Dallas's eyes shifted repeatedly between Evelyn and the glowing screen of her phone. The photo of Silas stared back at him like a silent accusation.
The older man's brows slowly drew together.
"Why," he asked at last, his voice cautious, "are you asking about Silas… from me?"
Evelyn cleared her throat gently. She kept her smile calm, professional, but her eyes were sharp, studying every movement he made.
"Like I said," she replied evenly, "to help you. Help him. Help everyone."
Dallas let out a low breath and shook his head slowly, as though the idea itself exhausted him.
"I'm not ready to get into another confrontation with that boy," he muttered.
His fingers tightened on the arm of his chair.
"The last one almost rendered me useless." His lips pressed into a bitter line. "And he tried to kill me."
Evelyn's body instinctively leaned forward.
"Tried to kill you?" she repeated quietly. "Why? How?"
Dallas's eyes snapped back to her face, suddenly guarded.
"Detective," he said firmly, "I'm not saying anything about that. You got what you wanted. You should leave now."
Evelyn sighed softly, though the faint smile never left her lips.
"I have to do everything in my power to protect innocent citizens like you, Mr. Dallas."
Dallas let out a humorless chuckle and shook his head.
"Silas is family," he reminded her. "My nephew."
Evelyn nodded thoughtfully.
"So then," she said gently, "let's save him."
For a moment Dallas didn't answer. His gaze drifted away, toward the open doorway where the garden flowers swayed lazily in the breeze. When he spoke again, his voice carried something softer… something almost like grief.
"He was a brave boy when he was seventeen," Dallas murmured.
Evelyn remained silent, letting him speak.
"I never saw him again after that," Dallas continued. "My brother took him away from the country. Said he wanted the boy to grow up… differently."
His jaw tightened.
"When Silas finally returned years later…" He shook his head slowly. "He wasn't the same child."
Dallas looked back at the picture on Evelyn's phone.
"That loving boy was gone."
Evelyn watched him carefully.
"What did he become?" she asked.
Dallas let out a quiet breath.
"Rude. Proud. Possessive." His eyes darkened. "Dangerous."
A pause settled between them.
"I bet that kid takes drugs now," Dallas added with a bitter scoff.
Evelyn leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing with interest.
"Or do you think he sells drugs?"
Dallas immediately shook his head.
"No."
He bit his lip thoughtfully, as though turning the possibilities over in his mind.
"Silas wouldn't waste his time with something small like that. He's not interested in things that aren't risky."
His eyes lifted slowly to hers.
"If he's involved in anything… it would be something bigger."
"Like?" Evelyn prompted.
Dallas hesitated.
"Weapons," he said finally. "I don't know for sure… but I know one thing."
His voice dropped lower.
"That boy is no ordinary man."
Evelyn swallowed slowly, feeling a strange chill crawl up her spine.
Silas.
Dangerous. Powerful. Untouchable.
And somehow… the thought of him made her pulse quicken.
She pushed the feeling aside.
"What happened that made him almost kill you?" she asked carefully.
Dallas suddenly let out a short laugh.
"Silas…" he muttered.
His head shook slowly.
"He wants to be the heir."
Evelyn's eyes sharpened.
"I tried to stop him," Dallas continued. "Your precious Montclair empire? My brother and I built that from nothing."
His voice hardened.
"And now Silas has taken everything. Including my share."
A quiet bitterness lingered in his tone.
"And the worst part?" he added with a weak smile. "I couldn't even defeat him."
Evelyn nodded slowly, understanding the humiliation beneath his words.
"Does he have friends?" she asked.
Dallas shook his head.
"No. Silas doesn't trust anyone."
His gaze darkened again.
"If anyone gets too close to him…" he said quietly, "they disappear."
Evelyn felt a flicker of unease.
Disappear.
"I only know one person who might be close to him," Dallas added.
Evelyn's attention sharpened instantly.
"Who?"
"A man named Stephan Quinlan."
The name lingered in the room like a warning.
"He works with the military," Dallas said slowly. "He once warned me to stay away from Silas."
Evelyn tilted her head.
"You think he could help me?"
Dallas hesitated.
"He might," he admitted. "But be careful."
His eyes narrowed.
"Stephan Quinlan is just as secretive… and just as dangerous."
Evelyn's curiosity burned brighter.
"Where can I find him?"
Dallas leaned back in his chair, studying her for several seconds. As if silently questioning whether she truly understood what she was stepping into.
Finally he answered.
"Troller Brothel."
Evelyn's lips curved into a small amused smile.
"Ah," she murmured. "A womanizer."
Dallas immediately frowned.
"Don't even think of trying him," he warned.
Evelyn rose from her chair smoothly.
"Thank you, Mr. Dallas," she said politely. "I'll get in touch with you later."
Dallas nodded slowly, though worry crept into his expression.
"Stay well, kid," he muttered.
Evelyn gave a brief nod before stepping outside.
Mr. Tyler was waiting by the car, his sharp eyes scanning the quiet street.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
Evelyn glanced back at the house one last time before slipping her phone into her coat pocket.
"Yeah," she said calmly.
But inside, her mind was racing.
Silas.
Weapons.
Disappearing people.
And now…
Stephan Quinlan.
"Troller Brothel," she murmured under her breath.
Mr. Tyler frowned slightly.
"What?"
Evelyn opened the car door and smiled faintly.
"Looks like our next lead."
----
Tyler drove carefully through the quiet streets, the engine humming steadily beneath the weight of Evelyn's silence.
Outside the window, the afternoon sun slid slowly across the city, but Evelyn barely noticed it. Her mind was already racing ahead—piece by piece—building the plan she intended to execute.
Troller Brothel.
Stephan Quinlan.
A dangerous lead… but a necessary one.
The car slowed and finally stopped in front of Evelyn's house.
Before Tyler could even shift the gear, Evelyn pushed the door open and stepped out quickly.
"Evelyn—"
Tyler reached out and caught her wrist.
She turned back.
His expression was tight with worry.
"You can't do that," he said firmly. "Going to a brothel alone? You can't risk yourself like that."
His grip tightened slightly.
"What if those men try to hurt you?"
Evelyn looked down at his hand before gently pulling her wrist free.
Then she smiled softly.
"I'll be fine, Mr. Tyler."
But Tyler didn't look convinced.
"Evelyn—"
She was already moving.
"Trust me," she said lightly over her shoulder as she hurried toward the house.
Inside her room, Evelyn shut the door and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling slowly.