Page 35 of Conquered Obstacles

I snorted. Yes, that was Barb Kraft.

Colton had obviously studied judo; it was apparent right away from how he kept using Barb’s movements against her. I knew this from all of the twins’ martial arts training over the years.

“He’s a black belt for sure,” Mary said under her breath, her head where mine was.

“He’s good,” Kary muttered. “He could have fought back when we beat his ass. Smart he didn’t, but he could have.”

“He didn’t have a death wish,” I drawled. If he’d hurt the twins—even defending himself—I would have sent him to the underworld.

After dancing with Barb for several minutes and burning out her energy, he turned and threw an elbow in her face. “That’s for all the shit you’ve said about Sara, you psycho.” He spun away and kicked out her knee. “And my mother. My family that I didn’t know quality to not take you up on your many, many offers.” He rolled his eyes and moved out of range.

“This is clearly about more than you, Sister,” Hades chuckled. “And therapeutic.”

“Eat your popcorn,” I grumbled.

“I’ve had enough salty,” Poseidon sighed, Hades nodding in agreement.

I made an array of fudge appear for Hades and Krispies treats for Poseidon, both happy with what they received.

“Glad we’re not the only ones spoiled anymore, Uncles,” Kary teased.

“I’m rather jealous,” Chen said from the end. “I heard rumors about some ridiculous chocolate layer cake with fruit frosting that I keep having dreams of.”

I nodded. “Three are on the table now, love.”

“You’re the best,” Mary groaned and raced Dion and Chen over there.

Apparently, she had a craving as well.

“You’re cheating, Cole!” Barb screamed. “There’s no way you’re this fast and—”

“You are not the victim!” he bellowed before full-out slugging her in the face. “Stop it! Just stop. Stop calling me Cole like we’re close. Stop bitching that everything is unfair when you’re so fucking privileged. Stop being so disgusting! Your life and reputation are shit because you did that. You failed college. You take nothing seriously.

“You can’t get a job because no one will hire you even with your last name. You are the one to blame. No one will date you or take you seriously, only fuck you because you’re a Kraft, and then you play the victim. You treat everyone beneath you and then cry foul when they treat you like shit as well! That’s not the world, and I’m sick of how you treat me.

“I’m not your fucking prize to be won. I’m not yours, and I just don’t know it yet. If I said shit like that about you, people would rightfully call me out as a disgusting pig. You are a disgusting pig, Barb. It’s not cute or funny because you’re a woman. You’re not just wearing me down. It’s gross. You are gross.”

“Wow, he’s really needed this,” Kary whispered. “And to be set free. Look at Nicole.”

I did and saw the tears in her eyes. I honestly felt bad for Colton and realized he’d been dealing with a lot more and had more on his shoulders than I’d ever realized.

Colton punched her again, and she went down hard. “I’m not yours, and I won’t ever be yours. No one of value will be with someone like you until you fucking become someone of value. It’s not all of us, but you, Barb. Finally fucking hear us!”

And then he kicked her in the face and knocked her out.

He stared down her shocked family. “She’s lazy. Being a wolf is nothing if you think it solves everything and just makes you great. I was bred for my magic and trained since I could walk to be the best, be puppetted to puppet a fucking goddess. It was the stupidest plan in the world, but your worldview of the way things are is stupid too.

“You didn’t even believe vampires were real. There’s hundreds here. You thought the children of Lycaon were dead. They’re not. Your own stories about how your type of wolf came about were lies. Fucking use your heads or you won’t have anything left.”

He moved to the edge of the ring and towards the two women who had gone after Jamie.

“Jamie is my friend, one of my closest friends and business partner now,” he seethed, his chest heaving from exertion.

“Yeah, but he stole the woman you want and—” one tried to defend.

“Don’t fucking play those games with me, dipshit,” he snapped. “You can’t say you did it for Barb while pushing her at me and then now it was okay because I want Arabelle. We’re not all as stupid as you are. Go after him or start problems with her again, and I will put you in the ground. Until then, enjoy your comeuppance.”

He muttered under his breath and formed some sort of light between his hands. He pushed them together after a moment and the light was gone.

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