I breathed faster as more men arrived. Francis whined and recoiled... Yeah, I understood his fear. Dirk stood up, but he limped... How could he still stand and glare at my friends? I'd never understood that stubborn maniac! His anger seemed adorable at first, but it was the exact opposite. Dirk had helped the men who wished to kill me, so everything good he'd done vanished from my mind... Honestly, they weren't that many. He was blind in love and got disappointed just like me. The only difference was I didn't neglect Tess, acted violently, or sold my loyalty to the SHA. I wanted to punch myself in the face for believing I deserved the suffering Dirk had put me through... Yes, I thought that sometimes. Perhaps spending my childhood with a violent stepmother made me think an aggressive man was what I needed... How insane! Anyway, that didn't matter since I'd closed the door to my heart.

"This is all your fault!" Bosch pointed at Gálvez. "Eva would've bent to my will if you hadn't put her under your spell!"

"I don't cast spells. I just respect people," Miguel shot Dirk a defiant gaze. "You should try doing that someday."

I really want to hug Miguel now.

Maartje chuckled while Dirk pouted like a child. It was so fun when Gálvez made Bosch shut up... I couldn't stop laughing! Dirk punched people with fists while Miguel did it with words. Of course, Gálvez sometimes got involved in fights like I did, but I loved it when he made his point without physically attacking others.

"Since you think you're better than me, I challenge you to a fight!" Dirk's eyes bulged as he approached Miguel. "It'll be great to wipe the floor with your face while my allies drag your dear captain away."

"I don't need to fight to prove myself," Gálvez raised his brows. "I'm not you."

My cousin laughed loudly. Dirk walked closer to his SHA friends as if he wanted them to protect him from Miguel. I smiled at Gálvez, proud of him for not wasting more punches on that idiot. Miguel winked and I controlled myself not to chuckle. It was wonderful to have friends like him and Maartje to make me happy in my worst moments.

Atkins narrowed his eyes at Dirk, "As much as I'd love to see you and that guy fighting, I came here to arrest Storm, not to be a part of your drama."

"Nothing would make me happier," Bosch pointed at my friends and me. "Take these morons to prison!"

"Of course. This man looks like El Dorado, that famous Spanish captain who disappeared..." the admiral rubbed his chin while examining Miguel. "If he's El Dorado, you'll never defeat him in a fight, Mr. Bosch. You're too impulsive."

My friends and I chuckled. Francis barked as if he agreed. Bosch glared at the Spaniard... Nothing new. I'd never imagined a horrible trap Dirk had prepared would become something fun. I almost gave Atkins a pat on the back... I said almost!

"Before you do anything, won't I get my reward?" Bosch crossed his arms. "I did take you to Storm!"

The admiral frowned, "What are you talking about, mate?"

This keeps getting better and better...

Miguel and I looked at each other, then back at Atkins. Dirk pursed his lips, seemingly about to punch Atkins in the face. Had the redhead been fooled by the SHA? I really hoped the answer was yes... It'd be one of the greatest joys ever to see my pathetic ex's allies betray him! My curiosity about that situation was the only thing keeping me in that alley... Besides the armed SHA grandmas, of course.

Bosch pressed his lips together, "You promised to save my life and give me gold coins in exchange for help! Where are my damn coins?"

"Did you seriously think I'd bring them? How hopelessly naïve!" Atkins raised his brows. "You betrayed your crew, which showed me who you are. Nothing stops you from doing the same to me."

I walked closer to my friends, "I never thought I'd agree with a Royal Navy admiral, but there's a first time for everything."

"I agree with him también," Gálvez nodded. "If Atkins doesn't reward Dirk, this will become one of the best days of my life."

Maartje lifted a brow, "What's the best?"

"When Luna was born," Miguel grinned widely. "I love her more than anything."

I looked away to hide the huge smile on my face... What? Don't judge me! Friends can make people happy as well. Maartje and Laurens also cheered me up a lot. My joy faded as I remembered Laurens and the kids weren't with us. I bit my lower lip, hoping they were safe.

"Meeting our little girl was wonderful, but giving birth wasn't easy..." my eyes bulged as I recalled Luna's delivery. "At least you let me squeeze your hand to relieve the pain."

Gálvez chuckled, "You almost broke all my fingers, but I was so happy I didn't care."

"You're not alone," Maartje bit her lower lip. "Eva nearly cracked my wrist on both times she gave birth."

I raised my brows, "Let's not forget you slapped Laurens when Willem was born."

The three of us laughed. I sighed as I remembered the days my girls were born. Despite the insane pain, they were fantastic. Before both deliveries, I had to change clothes and put on a dress... So annoying, right? I didn't have a choice since it's impossible to give birth wearing pants. All my friends were by my side when my daughters were born... Well, except for Dirk. His excuse was he didn't want to see me delivering another man's baby. The idiot stayed for Tess' birth, but he left the room after finding out she was a girl... What a lovely man! I should've broken up with him on that day.

"Stop it, Bosch! I'm not giving you gold coins," Atkins narrowed his eyes. "Your reward was not dying. That's good enough."

I almost forgot about Dirk and Atkins!

Dirk rubbed his forehead, apparently about to explode. Even the SHA men seemed afraid my ex would freak out. I wish my friends and I could've escaped at that moment... Why did the SHA guys have so many weapons? Damn it!

The redhead bared his teeth, "You bastard! I'm not leaving until you give me what you promised!"

Atkins grinned cruelly, "I'll show you what happens to whoever annoys me too much..."

I gaped as Atkins shot Dirk twice on the chest. The redhead flinched as his backbones collided with the floor. Bosch's wounds bled so intensively that his white shirt became red. Although I felt stupid for it, a small part of me wanted to help him get up. Miguel and Maartje seemed scared as well since their eyes widened. Francis took a step back.

"You won't get away with this, Hunter Atkins! I can't believe you used me!" Dirk could barely stand while gasping. "You'll burn in hell! I'm going to torture you, kill everyone you love, and then stab every part..."

Faster than a hurricane, Atkins shot Bosch again. I was paralyzed. The two bullets went through Dirk's head, staining the wall behind him with blood. Bosch crashed his face against the ground after falling. His body became pale and his lips slowly turned purple. An ocean of blood spread on the floor. Dirk had lived and died being angry... That was it. The last anger outburst of Dirk Bosch. No one deserved to live with so much hatred inside. I wished he'd at least died without suffering from his uncontrollable rage.

"Dios mío..." Miguel gawked. "Why would an admiral kill his ally?"

My cousin pressed her lips together, "That was... unexpected."

I don't feel anything! Am I a horrible person?

Although I wanted to cry, my eyes were drier than a desert. I looked at Dirk's corpse, tried to remember our few good moments, thought of the shots he took... Nothing. I hoped Bosch would find peace, but I couldn't grieve someone who'd broken me inside.

"Mr. Crazy Rage served his purpose. Time for the best part," Atkins walked towards my friends and me. "Take these pirates to prison!"

The SHA quickly approached my family and me. Francis whined, seemingly noticing something terrible was about to happen. There was no way I'd let those bastards kill more people. I had to take action.

"Maartje and Francis, you'll fight the guys on the left. Miguel, we'll destroy the idiots on the right," I grabbed my cutlass. "Understood?"

My cousin and Gálvez nodded. I took a deep breath while preparing to attack. I prayed I wouldn't have to fight for long since I needed some food and drinks... What? Conflicts were exhausting! I squeezed my eyes shut after gazing at Dirk's body again. I wasn't devastated about his death, but not even a bad man deserved to die that way. Atkins was worse than I'd thought... He'd have gotten along perfectly with Hendrika.

These guys must be more incompetent than they seem...

Taking a deep breath, I blocked my first opponent's blow. He stared at me with so much hatred that I wondered if he wasn't related to Sven or Dirk. The sweat kept running down my neck as our swords clashed. He attempted to stab my thigh, I dodged and sliced his shoulder. He flinched and tore a small piece of my purple coat with his sword. Luckily, no blood was spilled.

"You're the one who should be arrested!" I kicked my enemy between the legs and scowled. "Ruining the best coat ever is the real crime!"

Don't give me that look! I was too attached to my coat, but you have to admit it was gorgeous. Anyway, I kept fighting that man for so long that I couldn't feel my legs. Breathing heavily, I blocked another blow with my cutlass and stabbed him in the stomach. After defeating his opponent with four cutlass blows, Miguel turned to me.

"You only fought one SHA man and yet you're muy injured," Gálvez tilted his head to the side. "What happened before I arrived with Maartje and Francis?"

"Dirk and I fought, but he didn't hurt me much," I bit my lower lip while recalling his harsh words. "At least not physically."

Before Miguel could respond, more enemies arrived. They were so fast that I barely had time to dodge and block their blows. I panted, wishing I didn't have to defeat so many guys... At least they hadn't stolen my ship! Wasn't that wonderful? Everything has a bright side.

I hope Maartje and Francis are alright...

I gulped as Maartje and my dog struggled to defeat the SHA guys. Although Francis was helpful with his bites, my cousin had to fight on her own. She wouldn't stop sweating. I sighed, hoping Laurens would never do to her what Dirk had done to me. They were completely different, but life is full of surprises, especially bad ones... I'm speaking from experience.

My cutlass almost broke as my newest opponent attacked me fiercely. He bared his teeth while moving his cutlass nonstop. I gulped, wondering if killing me was his life's dream... After all, I was a famous pirate captain, so I couldn't blame him for wanting me dead. Anyway, it'd be his loss because he'd never hear my jokes if I died... Don't give me that look! I know you love them.

The man glared, "I don't understand! Can't you just get married like a normal woman?"

"Of course! I'll have so many babies that you'll never run out of pirates to chase," I smiled mischievously. "Wouldn't that be perfect?"

Who am I kidding? Only a divine entity could make me pregnant! I'm done with relationships.

The guy attacked again, missing my left arm. Our swords clashed twice until I sliced the side of his neck, spilling blood on my blade. He dodged my next blow, but I saw an opening and slit his throat... God, I'd never get used to killing. Despite being a pirate captain for years, I still hated the bloodshed.

Maartje squinted, "We won't make it! There are too many!"

"Estoy de acuerdo. I'm not feeling optimistic either," Miguel ground his teeth. "I wish someone could help us."

Suddenly, some SHA men fell to the ground. The same good-looking brunette who'd talked to me months ago showed up with a blunderbuss. Although the woman didn't wear a coat, she was dressed like a pirate. I couldn't believe she'd shot so many enemies on her own... The lady quickly stabbed three guys with her broadsword, making them crash against the floor.

Where did she learn to fight so well?

"I wish a bunch of gold showed up now," I looked at the sky. "Are you still listening?"

A fourth guy tried to hurt the woman's neck, but she dodged and plunged her blade inside his stomach. My cousin gaped as the man was brutally defeated. Atkins swallowed hard and took a step back as only a few SHA members remained.

The admiral breathed fast, "Retreat! That's an order!"

Once Atkins left, a handsome man shot the remaining SHA guys with his pistol. My eyes widened as the four enemies' bodies collided with the ground.

The guy sighed in relief, "Madonna mia! I'm glad the stronzi are gone."

Trying to identify the language he spoke, I raised a brow. The man smiled as if he'd read my mind. Just like the woman, he seemed a little younger than me. He had light brown hair, blue eyes, light skin, and wore regular pirate clothes... The only different elements were the black cocked hat and dark red coat.

It's the man Maartje mentioned!

"Hello again, Captain Storm! I'm sorry for leaving that day," the woman's lips curled into a weak smile. "I saw someone from my past and couldn't stay. We all have our secrets, don't we?"

I sighed, wondering who the lady could be talking about. What if she had a horrible former husband like me? Had she suffered too much? I hoped not... No one deserved that experience. Hating love because an idiot broke your heart wasn't pleasant.

"Don't worry about it. Call me Eva," I took a step closer. "What's your name?"

The woman held out her hand, "Nuria Gálvez Navarro. Mucho gusto."

"It's nice to meet..." my eyes bulged. "Wait! Are you who I'm thinking?"

Miguel grinned, "No puedo creer que seas tú..."

Nuria smiled widely, "Sí, soy yo, tu hermanita favorita."

That's why she looked familiar! Beauty and good fighting skills definitely run in the Gálvez family...

Nuria hugged Miguel so tightly that I wondered how he didn't choke... Well, Nuria was a little shorter than him, so she probably couldn't do that. He laughed and returned the embrace. Francis barked as if he wanted to know what was happening. Maartje frowned, seemingly confused. I smiled once I remembered the fun memories Miguel had shared about Nuria.

Miguel turned to Maartje and me, "This is my little sister Nuria."

The young woman chuckled, "I'm not so little anymore."

I raised a brow while observing the stranger that had shown up with Nuria. He sighed and wouldn't stop smiling at her... That was definitely the look of a man in love! I hoped Miguel wouldn't get upset if Nuria and that guy were together. Although Gálvez was sweet, few men liked it when their young sister wasn't single. I wanted to find out how Nuria had become a pirate and who was the man with her. 

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Author's note: Hey! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone is well. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed this chapter and follow the "Battles and Secrets" playlist on Spotify. Also, please take a look at my aesthetic for Nuria. It's right below the translations. What will Eva's new challenges be after Dirk's assassination? What's Nuria's story? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-)

I dedicate this chapter to my great friend thr35hru3

Foreign words/expressions in order of appearance:

1. También means "too" in Spanish

2. Estoy de acuerdo means "I agree" in Spanish

3. Madonna mia expresses surprise in Italian

4. Stronzi means "idiots" in Italian

5. Mucho gusto means "nice to meet you" in Spanish

6. No puedo creer que seas tú means "I can't believe it's you" in Spanish

7. Sí, soy yo, tu hermanita favorita means "yes, it's me, your favorite little sister" in Spanish

I chose Ana de Armas to be Nuria Gálvez because she fits Nuria's description perfectly and I really like her as an actress. If "Battles and Secrets" becomes a movie someday, I believe Ana would be a great choice to play Nuria. I hope you like my aesthetic!