"Miss," he called gently.
Evelyn didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the faces of her father and brother.
"What should we do with the bodies?" the man asked, his voice filled with sorrow.
"How many bullets hit my father?" she asked, her voice steady yet cold.
"Five,"
"And my brother?"
"Eight..." Taking a pause he added. "The young master fought till his last breath."
Evelyn closed her eyes, trying not to imagine how long her brother must have suffered. Taking a breath, she asked again, "How many of our men?"
"Fifty-two," he answered, the weight of the loss heavy in his tone.
"Who do you believe it was?"
"... Highly possible from main clans like Evans. But we also saw few marks and movements in some other groups like Francesco. We also got informed that one man had a tattoo behind his ear."
"All came at once?" Evelyn's eyes darkened.
"Possible."
"Then everyone would see the wrath. No one would be spar. If Davis won't sleep peacefully tonight, no one would tomorrow."
"...!!" Everyone's eyes widened.
Evelyn closed her eyes briefly again, gathering her strength. "Take all the bullets out and keep them safe for me. Provide compensation to every family of our men. Then prepare for the cremation of all bodies."
"...Yes, miss," Antonio replied, his respect for her evident.
Evelyn's eyes remained fixed on her father and brother, her heart aching with each passing second. But she knew that now, more than ever, she needed to be strong. For her family. For the clan. For herself.
Evelyn gave a final, lingering look at their bodies. Though they were lifeless, she still couldn't bear to let go. She wanted to keep them with her forever, even though everything had ended. The thought of holding onto them, even if it meant nothing and had no end, consumed her. But could she?
The uncertainty gnawed at her. Could she have saved them? For a fleeting moment, she wished she could go back in time, stay at home, and die alongside her family. She didn't know if she had the power to change anything, but at that moment, she was willing to do anything in her capacity to turn back time, to make every "what-if" possible. She wanted them back, or she wanted to die with them.
As she gave one last look at their faces, Evelyn finally let her people take the bodies away. She knew she couldn't cling to her despair forever; she needed to take action. When in the room only a few of her trusted followers remained, she met their eyes with a steely determination.
"Get the car and everything ready to move. We will leave for Deeps Island this evening. No one is to speak of this to anyone. I want the Ops team to come with us, while the Naz team will go to headquarters and bring all the equipment and arms to Deeps Island."
"...Miss?" one of them dared to question. "Are we at war?"
Evelyn turned sharply to the person who spoke. "You have a problem?"
"No, Miss," they immediately responded, not daring to go against her.
"Then get it done as soon as possible. I want no delays. Understood?" Evelyn ordered with authority.
"Yes, Miss," they all responded in unison.
"Leave now! I will avenge my family on my own!" she yelled, her voice echoing with the pain and determination that filled her heart.
***
Evelyn stood at the edge of the balcony, the cool night air whispering secrets through her hair. The city below glimmered with an indifferent beauty, but her thoughts were far from the lights. They were dark, driven by a singular purpose: vengeance. Her father, the formidable James Davis, and her beloved brother Gade had been brutally slain by the rival clans. Now, the weight of her family's legacy pressed down upon her, and she swore their deaths would not go unanswered.
She will avenge them. All she knows now is that the one of the culprit is Evans. But she won't waste her bullets on just anyone. She will exact her revenge on the one who gave the order for her people's deaths. Today she doesn't have the name, but she knows that she will get them.
For now she needs to show the and stop other clans to attack them. Knowing that the leader and heir lost their lives in one day, she can expect anyone to draw their swrord against Davises throat anytime.
She cannot sit quietly. She needs to show them that the Davises won't remain silent, that they won't be weak and helpless by simply suffering without reacting. She will ensure her enemies know that the power in their heiress is still alive. The Davises have not lost their leader. They will not be led astray.
As she prepares for the inevitable confrontation, her resolve hardens. Every step she takes, every plan she makes, is driven by the memory of those she lost. The night is her ally, and vengeance her guide.
Inside, the room buzzed with tense energy.
Evelyn turned back to face the gathered members of her clan. Faces she had known her entire life stared back at her, some showing doubt, others fierce loyalty. Chief among them was Antonio, her father's trusted consigliere. His eyes were filled with both concern and begrudging respect.
"Are we ready?" Evelyn's voice, though soft, cut through the murmur like a knife.
Antonio nodded, stepping forward. "The men are in position. Our allies have confirmed their support. But remember, Evelyn, this is no small feat. If we fail—"
"We won't fail," Evelyn interrupted, her eyes blazing. "Tonight, we have to stand for our honor."
Antonio studied her for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Very well. Everyone, listen up. Phase one begins now."
***
Night came-
The plan was set into motion under the cover of darkness. Her men were divided in number of hideouts in number of places. Slowly Ops walked in. Evelyn had orchestrated every detail with precision in just one day. Information had been gathered, alliances secured, and her father's legacy called upon to muster loyalty.
After taking care of everything with the hacking, she ensured that no one would be able to trace her or her people's presence in their hideouts. Nor would they be able to contact anyone outside their world. Soon, eight hideouts of eight different clan or group were surrounded by her forces. At a single signal, they were ready to go all out.
At that moment, Evelyn felt the weight of leadership. At her command, so many of her men were ready to die. Even if the mission succeeded, she knew a perfect outcome was impossible. Any losses would be on her shoulders, a direct consequence of her decisions. She found herself questioning whether it was right, whether she should proceed. Her heart wavered for her people, but then the situation demanded her attention once more.
As Evelyn and her team approached the target's main compound, she could feel the adrenaline surging through her veins. This was it. The culmination of her planning, and whispered secrets. She signaled to her men, who spread out into their designated positions.
"Remember," she whispered into her headset, "silence and precision but come back at any cost. Move."