Into the Lion's Den (84 page)
Read Into the Lion's Den Online
Authors: Tionne Rogers
“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.”
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 was 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.”
“I will be careful and you can come with me. We will choose the meeting place in Vienna.”
“Kitten, this is crazy, I can't let you do it!” Konrad hugged Guntram once more. “I can't lose you now!
“Let's try it for a last time, please Konrad. This is also no life for me!” Guntram kissed Konrad on the cheek and buried against his chest. “If you come with me, I will be braver.”
“Of course, I'll be with you! This is nonsense!”
“Let's try this time my way and then, I will let you do what you think best, please.”
“Next, you will want to be on the Council.”
“No, never. That's a Dinosaurs' gathering!” Guntram said before he could refrain his mouth. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean you're one!”
“No, I just party with them,” Konrad smirked but held the youth close to him, feeling how he was relaxing. “Kitten?”
“Yes, Konrad.”
“Don't you ever get in the middle again. This is my first and only warning,” he said very seriously and Guntram nodded, knowing he had gone through the flames and escaped unscathed by very little.
They had almost not spoken in the plane to Vienna, only sat together, Konrad holding Guntram's hand while the boy only looked through the window to the darkness, hypnotized by the position lights.
The car had been waiting for them and took them to the hotel in front of Ringstrasse. During the trip, Konrad had tried to distract Guntram by showing some of the buildings, but he had almost not reacted to his comments. Inside the large suite, Guntram had refused to dine and after many, many blandishments Konrad was able to convince him to nibble half of a chocolate cake.
“Guntram, you don't have to do this. I'll manage Repin in my way,” Konrad told him for the tenth time once they were in bed and his kitten had curled in his arms, looking exhausted and afraid. “You're almost on the brink of a collapse.”
“We have to.”
“No, we don't. He's not a civilized man. He will not sit to hear what you have to say and then, look for a joint solution. He will hurt you if he can't get you! Please, Guntram, let me do it in my own way. I know how to treat this scum.”
“This is the last time I try. We have to stop this madness. I worry about the babies when they're here.
What if he attacks them now?”
“The carrier is well protected and she will be well provided after the birth, don't worry about her, kitten.”
“Tell me you love me,” Guntram whispered.
“Guntram, you're my life. I love you and I need you. Without you I could never have had my children. I can't do it alone. Drop this and let me deal with Repin. You can't risk being sick because of him. Klaus and Karl need you too. What if Repin hurts you?”
“Constantin will not hurt me. He could have done it in Rome, but he didn't. He frightened me, but didn't touch a single hair from me. His men were sometimes brutal to me, but he always was very careful with me. He took care of me when I was sick. He's not such a bad man, Konrad.”
“Guntram, you don't know half of what I know,” Konrad said dejectedly.
“Maybe that's why he let me know his true self.”
