Randy''s jab lit a fire under Troy.


    He shot up, shouting, "No way! This has nothing to do with Miss Sharp. The Illuminati didn''t ruin my family."


    He couldn''t handle the truth.


    "You take over," Debra said, turning to Marion.


    She''d talked herself dry and didn''t want to waste another word.


    Marion stepped in. "Over the years, tons ofpanies that wouldn''t join the Illuminati got taken out. When your family was falling apart, not one friend or rtive stepped up. Why? As far as I know, your family had a solid reputation because you helped a lot of people. Plus, right after bankruptcy, your dad died of illness. You didn''t suspect a thing?"


    Troy''s mind shed back. When his dad died, Lara was there at the hospital.


    In a white dress, she looked as pure as an angel. She was the only one who''d helped him in his darkest hour. There was no way she''d kill his dad.<fn536a> Readplete version only at find?novel</fn536a>


    He couldn''t speak, his throat clogged up. If this was true, then he had been serving his energy the whole time, even killing for her.


    "Be d this blew up today," Debra said. "If you''d seeded, I guarantee you''d end up like your dad and drag Ryan down with you."


    Ryan was dumbfounded. What Debra and the others said went way beyond his understanding. The world had a dark side he''d never seen.


    Debra was right. They were too na?ve, and their perfect ns were like child''s ys.


    "We screwed up," Ryan cried. "Please, help us. Troy has been through enough."


    Debra hadn''t nned to do anything harsh. She just wanted them to see right from wrong ande back on the right track.


    "I want revenge. I..." Troy started, but Debra cut him off. "With your skills? Forget revenge. Even if you walked up to Lara with a gun, you''d just get yourself killed. Go back to your normal life. Drop that idea. I don''t know what your textbooks taught you, but kicking against the pricks is not wise."


    She lost interest in talking further. "Marion, crate them up and airship them to Seamar City. The Illuminati won''t bother hunting down two high schoolers."


    "Got it," Marion replied.


    "I''m not going there," Ryan yelped.