"Marion is here! It''s really him!" a guard shouted.
He strode in alone, boots cking on the floor. The guards backed off, spooked. No one had warned them about this.
His eyes were ice-cold. The guards swapped looks, swallowing hard.
In Orkgate, Drake topped their fear list. Marion was a close second. An old deal had kept him out of the ce until now. Seeing him up close, they froze.
"Mr. Houston..." one stammered.
"Scram," Marion said, barely sparing them a nce.
They bolted, but he barked, "Stop."
They halted, and he added, "Leave the keys."
They dropped the keys and ran. Marion unlocked the cell, rushing to check on her.
"You okay?" he asked anxiously.
Before she could answer, Lexie''s voice cut in. "Mrs. Houston, are you all right? I''ve handled everyone outside. You''re free to go."
Marion murmured, "The Trennery family have connections here. You''re safe now. I''ll get you out."
He grabbed her hand, but Debra didn''t budge. "Miss Trennery and you get along so well."
"It''s not..." he exined.
"Save it," she cut him off, yanking her hand free. "Don''t touch me. I don''t need you."
Marion''s eyes dropped, hurt shing through them.
Lexie watched, shocked by their acting skills. If it had been on the day Debra made Marion kneel in public, she might have been convinced by this.<fn4941> Official source is FindN()vel</fn4941>
But now, she''d been drugged and controlled by him. This show was unnecessary.
Then she spotted the cameras around them, realizing it was for the Illuminati.
She yed along, stammering, "Mrs. Houston, you''ve got it wrong. Nothing is going on between us."
"Nothing?" Debra scoffed. "Word is you''ve been chasing him to Seamar City, all cozy. But he''s just a toy I''m done with. You can have him. I don''t need him to save me."
"Mrs. Houston," Lexie gasped, "how could you say that?"
She reached for Marion''s arm, but he stared her down. Her hand dropped, and she swallowed, "She is treating you like this, and you still raced here to save her? Let''s go."