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“I didn’t suggest that I agreed to let you return to the hotel You just have to allow Amano to stay close”

I nodded

Dane said, “It’ll be okay, baby I promise”

I wasn’t wholly convinced But I believed in hiht Whatever you want me to do Please don’t worry about me”

“Impossible I love you, remember?” He mimicked my words

“Now’s not exactly the time to joke”

“No joke,” he said in a fierce tone “I love you, Ari And no one’s going to hurt you or take you away from me Ever”

That riveting sentiths he’d go to keepa victim of the Lux’s troubles But the forer sensation and I told hi—and for standing your ground It scares lory I love 10,000 Lux, too, Dane I don’t want you to lose it”

“I won’t”

His confidence was reassuring Yet there was one more tidbit that burned in the back of my brain

Given that Dane was currently being forthco with information, I took the opportunity to ask, “What about Mikaela? How does she factor into your life?”

“I’ve known her since ere kids She was one a lot—estranged from the family, actually He served as a US aland The latter assign after 9/11, when there were nuainst the embassy in London The periuards were placed at all four sides The building was difficult to get into, even if you were an American There were even concerns about snipers on the rooftops of adjacent buildings, dignitaries and their faet Mikaela wasn’t allowed to visit”

“I’m sure that was difficult”

“Yes, it was very hard on her Maybe that e bonded, initially I didn’t have a father, either”

I absorbed that a nificance Then I asked, “And now?”