Page 14 of The Society (Spy Girl 3)
I do everything I can not to flinch at the timing.
"That sound about right, Aleksandr?"
Aleksandr leans back in his seat and thinks for a second while taking a puff. Then he nods. "Sounds about right to me."
Malcolm hands me his phone. When I see the photo, even though I am expecting it, I'm so shocked that I drop it.
"Sorry, I'm such a klutz," I say, making a scene over being sure the screen didn't crack when it hit the hardwood floor. "It looks like one of those crop circles, only out in the desert."
"That's exactly what I said," Malcolm says with a laugh. "But the damn thing is efficient. And we'd like to start building these in more cities around the world."
"I don't get it. Was this thing worth giving up his son for?"
"It could change the world, quite honestly," Aleksandr states. "Even though my company was built on the oil and gas industry, imagine a world where we didn't need it. Where we could live green. It would revolutionize our society's impact on the environment."
"That's not what I asked."
"No," Aleksandr says fiercely. "I would never have given up my son. I would have found another way to make it happen."
"Are you interested in joining The Society, Huntley?" Malcolm asks, trying to change the subject to something more pleasant. "Maybe it's time we petition to allow women in the group."
"If my father was obsessed with The Society, then I want no part of it. If you'll excuse me, I think I need some air," I say, suddenly getting up and getting the hell out of there.
As soon as the door shuts and Huntley leaves, the two men look at each other, shaking their heads.
"Can you believe Ares was capable of that?" Aleksandr asks.
"Honestly, no. Yet it doesn't surprise me either," Malcolm replies. "He was relentless when he set out on a path."
"But his own son? His heir?" Aleksandr argues.
Malcolm shrugs. "At least, in the end, he left them everything. Maybe, in his warped mind, he thought it was enough. What's your assessment of his children?"
"Ari is a good kid. Stand-up guy. A little too rigid possibly," Aleksandr says. "Definitely a rule follower. But, boy, he looks like Ares. It almost freaks me out a little."
"Back when he was fun to be around," Malcolm adds.
"He always got wrapped up in things, but sometimes, brilliant minds work differently. It seemed the older he got, the more he'd go away for longer time periods until he just finally stopped coming out. What do you think of Huntley? She is beautiful."
"Yes," Malcolm agrees. "But you can see the cunningness in her eyes. She's smart and driven."
"And, right now, very pissed off."
"Pissed off or hurt?" Malcolm asks. "It was hard to tell for sure."
"Oh, she's definitely pissed. If Ares were here in this room, her look alone would have killed him."
"I feel bad for her," Malcolm says. "Maybe we shouldn't have told her."
"If I had known before this moment that Ares gave his son away, I wouldn't have told her, but I was just as shocked as she was, and I couldn't hide it. Even I don't have that good of a poker face."
Malcolm laughs. "You have always had the best poker face of all of us." He looks around the room, feeling melancholy. "I miss the old days sometimes, Aleksandr. You, me, Ares, Jack Junior, and Gio--before he became king."
"Do you think she will tell her brother?"
"Absolutely not," Malcolm replies.
"So the truth isn't important to her? Interesting," Aleksandr states. "In a way, that makes her even more like Ares. He could be a cold son of a bitch sometimes."
"Obviously more than we knew," Malcolm says, taking a slug. "I wish Peter were more like her. It's too bad Ares didn't bother to get to know her. She could have taken over his empire. She'd be lethal in the boardroom. With the right mentor, she could have taken it to greater heights. What do you think about petitioning The Society to allow her entrance?"
"You heard her; she has no desire."
"I do hope I can get her to go with Peter to TerraSphere. Maybe he could learn from her," Malcolm says hopefully.
"Doubtful," Aleksandr says. "I don't think your son will ever take to the business. But he is still young. Anything is possible. We weren't exactly responsible at his age."
"Lorenzo seems like he's stepped up to the plate. With all that's gone on with Montrovia though, I worry about him."
"He seems to fancy Huntley," Aleksandr states.
"And?"
"And I'm thinking Montrovia would be lucky to have her for its queen."
"That would make his father proud." Malcolm smiles. Then he picks up his glass and touches it to his friend's. "To Montrovia."
I leave the room, emotions swirling, and try to act normal as I quickly make my way to my room. When I get there, I lie on my bed and try to make sense of it all. I want to talk to Ari about this. I know I should, but I can't tell him the truth. I would hurt him. Instead, I text Lorenzo even though he's probably still in a meeting.
Moments later, he is at my door, looking like he rushed directly here.
"What's wrong?" he asks the minute he sees my face.
I don't reply, just usher him into the room and shut the door tightly. Then I lead him into the bathroom and turn on the shower. I don't want to risk anyone overhearing anything.
"Is it true you're going to be betrothed to Lizzie?"
"Yes."
"Is that why you've been pushing to court me?"
"Huntley, I know our time together has been short, but I am in love with you. Before I met you, I would have gladly done my civic duty for my country and accepted an arranged marriage. We would have spent a few years conceiving heirs, and once that was done, I would have been free to have discreet affairs. But, now, the thought of marrying Lizzie turns my stomach. For I am in love with you. I desire no one else. You stimulate me in so many ways. You're brilliant and gorgeous and tough, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. I know you're in the middle of something, and I don't want to rush our relationship. But I do have a ticking clock. I must be married by my next birthday or give up the crown."
"When will your engagement to Lizzie be announced?"
"Soon, unfortunately. Honestly, I have considered giving up the crown for you, but I am unsure if you return my affection."
I swallow. "I learned something today. Something I have to tell you about. I need advice, and I trust you."
He pulls me into his arms. "All I want to know right now, Huntley, is if you love me."
I look into his eyes, and I cannot lie. Not about this. But I still can't say those three simple words. "I am afraid that I do."
He kisses me. It's a hard, passionate kiss.
One that makes me sad.
Because I know I shouldn't have said what I did. I should be encouraging him to marry Lizzie. To focus on his country, not worry about his heart. I fear that I will do nothing but break it.
When our kiss is over, he keeps me close. "Now that we have that resolved, what did you need to tell me?"
"I believe that Ares Von Allister told my mother that my brother had died at birth and then gave him to a general as a bribe to have our government build something called the TerraSphere in Iraq."
"He gave his own son away?"
"Yes. I know my mother would never have agreed to it. She mourned every year on my birthday. She once told me that they never let her see him. That it never allowed her to grieve his loss properly. Now, I understand why they didn't; he was still alive. I know I should tell Ari the truth, but I just can't bring myself to do it."
"It's understandable that you don't want to hurt him, Lee, but if it were me, I would want to know. It's part of his heritage. And, based on what you said, it might be important in your case."
I cock my head. "How so?"
"I want to help you unravel all of this, but I must be careful in how I go about it. When I left you earlier, I was going to speak to the heads of the Montrovian royal
forces, but after much consideration, I decided to delay that conversation."
"Why?"
"Because you got me thinking about my uncle's and father's deaths. Add to that the things Ophelia planned to do, including feeding me to the sharks, and it's all fishy. Pun intended. Everything happened so quickly after that--my father's death, my coronation, taking on the duties of my country--and I didn't take the time to process it all. I didn't see that it could all be connected. And it hit me; what if it isn't some kind of terrorist attack? What if there is a plot inside my own government or military?"
I blow out a deep breath of air, the weight of it settling in. "That wouldn't be good. Do you think you have a traitor in your midst?"
"I'm not sure, but the fact that Clarice was killed after Ophelia means she knew something and was silenced. So I did what you suggested and contacted Mossad. I have to be careful about who I trust. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to attend the tennis championship with you this afternoon. They are sending a high-level liaison to my home in London, where I have a secure facility in which to share sensitive information. I desperately need to know what they might know as well as help in uncovering the plot."
