My back was full of sweat as Atkins and I kept fighting. Different from my duel with Sven, that situation caused me no regrets. Every time my cutlass struck that admiral, I got one step closer to avenging my uncle and Francis. Also, I had to destroy the bastard who'd upset my mom. His eyes screamed hatred. Taking some steps back, I hoped not to get smashed against a mast again... Only God knew why my opponents enjoyed doing that so much! Perhaps they thought my body looked good against a huge piece of wood... My legs burned as we kept attacking each other. Just like my uncle had taught, I let Atkins get exhausted first. If I spent too much energy quickly, there was a good chance the admiral would turn me to dust. Even though I pretended to be confident, that man gave me the creeps. He was cold and aggressive... A type of person I wished to avoid.

"You're pathetic!" the admiral bared his teeth. "Stop resisting!"

"Are you sure I am pathetic?" I laughed. "Who put three navies together and yet is being crushed by criminals?"

The admiral attempted to injure my waist, "I'm not letting you win!"

I shot him a defiant gaze, "You already are, you moron!"

Sweating insanely, I blocked countless blows... That man was indeed stubborn! I took the opportunity to punch him in the face and slice a massive cut on his right shoulder. I tried to stab my enemy's thigh, but he dodged. I sighed, hoping my family wasn't facing opponents as bad as Hunter Atkins.

"I thought your mother was different from my cowardly wife. She shared my ambition to destroy all pirates," the admiral tried to hurt my shoulder. "Turns out she was just a stupid woman obsessed with her criminal daughter."

"You never loved my mom, did you?" I narrowed my eyes. "You just took advantage of her desperation to gain power! That's why you helped her blackmail The Englishman to start the SHA."

His lips curled into a cruel grin, "You're very smart for a woman."

"How sweet!" I smiled sarcastically while blocking him twice. "I'm sure your kindness is what my mom loved the most about you."

My legs trembled slightly as the bastard approached me. The darker the sky became, the more my sweating increased. Although one of my crewmembers lit our lamps, my vision wasn't the best at night... Yes, fire and wood weren't a good combination, but it was our only alternative. I attacked the admiral more fiercely, leaving a massive injury on his left shoulder. My friends and crewmembers still fought against invading SHA men. I wouldn't stop crying as I glanced at poor Francis on the floor.

I plunged my blade into my enemy's thigh, "You shouldn't have killed my dog!"

"I don't care about animals," Atkins scowled while dodging a blow. "They're ridiculous creatures, just like you."

Running like a maniac with my blade, I left a huge injury on the admiral's neck, making him scream loudly. I laughed hysterically... Don't judge me! The idiot deserved it.

I smiled mischievously, "Who's ridiculous again?"

Don't worry, Francis! I'll make him pay!

The admiral attempted to stab me in the chest. I dodged, making him crash his head against the mainmast. He panted while approaching me again... What a stubborn guy! Not even a wooden column could stop him... How could two women be in love with him? Only God knew! Perhaps his wife had an affair too. I wouldn't blame her if she did.

"I can't believe you almost were my stepdad," I chuckled nervously. "What would you do in the family meals? Stab me?"

The man bared his teeth, "I'd put the worst poison ever in your tea."

"What an incompetent murderer!" our swords clashed. "I just drink rum and ale. Sometimes sangría."

"Sangría! Of course! I forgot your Spanish lover," the admiral shot me an icy glare while almost injuring my waist. "He'll be the first one to die when the SHA crushes you."

"Not if I send you to hell tonight!" I dodged a blow. "Never mind. Hell is too good for you."

How did this idiot treat my mother? I feel sorry for her...

Ocean Storm heaved violently because of a wave, almost making me fall. I changed weapons, hoping my broadsword would be efficient. My arms burned since my almost stepdad attacked me constantly. I sighed in relief as Maartje and Miguel defeated their opponents.

"I hope your mother died after nearly destroying my life's work," Atkins ground his teeth. "She deserved more than just punches in her face."

I gawked, "You hit her?!"

The bastard nodded, "I wouldn't let that witch escape without teaching her a lesson."

I narrowed my eyes, "You shouldn't have said that!"

With all my strength, I punched the moron in the gut, making him strike his back against the mizzenmast. When he tried to get up, I hit him so many times that his nose bled... Yes, my anger had increased a lot. Despite hating to freak out, he deserved every punch. In fact, if I had enough strength, I would've thrown him to the sharks for what he did to my mom and Francis.

He got up, "You're crazy like her."

I blocked an attack, "Trust me, you haven't seen anything yet."

"Women should know their place and stay in the kitchen," the idiot clenched his jaw. "Your crewmembers will kick you out at some point."

"Men always say that when we overcome them in something," I shook my head in denial and faked a yawn. "So sad..."

Maartje and Miguel approached the admiral from behind. Most SHA men were unconscious while my crew fought against the remaining enemies.

My enemy tried to stab me in the chest, "I don't know why your Spaniard still puts up with you!"

I grinned at Gálvez, "Because he's a real man, not a ridiculous creature who humiliates others to prove something."

Miguel shot Atkins on the back, making the idiot crash his face against the floor. He grimaced and panted, seemingly afraid. Grounding her teeth, Maartje kicked the admiral in the gut.

I can't believe this monster hurt my mother and murdered Francis!

My enemy kept wincing. Although the bastard tried to get up, he couldn't. My cousin shook her head in denial as if she looked at a stubborn child. I took a step forward and punched Atkins in the face.

Miguel panted as he turned to my dog, "What happened to Francis?! Dios mío..."

I pressed my lips together to avoid sobbing, "Atkins shot him."

"What a monster!" Maartje wiped away a tear while gazing at Francis. "Our dog didn't deserve this. He still had many enemies to bite."

Atkins grunted, "My... men... will... crush you!"

"What men? You're the last idiot standing!" I laughed. "Or should I say sitting?"

The two remaining frigates approached our ship. I tripped once Ocean Storm rolled with the cannon blasts. The admiral chuckled. Laurens came panting, seemingly desperate. I gulped as our main-staysail got torn. My cousin ran to replace it. Gazing at the sky, I wondered if I'd ever plunder in peace again.

Laurens wiped some sweat off his face, "They're coming from both sides, Captain Storm!"

"Ask the gunners to use more gunpowder on starboard," I sighed. "We have many guys on port already."

Gálvez pointed at Atkins, "Shouldn't we eliminate this cabrón first? He killed Francis!"

"I have a better idea," the admiral trembled while grabbing his pistol. "How about I kill you first?"

Maartje, Miguel, Laurens, and I shot the admiral until he stopped moving. The admiral's bullet wounds bled intensively, staining my wooden floor. My headache returned once I thought of my mother. She didn't deserve violence... Don't look at me like that! Mom did try to set me on fire, but we made amends later... Well, barely, since she ran away. My heart shattered as I carried my deceased dog. His blood stained my coat, causing the tears to flow again.

"I can't believe that bastard murdered our dog!" Laurens sobbed while caressing Francis. "You'll be forever missed, buddy."

Miguel wiped away a tear, "I wish we didn't have to say goodbye to Francis."

"Me neither, but we have no choice," my cousin bit her lower lip. "Let's take him to the ocean. He needs a proper farewell."

"I couldn't agree more. He did a lot for us," I took a deep breath and closed my dog's eyes. "Francis, you were my best friend all these years. You'll always be in my heart. Thank you for giving me joy, making me laugh, and protecting me. You were the most wonderful dog in the world."

My family and I hugged Francis tightly before throwing him into the sea. I squeezed my eyes shut since observing my dog falling would be too painful. Gálvez caressed my back, apparently trying to comfort me. Before I could say anything, another cannonball hit my vessel. I held myself to the mainmast... Yeah, the problem wasn't over. Laurens and the gunners hadn't sunk the remaining frigates yet. I huffed while using the swivel cannons against the enemy crew on port... At least my people had eliminated the remaining invaders.

"Ten more people must come to the port side," I turned to my crewmembers. "We must take them down before another invasion happens."

The crew followed my orders, making me sigh in relief. Maartje and Miguel joined me, shooting faster than anyone else. When I thought a frigate would attack, guess what? My amazing gunners hit it beautifully! I ran to the quarterdeck as the enemy vessel sank.

"Ashton, steer starboard! They'll crash against us!" I breathed heavily while returning to the main deck. "Maartje, make us sail faster!"

He took a deep breath, "Right away, Captain!"

My heart pounded as the frigate kept falling over us. Luckily, Ashton took us away before the enemy ship made too much damage. I gulped as it ripped out a relatively large piece of wood. It seemed fixable, so Kenneth would solve that problem later.

Stupid SHA! I can't believe they did this to my ship! Wasn't murdering my uncle and Francis enough?

I sighed in relief once my cannons struck the second frigate, destroying its hull entirely. After we docked, I took a deep breath. Joaquim and Andrew met us at the port, apparently unharmed. My heart pounded as we waited for Giacomo and Nuria. Miguel breathed heavily, apparently about to freak out. My lips curled into a face-wide grin once I laid eyes on my brother. He was mildly injured and so was my sister-in-law. Gálvez sighed in relief and embraced his sister. Despite my dog's tragic death, at least my family and allies were safe.

"I've got great news," Andrew smiled. "Atkins mentioned those were the last SHA ships, so we won."

Laurens frowned, "Are you sure?"

Knight nodded, "Countless men abandoned the SHA once I left because most don't trust Atkins. Besides, Reyes and Van Osten's vessels sunk."

"Aspetta... The SHA ended, but the navies are still out there!" Giacomo rubbed his chin. "Our problems aren't completely over."

"Although you have a point, we shouldn't worry too much about them," Andrew raised his brows. "Many of their ships were destroyed since the organization started, so they've become weaker."

Although I should be celebrating, I couldn't. Francis wouldn't leave my mind. Perhaps if I'd been just a little faster, my dog would've survived... Damn it! Also, my mom was in my thoughts. The last thing she needed was that stupid admiral's aggression. Laurens, Maartje, and Miguel stared at the ground, seemingly upset as well.

Nuria knit her brows, "Why are you so sad? We're the winners!"

My cousin sighed, "Francis didn't make it."

Andrew, Joaquim, and Giacomo gawked. My sister-in-law sighed before hugging Miguel, Laurens, Maartje, and me. The other three joined the embrace, apparently feeling my pain. That moment wouldn't eliminate my sadness, but at least it made me cry less.

"My dog wouldn't want us to sob," I bit my lower lip to hold the tears. "We should honor Francis by celebrating our triumph."

"I'm with you," Miguel glanced at the sky. "Let's dedicate this victory to him."

Laurens nodded, "Yes! Our dog deserves it after everything he did to bring us happiness."

My friends and I walked to a tavern. Although I was happy about the Sea Hunters Alliance's defeat, my thoughts returned to my dog. He would've loved to celebrate with us. I shook my head, trying to concentrate on honoring Francis rather than crying. Also, my mom shouldn't have run away. I glanced at the horizon, hoping she'd find my family and me again someday.

****

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. All translations can be found below. Will Eva and her crew have a happy ending? What else will happen? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-)

I dedicate this chapter to my dear friend Vivi_3000

Foreign words/expressions in order of appearance:

1. Mi corazón means "my love" in Spanish (not a literal translation since it literally means "my heart")

2. Aspetta means "wait" in Italian

3. Amigos means "friends" in Spanish