"I thought you forgave me," Marion said, voice low.


    "Come on," Debraughed. "I just used your crew to smack Fermin around. You said I could use them anytime, and you''d never care."


    His brow creased. She was baiting the Illuminati, painting a target on herself by iming his forces. He wouldn''t let her risk it.


    "Starting today, my people are..." he began, but noises erupted outside.


    ck-d mercenaries stormed the cell, fast and armed to the teeth.


    Lexie shrieked, paling. Debra was equally surprised.


    A masked man stepped in, tall in a ck suit. A white mask hid all but deep eyes.


    "Marion, I heard a lot about you," he rasped.


    Debra recognized that voice. It belonged to Frederic.


    He pinned a badge to his chest. "The name''s Frederic, Illuminati core member. Pleasure meeting you."


    He snapped his fingers, and the mercenaries raised rifles.


    Lexie hid behind Marion, screaming, "Don''t kill me."


    Debra''s frown deepened. ''Core member? Since when?''<fn8fe8> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel</fn8fe8>


    "Think you can just walk her out like that?" Frederic taunted.


    "I''m Lexie Trennery," Lexie blurted. "I''m with you. Let me go."


    "Useless pawn," Frederic sneered, waving a hand.


    A shot rang out, and Lexie dropped.


    Debra shot up. "Frederic, what''s your game?"


    In the next second, the cameras sparked and died.


    Frederic advanced on them. His numbers had the outside locked down.


    He leaned in and whispered, "This little act won''t fool the Illuminati. She''s not leaving with you."


    Marion''s eyes flickered, and Frederic stepped back. "Look, we don''t want you dead. We want you in. Joining


    us is all upside for you two. Our master is high on you both. Sign up or get wiped out. Your call."


    Debra shrugged. "No third option to hash out?"


    "Nope," Frederic said with a faint smile.