Page 11 of The Society (Spy Girl 3)
"It was my birthday yesterday. He decorated."
He grabs my wrist. "You're still wearing my watch."
"Yes."
"But you're with him now?"
"No, Daniel. I'm not with anyone. Lorenzo and I are friends. I mean, we've kissed, but that's--"
"I get it. I just wanted to say good-bye. I'm not going to the tennis match. I got invited to join this club thing. I am going to an interview for that, and then I have to head back to the States to practice. Tryouts are coming up fast. Will you be back in DC soon?"
"I'm not sure."
"Well, if you are, give me a call. I was serious about the tour."
"Thanks, Daniel." I lean forward and give him a kiss on the cheek.
He grips my arms with his hands. "Lorenzo's going to break your heart. You know that, right? They are going to announce his engagement as early as next week."
"That's soon."
"Yeah, and he's yet to tell you. What does that say about your Prince Charming now?"
"You seem upset. Do you like Lizzie?"
"I just don't think it's fair that she has to marry someone she doesn't love. Who does that in this day and age?"
"Royalty, I guess. It seems like a stupid law to me, but at the same time, I understand the need for an heir to the throne. And it doesn't help that his life is still in danger."
"Why do you think that?" he asks, gazing intently at me.
And I realize I just slipped up.
"Because his security detail seems to think so, I guess," I reply, covering.
He rolls his eyes. "Sounds like the Secret Service that is guarding me. They act like a terrorist is hiding in every corner of every room."
"But what I don't understand is, why would Lizzie agree to this at all? Can't she say no?"
"Do you want her to?" he asks.
"Honestly, I don't know what I want. Lorenzo and I went through something traumatic together, and we bonded because of it. I have feelings for him, but I've only known him a short time, and I don't know if those feelings are just because of what we went through or if it could be something more. My life has changed so much in such a short time. Finding out about my father, inheriting a ton of money, learning I have a brother, and then meeting all of you and getting sucked into this crazy, amazing world of privilege."
Daniel leans against the wall. "And what about me?"
I smile at him. "I like you, Daniel. I think you know that."
"I like you, too. And, remember, even though Peter and I weren't kidnapped along with you, we still went through a lot. It's bonded us all."
He reaches out and runs his hand down my damp hair. "I'm going to tell you something I probably shouldn't, but our government thinks you are right. Something is going on in Montrovia. They don't seem to know what, but they also believe Lorenzo is in danger. Especially after what happened to Ophelia and Clarice."
I decide to confide in him about something important. Something I wonder if our government really knows. "Can we go in your room?"
He gives me a grin. "I thought you'd never ask, Huntley."
"I want to tell you something about all that in private, not in the hall."
He narrows his eyes at me and then takes my hand, leading me into his room. "Okay, what?"
I pat the front of his jacket and feel his phone. "Would you turn on some music?"
"You going to strip for me?" he asks. But he doesn't smile. It's like he's instinctively following along with my ruse.
When a loud rap song blares out, one I know he listens to when working out, I take a step closer to him and put my mouth up to his ear. "I'm not sure if our government knows the truth about what happened after we were kidnapped. The story in the papers, saying that Ophelia was killed by the kidnappers, isn't true."
He grabs my shoulders and presses me back slightly, so he can look into my eyes, trying to judge if I'm telling the truth or not.
After studying me, he finally says, "Tell me."
"Ophelia was behind the kidnapping. She hired men to kill Lorenzo. Apparently, she had some serious hate for Montrovia. She said she was going to sell the Strait to the highest bidder and then close the casinos, sink the yachts, and become queen, ruling as she saw fit. The British agent, Gallagher, killed her."
"I want you to come back to DC with me and see the White House," he says.
I'm a little confused as to why in the world he would say that after what I just told him.
But then I realize he didn't whisper it.
"Would I also be seeing your father?" I ask, thinking maybe that's what he means.
He nods furiously. "Yes."
But I know I can't go. I have to stay in London for my mission.
"I can't leave with you today, but I'll come as soon as I can." I pull him back close and whisper again, "The fact that Clarice was assassinated after Ophelia was killed means whatever was going on isn't over."
He nods and then whispers back, "And, with the Olympics being held in Montrovia, it makes it all a little scary." He gives me a quick kiss. "Take care of yourself, Huntley."
"I will," I reply.
But, as I'm walking down the hall, back to my room, my mind is going crazy. Could something bad happen at the Olympics?
&
nbsp; "Everything okay?" Lorenzo asks.
I sit down across the table from him, noticing that he has spread out our food but hasn't started eating yet, the warming domes still over the plates.
"When was it announced that the Summer Olympics would be held in Montrovia?"
He sort of shakes his head, his mind obviously not expecting my question.
"Do you need to know the exact date?"
"Yes."
He gets out his phone and presses a few buttons. "Nearly seven years ago, in September. They must announce the host city far in advance to allow time to build the necessary infrastructures needed for hosting such an event."
"And the world will descend into Montrovia in just a few months?"
"Yes."
"Lorenzo, have you ever considered that whatever is supposed to start in Montrovia might have something to do with such an event?"
He closes his eyes, suddenly looking tired. "No, I haven't."
We don't talk much during breakfast, Lorenzo clearly distressed by the thought.
I've been running evil schemes through my head, but no matter what horrors I come up with, the result is the same. While there could be tragedy in Montrovia, other than sorrow over lost souls, I can't imagine how anything would directly affect the rest of the world whether it be physical or economic ruin. While Montrovia is known to be a safe place to house wealth, a financial ruin wouldn't greatly affect the world. If the capital city were destroyed by some kind of bomb, it would be a tragedy, but what would it trigger? A war, perhaps, depending on who was responsible.
If you want to hurt citizens of every major country in the world, the Olympics would be the place to do it. But my thoughts keep returning to one piece of information Ophelia mentioned--she was going to sell the Strait of Montrovia to the highest bidder. That would have had worldwide ramifications. But taking over the Strait could be done at anytime.
That brings me back to square one.
I break the silence. "Lorenzo, I've been sitting here, thinking of all sorts of horrible things, different terror situations, that could happen at the Olympics, but while tragic, what would it start?"
"Montrovia's demise, I would assume," he replies. "It would cripple our economy if we couldn't keep our tourists safe. If there were a major terrorist attack, I suspect it would destroy Montrovia as we know it."
