TS 2 Part V Chapter 1

Part V 
Chapter 1

June 8^th, 2009

Zurich

The clear and penetrating sound of the phone woke Goran up. He looked at the clock next to his bed and his mood worsened because of the early hour. “Pavicevic,” he growled as he switched on the bedside lamp.

“Mr. Pavicevic, we have a problem sir. One of the teams failed to report twice yesterday. We are trying to locate them but it is impossible,” a very frightened voice informed him.

“Which one?”

“You should better come here, sir. Mr. Mihailovic is with us,” Goran heard the phone went dead and left his bed immediately, the situation oddly reminding him of that night when Milan told him that his brother had been taken by the enemy. 'No, Guntram is in a wedding in Argentina. In the country house and the place is like a bunker,' he reassured himself, but couldn't ease down the growing fear and anxiety creeping into his heart.

He drove to the warehouse where the equipment was stored and the man standing guard opened the door for him. He walked directly to the command room and Milan's face confirmed his worst fears.

“Holgersen failed to report twice, Goran. We are sending one of the local teams to investigate. We alerted Mayer too. He's flying from Rio to Buenos Aires as we speak.”

“Did you try to make contact?”

“All systems are dead. It's a professional job, Goran.”

“How many guards are in the team?”

“Nine people without counting the servants. The last contact we had was from Holgersen himself. He had arrived to the property with Guntram after that wedding and everything was fine.”

“Have you informed the Duke?”

“Not yet. I want confirmation. This looks very bad. The local team should be getting in contact any time soon. It will be a secure line.”

“Put him on the speaker,” Goran said slowly, already certain that the nightmare was returning. 'Not Guntram, God, not him. If something happens to him, I will unleash a hell in this earth that will be nothing compared to yours.”

The time drew on slowly and for the first time in years, Goran lost track of it. He sat and watched his people work in the computers and Milan give some orders in hushed tones, till he approached him again. “Goran, the man just called us. He says it's too big for him.”

“What happened?”

“We are receiving video now,” one of the techs yelled and mumbled “Oh Lord,” paling and looking very sick at the images his screen projected all over his face.

Goran walked and saw that the interior surveillance video cameras were back on and it showed the main living room walls riddled with bullets of a large calibre, machine gun and furniture tattered and scattered over the place. “Show me the other rooms,” Goran ordered coldly and most of them showed the same destruction and large pools or traces of blood as if the attackers had dragged the bodies toward the kitchen. The splats of blood over the walls over the main stairwell showed that the procedure had been done in a hurry.

“Where are the bodies?” one of the younger men wondered softly.

“Do we have images of the outside?” Goran asked and one of the techs answered that he had recovered the connection too.

The sight of the pond, artificially illuminated froze their blood and all of the gasped at the sight of the single square orange large machine abandoned at the lake bank, the monstrous large pipe coming out of its entrails pointing toward the water. Next to it, the bodies of three women and two men, shot in the head, laid in disorder, like discarded broken dolls.

“What the fuck is that?” wondered another technician, pointing at a large rectangular orange machine with a gigantic trunk coming from one of its sides, standing outside the property.

“That's a wood chopper, eight tons if I'm correct,” one of the older men whispered. “But you can't use it with bodies, too much water in them.”

“Not if you freeze them, that's why they didn't bother with the servants. Look, there are some limbs scattered over the lawn.”

“Lord, we are going to make them pay for this,” Milan swore and looked at a petrified Goran, his eyes fixed on the flickering white and black images of the destroyed garden.

“Mr. Pavicevic, the team leader asks for instructions.”

“Call the local police. We have no means to process this place,” Goran said slowly after a long silence. “Touch nothing and only leave one man as the one who discovered the scene.”

“Should we not look for them?” Milan asked in Serb.

“It makes no sense, Milan. They want the body identification process to be a nightmare for us. I don't know if we could be ever find all the pieces.”

“Goran, sit down for a while. Maybe Guntram or Holgersen weren't there. We don't know what happened yet.”

“It's an execution, Milan and we are going to show them all our strength. Have the Boeing ready as soon as possible. We flight tonight at the latest. Prepare two teams and send them to Colombia to await for my orders.”

“Goran, you must be very certain.”

“No, wait. One of the teams should take down objectives 24, 36 and 45 in a notorious way. Objectives 12, 25 and 37 should be buried alive.”

“Even the children?”

“The only good Bosnian is a dead one, Milan. Do it now and you will save the trouble later. Never forget that.”

* * *

June 8^th Night

Tired and sad beyond words, Ferdinand von Kleist leaned against the large leather seat and barely noticed the red rimmed eyes stewardess telling him to fasten his seatbelt. He obeyed her and once more he fixed his gaze upon the plane's wing, letting the blinking red and blue lights lull his pain.

“How is he?” Michael Dähler whispered before taking the seat in front of him.

“In his bedroom, he had to take a sedative per the doctor's orders. He said nothing to the boys. They believe Guntram is in Argentina.”

“I wouldn't like to break the news to them, but there's still hope. The body was not found.”

“Michael, don't be stupid! The bodies were chopped and dumped into the fucking lake! Up to the fucking swan was shot!” Ferdinand roared and the other shushed making a sign toward the coach where Goran was sitting alone, without speaking since they had been informed.

“I'm concerned about Goran,” Micheal whispered. “You don't know him as I do from my time in Yugoslavia.”

“For once, I will not oppose to his methods.”

“You were not there. I was and I know him better than any of you do. He's unleashed now. You have no idea of the conditions of his enemies' bodies.”

“I am glad he has the expertise to punish whoever did this. The Lord's fist is not merciful, Michael. We will erase these people from this Earth, Michael.”

“Rodríguez Pardo swears they had nothing to do with this and I believe him.”

“Do you talk with corpses now, Michael? Well, death by suffocation takes some time,” Ferdinand smirked with true hate dangling from in his eyes. “I enlarged Goran's original list with Adolf and Albert's approval.”

“I only ask for some more information before we obliterate this land.”

“Now you're speaking; when we obliterate this land. Nothing will grow ever again. Colombians are as good as dead.”

Five hours later, Konrad emerged from his room and joined his men for dinner. 'He's grown ten years older overnight,' Ferdinand thought when he saw his swollen eyes, pale face and hunched shoulders. He was silent while Marie served the dinner and didn't touch it, only drinking some bourbon.

“Konrad, if the worst has happened, what do you want to do?” Ferdinand said very softly.

“I don't know.”

“Mayer told me the local police is clueless and overwhelmed. They're planning to ask the FBI to help them.”

“No FBI, no press. Mayer should convince them to go to Europe for help.”

“My Duke, Guntram's former tutor, Luciano Martínez Estrada, wants to meet with you at your convenience. He could be useful to us. He's one of the judges at the provincial Supreme Court. He has a broad experience in criminal law and good connections with the government,” Michael said very softly. “He's holding the general attorney while the police investigates.”

“I don't know how I'm going to tell this to Alrick Wallenberg. His grand child probably killed and...” Konrad said without paying attention to Michael's words, but he was unable to finish the sentence. 'Lord, I hope they didn't do that to my Kitten. Just a bullet in his head before he would have witnessed this,' he inwardly prayed.

“The local team was unable to recover the security recordings. It's impossible to get a list of the planes leaving the country by the north,” Michael said nervously.

“Maybe they didn't use planes,” said Ferdinand.

“We found evidence that a Cessna type aircraft was in the area. There was also a cho... helicopter. The thing is that at the estimated time of the attack the radars were turned off for “economical” reasons. They only work six hours per day,” Michael huffed.

“Give me the list of casualties,” Konrad said very softly and Ferdinand gave him a piece of paper. He read the paper several times, but the Swedish, German, French and Argentinean names telling him nothing.

“Who is in our legal team there?”

“It's mostly based on Corporate Law but they have recommended us a criminal law buffet. We know them since 2000 and they're effective. According to Mayers, the main partner, Pedro Antonio Lanusse has excellent contacts with the military and police high command. He's not associated with the government as his grandfather was one of the Generals in charge of the Presidency back in the seventies. He's willing to cooperate and looking for the way to make direct contact with people in the Air Force that are still loyal to our beliefs.”

“I don't follow you, Michael.”

“The government is a “populist” one. Like Chávez in Venezuela, allied with Iran. If the radars don't work, it's so no one disturbs the trade routes which belong mostly to the Russians. Repin settled them. The ones in charge are Zakharov and Yuri Rimsky. I will be meeting with them tomorrow.”

“I hate that little country.” Konrad mumbled.

“Konrad, if Russians are around, then we should consider them also,” Ferdinand suggested.

“Zakharov is too lazy and coward to do it, Ferdinand. Rimsky has not reasons too. He deals with the Mexican exclusively and he's also planning to erase the Medellín people from the country,” Michael said. “Everything points to the Colombians, but I want confirmation before we attack.”

“No, Michael. Goran is right. We must retaliate in a way that leaves no doubts of who we are. If they are not guilty, others will replace them and with a well learned lesson. I should have done it when our Komtur in Madrid was attacked. This is all my fault for being weak when I deal with ferocious beasts. Nevermore,” Konrad said.

“I have outlined several strategies, my Griffin,” Goran spoke from his corner.

“I leave it to your discretion, my friend.” Konrad answered. “Unlimited resources.”

“Guntram mentioned something about his lawyer and I want to investigate this furthermore,” Goran said again.

“Nicholas Lefebvre?”

“Exactly. Masons have outsourced this kind of contracts before. They're too coward as to do it by themselves.”

“We need proof of that, Goran!” Michael yelled but no one heard him.

“Go after the second line, Goran. No families involved. Not yet.”

“Very well my Duke. Can I interrogate Lefebvre by myself?”

“You have my permission, Goran. Make him pay.”

“What did Guntram tell you, Goran?” Michael shouted.

“It was very confusing. He believed that his meeting with the Duke was not casual, but he wasn't sure. He said that people in Argentina told him to go to Notre Dame that day, but he didn't tell me who. I believe it's the lawyer he has there, the same who was recommended by Nicholas Lefebvre to his father.”

“All was a set up?” Konrad asked, feeling the anguish squeeze his heart.

“It seems so, but Guntram had no idea at all. He remembered it last time he was in Paris, but he said that it could be a false memory.”

“Good theory, Goran, but no one but us knows about the past.” Ferdinand said.

“My mother knew, Ferdinand,” Konrad said very darkly. “Roger told her and who knows who else. That's their revenge for what happened in 2007. Maybe Guntram found out something and they eliminated him.”

“Guntram was never a double agent!” Ferdinand shouted outraged. “He was always loyal to you!”

“Guntram believed that he had been sent there, but had no idea why,” Goran said. “I have checked his background and everything he has done in the past years and he never spoke or shared any information about us.”

“The Dachs was always loyal to us,” Michael commented with sadness and none of the men could say anything more.

* * *

June 9^th, 2009

Alexander Kuragin's house

Mikhail Massaiev looked with curiosity at the young sleeping man. 'So this is the famous Guntram de Lisle. He's not young any longer, but has matured quite nicely. Nothing can replace a good bone structure. Boss likes him since 2000 and contrary to all logics, that week in Paris only convinced him of forwarding his plans.'

He inspected bedroom once more, checking that everything was in perfect conditions and well cleaned. 'Light blue, beige, brown and perhaps a bit of red, but not much. He always looked so elegant in the tapes that it would be a pity to ruin that. He's nothing like the others. Informal but classical clothes. Lintorff trained him well too. Fantastic manners and a real aristocratic air. He will not require any kind of training, only some taming, if at all. His health doesn't allow him to be much of a threat.'

The tall, over sixty years old man walked once more toward the bed and drew the covers around his new charge, only arrived a few hours ago. 'The doctor says he should not be in the cold or heat. 'Reduce the stress as much as you can; his condition seems to be frail but stable, according to the data provided. I will keep him under some sedation for the first days till he gets used to his new environment. It's not what I would have advised for this, but we will do our best to make him comfortable. Keep Mr. Kuragin away from him for one or two weeks. No sex at all as it could be taxing for his heart condition. Otherwise, he's perfectly fine. Not a single scratch during the transfer'.'

“As long as you behave like a sensible lad, there will be no problems at all, Guntram. You're going to like it here,” Massaiev mumbled. “Mr. Kuragin likes you too much as to damage you. He took great care so you can be happy with him.” With care, he removed the slightly damped hair from the boy's forehead with a slow and caressing movement. 'Too old for my taste, but he must have been incredible at sixteen.'

* * *

June 11^th, 2009

Constantin sat in the ample sofa, his gaze fixed on the sleeping form, exactly as he remembered him from their time together in Paris. Guntram always loved to sleep crouched like a small ball and liked to be held or cuddle. 'I should have done this so many years ago. In 2001 and never wait to catch his attention. Damn Lintorff, I hope you live the same hell I went through when you stole my angel in Venice. Now, he's solely mine and none of your little bastards will interfere ever again.'

'I gave everything up for him, but it was worthy. We will start all over, together this time. A war with Lintorff was useless and suicidal since the beginning. Let him fix the mess he has created in Russia. Oblomov and the others will drive him mad. Lacroix was right since the beginning and I still don't understand why he wasn't able to get rid of Lintorff much earlier. Let your enemy believe that he's smarter than you. Idiocy won more battles than intelligence ever did.'

'I will never give my Guntram to him. Never. He's only mine.'

The youth tossed around in the bed and Constantin observed he was about to wake up. 'The sedation is almost over, Sverdloff is good at what he does,' he considered before rising from his chair and sitting on the large bed, to caress the forehead gently, trying to wake up the young man.

Guntram felt his body very stiff and his throat dry, much before he could open his eyes. He moved around in the bed, trying to sleep some more, unable to get up. 'Last time I drink so much,' he thought before he felt the cold hand delicately touching his hair and caressing his cheek.

Shocked, he opened his eyes wide and gasped when he saw the unknown man sitting in his bed, touching him as it were the most normal thing in the world and smiling at him. The room was not his own and nowhere in the Pampas because of the luscious jungle that could be seen through the floor to ceiling large window. Guntram moved away from the stranger and sat on the bed, almost running away from him

“Easy, my angel. There's nothing for you to fear,” Constantin said softly but keeping an iron grip on the boy's arm.

“Who are you?” Guntram whispered, not believing his ears. He knew very well the deep voice and the accent, but the face was unknown for him, yet somehow familiar.

“Have I changed so much, angel?”

Guntram took again another look at the man with brown hair and dark eyes. The nose was different, smaller than before and there were no wrinkles at all, making him look much younger than he remembered and the chin and cheekbones were less prominent than before. Nothing like the strong, yet handsome features from the past. This one was the face of an ordinary man; unremarkable and forgettable like most people have.

“This is impossible,” he whispered.

“I read the letter you left me in Smolensk, angel. Be sure that I never blamed you for what happened. It was all Lintorff's fault. He used you to try to murder me. Had it not been for my cousin's help, I would be dead now. Lintorff paid the men who attacked me in the prison.”

“Constantin?”

“The name is Alexander Kuragin, now. Lintorff forced me escape and hide. Without Oblomov's help, I would have spent the rest of my life in an infected hole.”

The confirmation of his worst fears made Guntram feel the terror gripping his heart like never before. He backed against the headboard, aware of how futile was his gesture, but he needed to put distance between him and the person claiming to be Constantin.

“Constantin is dead. I saw his grave,” he whispered, shaking his head in denial.

“Yes, Constantin Repin is well dead but Alexander Kuragin lives for you, my angel. As I told you in Paris, you were closing a part of your life and I was opening another. You were never just another lover for me. I clearly said that you would rebuild your life and find another person to love. I love you too much to deny you this opportunity. A fresh new start; away from Lintorff and all the others.”

“You took me here against my will!”

“I just helped you to leave a man who almost kept you as his hostage. You wanted to leave him and spoke with your lawyer, this Michel Lacroix, but Lintorff prevented you from going away, no matter if he cheated on you and kept a lover besides you.”

“How do you know that? Where are my bodyguards?”

“We left them behind. You don't need them. Lintorff can clean it.”

“What did you do, Constantin?” Guntram asked in fear, his heart slightly hammering in his chest but without causing any pain or discomfort to him. 'What's wrong with me? I should be breathing like a ragged bull.'

“Are you feeling all right, dear? I can call your doctor,” Constantin asked solicitously and Guntram looked at him in disbelief. “I hope you like your rooms. There's another room where you can paint all what you want. The light is very good and you have everything you may need. Mikhail Petrovich Massaiev will look after you. He has been working for me since 1990.”

“Constantin, release me at once!” Guntram shouted but had to lay down again as his head spun around like crazy.

“Don't shout, Guntram. It's very vulgar. Where would you go? There's nothing more than jungle and swamps around the house. A 60 km. radio. Land is very cheap here. In the old times, the slaves were thrown in this area once their usefulness was over. A painful and slow death due to starvation or a quick one if they met a snake or a large cat.”

“Where am I?”

“Home, with me.”

“You can't do this! You have it planned since Paris! I should have never trusted you!”

“I'm only setting things right, angel. We are going to live as we were supposed to, before Lintorff stole you from me in Venice. Perhaps you will have to change your subjects, but there are many things to paint here.”

“Do you think I'm going to be your trained monkey? You have no right to do this! Let me go!”

“I understand you're a bit shocked. Compose yourself and be ready for dinner in two hours,” Constantin growled in a low voice that Guntram had never heard before. “Massaiev will tell you what to wear.”

Guntram preferred to remain silent because he was terrified of the man. “Constantin, please, don't go.”

“Call me Alexander, angel.”

“Alexander, please understand this is nonsense. If Konrad finds out that you're alive, he will attack you! Let me go, you know I will tell nothing.”

“I know, my love, but this is impossible now.” Constantin answered, pleased that the boy was accepting his new name and not fighting against it. 'Good for him, it will save him a lot of pain.' “It took me many years to save this money and prepare my retirement. I left a good career and a family for you, but I'm willing to raise another one next to you. I will give you the opportunity to have your own children, blood of your blood, not something lent for a fleeting instant. A beauty like yours should not be lost.”

“Alexander, Konrad will look for me!”

“Not really. He's going to be a tad busy in the time being. We had a wonderful time together once, why it shouldn't be like this again? You were the perfect lover for me.”

“You know I don't love you! You said it yourself!”

“We can't have everything in this world, right my angel? In time you will learn to appreciate me more and love me. We were always very good friends and you were quite satisfactory in bed even without showing me your love. We will love each other and rise a family if you want children so much.”

“Constantin, Alexander! You can't do this! I'm not going to stay here!”

“Guntram, don't be melodramatic. Rest a bit longer, consider your options and get dressed for dinner,” Constantin said calmly and opened the door. “Mikhail Petrovich will see to you soon. Don't try anything stupid with him. He's still able to easily break a man's neck. Lots of practice in Algeria.” He left the room and closed the door behind him without making a sound.

Alone in the large modernly decorated room, Guntram looked around in terror, trying to convince himself that it wasn't a trick from his mind. 'How did it happen?' He was in Buenos Aires and the last thing he remembered was that he had felt very tired while talking with Heindrik after the wedding and nothing else. He did his best to stand up, but the dizziness made him think otherwise. 'They have drugged me but with what?'

The bedroom had a double size dark wooden bed with a leather headboard, placed against a white wall and facing a commode also in the same wood as the bed and and a desk with a large chair. There was one matching cabinet against one of the corners and one large vase full with white fresh flowers. Two bedside tables with lamps and a large dark brown capitoné sofa completed the decoration along with a thick huge carpet and a cover in grey shantung. One of the walls was a large window overlooking a dense jungle, but Guntram could not fell the heat or the moist or any sounds coming from it.

There was also a large impressionist painting in one of the walls depicting a forest, but no TV, phone or a computer in the whole room. Guntram closed his eyes for a little while and he dozed till he felt someone gently shaking him and speaking in French.

He turned around to face an old man, with white hair and blue steely eyes, a stern expression with an unmistakable military air around him.

“Good afternoon. My name is Mikhail Petrovich Massaiev and you will be under my charge, Guntram. You have to stand up, get washed and dressed to have dinner with Mr. Kuragin. He does not tolerate the slightest education slip, my boy.”

Guntram looked at the man and didn't move from his place. 'Fuck if I'm going to do what they want.'

“Don't be difficult, child. The doctor clearly said that we can't physically punish you, but he said nothing about your people. If you behave, they will be well treated, if you want to play hard, we will also do it, and you will witness it.”

'Who have they taken too? Constantin already killed Amundsen in London, so he's not bluffing.' Guntram sat again on the bed and had to grip the bed sides to steady himself, his face turning completely green.

“Wait, I'll bring you a glass of water, child,” Massaiev said. 'Clever boy; he knows when to lose, but he won't go down without a fight. I can see it in his eyes.' He walked toward one of the walls and opened it revealing the entrance to an ample bathroom. Guntram heard the sound of running water and the man returned with a glass in his big hand and offered it silently. Guntram took it with shaky hands and drank it, feeling slightly better.

“You have to shower, shave and dress still. Can you stand up by yourself?”

“Thank you,” Guntram answered automatically as he returned the glass to the man.

“You're welcome.” 'Yes, a true prince, like when Marie Antoinette apologised for treading on her executioner's foot. I could have never taught that to the many we had before.' Guntram took several unsure steps toward the bathroom, but he faltered and Massaiev caught him before the would have hit the ground. “I'll help you, you must be still dizzy.”

He half carried the youth to the marble bathroom and Guntram had to sit on the jacuzzi's border to catch his breath again. He looked with glassy eyes how the man opened the golden faucet and the hot water started to fill the bathtub.

“Could you leave me alone?”

Massaiev looked at Guntram very carefully and closely, studying and gauging his intentions but saw no deception in his eyes as the boy looked like a beaten kitten. “All right, I'll make your clothes ready for tonight, Guntram.”

While the water filled the bathtub, the Russian, prepared the soap to shave the light stubble Guntram had grown. He took a leather case from his jacket pocket and opened it to reveal a silver shaving kit inside. “Try what you're thinking and you won't like the consequences. I've been trained for this and have much more experience than you think.”

Guntram was well aware that in his state, he couldn't fight with the large adversary to escape to an unknown jungle, so he remained still and doing his best to hide his flinch when the man held his chin in a firm grip.

Massaiev was pleased that the boy didn't try anything funny and was docile and clever enough as to avoid an useless confrontation. 'Most of the boys behaved like frightened animals but it was only a matter of time to break them.'

“Can you bathe by yourself?”

“Yes, I can,” Guntram replied tiredly.

“All right, do it. I'll be on the other room.”

When the man left him alone, Guntram sighed with relief. His mind was in turmoil and he looked around for a way to escape or something he could use as a weapon, but there was nothing, unless two porcelain shampoo dispensers could fit into that category. He used the toilet wondering why he had not wet himself and the pain he felt made him understand what had happened. 'Guntram, you should know it already, a catheter; you met many of them in your life. Bad news, because now you have no idea where you could be. It's not Buenos Aires any longer, but where?'

He contemplated himself in the mirror, doing his best to control his emotions. 'Getting hysterics won't help me. I have to find a way to escape, but first I have to see what I'm facing. This is not possible, Constantin died! Konrad was so sure about it and Malchenko confirmed the story. I was there, too!'

Guntram got rid of the silk pyjama and bathed as fast as he could. He got dressed with a large towel and returned to the bedroom, where Massaiev had laid an outfit -beige trousers and a long sleeved light blue shirt- over the remade bed.

“Get dressed now. Mr. Kuragin awaits for you.”

“Could I have some privacy, please?” Guntram asked with some barely concealed belligerence in his voice. Massaiev only turned around and looked through the window, while the youth dressed himself, using his reflection in the mirror to control his movements. Years of practice had taught him never to turn his back to one of the boys. Some were fool enough as to think they could attack him, but Guntram turned his back to him also, focusing on getting dressed.

“No belt? Am I in death row?”

“I have it with with me. Here you are.” Massaiev answered and showed him a brown leather belt, matching with the shoes.

“I always preferred shoe laces but moccasins are fine,” Guntram said sarcastically. “Did the warden from Smolensk organize this place?”

“If I were you, boy, I would keep my remarks to myself. Mr. Kuragin has killed for much less and you're not the Griffin's consort any longer. Your death is immaterial. Be nice, or I'll make other people pay for you until Mr. Kuragin changes his mind.”

“You must be very proud of your job, Mr. Massaiev.”

“Don't waste your time with those tactics on me. Will not work at all. Now, move,” Massaiev growled and took him by the arm before almost dragging him out of the room to a large corridor that had a crystal side wall showing and interior lush garden, brimming with the exotic orchids and large ferns planted inside. Guntram stopped briefly to look at the plants in awe, cursing himself for not paying more attention to his botany lessons in school, as they could have given him a clue of his whereabouts.

“Beautiful, isn't it? You can use this interior garden if you like,” Massaiev said softly. “We don't have to be enemies and if we cooperate with each other, your stay here could be much more enjoyable for you.”

Guntram looked at the man in shock. “I never asked to be here.”

“But here you are and your actions proved Mr. Kuragin that you were perfect for him and willing to have a relationship with him, had it not been because of those children's interference.”

“What? Leave my sons out of this!”

“Be very careful, Guntram. Mr. Kuragin hates those little bastards more than anything. He might still go against them if you don't reconsider your affections.”

Guntram looked at the man in horror. “No, Constantin wouldn't hurt two babies.”

“Why not? Lintorff forced him to give up his children in order to save his life. It's simple Justice, Guntram. Didn't he kill all your cousins and uncles? I still don't understand why you are so loyal to him. Didn't he expel you from his own house? How much money did your family have? Over 500 million euros?”

Guntram preferred to remain silent and ignore the man while he tried to control his mind once more. 'It's as Konrad told me, he would go against my babies, if he thinks it would bring him any gains. How many times did he ask me about them? Hundreds and idiot me believed that it was concern about my health! He hates them, but he offered me to have my own with him! Yes, my own, not Konrad's and with him. Didn't he tell me that gay couples had babies without knowing who was the father and just shared the baby?'

“Here we are, the dinning room. Mr. Kuragin will be with you in a few minutes.” Massaiev said and opened a door to reveal a large room with a long table, set for two, but with rounded point knives, much to Guntram's chagrin. The man left the room and closed it, and Guntram circled the table to look at the pictures hanging from the walls. Nothing he had seen before, and mostly Latin American artists. A small Cézanne caught his attention and he took a good look at it as the painting certainly seemed to be a genuine piece. 'When did Constantin buy all this? Why the Russian authorities never missed them? I saw a Miró in the corridor and all of them are catalogued. This is not something you do in a week.'

“Good afternoon, angel. I see you're much better now,” Constantin greeted him from the entrance, once more admiring his love's good breeding. 'He has not yelled or behaved vulgarly not for a single moment. Nothing that could be compared to the many I had before him.' “Please, do sit down,” he showed the youth his place in front of him and Guntram obeyed without uttering a single remark, keeping his head down.

“Your doctor ordered that you should keep a strict diet till your body adjusts to this weather and new conditions. I'm afraid is very simple cooking for you, tonight. You will meet him tomorrow. He has read your medical records with great attention,” Constantin spoke with an amiable voice and Guntram just looked at him in shock. “I care greatly for you, my angel, and with your heart condition, we need a doctor to look after you.”

A medium size man entered the room and left two different dishes in front of them while Constantin said something in Russian. “The service does not speak English, I'm afraid. If you need something, ask Mikhail Petrovich and he will give it to you.”

“Where am I?”

“At home,” Constantin repeated sharply. “Safe and well protected. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Cons.., I mean, Alexander, you can't keep me here! Let me go home!”

“This is your home now, angel and do not make me repeat it once more because you will not like the consequences if you do. You have everything you may need and the peace of this place will be good for your art. Eat now, you had nothing for some time.”

“What day is today?”

“Does it matter?”

“Please, tell me.”

“All right, it's Thursday.”

“Four days? I was out for four days?” Guntram cried.

“Sedated so the trip wouldn't stress you too much and then, recovering. Dr. Sverdloff is very pleased with your reaction to the treatment.”

“How long have you been planning this?”

“My retirement? Since I met you. You see, the life expectancy for a Russian mobster is no longer than fifty years. There's always someone trying to kill you, and the only way to ensure your retirement is to disappear and leave it to the younger generations. It's a very dynamic system, Guntram. My former wife always prevented me to leave, but I don't have to worry about her any more. We never had a close relationship and I'm deeply sorry that she endangered your life with that painting of Sofía.”

“Where is it?”

“Here, I kept it as it's my favourite. I had to let go of most of my collection, but I could keep many others. I will have to stop buying for some years, but the sacrifice is worth it.” Constantin answered while he started to cut his meat. “Come, Guntram, eat something dear,” he coaxed the boy gently.

“I'm not hungry.”

“It's bad for you to refuse to it. I will not like to force you.”

Guntram decided to drop the challenging attitude as it could only get him into more troubles -living with Konrad had taught him that; people like them didn't like challenges at all- and began to fondle with the food and his fork, but the sharp look he got from Constantin stopped his game and he ate the chicken breast pieces with mango sauce in silence.

“It's just a matter of time until you're used to this. Massaiev can take you tomorrow for a walk around the house and you can use the garden as much as you want.”

“Am I your prisoner?”

“There are many dangerous animals in the wild, angel. Snakes and things like that. Many of the plants in this place could rewrite the history of poisons. You'd be better here. Besides, this moist weather is not good for you. Stay in the cold and paint.”

“I can't paint under such conditions.”

“If you don't practice, you will lose your skills and that would be a real pity.”

“Where are my bodyguards?”

“We left them behind. Too much hassle to bring them along. Only one, just to persuade you if you decide to play hard on me.”

“Who?” Guntram whispered, feeling very sick.

“A Swedish. Very vulgar character, but it's to be expected from them. If I'm pleased with your behaviour, I will return him to his master, Guntram.”

“Like you returned Amundsen.”

“I paid him to let me come closer, yes, but the murder was Pavicevic's doing. They caught him in Scotland and set an exemplary punishment. It has been almost impossible to bribe any of your men since that time. Lintorff took it very personally. How were you able to go by yourself to Russia?”

“I caught Konrad in a lie.” Guntram evaded the question.

“Nothing new. His or her name?”

“How do you know it?”

“Most of his closet is clean, so it must be something new. You have still not answered the question.”

“His name is Marcello. They were boyfriends in 2006, but Konrad preferred to exchange him for Stefania. They had an affair this December and he told me. He gave me Konrad's cuflinks, the same I had given him many years ago. He forgot them in the hotel,” Guntram said, feeling the familiar lump constrict his throat. “I moved out the next morning.”

“Yes, I've heard that. How did you manage to do it?”

“I got some help.”

“Who?”

“A lawyer, a friend of my father. In Smolensk I met, Malchenko again, but that was also a set up from you, wasn't it?”

“No, my cousin Boris almost had a heart attack when he heard that you were bribing some undertakers with a Calatrava watch. That was very stupid angel. What if they would have sold you to some petty gangsters instead of him? They would have tortured just to know who you were and then, asked for a ransom. Things are not as safe as they used to be. Is total war nowadays. Who is this lawyer?”

“No, I will not tell. I don't want to cause him troubles.”

“Michel Lacroix perhaps?” Guntram dropped his cutlery but his hands recovered it quickly. “He's certainly close to your father.”

“Michel never met my father. Only Nicholas.”

“Is that what he told you? Strange. But Lacroix is a very dangerous man, good to have on your side, but not for too long. He's after Lintorff's throat and I hope he finally slits it. If there's a man for the job, that's him. In a way, he gave you to me, so I can look after you while he destroys the Order. His law firm helped me to hide most of my cash from Lintorff and then, I hide it from him. He left you a present too, something you lost many years ago.”

“This is not possible! He's a decent man. I've spoken with him many times!”

“He has a soft spot for you, but this man imposes more respect in me than Lintorff ever did. Therefore, I preferred to dissolve my association with him,” Constantin shrugged. “He's very concerned about you since 2004. Your choice of boyfriend left a lot to be desired, Guntram. He almost killed Lintorff when he found out that he had beaten you several times and raped you.”

“How could this be? We never saw each other!”

“Who do you think sent Lefebvre? Who do you think sent Marianne von Liechtenstein to your life? Your uncle? He was killed in December 2004 when he tried to approach you. I know the whole story since long time ago, Guntram. Since 2003 to be precise.”

“Why?”

“He has his own agenda and prefers that you form a family of your own, nothing on loan like what you had till now. He offered you to me and I offered my expertise in some military matters and supplies as well. We complement each other well. From now onward, this is his war. I have what I've always wanted.”

“I don't love you, Alexander and you know it.”

“Do you still love Lintorff?”

“I don't know. I'm tired of his lies,” Guntram said with a shaken voice. “I love my children and I will do anything for them,” he said with more energy and Constantin smirked.

“I can offer a brand new start for you, Guntram. A new identity away from the Order, your own children from your blood and my love. You could be very happy with me, angel.”

“I don't want it.” Guntram used a very sharp tone.

“You'll think better in the morning. The doctor told me that you need two weeks rest. Use that time to consider your options. We'll have coffee in the living room and you will tell me about your latest book,” Constantin ended the discussion standing from his chair and leaving the room.

Guntram just shook his head in disbelief and sat there motionless, wondering if this was a nightmare till Massaiev placed a small silver dish with two white pills and a glass of water in front of him. “Your night pills. Take them and go to the living room. Mr. Kuragin hates to be kept waiting, Guntram.”

“I will not take this!”

“There are other ways to make you obey, boy and you will not like them. The man in the cell will not like it too. So take them and don't be difficult,” he whispered with his low voice. “Be a sensible lad and there will be no need to stun you the whole day.” Guntram looked into his jailer's eyes and he knew that he was not bluffing. He took the pills and swallowed them without water. “Good boy, now go to the living room and behave.”