Chapter 30

May 4th, 2006

Zurich

Crossing into the enemy's territory was something he was familiar with. He had been doing it since he was twenty years old. After so many years, he was still marvelled how confident people felt at their own “lairs” that they never checked anything. The brother of the most wanted man for the Order was standing in front of the Lintorff Privatbank in Börsenstrasse under the scornful look of the frontispiece caryatids, and the three apes guarding the gate had not even taken a look at him. 'Lintorff still has the same holes he had in his security as in 1989'.

He crossed the street and one of the big apes cut him off. “Michel Lacroix. I have a date with Mr.

Davenport at the Legal Office,” were his magical words and the huge man moved aside. 'Lintorff could spend some more and feed them with herring, perhaps their brains could develop a little.”

For appearances sake, he went to the reception girl, an extremely good looking and elegant blonde woman and repeated the story. She smiled kindly and spoke over the phone.

“Someone will be here to take you to Mr. Davenport's office.”

“Thank you.”

Another secretary, in her mid-fifties this time, led him to the 4th floor where you could read all the lawyers names written in golden letters. 'Still the idiot of Merenghetti is here. Only good for dealing with Italian Mafia heads. No idea of corporate law.'

“Notaire Lacroix, thank you very much for coming. Mr. Lefèbre has spoken so highly of you.”

“I thank you the time you take to see me. Our client, Mr. Rochefoucalt wants to marry again and I've noticed some irregularities in his properties' listings. I was hoping you could enlighten me…”

“Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Davenport.”

“It's been a pleasure and I should thank you. Speaking with you has been most educational. Have you never considered to write a contractual law treaty?”

“No, where would be all of us if magicians tell people where is the rabbit hidden?”

“You're right, we need to look after our own interests,” the lawyer chuckled.

“That's the idea behind a guild.” Lacroix smiled, while the other man pushed the elevator's button. Once inside he pushed the number five button and he took a deep calming breath. Now was the dangerous part. To catch a slippery eel with more teeth than a moraine and temperamental as a rabid shark.

The young secretary looked in awe at the medium size man, elegantly dressed with his overcoat casually but elegantly hanging over his shoulders, 'French, no doubt'.

“Can you please tell the Duke that Jerôme de Lisle is here to see him?” he repeated and the girl opened her mouth.

“Do you have an appointment, sir?” she whispered, thinking hard how the man could be here and why Clara had told her nothing. 'De Lisle as the Duke's boyfriend? The same that stood him up in Vienna?'

“Be a dear and run to his secretary and tell her I'm here. Or better, go and get von Kleist or Pavicevic, the young one.” Lacroix explained her kindly and slowly as the girl was obviously in shock.

The tall and proud figure of Ferdinand, followed by two of his aides, came out of one of the doors and Lacroix simply said. “Ferdinand, my boy. Be useful and tell Konrad that I'm here.”

Ferdinand von Kleist lifted his gaze from the papers he was reading to yell with the impudent who had dared to address him in such impertinent way and his heart froze the second he saw that man. The snake's brother: Jerôme. He could only gape at him, without believing that he was standing there. 'He's dead! Guntram was convinced of that! I saw the police reports and the grave was occupied!'

“I see you recognise me. It's good to know I haven't changed so much. Now, move. My patience has a limit.”

“Should I call security?” the secretary asked in a hopeful voice.

“No! We go to the meeting room.” Ferdinand recovered his poise. “Tell Monika to call the Duke.”

Ferdinand made a gesture to Lacroix to follow him to the meeting room, ignoring the protests of a secretary that there was a meeting scheduled in twenty minutes with a “go to the bar!” and shutting the door closed.

“Sit down!” Ferdinand barked as Lacroix removed his coat. 'The rebel looks now exactly as the old Vicomte. Shit!'

“Coffee would be nice, Ferdinand.”

“Annette! Coffee!” he barked to the poor secretary, still standing at the door frame, before he closed the door once more on her face. “Jerôme, from whatever grave you come from, I swear to return you there.”

“My name is Michel Lacroix now. For over fifteen years, Ferdinand.”

“Of all the snakes you were the worst!”

“If you stand where you are now, it's because I told you what to do, boy. So be nice to your benefactor,”

Michel fulminated the man with his green eyes. 'Lap dogs have no teeth, so keep them to yourself.'

Ferdinand snorted “You're dead. All what you had was in Geneva.”

“Do you mean those fake documents you found in that safe box? Don't worry, the original and the newest are somewhere else. But I'm not here to discuss such things with you. It's all in the past. I'm here about my child.”

“I should have known you were in tandem with that slime! If you gave him to Repin, I'll kill you myself!” Ferdinand howled, increasing Michel's disgust at the German.

The lawyer cast a look around, focusing on a painting hanging from the wooden panelled walls, and noticed that the receptionist's dress matched the strong colours of the semi abstract paint, 'a Franz Marc without a doubt. This is the most modern style that Lintorff can stand. Does he think every morning: 'let's visit the XXI century now'?'

“Please, Ferdinand, let's do not be melodramatic. It's so vulgar. Guntram is fine with me,” Lacroix finally sighed tiredly, finding once more his calm demeanour, and Ferdinand couldn't help to exhale slowly his own tension.

“I would have never given my boy to a vicious mobster like Repin. I admit I played him a little to recover him from your people, but for some unexplainable reason, Guntram misses your master.”

“We have been looking for him all over Europe! Where's he?”

“In Europe, of course. Nothing like hiding something in plain sight. Now, go and get Konrad if he wants his Consort back.”

The door burst open and a very pale Konrad von Lintorff entered the room, taking a good look at the man sitting there. He was twenty years older, his hair grey and his face more wrinkled, but he still kept those intelligent eyes, the air of someone who knew himself superior, and a dark aura of seriousness and deep sorrow around him. Nevertheless there was something different in him; he looked deeply satisfied about something.

“De Lisle, I see you're well recovered.” His voice was very stern.

“Indeed Lintorff, but the name is Michel Lacroix.”

“I admit that you have more courage than any other man I've known,” Konrad said, taking the head of the table, his back well straight, without touching the back of the chair. “Leave us please, Ferdinand. I don't want interruptions.”

Furious with his friend for sending him away, the man left the room, back to Goran's office.

“So, what do you want this time?” Konrad spoke very seriously.

“I have something you're looking in the wrong places.”

“Don't you get tired of prostituting your own son?” The voice was soft but full of contempt and scorn.

Lacroix chuckled softly not offended at all. “You still have the same Manichean outlook on things. I'm not whoring my son; in fact, I would have never come to you if I had a choice, alas, I don't.”

“Where's Guntram? Did you sell him to Repin like you sold him to me?”

“Never! I only bought time for him in 1989! Before you would have killed him!”

“I gave you my word to treat him well!”

“Are we going to waste our time with lamentations and reproaches?

“How is he?”

“He's in relatively good health,” Lacroix answered and noticed the tension running through the Duke's back. “He's happy living with me and the best son a man could desire.”

“Why are you here?”

“You tell me.”

“I refuse to make any more deals with you. Your word means nothing! Leave my office and start to run because I'll unleash a hell over your head.”

“Guntram will not survive it. His heart is not strong enough as to run all over the world. If I leave him behind, Repin will get him in less than two days and his affections will kill him in a month.”

“I could reach him first.”

“You? You have been trying to get my brother for sixteen years and he had no money at all! In the unlikely case you would find Guntram, he would hate you for taking his father away once more. Not a very good idea, if you still want your Consort back.”

“I don't want him back,” Konrad said flippantly.

“All right, good day, sir,” Lacroix rose from his chair, but Konrad grabbed him from the wrist with a vicious grip. The older man only sneered. “By the force you're applying over my wrist, I understand that you're willing to negotiate.”

“I want Guntram back. He's my Consort. He's mine, not yours. You relinquished him years ago. To me.”

“He's my son and at the moment, Guntram prefers my company over yours, Lintorff,” Michel huffed to show his scorn for Konrad. “To be honest, I would have preferred a hundred times a Russian mobster over you. Alas this man was detrimental for my son's life and career. For some unexplainable reason, he fell in love with you and still loves you even if he wants to skin you alive for lying about Roger.”

“I never lied to him! I told him he reminded me of my greatest love! I said he looked exactly like his uncle!”

“Half truths are full lies, Lintorff. My son never lied to you and believed each one of your words. You're not better than Repin, trying to destroy his soul, his health and career just to bend him to his will. You're more subtle than him and more generous, but you also want to control him.”

“No, I don't want to control him; I only fear he's hurt. He's very frail and not because of his heart condition. You used to call him your “petit prince” and it's more true than anything. He's completely innocent to the world and wants to believe in it. I want to protect him from harm. I don't care if he hates me now, I want him back with me to keep him safe from danger.”

“Perhaps you do love him.”

“He's my life and my soul. Without him, there's nothing left,” Konrad confessed and looked at his enemy in the eyes, but Michel didn't look away.

“I loved my wife like that. She was the only reason I didn't become what you are now.”

“What do you want this time to return him?”

“I will not return him like a package! He's a person and deserves some respect from all of you!”

“I'll give you…”

“Money? I don't want money. I want some guarantees for my son.”

“He's the Griffin's consort! He carries our seal! What more do you want from me? I was honourable to him since I saw him. I never pressed him to do a single thing! He was very happy with me till you burst into our lives!”

“I was protecting my child from a deranged man and a murderer!”

“You gave him to me!”

“How could I believe that you would fall in love of him just because he looked like my brother? I only sold you a dream and you believed in it!”

“I was attracted to him since I saw him in St. Petersburg. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him after a week of knowing him. I did my best to help him to overcome the ordeal he suffered under Repin and I will do anything for him. I beg you Jerôme, give him back to me. You can't take care of him as he deserves.”

“I could if you would let me.”

“How?”

“A full pardon for me and my brother's family. Cease all hostilities and let us live. We will not interfere with your activities or disclose any information about the Order.”

“Never!”

“Then I'll take Guntram with me. I will not let him behind once more.”

“I can't go against the whole Order. It would be a very bad example.”

“Call off your hounds. I will continue to live as Michel Lacroix, but I demand to continue in contact with my son.”

“Do I have to ask you twice per month over dinner? Should I let you play with my children too?”

Konrad smirked, the blood in his veins starting to boil while his brain supplied a variety of punishments for the man blackmailing him as if it were the simplest thing to do.

“Nothing so dramatic, Lintorff. I want to see Guntram twice per month, as you say. Here in Zurich or in Brussels; let me write with him or phone him.”

Long silence. “I could live with this, but all your letters and conversations would be monitored. You're a dangerous snake and I don't want that Guntram falls into one of your schemes.”

“You can do it as a proof of my good will. My child has nothing to do with your world. Swear that he will never be part of the council!”

“Yes, of course.” It couldn't be so easy, could it? “Do you swear that Guntram will return to me?”

“Return to you? That might take some effort from me. Fixing your lies and deceptions will not be easy.

He's convinced you used him and committed incest with him. If he comes back, how could he be sure that you will not attack me? No, he's not stupid.”

“What else?”

“A seat in the council for me. The one you took from us. I understand there was a sudden resignation of one of your councillors last March because of some troubles with his tax declarations.”

“Never! You? No.”

“You have to prove your good will.”

“I? Who played dead for sixteen years?” Lacroix didn't go along with the taunt and kept silent. Konrad knew that there should be some way of convincing the man to give his son back and keep him away from the most sensitive areas of his power. “If you swear that Guntram will return to me on his own volition and resume his duties as Consort, I could give you something similar in exchange.”

“Define the part of resume his duties as Consort.”

“To look after my children once they're born; to live under the same roof as I; to respect me and obey me as he used to do; to grant me his company and support as in the past; to be my companion.”

“You can't demand such things from Guntram. He's free to choose if he loves you again or not.”

“I only want the opportunity to prove him that my love for him was always true and pure.”

“If you touch one single hair of him without his consent, what you found in that safe box in Geneva will be nothing compared to what you'll face,” Lacroix said very seriously. “If he wants to leave you, you will step aside.”

“You have my word. Do I have yours?”

“What could be so important as a council seat?”

“The Lintorff Foundation's presidency. Of course, you will give a minimum of eighty percent of its resources every year to our mother, the Church, but you can do what you want with the rest, within reason of course.

Last year its budget was near twelve billion dollars. It receives eighteen percent of the hedge funds and our members profits.”

“Very little if we consider your real profits.” Michael complained, but Konrad said nothing bearing a blank expression in his face. “You will return to Guntram what he lost because of your attack on our family. At today's prices, his share would be around three hundred millions euros.”

“No.”

“The amount should be deposited in numbered account in Switzerland within the next sixty days. I will provide you with the details. I want that my son has something to back him up if the Russian or your associates put a bullet in your head. It's not much to ask from you.”

“I want then something from you. All the material you have over us and your oath of loyalty. No more games like the hacker's party you organized last March. It's the least I demand from the President of my charity foundation. I'll give Guntram one hundred fifty million euros. If you want more resources for the Foundation, convince the other members to be more generous. Do your own work!”

“All right. The Presidency, the full pardon for my brother's family and two hundred twenty-five million euros for Guntram in exchange for convincing my son to return to you and giving you all the information I have.

You'd be surprised to know how many don't love you at home. The hornets' nest is quite stirred at the moment.”

“I refuse to have you hovering around me in Zurich, driving Guntram mad and undermining my relationship with him. You take the Foundation along with you to Brussels. You can visit him only for a day, twice per month and you will not take him out of the castle or from the meeting point we will choose.”

“It seems we are divorcing each other, my Duke.” Lacroix sneered and Konrad looked at him venomously. “For Guntram's sake we will have to find a way to cooperate with each other. A cold war among us is also detrimental for his health.”

“I will never accept you into my family, not even for Guntram. It was a great day when I heard about your death.”

“It was a pity that bullet didn't reach your head.”

“If you move one inch from your duties at the Foundation or if one single cent is missing or misused, I will go against you with everything I have.”

“I swear you will come to hell with me,” Lacroix growled.

“I'll make Guntram pay for you.”

“You couldn't do it.”

“I'm a father now, exactly as you are. I'll do whatever it takes to secure my position to defend my children.”

“Very well, we understand each other. I will bring Guntram to you after the money is deposited and the children are in Zurich. Perhaps they will work their charms on him better than you, and I can see why. What really hurt him was losing the opportunity to look after them; more than your lies and deceptions. He was truly in love with the idea of having children.”

“My sons will be born on May 15th and they will arrive to Switzerland beginning of June. I can't wait for so long to see him. I need to be sure that he's in good hands. Your word has not much value for me.”

“Yours neither, my Duke. I don't want to have your men storming into my house one night looking for Guntram and giving him the fright of his life.”

“Before I do anything, I want to see him and talk with him.” Konrad rose from the table has he had enough of the man.

“All right, you can visit us in three weeks time. After your children are born,” Lacroix conceded, as he knew that Lintorff was on the limit of his endurance for challenges. “You can visit us in our house in Aschaffenburg.

It's in front of the river, near the Residenz. There's a small children's park in front of the walk that runs along the Mainz, the first one after you descend the steps from the castle toward the river, before Willigisbrücke. Come by after lunch and bring a photo of the babies. They will do much more for your cause than you. In fact, if I were you, I would be quiet and only show the photos.”

“Are you staying in Aschaffenburg?” Konrad asked incredulous, on the brink of a heart attack.

“It's a very nice city and Guntram needed to see the other part of his inheritance. My mother was born there.”

“There's nothing there! It's open to any attack from Repin!”

“No, it's not. It's perfectly safe. I'm more concerned about you than about the Russian.”

“You betrayed him!”

“Starting to be concerned about your fatherin-law, my Duke?” Michel smirked. “How touching! If it eases your fears, send some of your Krajina hounds to protect him but it's totally unnecessary. There's a team of my own working there.”

Konrad's blood nearly exploded at the disrespectful tone, words and attitude the man had. “Had it not been for…”

“Good day to you, sir. We'll see each other in three weeks. I wish you all the best in the birth,” Michel said regally. 'Exactly as the old creep,' Konrad thought rising from his chair and standing in front of his old adversary.

“I expect to hear from you soon, sir,”

“Send the conditions to Ferdinand. He will see to it.”

“Agreed.” Michel offered his hand to Konrad but he didn't shake it, still looking outraged. “As I said earlier, the best would be if we reach an understanding between us.” Reluctantly, Konrad shook the pre offered hand, sealing their pact. “Good, I'll start to work on Guntram.”

“I will send my people over. He should be under protection.”

“All right, thank you,” Lacroix walked to the door, not expecting that Konrad would also accompany him and opened it for him. That Ferdinand was almost falling on top of them, was not a surprise for neither of them and both smirked at the same time while Ferdinand blushed like a child. Goran Pavicevic was clever enough as to stay a few metres away from the door.

“One more thing, Mr. Lacroix,” Konrad said the name clear and loudly so his men would understand that he had accepted to go with Guntram's father's scheme.

“Yes, my Griffin?” Lacroix asked, slightly bowing his head in an almost submission gesture.

“Why did you say that Repin affected his career in addition to his life?”

“Do you remember that exhibition in January? In Berlin? The collective one, where he got that dreadful, bordering on slanders critic?” All the men's faces adopted a murderous look when they heard his words. “The Griffin should fire his people better after ten years of services. Your Italian…” Michel chose the word very carefully,

“girlfriend paid that man, I don't remember his name, three million euros for it.”

“Stefania never had so much money!” Ferdinand protested.

“She hasn't, but Repin has plenty. He didn't want Guntram to become famous or well known after it. If so, he would have lost the boy forever. Had it not been for Roger's accident, I would have never let Repin to tell the truth to Guntram. I took him away to keep him away from people like all of you, but he wants to return to you. I don't support his decision, but I accept it. We cannot chose with whom we fall in love; only pray that he or she is a good person. Good day to you all.”

The three men looked at each other; dumbfounded and baffled while Lacroix went away, without looking behind for once.

“That would have explained it. I liked his things and the others were not so bad. Better than what we have to suffer at Ostermann's auction each year,” Ferdinand said softly.

“I'll nail Repin to a wall. Like the worm he's,” Goran said even softer.

“He still loves me, despite all,” Konrad said almost inaudibly. “Come with me gentlemen, we have much to discuss.” He returned to his normal overbearing persona.

It had been a huge risk but it had been worthy. Lintorff was obviously still in love with his child, really in love with him; not besotted as he had been with Roger. 'Nothing turns out how we plan it, but Guntram will be happy with him the years he has left. He deserves to have a family and peace. His mother died at thirty-one and was not so sick as he was.'

Lacroix finished writing the envelope in the VIP room and closed the lid before giving it to the young girl at the desk office for posting it. Ferdinand should start to work with this.

“Where's Guntram, my Duke?” Goran fired the question, not even sitting in his chair, his eyes fixed on the boy's picture over the large polished desk.

“He lives with his father, Michel Lacroix, in Germany.”

“What? Of all places?” Ferdinand shouted.

“Aschaffenburg. Goran send one of your teams with Milan or Ratko as leader. He goes every morning to a park near the Residenz. Find out everything you can, but do nothing. Lacroix does not want us near till three weeks.

He has accepted the surveillance, but your men should not frighten Guntram. He's health is frail in the moment.”

“It will be done as you wish, Sire.”

“Since when Jerôme de Lisle sets conditions to us?” Ferdinand barked but Konrad ignored him as he was still speaking with Goran.

“If a Russian shows his nose five hundred metres from where Guntram is, eliminate him. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Sire. Ratko is my best man for such things.”

“Regarding the other issue, the Art critic, do nothing. We need proofs of Lacroix's words.”

“Why do you call him like that?” Ferdinand roared. “We should have eliminated him by ourselves!”

“Be quiet Ferdinand.”

“Don't you dare to shut me up!”

“Do you want to lose my only link to Guntram? Should I kill this man and then tell him; sorry, I killed your father this time for real? Never! If I want my consort back, I have to negotiate with him. From now own you will also call him Michel Lacroix as I don't want any of our associates asking questions about him. Officially, he saved us whether we like it or not! I have granted him a full pardon. He's the person who will take over the Presidency of the Lintorff Foundation in six months. We need someone with broad experience in tax law.”

“Are you exchanging Elisabetta von Lintorff for this snake?” Ferdinand shouted and Goran looked more sombre than ever.

“Do you prefer him sitting in the Council? Knowing him like we do now, he would be in your place in two years.”

“You can't fire Elisabetta!”

“We'll find something else for her and she has told me several times she gets headaches with all the legal and money issues. Lacroix will do a better job and I prefer to keep him busy than plotting against us. Pray that I find nothing against me from your wife in the document's he's going to give me.”

“What?”

“As a proof of good will, Ferdinand. I want that you make a transfer for one hundred thirty-five million euros from my own money to an account number he will give you. Before you yell again, the money is for Guntram.

Make sure that he has no access to that money, only Guntram. Once I give you the order, complete that amount up to two hundred twenty-five millions.”

“You're crazy. Utterly crazy.”

“I agree with the Duke, Ferdinand,” Goran said after considering for a while. “The lad needs some cash if something were to happen to his Excellency. He has the children to support now, because he's still their Guardian of Estate and legal Tutor, right?”

“As it was decided.”

“Then, I would suggest that you increase the sum over the years, my Duke. If you're satisfied with his performance and behaviour as Consort, that is.”

“It's a good idea. I'll take it into consideration,” Konrad said and returned his attention to a full brooding Ferdinand. “Is everything clear, my friend?”

“I'm the only one with some sense in this room!” He smirked but then the idea landed in his brain. “If I have to suffer this “Michel Lacroix” again, I also want your support in a project of mine.”

“I hear you, Ferdinand.”

“I want to divorce and to marry Cecilia Riganti. I'm also tired of running to hotels Konrad. We are too old, exactly as you said and she's a decent woman to be treated like this. I had enough of Gertrud. I coped with her for 25 years.”

“This is unexpected. You married by the Church!”

“I'll go to the Rota, if I have to. I will not be the first one to tell that was not understanding his vows. I was only twenty years old when I married!”

“Do you swear that this would be your grounds for your annulment request?”

“Yes, of course. I will say nothing about Marie Amélie not being my daughter or remove her from my will. Her brothers like her.”

“What about my cousin?”

“She has more money than I! May I remind you that we married under a separation of property regime?

We have a contract and in case of divorce I don't get a single penny from her although I expanded her capital several times! I have paid for everything over the past twenty-five years! Even for her bastard… and quite expensive she was!” Ferdinand roared at the injustice.

“She's a woman! She depends on you to protect her! You're her husband and swore before God to protect her!”

“Protect her? Even you say that she's a cunning snake! Of all the money I've made over the years, she took half of it!”

“That's true. If I remember correctly our calculations about how much your wife and children were costing you, the result was that from every franc you were making, you only got thirty cents for yourself,” Goran supported an astonished Ferdinand.

“I insist that you provide for your wife. She spent twenty-five years of her life at your side! Remember her actual position! Her accounts are frozen! If you stop to support her, she will have nothing!” Konrad barked.

“Fine! I'll give her a house and pay for its maintenance! It's more than I should do according to my lawyers! Really Konrad this is too much! I was married to Lady Macbeth and I have to support her? I didn't want to marry her! Your uncle almost forced me! Did you ever take a look at my prenuptial agreement? I only stayed for the boys!”

“Not enough,” Konrad replied unmoved by his friend’s fury.

“All right, 10.000 dollars in addition for the supermarket. That's final Konrad.”

“Please! That's what I was giving to Stefania!”

“It's half of my salary here. Give me a rise and I'll pay her more!”

“Should I remind you how much was your bonus or your representation expenses?”

“Not included in the salary: windfall. Ten thousand.”

“I can't believe you're denying your own wife your support. She's the mother of your boys!”

“Karl Otto is twenty-five and in Harvard and I pay for that! Johannes is twenty-three and in Chemistry Faculty! Old enough to fend for themselves. Guntram was on his own when he was eighteen!”

“And he thought that the best idea was to move in with Repin!”

“You have a point there. They can move with me and Cecilia. I'm going to live with her and introduce her as my fiancée. Are we finished?”

“I will not forget this offence, Ferdinand.”

“Then, do your own dirty work! I refuse to! Live you with her! It's YOUR fucking cousin. She was not even pregnant when I married her! All was a deception from your cousin Georg! She married me to get your uncle's money so his second wife wouldn't get it all! I left my career in the Army for her! I was an idiot to believe that one night's fuck would be enough to impregnate her!” Ferdinand stood up and left the room, furious and determined to call his lawyers and finish everything once and for all.

It was very late when Michel Lacroix descended from the train at Aschaffenburg. He took his car from the parking lot and drove home, hoping that everything was fine for Guntram. His son had not liked at all that he was going away for the day, even he believed that he was only going to Brussels to visit some of his customers. He truly hated to lie to his child, but telling him the truth of his business would only drive him nervous. He passed by the huge castle, lightened in the night in an eerie way and turned left to the small street where he had his house, bought some five years ago before it was put down because he liked its old style and the view over the river.

He opened the door with great care as he didn't want to wake up Guntram.

“Papa! You're back!” A very happy Guntram shouted from the stairs

“You should be in bed, my son,” Lacroix smiled while he mildly scolded his boy.

“I was waiting for you. Did you have dinner? Fairuza left something for you. I can warm it.”

“Yes, thank you. I had something in the plane, but nothing that could be compared to her cooking.”

“I agree with you, she cooks great! I'll do it in a minute,” Guntram smiled and disappeared toward the kitchen to set the table and serve the food. He took from the refrigerator the prepared dish, removed the plastic film and put it inside the microwave without giving much thought to his actions. Living with his father had been awkward at the beginning but now he was getting more and more comfortable around him and starting to dull the pain of Konrad's betrayal. He was sad all the time, although he did his best to conceal it from his father, thinking and remembering his lover's face, expressions and the void left by his absent body in his bed. 'How could he do it? How could I not see it? He told it in my face several times! I loved him more than anything and he lied to me! There's nothing more to do. I won't return and he will not have me back because I didn't fulfil my promise to be there for his babies.'

Guntram took the chicken out of the microwave and set it on the kitchen's table, waiting for his father. A few minutes later, he came with different trousers and a plaid shirt. “Tomorrow, I'm staying with you. I have to be in Paris in five days to help Nicholas with a case. Big mess, exactly what I love,” Michel smirked.

“I worry every time you go there. What if Repin goes against you? He knows where you live! Where you work! What if he goes against Lefèbre?”

“Guntram, you should stop worrying yourself so much. It's harmful for you. Everything was a calculated risk and it wouldn't be the first time we do something crazy together. I met him when the fool was trying to set a Molotov cocktail with a piece of paper!”

“That's sounds more like suicide!” Guntram laughed.

“And he even argued with me when I took the bottle away!” Michel also laughed at the memory of those crazy days in May 68. “We slept that night at the police station. My father was furious with me the next morning. He almost sent me back to Poitiers in chains! Imagine, one of the cops asked me if I preferred to stay with them! After all, I had showed them how to save money in their tax declarations.”

“The grandfather had a very strong character,” Guntram chuckled not surprised that his father had a good relationship with the policemen. 'Probably he convinced them to join the revolution by paying less taxes to finance De Gaulle's police state.'

“Very hard man; stern to no end. Well, he had three boys to keep under his rule. Pascal was always starting the ruckus, Roger immediately following him and I saving their asses. Literally. Therefore my father sent me to Law school!” Michel said, enjoying the laughter of his son. “Really Guntram, don't worry about Repin. He's looking for you in Venezuela or Colombia.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I paid a French student, looking very similar to you to use a fake passport with your name and take a flight to Buenos Aires that same night. When he arrived to Buenos Aires, he used his own passport and entered the country under his name. He must be travelling around Argentina. I'm offended with Repin because he lost my son from what was supposed to be the simplest thing in the world. After all, you have no experience at all in such matters!

None of the Russians lurking the hotel knew Chano and he drove you to the Airport.”

“Papa, Constantin is a very clever man and he's ruthless!”

“Guntram, I know who he's because I work for him since 1995. Last year, his companies paid my firm over fifty million Euros for our services. If something were to happen to me or to Nicholas, a dossier with vital information about him would fall in the wrong hands. You know what you have to do if this happens. Go to Frankfurt and take from the safe box all the papers in there and leave the country or return to Lintorff. He will help you.”

“I don't want to lose you again!”

“You won't. I'm here to stay this time, my son.”

“Lintorff would kill you if he finds out about you! He killed Uncle Roger and that journalist!”

“I know and that was my reason to let Repin show you the photos. I never wanted to cause you such a pain, but I needed you out of there! I'm starting to believe that I made a horrible mistake. Perhaps it was a real car accident. Everything seems to be in order with the police investigation.”

“How could it be a mistake? He's a murderer! He killed all our family and fucked me all what he wanted just because I look like my uncle! Do you have any idea how dirty I feel? He told me he had not ordered the murders and I believed him! I pitied him and even comforted him because he felt bad and sad because of Uncle Roger!”

“Roger and Lintorff's relationship was not easy. It was a minefield built by both sides. They loved to fight just to fix it in the bedroom. Most of the time Roger was playing with his feelings or his jealousies, insecurities and Lintorff always answered in a violent way, when in fact he was like a poor puppy following him everywhere. He was obsessed with my brother and forgave him many things that I would have never accepted, not even from your mother. In a way we used him to achieve our goals, Guntram. I remember one night I was working late, I think it was 1986 or 1987, when Lintorff came to the bank in Paris looking for Roger. He had worked non stop for over 64 hours, depriving himself of sleep, flying directly from Shanghai, just to be on time for Roger's birthday as he had promised he would. Roger had left with a secretary, a hot looking girl. He asked me if I knew where he was because he was not at home of course, his wife was working in the hospital, and I didn't know what to tell him. I felt bad for him. Really Guntram, I felt bad because there I saw how he really was: just a man desperate to be loved by someone. He would have gone to Hell for my brother.”

“He was always very generous and careful with me; tender to an incredible point. Never giving me flowers or saying romantic things, but in his own way, he was checking that I was taking my medications, that I was not cold or that no one was rude to me. When we started to date, he was always thinking in me before him and I loved him for that because he made me feel respected. Sometimes I believe that he loved me so much that he was hurting himself with his devotion.”

“Do you still love him?”

“I'll get over it. I got over Constantin. I long for a new start, papa.”

“You didn't answer my question. Do you love him?”

“I guess so, but it's over. I will not return with him! He's a bad person and he is dangerous for you!”

“Forget about me, son. I'm old enough as to take care of myself. Since you're with me, your health deteriorates day by day. You sleep bad, are permanently nervous, sad and afraid. Perhaps, I'm not what you need.”

“NO! I want to stay with you!”

“I also do, but you're twenty-three years old and almost had your life organized. Lintorff took you as his Consort and offered to share his children with you. It's an important position in the Order. In his eyes, he married you the best as he could!”

“Are you his lawyer now?”

“Old habits die hard. One of my first clients and the most problematic,” Michel laughed. “All I want to say is that you have to carefully think about your future. Think on yourself only, not in me, the family or any other person. I will support any decision you make.”

“I must be a big disappointment for you, father. I have not finished school, achieved nothing as painter, favourite whore of a Russian mobster and former substitute whore of a German mobster. Let's do not mention that I can't even run after the bus and take more drugs than a junkie. Ah, I'm gay too.” Guntram spoke very slowly and his father only looked at him for a long time.

“Your life didn't turn out as I expected, that's true. I hoped that you would study a career, get a job, a wife, children perhaps and that would be all. Nothing more. You would have died when you were more than 70, probably loved by all the people who knew you but forgotten two days after. Graveyards are full with nice people, Guntram. But no, you decided to move to London to study Art History with great success, had an exhibition in one of the best galleries there with excellent critics and everything sold out, before you were twenty-two years old. Survived what would have killed most people and accepted your illness with more courage than many men I know. You returned to school and did your best to finish all what you could and continued to paint, this time under the tutelage of one of the most renowned art commissars in Europe, have one portrait at the Cardinal's gallery in the Vatican, next to the great artists at twenty-three and sold two other works for the Vatican collections. Finally you were in a collective exhibition and got one bad review over five goods, and your pieces were sold, because of the scandal it was. Not what I expected from you at all.”

“Father, I…”

“Let me finish, Guntram. It's my turn to speak,” Michel said very crossed and Guntram looked down ashamed. “Your choice of boyfriends leaves a lot to be desired, especially regarding your first one, but I can't really blame you if you were only 18 when you met him and the second wanted to marry you and endangered his position as Hochmeister of one of the most terrifying secret societies known to mankind. The man wanted to give you his children too. Almost all high society in Zurich respects and likes you. Tita von Olsztyn was almost strangling that critic with her Louis Vuitton's leather purse. Ah, I forgot to mention that she has two of your paintings in her collections, next to a Picasso or a Miró. It's really not what I expected from my child in my wildest dreams.”

“Father…”

“I thought you were going to be a grey little man like most of us, but you outshone us all. When your time comes, Guntram, you could look Death in the face and tell her, “I go now, but how I lived my life!” I never thought that my son could be so much and achieve so much only with his talent and courage. I'm proud of you as I'm ashamed of myself for not being with you when you needed me most.”

“But I'm…”

“What are you? An artist? I'm glad that you have talent. Gay? I will not treat you differently for that! I'm heterosexual and does it make a difference for you? Perhaps one day you'll give me grandchildren or not; that's in God's hands. Didn't finish school? Well, stop whining and finish it! Or paint something good! No one asked the great artists for their credentials! You are sick? Well, it's genetic. Hit me and then, take your medications, boy.”

“I never thought you accepted me,” Guntram mumbled, ashamed that he had thought that his father barely tolerated him and despised him for his sexual condition. 'Honestly, I never knew or considered it till I met Constantin or Konrad. I guess I couldn't like any other man or woman after him.'

“Of course I love you, you robbed my heart the minute you opened your eyes and looked at me. Now, go to bed, it's very late and you have to start to work again. Don't let your fear of two men rule the rest of your life.”

“You're right, papa, but I only fear one. The other, I don't know what to think about him,” Guntram said dejectedly and kissed his father good night.

“Good night. Don't forget your pills and don't stay up late reading,” Michel caressed his son's cheek as if he were still a child, chuckling at his son's frustrated groan at being treated like a toddler.