Chapter 7: Blood Ties

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the city. Liam stood on the rooftop of a building in the heart of the financial district, his eyes scanning the horizon. His thoughts were as sharp as the wind that tugged at his jacket. He could feel it—the storm was coming, and it was going to tear everything apart.

Tielen had gathered information. It was time to act.

Liam had known for a long time that he couldn't fight this battle alone. He needed more than just strength and strategy. He needed loyalty, and loyalty came from people who had a stake in his victory. People who, like him, had lost something important.

But as he looked out over the city, he realized there was still a piece of the puzzle missing. Stryker's empire was vast, filled with people who had their hands in every corner of the city. From the casino owners to the heads of tech companies, everyone had a part to play in his rise to power. And each of them had a price.

Liam's thoughts were interrupted as the sound of footsteps approached from behind. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"I found something," Tielen's voice cut through the silence, as calm as ever. "Something big. It's connected to the woman—the old lady."

Liam's pulse quickened. The woman—the one who had left him the inheritance. His grandmother. He had always suspected there was more to her death than what he had been told, and now, it seemed like the truth was finally coming to light.

"Tell me," Liam said, his voice low.

Tielen hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "It's her family. Her real family. The one Stryker tried to erase."

Liam's brow furrowed. "Her family? But I thought—"

"She had children," Tielen continued, his voice grim. "They're still alive. And they're not happy about what happened to her."

Liam felt his heart race as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. His grandmother's death had been no accident. It had been orchestrated, just like everything else. And the fact that her real family was still out there meant that they had a stake in this fight too.

"Where are they?" Liam asked, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

Tielen handed him a file with a photograph inside—a group photo of a family standing outside a mansion, their smiles frozen in time. The faces were unfamiliar to Liam, but there was one woman whose eyes seemed to burn with a quiet intensity.

"She's the one who matters," Tielen said. "Her name is Evelyn Stryker. And she's the reason why your grandmother was silenced."

Liam's mind raced. Evelyn Stryker. The name was familiar—it had been whispered around the city in the most dangerous circles. She was one of Stryker's closest allies, a woman who had been his right hand for years. But if she was part of his grandmother's family, it changed everything.

"How do we find her?" Liam asked, his tone firm.

Tielen grinned, a rare flash of something resembling excitement crossing his face. "Leave that to me."

Liam didn't ask questions. He knew Tielen would find a way. What mattered now was what came next. They needed to act quickly. Stryker wouldn't be caught off guard for long, especially not with Evelyn involved. She would be dangerous, cunning, and ruthless. But so was Liam.

"I'll be ready," Liam said, his jaw tightening with resolve.

Tielen nodded, slipping the folder back into his bag. "We move at dawn."

Liam took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the plan settle over him. Everything had been leading to this. The people he had lost, the battles he had fought—this was the turning point. He wasn't just fighting for revenge anymore. He was fighting for his family, for the truth, and for the future that had been stolen from him.

As Tielen turned to leave, Liam stood on the rooftop, staring out at the city below. The storm was coming, and Liam would be ready. This time, there was no turning back.

And when the dust settled, he would make sure Stryker's empire crumbled to the ground.

---

The next morning, as the first light of day began to creep over the city, Liam and Tielen made their way to a quiet, secluded area of the city where Evelyn Stryker was said to be hiding. The plan was simple—find her, confront her, and get the truth. But nothing was ever that simple.

Liam's heart raced as they approached a sleek black car parked near an alleyway. Tielen had arranged everything, from the getaway to the exact location where Evelyn was believed to be meeting with one of her contacts.

Tielen leaned in close. "Stay sharp. She won't go down easily."

Liam nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of the small knife tucked into his jacket. He wasn't about to rely on force alone; he needed to be strategic, calm. Evelyn would be smart, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

They approached the entrance to a large building, its modern glass facade reflecting the pale sunlight. Inside, they could hear muffled voices and the faint click of high heels against the polished floors. Evelyn had to be close.

Liam signaled to Tielen, and they slipped inside, moving through the shadows, keeping their presence unknown. The voices grew louder as they neared a conference room at the end of the hallway. Liam's pulse quickened.

Through the frosted glass, he could see a woman standing near the window. Her back was to him, but even from this distance, Liam could tell she was powerful. She moved with an air of authority, her presence demanding attention.

"Evelyn Stryker," Liam whispered to himself, a cold determination filling his chest.

Now, it was time.

He stepped forward, pushing the door open with a soft creak.

"Looking for me?" Evelyn's voice rang out, smooth and confident. She had known they were coming.

Liam's eyes narrowed. "I'm not here for a conversation."

Evelyn smiled, her lips curling into a smirk. "Then I guess we'll see who's left standing when this is over."