Michael held the contract, chuckling, "As I said, he might not wanna go with you."
"Whether hees is my problem," Debra shot back. "You promised to deliver him."
"Fair enough," Michael said. "He''s useless to me now. I can let him go."
He waved a hand. Soon, someone dragged Drake out.
When Drake saw Debra and Kale, his face twisted with anger.
"Get over here," Debra demanded.
Drake took a step forward but stopped. "I''m not going back. Get lost."
"Come on. You gave them the stone, and I lost mypany. If I don''t bring you back, how do I face everyone?" she said.
He clenched his fists. "We''re not on the same side. This is all your wishful thinking. Go away. I don''t wanna see you."
"Boss, I''m with you." Kale stepped up, pale from his shoulder wound.
Drake''s voice iced over. "Didn''t you hear me? I don''t want you here. The Illuminati''s got more to offer. We''ve always been in it for profit. I never saw you as friends."
His eyes were red, filled with coldness and disgust.
"See?" Michael said. "I''m not holding him. He won''t leave. I know you don''t drag things out. Since you''re no threat now, I''ll let you walk for old times'' sake."
"We''ve got no old times," she said, locking eyes with Drake. "Last chance, Drake. Youing or not?"
"We''re not family or anything," he sneered. "Why would I go with you?"
Debra was pissed off. They''d all busted their asses to find him, and he just shrugged it off.
"Fine. Stay if you want." She grabbed Kale''s arm and started to head back.
She wasn''t one to beg. Kale''s wound couldn''t wait. Drake could rot, but she wouldn''t lose Kale. "Mrs. Houston," Kale pleaded.<fnc75a> Latest content published on find?novel</fnc75a>
"I know you wanna stick with him," she hissed. "But he''s not taking you to the Illuminati. Get it?"
She didn''t know what they''d done to keep Drake, but she was sure it was not his choice. Outnumbered, they couldn''t take him away by force. It could backfire badly.