“Our babies, kitten and I know that the minute they cross the door, I'm out from your life!”
“No, you can't be out of my life because you have to support those two pigs and their family too,”
Guntram joked and hugged the much larger man. “Do you have any idea how much they can eat?”
“If it's too much, then we have something for next Christmas. Albert plans to return with all his children once more.”
“Konrad, you know I love you,”
“I know,” he answered strangely embarrassed and took the youth's head with his hands to kiss him possessively. “You're mine and I would never let you go away,” He intoned the words looking into the soft blue eyes and Guntram smiled warmly. “Now, show me what this woman has been doing,” the man broke the spell.
“It's a very nice beige and she has taken several of my drawings for framing. She liked them and wants to buy some more for her other clients, but I told her no.”
“Good, they are for our children, not for others.”
After a late walk around the forest, they returned to the library where Konrad decided to look at his laptop and Guntram carried on with his reading: “The First three years of a Baby”, losing his courage more and more with each page he read. Friederich entered the library and whispered something unto Konrad's ear.
“Send the Prince and Adolf in,” Konrad said and rose from his desk to receive his visitors, but against many years of education and self restrain, both men almost ran over Friederich in their mad entrance to the room.
“Good afternoon, mein Fürst, Adolf,” Konrad said, frowning just a bit because he had already realised that there was something very wrong ad this was not a social call. Guntram left the book and stood, slightly bowing his head to the old man, but both Löwensteins didn't pay attention to him.
“I'm sorry to interrupt you, Hochmeister, but this is a most urgent matter,” Adolf said gravely.
“Please, do sit down, gentlemen,” Konrad said indicating them the sofas where Guntram was gathering his book and things to leave as the magical word told him that those were “Order's business” and he didn't want to be a part of them.
“If you would excuse me, Sire,” Guntram told to the old Löwenstein, looking more ashen than normal.
“Father, this also concerns the Consort,” Adolf stopped the boy by the arm, much to his surprise. “This is all your fault. Your boyfriend kidnapped my little Claudia!”
“Konrad was with me the whole afternoon!” Guntram protested energetically.
“The Russian!” Adolf roared, unable to restrain himself any longer. “Six of them stopped my wife's car on the sixty-two near Forch when she was taking the girls to their classes. They took Claudia away!”
“Constantin wouldn't do something so stupid!” Guntram said, unable to believe it. “Why? He has no need to! ”
“Be quiet, Löwenstein! Konrad shouted. “Leave Guntram out of this!”
“Out of this? This is all his fault! Go back to Russia!”
“Enough, Adolf!” the Prince ordered his son very sternly. “We need to speak with the Hochmeister, not with a young boy. Our family has already enough troubles.”
“Guntram, go to your room,” Konrad said, but the young man looked at him in disbelief. “Very well, stay but be quiet.”
“Yes, sir,” Guntram whispered, already feeling very sick and in need to sit.
“What was your wife doing so far away the country club?” Konrad asked.
“I don't know!” Adolf roared. “Six Russians shot against her car and forced her to stop aside.”
“On the 62? It's impossible to do something like this there! It's a highway!”
“On a small road near it! By Forch! They took the girls out of the car and the oldest hit my wife several times and told her that Repin wants a friendly talk with Guntram. You should return the boy to him!”
“Why only one girl?” Konrad said very coldly. “Knowing them, they would have taken the two.”
“He came up with the crazy story that “he would be delighted to put a bullet in the head of the little slut who tried to poison Guntram! Repin is crazy!”
“What??” Guntram croaked, but no one paid attention to him as Konrad and Adolf were arguing more heatedly than before.
The old prince sat utterly defeated next to Guntram, but didn't say a thing to him. He only looked the bitter argument rising and raising more in volume and intensity. The discussion continued in German and increasing its volume. Guntram felt very tired and utterly disappointed at the two men; Konrad and Constantin. Like two children who didn't care about anything beyond their desires. One had taken a little girl as hostage and the other didn't mind if the child was hurt in the process. He took a pill from his box and slid it back to his jacket, a gesture that Gustav zu Löwenstein didn't miss.
“Mein Fürst, may I use your phone, please? I don't want my number to be registered. It's a long distance call,” Guntram whispered to the old man as the other two men were on the phase of shouting with each other.
“Certainly, my child,” The old man extended his mobile phone to the young man and he took it, without minding any longer the heated argument.
Guntram remembered by heart Massaiev's and Constantin's private numbers. Probably the later had been changed many times over the last year, but if Constantin was after him, Massaiev should not be far away. He dialled and nervously smiled to the old prince, looking at him astonished. “Hello, Mikhail Petrovich. May I speak with him?”
“This is a surprise, Guntram. I was not expecting your call. How are you?” the man said, almost dashing to get his boss, shouting enraged on the phone with Oblomov.
“Fine, thank you. It's very important that I speak with Mr. Repin. Could you get him for me, please?”
“One second please,” and he entered in the room without knocking or anything. He stopped dead on his tracks when he saw the semi automatic weapon pointed at him. He took a deep breath and only said: “It's Guntram, Mr. Repin.” and offered the phone to his boss, who tore it off from his hands. Massaiev left the room without waiting to be asked.
“Hello, my angel.”
Guntram felt his heart rush at full speed when he heard the well known voice, but he gathered some courage; 'if you show weakness now, all is lost,' “Good afternoon, Constantin. I understand that you have something that belongs to the Order and I would be very grateful to you if you return it before nightfall.”
All the Germans in the room were speechless and stopped their heated argument, but Guntram ignored them as he focused on Constantin's reaction.
“Indeed I have something, but I want something in return and you know perfectly well what it's. I've paid my debts and want all my guarantees back.”
“Constantin this is the most stupid thing you have done in your entire life, my friend,” Guntram used a calm voice, doing his best to conceal the fear in his stomach. “If you don't return what you took this afternoon, you will open the hunting season on your own children! Sofia, Constantin, Vladimir and Vania deserve much better than this! Lintorff will not negotiate with you and cares nothing about this matter!”
“Come by yourself to pick up what I have.”
“I will meet you, if that's what you desire so much, but the girl should be tonight at her doorstep, unharmed and before her bedtime.”
“Guntram, it doesn't work this way. I have the package and you should be nice to me. I set the conditions,” Constantin said with barely contained fury.
“It's you who wants to speak with me, not I. It's under my terms or nothing,” Guntram said coldly. 'If he wants to play Godfather, then we will.' “You have moved the game to a level that I don't like and there are no rules any longer for either side.”
Adolf looked at Guntram in terror when he heard the words he had pronounced and the old Löwenstein had to grab the table to avoid falling. Konrad was shocked that his kitten could be so cold and calculating. 'Exactly as his grandfather, I misjudged him all the time.'
“So Constantin, it's your turn to make a decision. The girl and we meet in a neutral point on March 6th at 11 a.m. If not, start to pray when Pavicevic and his people go after your own children,” Guntram used an even and soft voice, without quivering or faltering. Adolf felt like dying in this particular moment.
“You really don't mean it, Guntram. I know you.”
“No, you don't know me. Any kidnapped person is as good as dead; therefore you have nothing to negotiate with me. That's a lesson I learned thanks to your wife.”
“Where?”
“In Vienna,” Guntram said as it was in neutral grounds for everybody. “I will inform Massaiev of the meeting point half an hour in advance.”
“Good, I like Sacher cake,” Constantin retorted and hung up, already thinking how to punish his angel for his rude behaviour. 'That's Lintorff's doing; he totally ruined my angel! He was a sweet and polite child; a butterfly to keep in a glasshouse, away from everything that could stain it. Once its wings loose their powder, they can't fly any more.”
Guntram had to close his eyes for a moment to release the tension. His ruse had played off and he hoped that Claudia would be returned home soon. He knew Constantin; he had honour despite Konrad's opinion. He would go to Vienna and speak, once more with him and this time he hoped his former lover would see reason.
“Are you insane or just stupid?” Konrad roared the minute Guntram returned the phone to the prince while Adolf looked at him expectantly.
“Claudia should be home by nightfall, Adolf. Repin will send her back. We must hope that he fulfils his part of the deal,” Guntram said, deciding to ignore Konrad's upcoming rant. He already had a headache and didn't need a fight on top of everything.
“I have no words to thank you, Guntram,” Adolf stammered.
“You have nothing to thank me. Your daughter should have never been involved in this. I'm sorry that my former lover has caused such pain to you and your wife. I'm confident to solve this matter very soon.”
“I can't believe you can be so stupid, Guntram!” Konrad yelled louder than before as he was furious beyond measure. Not even Roger and his adventures could enrage him so much like Guntram had just done. He stormed out of the room before he would loose all composure and do something he might regret later.
“What did you offer Repin, my child?” the prince asked.
“I will meet him on March 6th in Vienna. I can choose the place, but he mentioned something about Sacher cakes. Is there a hotel of that name?”
“Yes, in front of the Opera house,” Adolf said. “Guntram you can't go! He's a criminal! He could kill you!”
“Let's see first if your daughter is safely returned. I will go as I've given him my word. We have to stop this nonsense. What if he goes next against our children after they're born?”
“Guntram, he will not stop after a talk. He has shown this today with my granddaughter's attack.” the old Löwenstein said. “You should leave the Griffin to fix this. You have our gratitude and support.”
“Thank you, but we must try once more with diplomacy. There should be a way to reach an agreement.”
“Does your health allow you to take such a risk?” the prince asked.
“I would feel worse if I don't do all what's in my hands for Claudia. Will you call me when you have any news?”
“Certainly, Guntram.”
“Go with your wife, Adolf, she needs you,” Guntram smiled and the man could only embrace him and pat his back strongly, before leaving the dinning room.
“Guntram, We will always indebted to you. You had no reason to be so generous to us. If my grandchild is back, reconsider your promise to this criminal. We will protect you with everything we have.”
“Mein Fürst, we have to stop this. Already two men died in Rome because of me. The man who saved my life last December was beaten and seriously hurt. Today, it was your grandchild. What's going to be next?”
“Good night, my friend. You're an excellent Consort. It will be an honour to have you in the Council when your health allows it.”
“I don't want to be in the Council. I only want to look after the children, stay with Konrad and paint.
Nothing else.”
After seeing the old aristocrat to the front door, Guntram knew that he had to face the other tiger; the one brooding in his studio or plotting something horrible against Repin, his assets or partners. 'This spiral of hatred and violence is leading us nowhere.' He climbed up the stairs very slowly, needing to support himself with the walls. He felt exhausted when he reached the first floor and had to sit in one of the chairs in the distributor for a few moments. He couldn't believe that Constantin had been so bold, no idiot as to defy a simple basic rule among gangsters: never the families. Not only the Order would have gone after his head, but his own people because that was too much.
Which guarantees could you have from someone who kills your children? 'This has to stop, for Constantin's own sake, this has to stop.'
He looked dejectedly at his old bedroom's door and remembered how terrified he had been on his first day. Konrad was not the person he had thought and he had fallen in love of him; he had saved his life and was going to share his babies with him. 'How can Constantin think that I want to return to him? I love Konrad as I never loved him. I realise it now.' He took a deep breath before going to face Konrad, 'in his Hochmeister persona' because I've defied him in front of two Council members. He's going to be very upset with me.'
Guntram entered in their quarters and softly knocked the studio's door. “Please, Konrad, let me in.”
“Go away.”
'Great, he's crossed like a baby.' “Please, my love, let me explain myself to you. I don't know if this will work out at all, but we needed to try it.”
“Guntram, leave now! I have work to do!”
'At some point you will have to leave this place.' “As you wish, Konrad. I'm going to bed. I feel very tired.” 'No, I feel like shit but I can't tell it.'
Guntram crossed the living room and entered the large bedroom to change into his nightclothes although it was no more than 9 p.m. He showered to release the tension and the soreness in his neck muscles, but the hot water didn't help much as he was becoming more and more concerned as had received no call from Adolf yet. He redressed with his pyjamas and slid under the covers, trying to read a book, but the words were meaningless. His mobile beeped and the SMS only said: “Everything is fine. Thank you. A.” Guntram felt the relief wash him over and jumped out of the bed to share the good news with Konrad. Once more he knocked the door, but he only got a “get out!”
Very late in the night, a still furious Konrad stormed in the bedroom with long strides, only looking for his nightclothes under his pillow. Without looking at Guntram's side, he took them and turned away to leave the room once more.
Guntram jumped and caught him by the left arm with a “wait!” but Konrad turned around and pushed him away from him with force, making him land on the pillows. “Konrad!” Guntram protested, but the man was out of himself and crossed his face with a slap.
“How dare you to intervene in a matter of the Council? Who gave you the right to correct my policies in front of them? You're seriously mistaken if you think I'm going to allow this insubordination! No one, not even you, comes between me and the Order! All of you are the same!” He roared and slapped Guntram for the second time.
“I did what was necessary to get Claudia out!”
“You're nothing more than my consort! You live with me and keep me company, but whatever happens in the Order is none of your concern!”
“Repin had a small girl at his mercy! If he wants to talk, we will! What was your big plan? Deny me and let him kill Claudia so you have an excuse to kill his children?”
“We do not negotiate with these people! It's zu Löwenstein's fault! His stupid wife had an affair with the man who sold her to Repin! That happens if you fuck with your tennis trainer! He should have controlled her much better, but he wa
s busy with his own mistress!”
“I don't understand you. The children have to pay for the sins of the parents?” Guntram yelled, out of himself. “You hit me! I will not tolerate this once more! I don't give a damn about your policies if you endanger an innocent person! Are you also a gangster like Repin?”
Once more Konrad was ready to slap Guntram, but this time his arm was stopped in mid air and before he knew, the boy bit him with all his force, making him howl in indignation more than pain. Konrad moved away from the bed as he pressed the left hand on his wrist to alleviate the pain and avoid the contusion. Guntram took a deep breath in an effort to calm himself down, but he couldn't and he fell back on the pillow raggedly breathing.
Konrad was in no time at his side holding him, all his fury transformed into worry because he realised his deeds. He hugged Guntram against his heart and rocked him mumbling words of comfort and asking for his forgiveness, till he heard the youth's breathing return to its normal pace and felt his hands caressing his hair to sooth him.
“Should I call Antonov?”
No, it's all right. I feel fine. How's your wrist?”
“I'll survive it, don't worry. I've had worse.”
“I'm sorry. I never meant to disobey you or ridicule you in front of the others. I didn't understand a word of what you were speaking and I could only think in Claudia. I needed to try it. Please, don't go away now. I'm afraid.”
“Guntram, meeting with Repin is simply stupid. You can't afford the luxury of a fight with him; not even some shouting. What if he tries something like in Rome?”
“You're right, but we have to stop this before it consumes us. What if he goes against the babies? For him, they're the perfect target,” his voice was desperate. “There should be a way to make him understand!”
“Guntram, I know him since many years. He's determined to have you back. Nothing you say or do will change his mind. We are at war and this is just the beginning. This is why you should have not interfered. None of the Löwensteins were expecting that I would give Repin what he wanted. They expected retaliation.”
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