Chapter 338 Michael's People, Are You Sure?
"You order first, I'm going to check something out." Thalia didn't wait for Evelyn to respond. She put on her mask and followed the person across the street into the depths of the alley.
Evelyn sighed, wanting to follow, but noticed that Thalia had left her bag and everything behind. Plus, thinking she wouldn't be much help anyway—if something really happened, she'd just be getting in the way.
She called John, who was parking the car. "Get here quickly, Thalia saw someone and followed them. Hurry up."
Hearing this, John, who was backing up, almost didn't complete his final turn and nearly crashed into a utility pole. "On my way."
Thalia walked across the street, keeping a moderate distance as she followed the person, until she saw them enter an alley.
She stood at the entrance and looked around. The surveillance cameras along the road stopped here, and this person had conveniently entered right at this spot.
That familiar with the area?
Thalia thought for a moment, stood at the entrance, called John, told him her current location, and sent him a photo.
Only then did she dare to follow.
This food street was extremely famous in Emerald City. It was part of the old district that had never been renovated. The alley entrances connected in all directions—you could come out of any street or go into any street. People unfamiliar with the area could easily end up walking out somewhere else.
But those familiar with it could navigate through it with ease.
Thalia didn't dare follow too far behind, afraid of losing them.
When she reached an intersection, a shadow flashed and disappeared before her eyes.
Thalia stopped, hesitating about whether to continue following.
Sounds of fighting came from the alley on the right.
She walked over and peeked in.
Well, well—the person she'd been following was fighting with someone else.
The two were going at it full force in the narrow alley.
Faint cursing could be heard. "Once the job's done, we should each go our separate ways. You're breaking the rules of our business."
"Rules?"
"You sure the rules of our business include buy-one-get-one-free? Who did I tell you to stop, and who did you actually go after?"
"What? Collateral damage is my fault too?"
"Let go of me."
Thalia watched the people inside fighting among themselves with interest. She backed out of the alley entrance and looked around the street for something. Seeing a mop hanging at a nearby resident's house, she didn't think twice and took it apart.
Holding the stick, she stood at the alley entrance waiting for whichever man would emerge victorious.
Hearing the commotion inside die down and someone rummaging for something, Thalia knew she needed to stay alert.
In the dark alley, the man walked out while looking down and stuffing something into his pocket.
Just as half his body emerged from the alley entrance—
A blow came down. Before he could even see his attacker's face clearly, he fell straight to the ground.
Thalia was just about to bend down and search his pockets.
John's footsteps came running urgently. "Ms. Smith."
"Pull down his mask so I can see."
John looked at the stick in Thalia's hand, his mouth twitching. No wonder people said she was simple and brutal!
This bold personality of hers showed no mercy when it came to hitting people.
John yanked off the mask and glanced at Thalia.
"It really is him."
"Michael's getting interesting!"
From their earlier conversation, it seemed they only wanted Stefan's life and didn't intend to involve anyone else?
"Michael's guy?"
"Yeah," Thalia nodded. Otherwise, she wouldn't have followed.
"What now?"
"Search his pockets."
"This?"
Thalia took the photo, picked it up, and looked at it. On the back was written "five million dollars."
"That's the rule in their business—give a photo with a price, and if someone takes it, they take it."
"Looks like they weren't after Vaughn's life."
"Stefan's?"
Thalia nodded. "Probably."
"What about him?" John looked at the person lying on the ground.
Thalia glanced at the alley. "You watch him, I'll call William."
William was out dealing with loose ends when he got Thalia's call.
After hearing Thalia explain the whole story, he asked again, "What about the guy?"
"You want him?"
"Michael's man, you're sure?"
"I've seen him before."
"Just knowing is enough, no need to bring him back. You be careful."
Thalia hung up.
…………
"Where did you go? Are you okay?" Evelyn was startled when she saw them return.
Thalia pulled out a chair and sat down, ordering a bottle of alcohol. "I'm fine, found some stuff."
Evelyn glanced at John. "Want to eat with us?"
"That wouldn't be appropriate."
Thalia shot him a look. "Sit. Nothing inappropriate about it."
"If you ask me, just stay out of William's business. The guy's brave, smart, and well-connected—what can't he handle? Why do you need to stick your nose in? Don't end up dragging yourself down with it."
Thalia first drank a glass of water, then looked at Evelyn and asked, "Let me ask you—if William died right now, what do you think I'd get out of it?"
"You'd directly inherit his estate!"
"Under 30 and sitting in my current position, with the massive business empire he controls that needs huge amounts of capital to operate—you really think if he died now, I could get the inheritance? I wouldn't end up losing everything?"
"In this world, some money can only be made by specific people. And William is that specific person."
Evelyn looked at Thalia.
Momentarily speechless.
"William needs to stay alive!"
"Your perspective is really something—pulled into someone's scheme and you're still paving the way for them. I'm the narrow-minded one here."
Thalia propped her chin on her hand and sighed, fidgeting with a disposable cup, turning it over and over, seemingly thinking about something.
Just as she was about to say something, her phone rang.
"Who is this?"
"Ms. Smith, this is Michael."
The person who'd been sitting slouched suddenly straightened up. "What is it?"
"The medical bills aren't enough."
"So? What are you getting at?"
"I'm guessing your princess definitely won't add me on WhatsApp, so let's meet in person!"
Thalia thought, knew he was waiting for this. She'd just dealt with his guy, and without even waiting, he'd called right away.
He was probably nearby.
"Fine, but since you're so well-connected, you should know where I am, right? Ten minutes. If you can get to me within ten minutes, we can talk. If not..." Thalia left it at that and hung up.
"Michael?"
"The person you just chased after—was he Michael's guy?"
"He sent William's dad to the hospital, though from what I can tell, it was probably collateral damage."
"Michael's smart. Knowing things have come to light, rather than passively taking hits, he's proactively coming to make peace."
"If he wants peace, he should find William. Why come to you?"
Thalia shrugged. "We'll know when he gets here, won't we?"
"The Jimenez family drama isn't exactly a secret in Regal City anymore. The Jimenez family has two sons in Michael's generation. The whole family pushed the older son while using tough-love tactics on the younger one. Living in that kind of environment without turning into a psychopath is already pretty good for Michael. Does a family like that even deserve his loyalty?"