“What kind of facilities would you need?” Noel asked.
“Well, a CAT scan and PET scan, a cyclotron, there are some mobile ones on the market now, a diagnostic lab that would expand Callie’s and Elsie’s lab facilities, things like that. It would need an additional power supply over what we have now, some of those machines draw a lot of electricity. If I can get Seamus to share that cost with me, we could build a modern facility that would enhance the valley’s power grid.”
“Where do you intend to get that kind of money?” Jill asked.
Brenna looked at Callie, “You said that gold just sits there, not generating any income.” Callie nodded. “I can sell a portion of that, enough for construction and equipment and salaries for a few years. Finding the right people is more of a concern than money. I can’t run a cyclotron so I’ll need engineers and nuclear scientists. If I can find telepaths that can run it for me, who will take a salary and live out here in return for freedom to do their own research, then I can make it work.”
Noel looked at Callie, then at Jill. “You’re right, she’s even more impressive with her clothes on, and that’s saying a lot.”
Brenna blushed.
They questioned her extensively for the next half hour. She discussed her interests in the Clan’s future, their operations in Washington, and her desire to travel.
Feeling an undercurrent to this discussion, she folded her arms under her breasts, sat back in her chair and looked back and forth between them. “Now, suppose you three conspirators tell me what you were discussing when I came in, and what this conversation is all about.”
Their collective demeanor was that of a group of naughty children caught doing something they shouldn’t have.
Finally Callie spoke, “We were discussing something you don’t want to hear about, something that’s going to set you off and send you into Seamus’ office. Brenna, I’m going to ask you not to do that. The only way I’ll be honest with you is if you promise to keep our conversation confidential, within this group. It’s Clan politics, things you don’t know about or understand at this point, and we don’t need you doing any damage just because you get your nose out of joint.”
Brenna surveyed them, seeing the same gravity on all their faces. “Maybe you shouldn’t tell me. I don’t think I want to get caught up in all that anyway. I’m perfectly happy just being a kid and letting Seamus and Callie make all the big decisions.”
The obvious discomfort and squirming at that statement made her reconsider. Watching them, her own discomfort started to grow.
“Okay, tell me. I promise not to go whining to Seamus, and I won’t shoot my mouth off in front of anyone else. But a warning, the man that’s in my body every night is also in my mind. I can hide things from Collin if I want to, but I’d rather not build that kind of wall between us.” She speared Jill with her eyes, “And if you think I have any secrets from Rebecca, get those thoughts out of your head right now.”
She looked at Callie, “As for Irina, she doesn’t know or care about this type of thing, and I don’t know if she ever will. Her needs and desires are something completely different.”
“You know she’s in love with you,” Jill said.
“I’m hoping it’s just a young girl’s infatuation, but if not I’ll deal with it. At least she’s not gay. A lesbian succubus is an impossibility, and though she may be bi, so far my relationship with Collin has her standing back. But that’s my personal life and has nothing to do with anything you’re concerned with.”
Callie spent some time considering how to answer Brenna’s questions.
“You know I’m not happy with my role as heir. It’s not something I ever wanted, but I assumed it when Jack died because there wasn’t another viable candidate.”
Brenna sat up straight on the edge of her chair. “Whoa. Don’t even go there. Jesus, Callie, I’m still a kid. Who in their right minds would consider naming me as heir when I’ve only been part of the Clan for a few months?”
She looked at their faces, and realized that’s exactly what they were considering.
“Wait a minute. What do you have to do with Seamus naming an heir? Isn’t that up to him?”
“Not really,” Noel answered. “He has a veto, but the Council does also. The Clan isn’t a democracy but it’s not a dictatorship. Seamus holds his position not only by birth and personal strength and wealth, but because the Clan Council backs him. We have the power to depose him, or his heir, although that would never happen. But in the future, say if Seamus wanted to name William or Jared as heir, the Council would never go along with it.”
Jill took up the explanation, “Seamus led the Clan here in the 1890s, and has done an incredible job building a single clan into a worldwide power. The Clan is far more than the O’Donnell Clan now. He did it by a combination of personal power and charisma, shrewd business decisions and investments, and a ruthless devotion to protecting his own when necessary. His vision has attracted a lot of talented and dedicated people over the past century plus.”
“Brenna, Seamus is getting older,” Callie said. “He has another four or five decades at most. The Clan needs a leader, another visionary to lead us into the twenty-second century. That’s not just talk. All of us will probably see it. Seamus foresaw the explosion of technology, of American power, of the development of a new kind of civilization a hundred years ago and it’s served us well.”
“The next hundred years will see change accelerate.” Jill stood and paced. “Where do we fit in? What will our role be? I can’t see it. I mean, I think I can see part of it, but I’m a tactical thinker. We need someone who sees big pictures, a strategic thinker who isn’t afraid to take risks.
“Callie and I talked before I came for Thanksgiving. She told me she wanted to step down, and that was no surprise. But I thought naming you was crazy, and for just the reasons you cited. But you sold me. The first time we sat down to talk, I went and told her she was right. Do you know what you said that convinced me I wanted to follow you for the rest of my life?”
Stunned, Brenna shook her head.
“When I asked you about that operation you mounted against Gless. I asked if you ever considered that it might not be smart, that you could have sat back and let the Protectors hunt him down and you’d have been safe. Do you remember your answer?”
“I said it might not have been smart, but it was the right thing to do.”
Jill nodded. “The person I want leading this Clan is someone whose soul is the true heir to what Seamus has in his soul. I want to follow someone who does what’s right, and I’ll follow her into hell with a popgun.”
Brenna felt numb. Noel and Callie were nodding in agreement. “So what does that mean, what are you talking about doing? Hell, I don’t know if I’d do the Samantha thing again. Looking back on it, it was incredibly stupid and got people killed.”
Callie poured herself some more tea. “Are you aware your grandparents aren’t part of our Clan? Fergus is Lord O’Byrne, and the O’Byrne Clan is allied with us, but not part of us. When your parents were married, the understanding between Fergus and Seamus was the heir to both Clans would come from Jack and Maureen’s children. You’re already the O’Byrne heir, although I’m not sure Fergus has discussed it with you.”
Feeling more and more like she’d fallen down the proverbial rabbit hole, Brenna shook her head. She hadn’t felt this disoriented since the night she’d walked into the Clan house in Baltimore for the first time.
“Unless I step down, Seamus can’t propose a new heir,” Callie said. “The annual Council meeting is scheduled for London in late April. I’m planning on proposing you to replace me. That will put the opposition off balance and they’ll have to react on their feet. The reason for not talking to Seamus is, as long as he’s officially unaware of this, he doesn’t have to put it on the agenda.”
Callie leaned forward, her eyes pleading, “Brenna, Dad and I have talked about this, in a discreet, roundabout fashion. We can’
t talk about it directly, but he knows you’re the future of this Clan. The three of us wouldn’t even be discussing it if we thought he disagreed.”
Abruptly, Brenna stood, “I need to think about it. This is too much, too quick. And you were going to spring this on me in April? Out of the blue? Jesus, Callie, you should know better. Shit. You don’t want it, what the hell makes you think I do? You’re not even asking me what I want.”
Callie’s face was bright red and she couldn’t meet Brenna’s eyes.
“You thought you’d just cram this down my throat, didn’t you? You don’t want me ‘storming in to Seamus’,” Brenna gave a disgusted snort. “You knew what my reaction would be. This was your plan? It makes my plan for capturing Gless look good. Right now I wouldn’t put the three of you in charge of planning a slumber party.”
She fixed Jill and Noel with her eyes. “I don’t like surprises. I react rather badly to them, as a matter of fact. Not always smart, but you’re the ones who think I’m so damn smart. You think you want to follow me? Be careful what you ask for. You may find I’m not as laid back and benevolent as Seamus is.”
Brenna’s face was flushed, her voice harsh. “Jesus, Callie, get a fucking clue. No surprises. No. Goddamned. Surprises. Got it?”
Walking to the door, she turned. “Jill, I’m the manipulator, not the manipulated. I’m nobody’s puppet. I’ve tried to tell people around here that I’m not all sweetness and light but no one seems to listen. I kill people who piss me off, for God’s sake! I’m not happy with this at all.”
She turned and stomped out of the room. The table with the tea on it rose a foot off the floor, then dropped with a bang, rattling everything on it and spilling their tea.
Jill licked her lips. “You did say she had a temper.”
“She wasn’t that angry,” Noel said in a shaking voice. “She didn’t rise to the killing edge.”
Callie looked at Brenna’s retreating back. “She wasn’t kidding, you know. The sweetness, the generosity, the caring for people isn’t an act. But she does have a temper, and she is a manipulator. If she thinks she’s right, God help you if you get in her way. She won’t lie to you, but she’ll twist you every which way until you agree with her. And Jill, take the warning. Don’t ever try to get between her and Rebecca.
Brenna went looking for Rebecca and found her in her room putting on makeup for a date with Kallen’s nephew. “I need to talk with you. Can you postpone your date for a little bit?”
“Sure, you want to talk here?”
“No, let’s take a walk.”
When they were a couple hundred yards from the house, far enough that Brenna wasn’t worried about eavesdroppers, she told Rebecca, “There’s a group that wants to name me heir.”
“Uh-huh. I didn’t know anyone was opposed to it.”
“What?” Brenna stopped in her tracks and stared at Rebecca. “You knew?”
Puzzled, Rebecca told her, “I thought everyone knew. You said ‘group’. I didn’t know you meant a specific set of people. Hell, almost everyone expects that you’ll be named heir at some point. The staff all considers it to have happened already. We give you even more security than we do Callie. I know Karen and Caroline consider the designation a formality. I don’t understand what the problem is.”
“I don’t want to be the heir, I’m perfectly happy letting Callie do it.”
“But Callie isn’t happy and you’re far more qualified. People respect Callie, but people love you. They’ll follow you the way they do Seamus. Hell, the way you’re talking, it almost sounds like this is some kind of surprise.”
“It is a surprise. How come everyone seems to be discussing this and I don’t know anything about it?”
“God, you blow my mind sometimes. You pay enough attention to get everyone their heart’s desire for Christmas, but you have no idea how people see you, what people think about you. Callie’s been dropping hints that she wants out ever since you showed up, and she hasn’t been subtle about it. The only mystery is whether she’s going to announce she’s stepping down before the Council meeting in London or wait until the meeting.”
“You know they’re going to do it at the meeting?”
“Of course. They have to have the whole Council ratify it. Have you paid any attention to the Clan organization and structure stuff Collin and I have been trying to tell you?”
When they got back to the manor, Brenna knocked on Jill’s door. With an air of resignation, she told her aunt, “Rebecca says you’re overthinking things. I guess the only person who didn’t know what you’re planning to do is me. She was surprised you think anyone will oppose it. Other than me, of course.”
~~~
She entered her room and had no sooner closed the door than someone knocked. She opened it to find Irina and Siobhan standing there. “Brenna, Siobhan thinks she and I are cousins.”
Siobhan entered behind her. “More than think. How many succubi named Mairead O’Conner do you think died in the King David bombing in 1946?”
“One maybe?” Brenna said, taken aback. She had no idea what the King David bombing was.
“Exactly. Her grandmother and my aunt died that day and I’m telling her it’s the same person.”
~~~
Antonia sat in Seamus’ study and accepted a glass of wine. “Seamus, Federicci has always been grateful for O’Donnell’s support. If not for you, we probably would have been completely destroyed in 1958, and my brother and I remember.”
A sad look crossed her face. “But we’re not much of a force anymore, and although I’ll always be loyal to them, I’ve operated independently for the past fifty years. Being here, meeting your family, has me rethinking that. Specifically, meeting Brenna has me rethinking that.”
She took a sip of her wine and sat the glass on his desk. “I’m here to offer you my services, as a lawyer, a succubus, and specifically as a trainer for your granddaughter. She’s a special talent but also a special person. I think I have something to offer, and I’d like to be part of what you’ve built here.”
He regarded her and took a sip of his whiskey. “As you said, your family loyalty has to be first in your consideration. If it wasn’t, I’d question your values. So you can’t really join the O’Donnell Clan. But if you’d consider working for me on contract, say one year to start with ten two-year renewable options, at a million a year, would that be acceptable? Duties as assigned, of course. I wouldn’t ask you to fight for us, but if you ever volunteered, I wouldn’t turn you down. I remember that black day in Tuscany in 1957.”
She smiled. “That would be entirely acceptable. Thank you.”
He clinked his glass against hers. “Draw up the papers, madam lawyer.”
~~~
Chapter 2-10
I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass. – Maya Angelou
New Year’s Eve was informal at the manor since the true Clan New Year took place at Samhain. There were parties, of course, but no big formal affair.
Collin had grown up in the valley, as had many of Brenna’s friends. Invitations to parties all over the manor complex as well as in the village were sitting on her dresser.
They went around to the parties in the village first. It was snowing heavily, and the village looked like a picture postcard. Brenna hadn’t met many of Collin’s friends, but she had a wonderful time and met several people she thought might become friends.
They moved next to the bash at the Protector’s barracks, which was in full swing when they arrived. It was starting to degenerate from wild to debaucherous, and when they left, Rebecca tagged along.
The party in the ballroom at the manor had a band, and they planned on toasting the New Year there, then moving to Brenna’s room for final drinks. They danced a bit, then Collin was called away. Shortly thereafter, Jeremy and Robbie also left.
“What’s going on?” Brenna asked Rebecca.
“Some ki
nd of communications glitch I think. They’re having problems contacting all the posts on the perimeter. It happens sometimes with the weather.”
Irina had danced several times with two off-duty Protectors, and coming back to their table after one dance pulled Brenna aside.
“Would it bother you if I took off for a bit to drain a guy?”
“Oh, no. Go catch a Glow and we’ll see you at the room.”
Smiling, Irina went back to one of the men and they left through the kitchen door.
“Her taste in men is rather questionable sometimes,” Rebecca commented sourly. “That guy is a jerk.”
A man asked Brenna to dance. Before she made it back to the table, another intercepted her, and she went back out to the dance floor.
Rebecca saw the second man Irina was dancing with go out the kitchen door. She didn’t like either of them. They had given her a hard time when she first joined, and had been extremely rude when she declined to sleep with them. Kallen had beaten one of them for calling her a whore. Seeing both of them going off with Irina bothered her, so she got up to follow and make sure her friend was okay.
She walked into the kitchen and found the men, but no Irina.
“I was looking for my friend. Did she leave?”
“Yeah, we fucked her and she left,” the one named Seth said with a sneer.
That set off major alarm bells for Rebecca. Irina had gone seeking a Glow, and both of these guys were still standing. “Did she go out the back? It’s snowing.” She started toward the outside door.
Seth moved into her path. She felt Pete at her back.
“She said she was going home,” Seth said.
Rebecca started to tell him to get the hell out of her way, but stopped when he pulled a pistol and pointed it at her. The two of them assaulted her shields, and with the guns pointed at her, she let Seth gain control of what he thought was her mind.
The Telepathic Clans (The Telepathic Clans Saga, Books 1 and 2) Page 38