8. The Next Move

"Grandfather, I’m back," Elijah whispered as he stood in front of his grandfather’s tombstone at the Norton family cemetery.

In his hand, he held the severed head of Rick Shaw, blood still dripping from the neck.

"I’ve brought you a gift," he continued, his voice low but filled with a cold determination.

He placed Rick’s head in front of the grave, eyes blazing with vengeance.

"This is just the beginning," he said.

"They took everything from us. But I promise you, Grandfather, I will retrieve the Lava Heart. I will restore the Norton name."

Doug stood behind him, watching silently.

"Marshal," he said after a moment, "what’s our next move?"

Elijah stared at the head of Rick Shaw, his face expressionless.

"First, we deal with the rest of the Shaw family. Then we go after the others," he replied.

"I’m not done until every last one of them pays."

Doug nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

"I’m ready when you are," he said.

"The Shaw family won't know what hit them."

Elijah turned away