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But that wasn’t so I could reconcile just yet, so I said, “I support whatever you’re doing I know it doesn’t really matter, but—”

“It does, Ari” His hands squeezed lass pane as I looked around his broad shoulder “You have no idea how much”

I kissed his upper arm Then he turned and led me over to one of the oversize leather chairs in front of the fireplace He sat and pulledas I huddled close and flattened ainst his pecs

“What’s really going on?” I asked in a soft voice

“There’s so much I don’t want to tell you To keep you safe”

“See Knowledge is power, haven’t you heard?”

He chuckled, without humor

“How do you know a sultan? And is Nikolai Vasil Russian?”

“Yes, he is I h Ethan”

This confused me “Was he really a professor at Harvard, or is that some sort of cover?”

“You have an active iination”

“Not so much I just know there’s more to this situation thanthe Lux—”

“It wasn’t just about the Lux And we’re not friends We’re associates, partners There’s nothing social related to my acquaintances with them”

That sounded rather oht?”

“He’s the one exception”