The Society Page 9

  "Why?"

  "Because smart men have always been prepared for the end of the world as we know it. Fortunately, we've never needed it, but the world is a scary place. Population keeps increasing. Pretty soon, if we don't make some changes, we're going to cause our own extinction." He glances at his watch. "Oh, we'd better get back. Our chopper transfer to London is due to leave in a few minutes."

  We walk back in silence. My mind is still reeling from the sight of all the gold bricks lined up--not to mention the stacks of metal vault drawers with the names of seeds on them, the barrels of water, and the cache of food, medical supplies, and weapons. Does this Society know something the rest of us don't? Should we all be preparing for the end of the world?

  It's not until we've arrived in London at the Queen's Club that Peter finally says, "Did I traumatize you? Are you sitting there, thinking of all the ways the world could end?"

  "Kind of."

  He gives me a smile. "I felt the same way when my dad showed me."

  "Does The Society want the world as we know it to end?"

  "Absolutely not. But they know that there is evil in the world, and despite their best efforts to maintain peace and keep the world safe for all, there are some things even they can't stop."

  "Like what?"

  "A nuclear holocaust. The zombie apocalypse," he says with a laugh. "It doesn't really matter. What matters is that, if something horrific did happen, The Society would be there to pick up the pieces and, once again, help create a peaceful world."

  "In some ways, it's too bad we don't have one world government that could keep the world safe."

  "That's why the United Nations was formed," he says.

  "Except the UN doesn't have a military force."

  "Therein lies the problem," he says. "Granted their member states can approve war through lawful authorization, but as with all the governments of the world, it's a whole lot of politics."

  "Your dad told me The Society cuts through politics to help guide the world in the right direction."

  "Must be his standard pitch," Peter says, leading me to our seats.

  "Is your dad making you join?"

  "If I'm accepted, it will be my decision. I know my dad sees me as a disappointment. Thinks I don't have enough drive. It's just that we aren't interested in the same things. I'd like to save our environment from his companies who seem hell-bent on destroying it--with a few exceptions."

  "Let me guess; you are pretending not to want to go to Iraq to see the TerraSphere, but really, you can't wait?"

  "That about sums it up."

  "Tell me about the project. All I really know is that my father conceived the idea, and there was a joint venture between our companies that made it happen. Also, your father suggested I tag along with you on your trip to go see it. Would you be okay with that?"

  "Hell yeah. It'd make it more fun. I can send you the plans and all that, but they are held close to the vest. There's a lot of money riding on this. While there are other similar ideas and one such place was even built in Florida, this is a fully functional city with over three thousand residents. The cost of building such cities is actually pretty low. It's self-sustaining, simply by harvesting solar and wind power and converting it to energy, and it has a small environmental footprint."

  "Sounds really cool."

  "It's also the city of the future. Can you even imagine how much money our stocks will be worth when we sell these cities to the world?"

  "Are you in it for the money, or the environment?" I ask him.

  "I've read a lot of what Bill Gates has to say about the population crisis we are currently in. We're reaching critical mass, and if we don't do something to lower our effects on the environment, none of us will be around, and I won't get to enjoy all that gold my father has stashed. And I don't know about you, but I plan to enjoy it immensely."

  I can't help but smile. Peter is both altruistic and a brazen consumer. It's kind of fun.

  "What do you think, Huntley? You with me?" he asks.

  "Yeah, I think I am."

  Ari and Daniel are playing pool in the billiards room. Both have completed their interviews with multiple members of The Society.

  "You planning to go through with the initiation?" Ari asks.

  Daniel shrugs as he breaks. Once the balls are spread across the table and a stripe falls in a corner pocket, he speaks, "I can't think of any reason not to. Based on the little I was told, it's basically a boys' club."

  Ari laughs. "For the very wealthy."

  "I think it's more about influence. Sure, money helps, but so can key positions in various governments. It's my understanding, they also recruit scientists. Honestly, if it weren't for my friendship with Peter and the fact that we are both part of the Skull and Bones at Yale, I doubt I would have been asked. I'm a swimmer who hasn't graduated college yet."

  "Whose father happens to be the president of the United States."

  Daniel takes a shot and misses. Then he grabs a beer from a bucket that was set out for them. "Want one?" he asks.

  "Sure," Ari says as he lines up a shot. He misses, too.

  "We both suck," Daniel says with a laugh.

  "It's not a video game," Ari agrees. "I find it interesting that no women are in the group."

  "Peter told me that The Society was started back in, like, the 1400s. Women were viewed differently back then. Plus, can you imagine? Women can bring out the best and worst in men. Although it would be fun if Huntley were part of the group."

  "What about Lorenzo? Do you think he's already in?" Ari asks.

  "They mentioned there are members of royal families, so probably. You know about his situation, right?"

  "About the arranged marriage with Lizzie?"

  "Yep. It sucks."

  "For him. Why does it suck for you? I thought you liked my sister. If he were engaged, he'd be out of her life."

  "Does your sister tell you everything?" Daniel asks.

  "I think so. We have become quite close."

  Daniel places his cue stick on the rack then turns and says, "It's a gorgeous day, and I'm going to be stuck on a plane for six hours. Want to go out on the terrace?"

  "Sounds good to me," Ari says, doing the same.

  Once they are outside, Daniel asks, "Do you know Huntley and I have hooked up?"

  "Yes."

  "And you know she's maybe in love with Lorenzo?"

  "I can see that she has feelings for him," Ari says carefully. It's not like he can tell him that Huntley has been sticking close to Lorenzo because he is her mission. "But she has not confessed to being in love with him yet."

  "As she shouldn't. She's only known him a short time!"

  "About the same amount of time she's known you," Ari counters.

  "Yeah, but I'm not pressuring her to marry me."

  "And you think Lorenzo is?" Ari asks.

  This is something that Huntley has not mentioned to him. She was upset to learn that Lorenzo might end up marrying Lizzie. He wonders if such a relationship will affect their future missions. Although, lately, he's been wondering if they should even accept future missions.

  "Do you think he loves her?"

  "I think he doesn't want to marry someone he didn't choose," Daniel scoffs.

  "So it's a control thing? You don't believe he loves her?"

  Ari disagrees. He's seen the way Lorenzo looks at his sister. And, more importantly, he's seen the way she's drawn to Lorenzo. He also finds it interesting that she had no problem sleeping with Daniel to help their mission, but she won't sleep with Lorenzo to get close to him. She said it was part of keeping him interested, but Ari's always known there is more to it. She has grown to care about Lorenzo. Considering what she's told Ari about her training, that goes against everything she was taught.

  "I don't know. I'm competitive by nature. There's a part of me that wants Huntley just to win. I sort of feel like Lorenzo is the same. Like it's all a game. He's a playboy, used to getting whatever he wants
."

  "The same has been said about you."

  "True, but I'm still friends with almost every woman I've ever slept with. Lorenzo is not. I don't want to see Huntley get hurt."

  Ari smiles. "I think my sister can take care of herself."

  "And, on that note," Daniel says, glancing at his phone, "my car should be here. I gave Huntley an open invitation to stay at the White House. It goes for you, too."

  "Thanks," Ari says, shaking Daniel's hand. As he watches him walk away, he studies the Olympic athlete and wonders what Daniel wanted to say but didn't.

  Ari sits down, feeling the need to think things through. It seems like every time he makes an assumption, he's proven wrong. But one thing he agrees with Huntley on is, their pasts are directly related to their current mission.

  He just has to figure out how.

  To my surprise, Terrance shows up at the tennis match with a pretty girl on his arm. She has straight-blown brunette hair and is wearing a conservative floral dress, but I can see numerous tattoos peeking out from under it.

  "Hey," he says to me. "Ari said he and Daniel weren't able to attend, so he gave me their tickets."

  "That's awesome," I say, standing up to give him a hug.

  When they sit down in the seats directly behind us, I introduce them to Peter. "Peter, I'd like you to meet Terrance. He's a computer genius."

  "Way of the world, bro," he responds. Then he turns to Terrance's date. "I'm Peter. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting before."

  "I'm Olivia," she says.

  "No wonder Terrance has a crush," I blurt out, causing Terrance to turn a bright shade of red. Peter looks confused, so I clarify, "Terrance and Olivia work together, and I've heard a lot about her, but we've never officially met."

  Olivia offers me a warm smile and then turns to give Terrance a flirty little punch in the shoulder.

  "I think this calls for champagne," Peter says, excusing himself to get some.

  "What are you two doing here?" I whisper the second he leaves.

  "We have news," Terrance says. "First, congrats. You have a brother."

  "You got the DNA tests back already?"

  "I put a rush on them. And the results prove that you are both the children of Kelley Bond."

  "How were you able to get DNA from our mother?"

  "It was brilliant really," Olivia states. "We were able to have DNA extracted from the envelope she left you in the safety deposit box in Zurich. When she licked the envelope to close it, she left DNA. The question now is, who is your father?"

  "And I think I have that covered, too. Ari said there were earbuds in the shooting range at the DC home and that they were labeled as Ares's. If no one else has used them, we just might be able to determine the truth."

  I take a deep breath. "Did you tell Ari yet?"

  "Not yet. We're actually here on official business. I just handed off a packet to William Gallagher about the money man. He's been tough to find, even knowing his name. The guy lives in the shadows, but Pla--I mean, Olivia here finally tracked him down through a bunch of shell corporations. MI-6 will use that data to figure out how best to get to the man."

  "Intrepid is here?" I ask, realizing I'm excited that I might get to work with him again.

  "Well, at least, he was," Olivia says.

  I see Peter directing a steward back with a bucket of champagne and know we don't have much time.

  "Olivia, I'm wondering if you are able to hack into Langley."

  She rubs her hands together. "Now, you're talking."

  "So, yes?"

  "What do you need?" she asks, still not committing.

  "I want to know everything the CIA has on Blake and Charlotte Cassleberry as well as Ares Von Allister. Peter's dad told me that he was under constant government scrutiny. I'd like to know why."

  "You got it," she and Terrance say in unison.

  Then Terrance leans forward and whispers, "The money man is as bad as they come. Think twice before you go after him."

  I want to ask him why, but Peter is in front of us, handing out flutes.

  A short time later, I excuse myself to use the loo, hoping to find Intrepid.

  "Welcome to my country," he says, taking my hand and kissing it in greeting, as if we've never been here at the same time before.

  "It's nice to see you, William," I say politely.

  "What are your plans for tomorrow?" he asks.

  "I'm supposed to attend the Royal Ascot races over the next few day. I'll even be wearing a hat."

  "Perfect. My team is putting together a plan for intercepting the man who paid The Priest. We'll be in the underbelly of the world, and the only way we can possibly catch him is to use you as bait."

  "Like a honeypot operation? Am I supposed to pretend to seduce this man so as to catch him off guard?"

  "Not exactly," he says cryptically. "I'm still hoping to find an alternate solution because I'm not at all happy with the current plan. I just can't put you in that much danger."

  "You saw me in action, Gallagher."

  "Yeah, that's what scares me." And then he's gone.

  As I'm walking back to my seat from the tented area outside, I hear someone yelling my name. I turn to see the British lads Ari and I met in Montrovia. They are all dressed in impeccable British fashion, but they have their ties loosened and are throwing back pints, based on the table littered with empties.

  "Hey, boys," I say, sauntering over to them.

  I'm greeted with hugs and kisses from everyone, except Wesley, who keeps glancing around, looking nervous.

  I kiss both his cheeks and then whisper, "Are you married?"

  He lets out a big sigh like he was holding his breath. "Bloody hell, no."

  "So then, you have a girlfriend you didn't tell me about, she's here with you, and you are freaking out."

  "Yeah, a little."

  The boys all boo and tell him he's wet and a wuss.

  I grab the pint out of Wesley's hand, chug a bit of it down, slam it on the table, and then hold out my hands. "All right, you lads, it's time you knew the truth about Wesley and me."

  They hoot and holler like I'm about to give them all the dirty details.

  "While I did leave with the cocky lad, I'm afraid nothing happened between us. Nary even a kiss. If you recall, he was quite sloshed. He lay on the bed and promptly passed out."

  "Bullocks," Wesley says.

  "Do you recall anything other than that?" I ask.

  He narrows his eyes at me. "I do recall waking up to you in my bed. And I recall you not being fully dressed."

  "Do any of you happen to remember what I was wearing that night?"

  "Oh, I do," the redhead says. "It was that pink number. Little bands of fabric." He stops speaking and motions with his hands across his own body to show which parts the bands were covering.

  "It was couture and fully beaded as well. If I had slept in it, it would have been ruined. It was late. I didn't want to call my driver, so I took off my dress and simply slept there."

  "But, the next morning, you acted like something had happened between us."

  "You were severely hungover. I was just being nice."

  This brings a chorus of riotous laughter.

  "That's so wicked," one of the boys says. "Wesley has felt utterly guilty for weeks."

  "Well, you did invite me back to your place," I say, not completely letting him off the hook. "If I were your girlfriend, that wouldn't have made me very happy. But I won't tell if you won't."

  "And what happens in Montrovia stays in Montrovia," the rest of the group chimes in.

  "And what exactly happened in Montrovia that needs to stay there?" a voice says from behind us.

  The boys' eyes all get huge, wondering who caught them discussing it.

  I turn around and come face-to-face with a young British girl of about sixteen, clad in a knit lilac dress that hugs her body in a way that makes her look much older.

  "Bloody hell, Isla," Wesley s
ays. Then he turns to me and says, "Huntley Von Allister, meet my sister, Isla Windsor."

  "It's nice to meet you."

  "Did you meet my brother and his band of merry misfits in Montrovia?"

  "Yes, I was in town for the race."

  "And what happened there that these idiots don't want their girlfriends knowing about?"

  "Well, there was some gambling," I say with a smirk. "And there was some drinking. But, as far as what they don't want their girlfriends to know, that's easy. They were referring to the fact that we didn't go to the prince's party."

  Isla looks aghast. "Why ever not?"

  "Because they told me it would be boring."

  "But you could have met the prince of Montrovia! He's so handsome! And, now, he's, like, the king!"

  "I had already met him. We're actually very good friends," I mention.

  Her hand goes to her mouth. "Oh my word. You're her!"

  "Yeah, I am."

  Wesley takes charge, shooing his sister away. "You just made her life," he tells me.

  "Awesome. Well, it was nice seeing you all. I need to get back in there."

  "Who are you here with?" Wesley asks.

  "Peter Prescott."

  "Are you dating him, too?"

  "No. Lorenzo was supposed to be here but had some business to attend to. I've never been before, so Peter offered to be my escort for the day."

  "Now that my sister and her friends know you are here, you'll probably need a bodyguard." Wesley laughs.

  Doubtful, I think.

  "Do you have plans for dinner?" Peter asks me when the matches are over.

  Terrance and Olivia left long ago, hopefully back to their computers to start hacking for information.

  "I'm supposed to meet up with Lorenzo. I have no idea what kind of plans he has made, but you're welcome to join us."

  "That's all right. I was thinking of going back to the country tonight, but Allie is still hungover. Or so she says. She might just want to be alone with your brother."

  "Does that bother you?"

  "Not in the least. I actually got invited to a little get-together tonight. I'd like to go, but I didn't want to just ditch you."

  "I appreciate that. I thought I would stay at Lorenzo's tonight. I assume we'll just helicopter out to the Royal Ascot race tomorrow."

  "Sounds like a plan. I have a driver picking us up. Why don't I drop you off at his place first?"

  "That would be great."