"You don't know what I want," Jack said, the bravado starting to crack. The cool demeanor he'd been cultivating was being tested. Face reddening, mouth quivering, Jack Halson was moments away from screaming at his computer monitor.

"I think you're being used," said Frankie.

Standing at the back of the room, Ina and Wilder could virtually feel Jack bristle over the video conference, thousands of miles away, at Frankie's statement. They exchanged a look of satisfaction on seeing their common enemy squirm.

Frankie went on, "I think you allied yourself with someone because you saw resources that might get you somewhere, but now you're in too deep, and your fate is tied inexorably to that of whoever owns you. Is that it, Jack? Am I getting close?"

Pe...

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