“Business first, gentlemen. Do you have it?”
Milan only got a pendrive out from his pocket and threw it over the table. “Your people should learn manners, Pavicevic,” Massaiev huffed. “One second, we need to check everything is fine. Piotr Alexandrevich!” A small man entered the room and took the device to vanish again into the living room. “Guntram, finish your breakfast.
You still have time.”
Feeling the oppressive ambiance over his skin and the faces from the three men, could only announce a storm as even the smallest thing could have set the room in flames, Guntram finished his dish and his tea without uttering a word or looking at the two Serbs. Some ten minutes later, the longest in Guntram's life, the small man returned and spoke briefly in Russian with Massaiev.
“Everything seems to be in order, gentlemen. You can take Guntram now. He's still weary from the drugs, but otherwise fine. Don't forget your teddy bear, child.” The Russian moved the big with carton box from the other side of the table toward Guntram and he took it, more afraid than before. He tried to stand up but once more, he had to grip the table to avoid falling. 'It feels like the worst hangover ever.' “Good-bye, Guntram. We'll see each other very soon.”
Milan helped Guntram to walk while he stubbornly clutched the box, not letting it go. Guntram had to close the eyes when the sunlight hurt his eyes and he felt like throwing up. Milan almost pushed him inside the black Maybach standing there.
Goran joined him in the car while Milan went away. Inside was Albert von Lintorff looking very seriously. “What did they give you?” Goran barked harsher than he had intended.
“Jacques is mine! I will not give it to you! You will not butcher it like you did that woman!” Guntram cried and cowered against the car's door doing his best to separate himself from the passenger's seat.
“Which drugs??” he roared, furious as he realised that Guntram was certainly high.
“What do you have in that box?” Albert shouted and tried to remove it from Guntram's hands, but the youth was too nervous to think clearly and gave the man a punch in the face the minute he touched the box. The strong slap he got in response, enraged him more and jumped against Albert who easily trapped the small boy in a grip in a second. Guntram squirmed hard against him while Albert increased his hold over the neck. As suddenly as the attack had started the boy collapsed against the man's chest and went unconscious.
“What the hell was that?” Albert shouted while the car was driving through the streets. “Get that stupid box, Goran!”
“I would bet all my money they gave him Rohypnol. It has a paradoxical effect. He could almost not stand in that room.”
“Shit! We take him to Santo Gesú now! Konrad is going to kill us all!”
Guntram woke up in an unknown room with an IV attached to his left arm and Goran and Albert sitting around a table in the hotel looking room. He groaned at the light, hurting his eyes and the Serb rushed to his bedside. “How are you feeling little brother?”
“What happened? Where am I?”
“You're in Rome, in the hospital. The doctors will release you in the later afternoon. You had enough of an unknown benzodiazepine type substance in your blood as to organize your own rave, Guntram.” Albert said from his chair.
“I don't remember taking it.”
“What's the last thing you did yesterday?”
“I went to the Vatican and showed my paints to the Cardinal. They liked my things.”
“And later?”
“We had pizza with Alexei. Where's he? Oh God! I remember now, Repin came to the restaurant and Massaiev made me take my pills with a strange tasting water. He forced me to drink half the bottle! Is Alexei all right?
Constantin said that the Italians were out and he only hurt!”
“He's in the hospital. Don't worry, he'll get two or three weeks holidays,” Goran said. “What did Repin want from you?”
“Massaiev took me to this place and I fell asleep. Repin woke me up during the night to talk. He said he wanted me back in St. Petersburg and that he would pay Konrad in December. I don't want to return! But if he can get to me in front of the Vatican, he can get me anywhere!”
“No, he won't,” Goran said.
“He told me you killed people, Goran! Women and children and that you and Alexei killed his wife and seven more men!”
“I did not! He kills his own wife and blames it on me? Coward!”
“He says you dismembered her before killing her and spread the limbs all over Russia!” Guntram said horrified at the memory and Albert chuckled humourlessly.
“Whatever they gave you was certainly a hallucinogenic drug. Goran cutting people into pieces and distributing the meat like a butcher? Please!”
“He said you buried a whole Bosnian village alive,” Guntram stammered and both men laughed.
“Guntram, do you have any idea of how much work that is? Of the required logistics to make the hole, throw the people in, more or less five hundred, and cover it? All in one day? Something like this is on CNN in less than two hours!” Goran chuckled, “The war was bloody and horrible, but I was mostly into smuggling weapons!
That's how I met Michael Dähler. He caught me and made me spend a full night in a NATO prison. These Russians have a very feverish imagination!”
“I don't know if that's true! I'm only telling you what he told me. He wants me back! He knows even how many times per week I make love with Konrad!” He yelled hysterical and both men fell into a deathly silence.
“How does he know it? Did you tell?”
“Never!”
“What's that doll you carried along?” Albert asked.
“Doll? I have no dolls!”
“Teddy bear!”
“That's Jacques, he's mine. It's a present from my father. I had it in St. Petersburg and Constantin brought it for me. He also had some of my old clothes. I don't know why! He made me speak about my career and then he said I was too tired and ordered me to sleep. I woke up again at eleven.”
“Nothing else, Guntram?” Albert asked, sensing that the boy was not totally forthcoming with them.
“He kissed me, twice. He said I should be nice or he would kill Alexei,” Guntram confessed. “I swear I told him I loved Konrad!”
“Albert, with all the drugs Guntram had in his system, he could have only spoken a few words, I'm surprised he remembers so much,” Goran interfered.
“I only know, Goran, that he was in a hotel room with his former lover and is in perfect health conditions while his bodyguard is in a hospital bed and two of my men are missing,” Albert rebuked the man, rising from his chair and coming to the bed. “Why were you in that place?”
“Alexei told me to go there to celebrate my commission. Jean Jacques told him that it was a good place.”
“The bear told him?” Albert asked in disbelief.
“No, my bear's name is Jacques. Jean Jacques is the Duke's chef. Alexei's boyfriend!” Guntram shouted back. “Repin took my portfolio too!”
“No, Massaiev gave it to us. With the Cardinal's sketches.”
“There were more things in!”
“Forgive me if I don't believe that Repin took all these risks just to kiss you and steal some papers from you! We had to pay a lot to get you back!”
“That's all, I swear! I'm not a traitor! He says he will pay Konrad's money in December and take me to Russia whether I like it or not! He will make me live with his children! He's obsessed with me and he can beat all of you as in a children's playgame! Guntram shouted, becoming more and more hysterical.
“Out, Albert.” Goran ordered the man who looked at him furiously. “It's over.”
“Are you on his side now?” Albert hissed in the corridor. “He's telling the truth. I believe him.”
“We don't know! He could be exactly as his family! Traitors all of them!”
“He's not. He's terrified of Repin. He tried to commit suicide to escape him!”
“Are you sure that's
true?”
“I saw the scars! You just saw them too! Do you really think he's a traitor?”
“Konrad will decide that, He's hiding something. Repin only took him for a ride and nothing else? Gave him a teddy bear?”
“The thing is clean. We x-ray it. He can have it. I'm more concerned about how this happened, Albert. As you said, your men are missing.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“Perhaps there are other traitors around, don't you think? Your people's efficiency leaves much to be desired. It seems all was done on purpose, Albert.”
“Are you calling me a traitor?”
“I will reach to the bottom of this, Lintorff. I don't care if you are a Councillor or the Griffin's relative.
After all, he has decided to change the succession again.”
“Your man Antonov handed the boy to Repin! Only a few broken ribs and an arm? Looks like the beating you get to cover your rubbish! He took him to that place!”
“Yes, strange that at 6:37 he called the butler to tell him to suspend dinner and at 6:44 he called your people to tell about the change of plans. Where were they when they were supposed to follow them? Why is his call not registered in your logs, Albert?”
“I don't know! We're not fucking secretaries!”
“Find an answer soon because the Duke will want to know. He will arrive tomorrow morning. I'm taking Guntram home now.”
Goran was concerned. Guntram had said nothing in the trip back to the house and almost not touched his food. He only asked to be excused and went to bed with 'the blasted animal, I hope his dog eats it.' Antonov had certainly nothing to do with the mess. He was certain of that and the Duke had been the first one to say that the Russian was not guilty. His people were still looking for the two missing Italians but nothing so far. No bodies, no more money in their accounts, wives truly sorry. The Roman Komtur was doing his best to find out how the Russians could have entered in his territory without arising suspicions. Repin had terrified Guntram only to deliver such a stupid message? That he will get him back in December. The money he had asked for ransom was nothing compared to what he could have demanded, like for example to be released from his debts to the Order. No, he had started one of his games. In two hours the Griffin would be in Rome and he would set things in order.
Guntram was unable to sleep and sat on the window bench, overlooking the countryside in total darkness. It was very late but his mind kept replaying the conversation with Constantin and he couldn't stop peeking at the bear, sitting in one of the chairs. The paper and the key were not in the box any longer and he was glad. If Goran or Albert would have asked about it, he would have broken down and confessed. Or perhaps, the key had never existed and he had imagined it as a product of the drugs. 'That's how my life will be from December onwards. Stunned the whole day so he can do whatever he pleases. Perhaps he will withdraw them so I paint the days I can't fuck. He took me away effortlessly in front of the whole Order. He will do it again and again. It's like Konrad told me, be nice and get a golden cage or get the other.
That's why Massaiev was there; to remind me that he's my “keeper”. Now, I'm 'safe' because his wife was killed by Goran and the others. That's a lie! Goran is a good man! Spooky, yes, but he wouldn't hurt a fly! He was always nice to me.'
'Shit! I lied to him and Albert, but I can't let them know that one member from my family is still alive and with Repin! It has to be my uncle Roger! I could phone Chano, but I would only endanger him if Konrad finds it out.'
'I miss my papa so much!'
The door opened and Guntram almost shrank as a small ball, doing his best to disappear. “Maus? Why are you out of bed? You should be resting as the doctor ordered you,” Konrad's voice resounded in the large room, his tall frame almost blocking the door.
Partly reassured, Guntram rose from the bench and slowly approached his lover, still thinking 'does he consider me a traitor, like Albert does?' Konrad only pulled him into a strong embrace and hugged him for some time and the boy felt something breaking inside him and started to cry like a child to release the tension. The words started to come out of his mouth without order and mixed with his sobs as he did his best to control himself.
“He came out of nowhere and hurt Alexei… He will take me back in December and drug me the whole day… He knows when we are together! You killed his wife and Goran scattered her body all over Russia! You're a mobster!”
'So Repin finally exploded because I took Guntram and wants to ruin my chances with him. It was not just only about money as I thought originally.' “Guntram, hear me well, nothing that criminal could have told you is true!”
“He will take me back and I don't want to go! He hurt Alexei and Goran tells me nothing about Pietro and Ricardo! They are dead! I know it! Constantin told me they were glad to get a bullet in their heads!”
'So we will have to look in the dump sites near Rome. Retaliation for his seven men.' “Kitten, hear me well, you're with me now and I swear he will not take you away from me. You're my Consort and will help me raise my children. We want a family together.”
“He knows that we have sex every three days! He knows everything. He entered in the restaurant like he owned the place!”
“Goran is looking for the ones who sold you to him. Once this is solved, there will be no further problems. Don't worry about Alexei, he will be back tomorrow. It's just some bruises and one broken arm. In three weeks he will be as new.” Konrad hugged the frightened boy once more. “Don't be so afraid, my love, I'm here and everything will be all right. In two days we'll return home.”
“He kidnapped me in the middle of Rome! He drugged me!”
“Yes, I know. He did it because he wants to prove that he's a better provider than I. Simple as that. Repin must believe that you're with me because I'm a better option.”
“That's not true!”
“I know my love, but a low scum like him judges people with his own parameters. He's furious because I have you now and have given you a place by my side.” Konrad reasoned with Guntram while he pushed him away from his chest. “You should be resting, kitten.”
“Don't go, please. Stay with me.”
“I was hoping to get an invitation,” he chuckled merrily. “Go to bed and wait for me. I have to change myself.”
Upon his return, Konrad, changed into his nightclothes, found Guntram in bed, without his own ones.
“Kitten, you've just been released from a hospital and want to do it?”
“Please, I need to feel you,” Guntram pleaded and Konrad removed his pyjama jacket, tossing it aside before joining the boy under the covers. With great care he put his arms around him and kissed him tenderly, not expecting that Guntram would kiss him back with so much passion, almost jumping on top of him. “Kitten, I do want to turn fifty,” he chuckled but increased his hold over the youth.
Guntram didn't waste his time with words and only kissed Konrad, willing that it would erase the bad memories and the burning sensation he felt where Constantin had touched him. He felt Konrad trying to recover his dominant position and he let him sit on the bed and assume a kneeling position. The man let him go for a second to get rid of his trousers and quickly grabbed Guntram and hugged him, almost crushing him in his need to feel that his love was certainly back with him and once more indulged himself in the inebriating kisses he was receiving. He felt Guntram positioning himself on top of his lap and placing his thighs around his hips while his arms laced his neck.
Konrad's mouth abandoned the young man's lips and kissed his neck, collar, his teeth delicately nibbling the white flesh and making him moan, to suck his lover's nipples, driving him mad with desire.
“Take me now, please.”
Konrad had never seen his lover so beautiful as that moment, his body bathed in the moonlight and his pupils dilated by desire, making his eyes much larger than they normally were. He tried to disentangle from Guntram to get something to ease his penetration but the boy applied m
ore strength to his hold over his neck not letting him move. “Now,” he whispered and Konrad went mad with desire.
Guntram whimpered when he was penetrated no matter if his lover had tried to be gentle and was waiting for the pain to disappear. They moved in unison, enjoying the pleasure they were giving to each other, his sole concern his partner's satisfaction. Both climaxed together but didn't split keeping the other close to his heart.
“I thought that I've lost you,” Konrad confessed.
“No, you won't. I want to be with you till the end.”
“You're my life, Guntram. Without you, I would destroy everything.”
“Don't let him come near me ever again, please Konrad. I don't want to lose you too. I love you.”
“Never again. You're my only love. We are a family now and I will defend it to my last breath, so help me God.”
The electricity in the air could be felt by all the men sitting around the table in the library; Konrad, Goran and Albert. “Well cousin, Can you explain me how my Consort was kidnapped in your territory and his bodyguards killed or beaten in front of the Vatican?”
“We are investigating the facts, Konrad.”
“Investigating or covering your incompetence?”
“I'm doing my best with the available resources! I still have my doubts about this incident. Repin kidnaps his former lover, who now shares your bed, and only speaks with him and gives him a teddy bear? Please!
You're letting your personal feelings interfere with your judgement. Any other person would be under severe questioning.
“Of course, why didn't I think about it by myself? Guntram kidnaps himself, takes benzodiazopins of an unknown origin, probably produced in his atelier, just to jump in the bed of the man he fears most in this life,” Konrad sneered to become very serious once more. “Answer the question, Albert.”
“We found Ricardo Taviani's body near Ostia's harbour. One clean shot to the head with a 9 mm. The other, Pietro Mariotto is nowhere to be found. His wife told us he was having an affair with a Romanian girl from a brothel. We looked for her but she has vanished. The local Komtur is after her and this man. What should we do about the wife?”
Into the Lion's Den Page 51