Into the Lion's Den (67 page)

“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 more 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?”

“Nothing, leave her alone. She has enough. Find Mariotto and execute him along with his little slut. She must have been the contact.”

“It will be done.”

“Now, regarding your own responsibility in all this.”

“Konrad, I take care of the bank, not this!”

“You're perfectly aware that your
Komtur
has been lax in his watch and this is because you have been lax on them. Goran and his people will oversee your work from now own, Albert.”

“I will name Karazan Bregovic as your liaison officer with the
Komturen
.” Goran said. “You obviously are not up to run your own territory.”

“You can't fire me! I'm a Lintorff and my line was the one who put your one in power!”

“Because you're my cousin, you're on probation now. Otherwise, you would be six feet under, Albert.

My consort was taken from me by the same people you appointed as my bodyguards. One of them is dead and the other is on the run. What's next, Albert? Repin can shoot me during Mass at St. Peter's? This was a direct blow to us and be very glad that nothing happened to my consort or we would be speaking in much different terms! Go back to Milan and stay there! Italy belongs to Karazan Bregovic now!”

“It's an insult to all of us!”

“You have become self indulgent and lazy in your duties toward the Order! I will have to straighten your eldest son so he's worthy of being a councillor in the future!”

“You have again a serpent in your nest and are too blind to realise it! Guntram is in league with Repin!”

Albert shouted enraged.

“Repin obtained something more than a kiss and a talk, Albert. We had to give him the passwords for the five accounts his wife had in England. All accounts were emptied ten minutes after Goran gave him the data. Almost

£
386 million. A very profitable night for him.” Konrad admitted sullenly. “It was certainly about money. He used Guntram as his pawn, exactly as I did in St. Petersburg. You have your orders now, dismissed.”

Chapter 24

“I think I found Jacques! Look, in the picture. It's him; it's a Richard Steiff teddy bear, model created in 1902, fifty-one centimetres, dark chocolate mohair felt, circa 1905, estimated price
£
1,000 to
£
3,000?… Sold for

£
4,348! Who pays so much for a bear?” Guntram was baffled, his stare fixed on the brilliant pages of the Christie's 1999 catalogue of Teddy Bears.

“A piece with provenance, like your own one, is more valuable. Have I told you about our insurance company services? We specialize in collectors items like this thing. Friederich, with such noble origins, this bear will require using the Lions' service. It's already sitting in a high chair at Guntram's studio.”