Evelyn's fingers tightened around Melissa's wrist as she pulled her down the corridor, away from the stares, away from the questions hanging in the air like smoke. The moment they turned the corner, she released her, but didn't step back.
"Melissa," she said, voice low but firm. "Look at me."
Melissa's chest heaved, her breath uneven, eyes darting like something was still chasing her. "He's after me, Evelyn. Monk—he found out. I swear I didn't mean to—"
"Calm down." Evelyn reached for her shoulders, steadying her. "Start from the beginning."
"I gave them the address," Melissa whispered, voice cracking. "I thought it would help, I thought—" She shook her head violently. "Now he knows. He knows it was me."
A flicker of frustration crossed Evelyn's face, quickly masked. Of course it came back to this. It always did.
"So you went to the police?" Evelyn asked.
Melissa nodded quickly. "I had to. I thought they'd protect me."
Evelyn let out a slow breath, her gaze briefly shifting down the empty hallway before returning to her.
"That was a mistake."
Melissa froze. "What?"
"You don't understand what you've stepped into," Evelyn said quietly, her tone tightening. "This isn't something the police can just… handle."
"But you're here," Melissa shot back, desperation rising. "You're part of it, you can help me—"
Evelyn forced a small, controlled smile, glancing back toward the office before lowering her voice again. "To them, you're my cousin. That's what they believe, and that's what we're keeping it as."
Melissa blinked, confused, but nodded slowly.
Evelyn stepped closer, her voice dropping further. "Listen to me carefully. If you make this official—if you push this case—things will escalate. And not in your favor."
Melissa's lips trembled. "Then what am I supposed to do? Just wait for him to kill me?"
Evelyn hesitated for the briefest second, then spoke.
"There are people more powerful than Monk," she said. "People who can either protect you… or make sure you disappear without a trace."
Melissa's expression shifted—fear, confusion… then something else. Recognition.
"…Stephan," she whispered.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly. "What?"
Melissa swallowed, her voice quieter now.
"You described someone earlier… the way he carries himself, the control… that has to be him. Silas Montclair."
Evelyn stilled.
"I've heard about him," Melissa continued, her voice dropping as if even saying his name was dangerous. "He's not just powerful—he's connected. Stephan used to talk about him like…" She hesitated. "Like someone you don't cross. Ever."
A slow, uneasy silence settled between them.
Evelyn's mind raced, piecing things together faster than she liked.
"Melissa," she said carefully, "what exactly do you know about Stephan and Silas?"
Melissa shook her head. "Not much. Just that they were close. And if Silas is involved…" Her voice faltered. "Then this is bigger than I thought."
Evelyn exhaled slowly, her composure slipping for just a moment before she pulled it back together.
Bigger than you thought.
No… it's worse than that.
Her gaze shifted toward the direction of the interrogation room, where a man sat in cuffs like he owned the entire building.
And maybe he did.
Evelyn turned back to Melissa, her decision already forming.
"Stay quiet," she said firmly. "Don't go back to the police. Don't talk to anyone. I'll handle this."
Melissa grabbed her arm. "Evelyn—"
"I said I'll handle it." Her tone left no room for argument.
But as Evelyn walked away, her mind echoed with a truth she couldn't ignore—
She wasn't in control anymore.
Silas Montclair was.
----------
Evelyn didn't look back at Melissa as she walked away. If she did, she might hesitate—and hesitation was a luxury she couldn't afford.
By the time she stepped back into the room, her expression was already in place. Calm. Polished. Untouchable.
But the moment the door shut behind her, the air shifted.
"Where is she?" Collins' voice came sharp, laced with irritation.
Evelyn paused just enough to let the question settle, then walked further in, setting the file down with deliberate care.
"She's not part of this investigation."
Collins' jaw tightened. "She walked into a federal building, caused a scene, and now you're telling me she's not part of this?"
Evelyn exhaled slowly, as if already exhausted by the conversation. "She's my cousin," she said, her tone controlled but edged with annoyance. "And she's not mentally stable enough to be dragged into whatever this is."
Tyler, who had been leaning casually against the desk, straightened slightly, his gaze sharpening. "Funny," he said, voice cool. "She looked stable enough to walk herself in here."
Evelyn turned her head toward him, her expression tightening just a fraction. "She's scared. There's a difference."
"Scared enough to come to the police," Tyler countered. "Or scared enough to run her mouth?"
A flicker of something crossed Evelyn's eyes—quick, controlled. "She's naive," she replied. "She thought she was doing the right thing."
Collins let out a short, humorless laugh. "And now we're supposed to just… ignore her? Because she's your 'cousin'?"
Evelyn's gaze hardened slightly. "I'm asking you to consider her condition before you treat her like a suspect."
Silence stretched for a moment.
Then Tyler pushed off the desk, stepping closer, his presence suddenly more deliberate.
"And you?" he asked, eyes locking onto hers. "Can you even protect her?"
The question landed heavier than it should have.
Evelyn didn't answer immediately. She held his gaze, unblinking, her face composed—but something flickered beneath it, something almost imperceptible.
Then—
"She doesn't need protection from you," Evelyn said quietly, her voice steady but firm. "And she definitely doesn't need to be interrogated like a criminal."
Tyler studied her, as if trying to peel back the layers she kept so carefully in place.
"You're too close to this," he said.
Evelyn's lips curved slightly—not a smile, but something sharper. "I'm exactly where I need to be."
Collins scoffed, shaking his head. "If this blows back on us—"
"It won't," Evelyn cut in smoothly.
But even as the words left her mouth, her mind betrayed her—
Can you even protect her?
The question echoed, louder this time.
Because deep down, Evelyn knew the truth she would never say out loud.
This wasn't about protecting Melissa from them.
It was about protecting her from something far worse.
Her gaze drifted, just for a second, toward the far end of the room—
Toward the man who sat in silence, watching everything unfold like it was all part of a game he had already won.
---------
Evelyn didn't stop walking until the building doors were behind them, the cold air hitting her face like a slap of clarity.
Melissa struggled to keep up, her voice trembling. "Evelyn… where are we going?"
Evelyn didn't answer immediately. Her grip on her bag tightened, her steps steady, deliberate.
"Evelyn?" Melissa pressed, fear creeping into her tone. "You're scaring me."
Only then did Evelyn stop.
Slowly, she turned.
Her expression was calm—too calm. The kind of calm that didn't belong in a situation like this.
"I told you," she said quietly, "there are people more powerful than Monk."
Melissa swallowed. "And… we're going to them?"
A pause.
Just a second.
But it felt heavier than it should.
Evelyn held her gaze, her voice dropping—
"I'm taking you to someone who can protect you."
Melissa's breath caught. "Who?"
Evelyn didn't hesitate this time.
"Silas Montclair."