Chapter 48: Blood Night
Long Island, New York, Jonathan's private mansion.
This was a three-story villa on Long Island, surrounded by neatly trimmed lawns and ornamental ponds.
In the study.
"Mr. Drake, everything's going just as you predicted. Evan can't hold back anymore; he's making his move tonight."
On the expensive Persian carpet stood a trusted subordinate in a black suit.
"Is that so?"
Jonathan sat behind a massive mahogany desk, leisurely using a cigar cutter to snip off the end of a Cuban cigar, then lit it with his lighter. "Finally lost his patience?"
"Yes! According to our informants, Evan hired another team of killers from the Nightfall organization, over a dozen people, fully armed, and they're heading this way now!"
"Good."
Jonathan stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the gray night.
"This is the moment I've been waiting for."
He took a deep drag on his cigar and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. "Does that idiot Evan really think I'd be completely unprepared?"
"Mr. Drake, you're so brilliant!" his subordinate flattered.
"Give the word, all security personnel on the estate go to Level One alert. Tonight, I'm going to make sure my dear brother never leaves here alive!"
Jonathan adjusted his cuffs. "Tonight is Evan's last night."
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate was left to carry out the order.
Jonathan sat back down on the sofa, picked up his wine glass, and gently swirled the crimson liquid.
"Evan... my dear brother..."
He murmured to himself, "You think I don't know what you're planning?"
"Father's seriously ill, and the family needs a new leader."
"And that person... can only be me!"
Late night, 11:30 PM.
The street outside the mansion was completely silent.
Under the dim yellow glow of the streetlights, a few dead leaves rolled past in the wind.
More than a dozen black vans quietly stopped in the woods outside Jonathan's estate.
The doors opened, and over a dozen figures in black tactical gear slipped out.
They wore black combat uniforms, night vision goggles on their faces, and gripped assault rifles equipped with suppressors.
These were the Nightfall organization's killers.
Leading them was Evan himself.
He wore a black tactical suit, two pistols at his waist, and a tactical mask covering his face.
"Listen up."
Evan kept his voice low. "Tonight, we have only one target, Jonathan. Kill him, and everyone gets an extra five million dollars."
"Understood!"
The fifteen killers responded in unison.
"Move out!"
Evan waved his hand and led the way toward the estate.
Fifteen dark figures vanished into the night like ghosts.
Five minutes later.
Evan and his team reached the estate's perimeter wall.
"Strange..."
One killer frowned. "How come there's not even a single patrol?"
"Who cares?" Evan snorted coldly. "Maybe that waste Jonathan is too arrogant, thinks nobody would dare touch him."
"Over the wall!"
The group quickly scaled the wall and dropped into the estate.
Ahead lay a vast garden.
In the moonlight, the entire garden was eerily quiet.
"Something's wrong." The lead killer suddenly raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop. "It's too quiet..."
Before he could finish.
"Click!"
Countless searchlights blazed on simultaneously!
Blinding white light flooded the entire garden like daylight!
"What?" Evan instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes.
The next second.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat..."
Gunfire erupted in a crackling burst!
Countless bullets poured in from the darkness around the garden!
"Get down!"
The killers immediately hit the ground, taking cover behind the bushes.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Bullets struck the bushes, sending branches and leaves flying.
"Damn it! It's an ambush!" Evan gritted his teeth. "That bastard Jonathan! He knew I was coming all along!"
"Boss! What do we do?!" one killer shouted.
"Break through!" Evan raised his assault rifle and fired at the searchlights.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat..."
Several searchlights shattered.
But quickly, more searchlights lit up.
Not only that.
The estate's main gate, the walls, even the rooftop, all were now lined with countless gunmen!
A rough count showed at least fifty or sixty people!
And all armed with automatic weapons!
"Jonathan! You sneaky bastard!" Evan screamed hysterically.
From the main building's loudspeaker came Jonathan's triumphant laughter. "My dear brother, welcome to my estate. Unfortunately... this will be your grave."
"Go to hell!" Evan roared, raising his rifle and firing wildly at the main building.
Bullets struck the building's walls, sending debris flying.
But Jonathan had long since retreated to the basement.
"Evan, is that all you've got?" Jonathan's voice continued from the loudspeaker, dripping with undisguised mockery. "You think the Nightfall organization killers are so great? On my turf, they're all trash!"
"Boys! Fire! Shoot to kill!"
"Yes, sir!"
From the walls, rooftops, and windows, countless gun barrels simultaneously spat bullets!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Bullets rained down like a storm!
Though the Nightfall killers were skilled, they couldn't withstand such overwhelming numbers.
In just three minutes, five killers had already been shot down.
"Boss! We're surrounded!"
"No shit! I know that!" Evan's teeth were clenched, his whole body trembling.
He never imagined Jonathan would be so prepared!
And with so many men!
"Evan, surrender."
Jonathan's voice rang out again. "For old times' sake, I can let you keep your body intact."
"In your dreams!"
Evan roared, "Jonathan! You think you've won?! Today, either you die, or I do!"
"Really?"
Jonathan's contemptuous laughter came through. "Then I'd like to see what cards you have left. Boys! Move in! Capture Evan alive!"
"Yes, sir!"
Fifty or sixty gunmen began closing in from all sides.
Though the Nightfall killers resisted fiercely, the numbers were against them.
Two more killers were shot down.
"Boss! If we don't retreat now, it'll be too late!" a killer shouted.
"Retreat? Retreat where?" Evan looked around; every escape route was blocked. "Then we fight to the death!"
A flash of madness crossed Evan's eyes. "Everyone, listen up! Follow me into the main building! Kill Jonathan!"
"Yes!"
The remaining ten killers responded in unison.
"Charge!"
Evan gripped his rifle and sprinted toward the main building.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat..."
He fired as he ran, bullets hitting the windows and sending glass shards flying.
"Stop them!" Jonathan's voice came through the loudspeaker.
However.
The Nightfall killers truly were top-tier professionals.
They coordinated perfectly, suppressing fire and advancing under cover.
They carved out a bloody path through the hail of bullets!
One killer kicked open the main building's door and rushed in.
"Ah!"
The two gunmen ambushing behind the door didn't have time to react before being riddled with bullets.
"Get inside!"
Evan led his men into the main building.
The garden was awash with blood, with severed limbs scattered everywhere.
Meanwhile.
Several miles from the estate, atop a skyscraper.
On the rooftop, the night wind howled.
Leo stood in a black trench coat, hands in his pockets, a cigar in his mouth, using military-grade binoculars to observe the battle at the distant estate.
Beside him, Ivy wore a tight black leather outfit that accentuated her stunning figure.
She wrapped her arms around Leo's waist from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder, also holding binoculars and watching the bloody fratricidal spectacle with interest.
"This is quite a show."
Ivy's voice carried a hint of excitement. "Jonathan and Evan, these two idiots, playing right into your hands just as you planned."
"This is just the appetizer."
Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, his voice cold. "I've said it before, both of them have to die."
"So when do we make our move?"
Ivy licked her red lips, a bloodthirsty gleam in her eyes. "I can't wait to see the Drake family's downfall."
"No rush."
Leo lowered his binoculars, a playful smile curling at his lips.
"Let them kill each other a bit longer."
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
"When they've both exhausted themselves... that's when we close the net."