Randy shook his head.
Debra said, "Guess Enoch still cares about your ties. He had you sent back."
"If Erica saw me like this, she'd chew me out again," Randy smiled bitterly.
Erica hated seeing him banged up. She'd never say it, but she cared.
He couldn't stand making her worry.
"But I'm sure they had her," he said, looking at Debra and Marion. "Enoch is the linchpin. His company is just a front. The Illuminati has been around for 100 years. It started almost the same time as the four families. I believe my grandpa was the founder."
Debra and Marion swapped a look. They'd already pieced that together.
Randy just confirmed it.
"That makes things trickier," Jordan said. "The Osbornes are one of the four families. They know all our secrets and setups. Explains why their moves against us always hit so smoothly."
"The Illuminati is stronger than us, to begin with," Debra chimed in. "With Enoch leading them, we're in deeper crap."
Jordan cut in, "We already stirred the pot. Going now's walking into a trap."
"I've seen inside the valley," Randy said. "It's locked down tight. Outside is a natural fortress. The entrance is hidden unless you know where to look. It needs a core member's fingerprint to unlock. Inside is a long hall with top-grade infrared and other security measures. If I hadn't held Lara hostage, I'd never have found the way in."
"Hacking systems is your thing," Marion said. "They grabbed Erica, but they haven't made any moves. She should be fine now. It gives us time to plan tightly."
"Not that simple." Randy shook his head. "They're holding her for the gemstone. Like Debra figured, they got Erica stashed somewhere we don't know. They're worried we'll pull a fast one, so they're using her to trade for the gemstone."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Goodbye, Mr. Ex: I've Remarried Mr. Right