"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
— Sun Tzu / The Godfather
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'What a funny joke,' Anton spoke to Zeke telepathically, the words laced with sarcasm.
'I needed backup. You never know how important a social circle is until you need it,' Zeke replied, his tone breezy and unrepentant.
'So if you go down, you'll drag me along with you?'
'I need your four-thousand-year wisdom. C'mon, you can't be this useless.'
'Your mom.'
'Don't you think that act is getting a little old?'
Michael's smooth, intrusive voice slid into their private mental channel, cold and precise. They turned to find him lounged on the couch, legs crossed elegantly, amethyst eyes fixed on them with unnerving focus.
'With such an exaggerated performance—were you hoping to tip off Jude and Yeon?'
Something in Anton just snapped.
