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“Two hours, assuming I can connect with the right people.” Dmytro paused. “Bodyguard?”
“Francesca Giordano wouldn’t go anywhere without a bodyguard,” Jasmine said in her haughtiest tone.
Dmytro chuckled. “Is he to be trusted?”
“With my life.”
“And Eli’s?” Dmytro persisted.
She looked up into Ace’s eyes. “Absolutely.”
“Good,” the Ukrainian said. “Otherwise, I would arrange for someone to go with you. Demopoulos is not to be trusted. Once you’re inside the compound, you will find it almost as difficult to get out as it is to get in.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.” Jasmine drew a deep breath and let it out. “I have to do this. I can’t lose Eli.”
“Understood,” Dmytro said. “We do whatever it takes for family.”
“Thank you, Dmytro,” she said softly. “Ty sim'ya.” You are family.
“As are you and Eli,” he responded and ended the call.
Jasmine glanced up at Ace.
“I take it that was your insider,” he said.
“It was.” She glanced down at her watch. “We have two hours to get ready.”
“Ready for what?”
Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “You’ll need to wear something a little more intimidating, and I need a new dress and shoes.”
Ace frowned. “What’s happening in two hours? And what do you mean I need something more intimidating?”
“I’m going to play poker,” she said and waved toward the waiter. “You’re going as my bodyguard. Let’s eat quickly. We need enough time to go shopping and still arrive at our destination on time.”
They ordered light sandwiches and a glass of wine. Though they needed to fuel their bodies for whatever was to come, it was about more than keeping up their physical strength. Being with Ace gave Jasmine the emotional strength she needed to weather this storm.
If her son wasn’t being held hostage, Jasmine would have enjoyed the meal with Ace. She’d dreamed about it for so long that it was surreal having him there, sitting across the table, barely looking a day older. Yes, the lines were deeper around his eyes, and his shoulders might have been a little broader, but he was the same man she’d fallen in love with four years ago.
Was she still in love with him?
Jasmine stopped in mid-chew.
Was she?
With her eyelids lowered, she studied him through her lashes.
Her heart skipped several beats as she absorbed the impact of him. When he touched her, she got the same little jolt of electricity shooting through her. He made her catch her breath so often she feared she might pass out.
If only Eli was safe, she’d explore their relationship. She felt 99.9 percent certain her feelings remained strong.
What about Ace?
He’d never answered her calls. After he’d left Greece, she hadn’t seen or heard from him until now. What did that say about his level of commitment to whatever they’d shared for that one week?
A week had been long enough for her to fall in love. Maybe it hadn’t been for Ace. Obviously, it hadn’t been enough, or he would have answered her calls or looked her up.
She laid her half-eaten sandwich on the plate, no longer hungry. The wine had taken the edge off her anxiety without dulling her senses.
