is layered. Yes, I warned the family not to touch Jamie as my lover. I think each is whipped and one mark is permanent and the infractions will compound. Also, yes, Patti kicks their asses as the strongest wolf of the family.” I smirked at her. “You know some will disagree with that.”

Her eyes flashed with power and her wolf. “My brother-in-law can fucking die then. I will not risk my son for that useless shit and his bile. Enough of it went to Barb’s head while he laughed behind her back. I am done allowing this and my mate placating me that he will handle it. He handles nothing.”

Apparently not.

“And Mary gets a shot at them as well given they are the strongest wolves in Boston now,” Poseidon muttered, nodding as well. “The twins warned them they were now the strongest in Boston and to behave. They walked out that night after agreeing.”

“They weren’t there,” Jamie said as he kept eating. “They mocked the twins and even Barb for not wiping them out. Stupid bitches. They were really mean to me, Mom. So were my friends. I don’t like them anymore.”

“I know, baby,” she whispered and went over to him. “I apologize, but he needs to hydrate. It will get it out of him fastest. Do you have any—”

I made a few cases of Gatorade appear on the table, nodding when she thanked me.

Hades flinched. “They have the cousins. I sent them to the location. Shall we?”

I looked at Patti. “You’ll stay with Jamie while I handle this?”

“No, I want to stand at your side and make it clear I’m with you on this,” Jamie said firmly. “Even if I sit and eat cookies. I agree. This—they can’t keep testing you. You were too nice to let Barb live.” Tears fell from his eyes. “Why is my family so horrible?”

“Your mother loves you,” Poseidon said gently. “You’re not all alone. Your cousin Jimothy is a good lad. We all have rotten apples.”

I wasn’t the only one who snorted at that. I accepted what he said though and nodded to Hades to bring all of us.

The two women were gagged and furious when they saw me. I wasn’t going to go through the whole song and dance like I did with Barb. I was so over this shit. I used my power to change their tops so they were around their necks but backless.

“The first lash will never heal,” I told them. “That’s a reminder to never cross me again and believe when I say my lover is under my protection. I don’t care that he’s your fucking cousin. It’s disgusting that he is your family and you thought to abuse him as revenge for the trouble Barb got herself into.

“If you lose your mind and ever think to cross me again, the punishment will be worse. This is only your punishment from me. I am not the only one you crossed with this. Your aunt has an axe to grind as the strongest of your family, and my daughters as the strongest wolves of the area.” I smirked when steam about came out of their ears.

Pride really would be the death of fools.

I made a whip appear and let it fly on each of their backs, searing the wound so it would never heal fully. They screamed around their gags in a way that was more a howl and definitely not human. I gave them each enough lashings until they passed out from the pain, leaving their rapid healing to handle their recovery.

“We need to make their reality clear more than the punishments,” I said as I made the whip disappear. “No more secrets.” I glanced at my brothers. “Too many don’t know their history or live with their heads in the sand. His cousins thought vampires a myth. Others didn’t know they were priests. We’ve handled a lot in Boston, but then we kept peeling back layers to find more.”

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