He glanced around, as though to make sure they weren’t being overheard. "Vargas understands the importance of this trade treaty to Ecuador and its importance to Vargas. We know O'Donnell plans to move in, bringing manufactured goods and purchasing raw materials. We also know that you lack the infrastructure, the logistics and transportation to make it work. You would have to build those. Vargas has them already."
Surprised, Brenna asked, "Are you proposing a business alliance? I thought the Latin American Consortium didn't want O'Donnell in South America."
"I'm proposing an exploration of possibilities, an investigation of synergies. Yes, many members of the Consortium would rather you stay out, but those same members have invited CBW in too far. We don't want to be dominated by any outsiders.”
He glanced around again and lowered his voice. “An O'Donnell presence might help to balance things, if we can find common ground. You have alliances throughout the world, and yet you allow smaller Clans to remain independent and treat them fairly, as equals. What we are seeing from CBW is not an alliance of equals."
"General, I'm not the one you should be talking to."
"Please, call me Carlos. I would hope that you will allow me to call you Brenna.” He smiled. “A man and a woman, a single eligible man and a single eligible woman, can meet together, have dinner in a romantic setting, and no one will see conspiracies. But if I was to approach Callista O'Donnell, the Center for a Better World and the South American Consortium would be on my father's doorstep in a minute, demanding answers."
Brenna returned his smile and reached out to touch his hand, "Carlos, are you saying you'd like to see me again? I'm flattered."
He studied her, then his smile brightened, "Why, yes, I would like to see you again. When do you think you might be free?"
“I'm going home this weekend to visit my family, but I'll be back in two weeks. I'd love to have dinner with you again."
"I shall look forward to it. As you say, breathlessly."
They laughed and the mood lightened considerably. Their conversation turned to other things, but in the course of the evening, Carlos’ curiosity overcame his discretion several times. Perhaps it was his military training, but he was fascinated with the battle Brenna and her security force had fought to defend themselves in the streets of Paris several months earlier. Brenna gave him vague answers and tried to steer the conversation in other directions.
But at one point, he made a statement that almost panicked her.
“You know, CBW speculates that the same woman who was throwing lightning bolts in Paris was also responsible for destroying one of their teams in Spencerville, a suburb near here, last year. The description of the O’Donnell operative responsible for that matches you, but with red hair. Do your Gifts include chameleon-like changes?” It was said in a joking manner, but he watched her closely for her reaction.
“Carlos, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m sure if CBW has teams operating in O’Donnell territory, they shouldn’t be surprised if we object.”
Brenna, in disguise with red hair, had been kidnapped by a team hunting and killing succubi. She had escaped, channeling a lightning bolt to destroy her enemies. But no one outside of O’Donnell should know that. Brenna was the only survivor, and few people even inside her Clan knew of the operation.
When they left the restaurant and her limo pulled up, she turned to him and stepped close, pressing herself against him.
"I did have a wonderful evening, Carlos. Bend down."
Looking puzzled, he did as he was told. She reached up and pulled his head lower, kissing him soundly. "If we’re going to play this game, we should play it well," she whispered as she broke the kiss. "You never know, you might even enjoy it."
When she got home, she told Rebecca about her conversation with Carlos, but she did it mentally. He was not well suited for diplomacy, or espionage, and in the course of the evening had said several things that worried her about O'Donnell's security. She informed Rebecca of this as well, and her friend was obviously disturbed.
Feeling she should let people she trusted in West Virginia know what had happened, she decided to try contacting her grandfather. Seamus could reach telepathically from West Virginia to DC easily and she also had the Distance Communication Gift, but her mind was still more than a decade from fully maturing and her power was still growing. It was only the prevous summer that she first was able to reach Baltimore from DC.
Grandfather?
Yes, Brenna. Are you home? I thought you weren't coming in until this weekend?
Oh, no, there's something important, a couple of things ...
She went on to give him the information she had gleaned the previous evening, including her concerns about security.
Yes, Collin will be very concerned about that. No one should have been able to connect you with a redheaded succubus and a house in Spencerville. I'll inform him.
~~~
CHAPTER 4
May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far. - Irish Blessing
Collin drove Brenna and Rebecca from West Virginia to DC. They met Carlos that evening at a small Bistro in Georgetown. It was a very private place with romantic lighting and tables set far apart. Brenna often used it to meet men, particularly those who didn’t want to be seen out with a pretty young woman.
Collin had his arm around Brenna when Carlos walked in. Carlos hesitated, looking confused. Rebecca stepped toward him with a smile. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she kissed him on the cheek.
“About time you showed up,” she said, linking her arm with his. “These are my friends, Collin Doyle and Brenna O’Donnell.”
The hostess led them to a table in the corner.
“O’Donnell is interested in a discussion of various issues with Vargas,” Collin started after the waiter had taken their orders. “Since you contacted us, I’ll let you decide which issues you feel comfortable discussing.”
Carlos was nervous, and Brenna reached out and touched his hand, “Carlos, we have fifty Protectors within a block of this building. If a telepath comes anywhere near, we’ll know about it.”
“We had a cordon around you from the time you left the embassy. You weren’t followed,” Rebecca added.
Looking surprised and relieved, he relaxed. “You’re very efficient. I forget sometimes that this is your city and you have the manpower to ensure such things. I never feel quite as secure here as I do in Quito.”
He took a sip of his wine. “Mr. Doyle, as I was telling Brenna, Vargas sees tremendous opportunities both for the Clan and for Ecuador as a result of this new treaty. Some in the Consortium are not pleased. It could mean a change in our relative standing versus their own.”
“The Argentinians,” Collin stated.
“Yes, and the Brazilians, though the two Clans are also wary of each other. But the Argentines are heavily in bed with CBW, and the Europeans are moving to expand their influence. Vargas doesn’t see any benefits to becoming their vassals.”
“Do you seek to play us off against each other?” Collin asked.
“We have studied O’Donnell’s relationships with other Clans,” Carlos said, shaking his head. “Although several small Clans consider themselves under your protection, I don’t believe any of them feel they owe you fealty. I had occasion to speak with Michel de la Tour recently. He said O’Donnell has never made demands or pressured him and you deal fairly with him in your business transactions. I also ran into an Italian woman here in Washington that my mother knows. I was surprised to find that she now works for you. I was even more surprised when she said that her fealty is still to Federicci and Seamus O’Donnell doesn’t have a problem with it.”
There were more than one hund
red telepathic Clans around the world. The Federicci Clan in Italy and the de la Tour Clan in France were allied with O’Donnell both for mutual defense and in their business interests.
“Are you aware that Marie de la Tour is now working for me?” Brenna asked.
“No, I wasn’t. For O’Donnell Group?” Carlos’ eyebrows rose.
“For O’Donnell Development. She’s my vice president of marketing. One of our people in London recommended her. We hire only telepaths, but I’m not going to dismiss talent simply because they aren’t part of my Clan. It’s understood that her first loyalty is to her father. I pay for her services and expertise. I didn’t buy her soul.”
Carlos nodded, “And there you have the basic difference between O’Donnell and CBW. They want our souls.”
He took another sip of his drink and looked Collin directly in the face. “Mr. Doyle, we have excess transportation, warehousing and logistics capabilities throughout Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. We have strong business alliances in Columbia and Venezuela. A communications network is in place. O’Donnell would have to build all that from scratch to take advantage of the new opportunities you envision in South America. My father would be receptive to developing mutually profitable agreements for access to that infrastructure.”
“We’re always interested in exploring mutually profitable opportunities,” Collin said cautiously.
Carlos nodded again. “In exchange for very favorable terms, we would ask for an agreement similar to those you have with de la Tour, O’Byrne and Federicci.”
Collin took a deep breath and sat back in his seat. Studying his face, Brenna knew that Carlos had offered something beyond what he had been expecting.
“General de Vargas,” Collin leaned forward, “are you sure you understand what you’re asking? You’re a military man. Surely you realize the ramifications of such an agreement.”
“As a military man, I have discussed this in great depth with my father, my uncles and my brothers. I thoroughly understand what it would mean. We feel as though we have very few choices, and an approach to O’Donnell was the decision. We think this path, dangerous as it may be, gives us the best chance to retain our independence.”
“You would be committing to provide men and support if we call on you,” Collin said.
“Yes.”
“There was a Clan in Spain that failed in their support,” Rebecca spoke for the first time. “That Clan is no more.”
He looked at her with surprise, “You’re very young to know of something that happened so long ago.”
“Rebecca has taken the role of Clan librarian and historian,” Brenna informed him. “It’s something she does for pleasure in her spare time.”
He nodded, “The Cardozos. O’Donnell called them to arms in 1936 and they switched sides. I believe Brenna’s father led the force that explained their error.”
Rebecca glanced at Brenna, then nodded. “O’Donnell has always been good to their friends, but Seamus is a very bad enemy to have.”
What happened? Brenna sent a spear to Rebecca.
Looking uncomfortable, but seeing that Brenna wasn’t going to back off, Rebecca replied the same way, Your dad took three hundred Protectors and wiped them out, every man and woman over the age of sixteen. They sold the children to other Clans. Your mother’s history said it was done as an object lesson.
Brenna looked sick, and as their dinner was served, excused herself and went to the ladies’ room.
“Is she all right?” Carlos asked. Collin also looked questioningly at Rebecca.
“She wanted to know what happened to the Cardozo Clan. What am I supposed to do, try to lie to her? It made me sick when I read it. It still makes me sick to think about it.”
She took a deep breath, “Would I have done it to Gordon? Yes, if that’s what it took to keep Brenna alive, to keep Cindy safe.”
It had been only a few months since attacks on O’Donnell by the English Gordon Clan had nearly led to open warfare. Fear of O’Donnell’s military might caused Gordon’s own European allies to step in. They assassinated Lord Gordon and reorganized his Clan.
Rebecca locked eyes with Carlos, “We don’t play games, Senor. The English tried to exterminate us. The Romans tried to exterminate us. The Inquisition tried to exterminate us. We remember. When we met at the reception, you seemed amused by me when you asked me about Paris. I assure you, Gordon’s men in Paris were not amused.”
Looking into Rebecca’s face, Carlos saw a fierce determination. Suddenly, to her shock and his, she dropped her first three shields.
Read me, General, she sent him on a spear.
Cautiously, he entered her mind. What he saw there was enough to drown him. A vulnerable young girl with the power and determination to pull down civilizations, if necessary, to protect the Clan who had taken her in as a wilder and accepted her as though she was born to them. The men she had killed in defense of herself and Brenna. A fierce pride. She gave him a full five seconds, then slammed her shields back into place, shields that he knew he lacked the power to test. He stared at her wide-eyed.
Brenna returned to the table and looked at her plate. Signaling the waiter, she asked him about their selection of Irish whiskeys.
“Tullamore Dew, please, a double, neat.” Turning to Carlos, she told him, “If you’re sincere, if your family is sincere, then …” she tailed off, her face lost expression, and her voice changed.
“General de Vargas, this is Seamus O’Donnell. I’ve been listening through my granddaughter to your discussion. If you’re sincere, then tell Don Alphonso that I’m willing to discuss an alliance. Make arrangements for one of my people to visit with him in Quito. If our talks are productive, we’ll get together for Thanksgiving dinner at my estate.”
Brenna’s face returned to normal, and when the waiter brought her whiskey, she downed half of it in a gulp and picked up her fork. Then she noticed the other three staring at her.
“Yes, he’s been here the whole time, with Callie, but they’re gone now. He hitchhikes with me occasionally. I’d rather you keep that to yourselves.” She took a bite of her meal.
~~~
Carlos called a couple of days later, asking Brenna out to dinner. When they met at the bistro in Georgetown, she expressed her surprise.
“I would have thought it would take longer for you to have word back from your family. Being up on Capitol Hill, I’m used to people discussing things to death before anything happens.”
He colored slightly and gave her a sheepish grin. “I haven’t heard anything yet. I just wanted to see you. I hope you don’t think I drew you here under false pretenses.”
Smiling, Brenna replied, “Well, the General thinks of things besides business. I thought you weren’t interested in me, or is this just an excuse to see Rebecca again?”
“Oh, no,” he chuckled, casting a glance across the room where Rebecca sat with a man, ordering dinner, “that one is pretty, but much too, how should I say it, feminist for me. We Latinos prefer our women feminine, not feminist.” Rebecca didn’t look unfeminine tonight, wearing a form-fitting silk dress.
It was Brenna’s turn to chuckle, “My, General, I hope you don’t miss assessments of your enemies on the battlefield so badly. I’m actually a tomboy. I just play the part of a femme fatale in Washington.”
Raising his glass, he toasted, “You play the part very well. I shall have to nominate you for an Academy Award.”
Giving him a coy smile, she sipped her drink. “I do have to say that if I was casting the part of a handsome, dashing military man, you would be exactly what I had in mind. Tell me a bit about yourself, the real you, your real family, not the creative fiction you have out on the internet.”
During dinner, they exchanged information about their lives. She discovered he was the heir to the Vargas Clan, forty-five years old, with a younger brother and older sister. In conversation, he also referred to other brothers and sisters a couple of times, but she didn’t ask him to elaborat
e. In many telepathic families, both husband and wife might have children outside the marriage.
She was surprised at the amount of control Vargas had over the government of Ecuador, and the influence they exerted in the governments of other countries around them.
“You do know that CBW controls a large block in the German government, don’t you?” he said in reply to her query. “In actuality, it puzzles the other Clans that O’Donnell allows the governments in your territories so much freedom. You could do much more to control them, but you settle for playing influence games. For instance, if you wanted the Ecuadorian treaty to pass, why didn’t you just compel the votes you needed?”
“Ah, my unsubtle General, and are we also to compel the press, the thousands of lobbyists, their allies and campaign contributors? Should we go to each of their home districts and convince all of their constituents that the treaty is a good idea? No, this country is too large, too diverse, and the scrutiny on government is too intense to be so blatant, even if we did have the manpower for that. It’s better to use our influence quietly, subtly, and leave no fingerprints.”
“Brenna O’Donnell, sending you to convince a politician contains no subtlety at all. I’m sure you could convince a corpse to dance, if that corpse were male.”
“Why, Carlos, you do say the sweetest things,” she smiled and batted her eyelashes.
“And you do Scarlett O’Hara very well,” he responded. “Oh, but I forgot, she was Irish too, wasn’t she?”
Brenna leaned forward, the corners of her mouth quirking upward as she watched his eyes momentarily dip. He had done an excellent job of pretending to ignore her cleavage through dinner. “Senor de Vargas, I could give a corpse an erection,” she whispered. “Would you like a demonstration?”
His eyes widened and he studied her face, trying to figure out if she was teasing him spitefully, or teasing him the way he hoped she was. “Senorita O’Donnell, I would be open to anything you might propose.”
Succubus Rising, An Urban Fantasy (The Telepathic Clans Saga) Page 4
