Chapter 31

May 29th

Aschaffenburg

“Hello, Guntram,” Konrad said timidly, surprised at his own embarrassment and shyness. He couldn't get his eyes away from the small form sitting in that faded wooden bench, his hands, before diligently drawing, had frozen in mid air at hearing his voice. He was not like that!

Guntram raised his eyes from the paper on the brink of a panic attack and glanced at his father, sitting next to him, reading some papers for a case he was preparing. He wanted to tell him to run, but he saw immediately Goran's frame some thirty metres away and a mountain in a dark suit other forty metres away. On the road over the elevated area of the park was parked a huge Mercedes limo. He elbowed his father with clear desperation, but the man only said “wait, I have to finish this page.”

Konrad approached Guntram, realising that that the youth's face had turned ashen at seeing him.

“Good afternoon, my Griffin,” Lacroix was unaffected to see Lintorff standing there while he gathered his papers and placed them back in his leather portfolio. “Guntram, where are your manners? You should say at least hello and congratulate his Grace for the coming of his children. I hope everything went satisfactory, Sire.”

“Thank you, Mr. Lacroix. The children are in good health, but still in New York,” Konrad answered in a polite voice and Guntram fell totally abashed. How did Konrad know his father's new identity? Had Constantin betrayed him as punishment? If Goran was here, then the outcome could not be good. The noise of his heart beat was deafening and he felt the urge to throw up his lunch.

“Mr. Lacroix, may I speak with your son?” Konrad asked, understanding that exactly as the man had predicted, Guntram was on his side and he needed his support if he wanted him back.

“Of course, my Griffin. Guntram, when you're finished here, ask your consort to come for coffee at home,” Lacroix rose from his side of the bench, doing his best to ignore Guntram's look of total panic and his ragged breathing and walked toward the exit and through the sharp road that led to the private back entrance of his house.

“May I sit?” Konrad asked to the silent Guntram, his eyes still fixed on him, 'like a frightened kitten.'

“There are no hard feelings between your father and me. We have settled our differences and we are in peace. No harm will fall upon him. This I swear on my children's heads. Please, let me speak with you.”

Guntram could only nod and move to the farthest end of the bench, fixing his blue eyes on the water.

Konrad had thought many times over about his words during his overnight flight from New York, but the four different speeches he had prepared died in his brain the moment he saw Guntram obviously afraid of him. 'Once more, Jerôme, I mean Michel Lacroix, is right. Silence is better.' He fished his smartphone from the depths of his breast pocked and switched it on, looking for his children's photos folder, opened it and offered to Guntram.

“The babies arrived on the 16th. They're just perfect. Do you want to take a look?”

Hesitantly, Guntram took the device and only saw a big blurry white and pink spot; the next photo was not better and the third also.

“I can't see a thing,” he said very timidly.

“My hand was shaking too much to get a clear shot. The next pictures are better. The nurses took them.”

Konrad took the phone back, looking visibly embarrassed at his clumsiness, but Guntram softly smiled when he was certain that the man was not looking at him. Some twelve photos later, Konrad found the perfect images. “Here you are.”

Guntram was speechless when he saw the first of the very wrinkled and partly red babies. His eyes were furiously closed against the light and he had a mop of dark brown hair and his mouth and chin looked exactly as his father's. “That's Klaus Maria, the eldest by fifteen minutes. The next should be Karl Maria,” Konrad used a very gentle voice and carefully invaded Guntram's space to change the photo from another baby with a blonder hair, sleeping totally oblivious to the world. “Yes, that's him. A Siebenschläfer, excuse me, dormouse. He's very peaceful compared to his brother. Klaus is very temperamental and has zero patience when it comes to his bottle. If you try to fool him with a dummy, he becomes more enraged.”

Guntram laughed nervously and continued to look at the photos, feeling that something was breaking inside him.

“Karl has already the nurses dangling from his little fist. Both women drool over him while Klaus has scared them away in less than ten days.”

“The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, your Grace. They're beautiful babies. You should be proud of them,” Guntram said and returned the smartphone to Konrad, not willing to look more because he knew he was one step from throwing everything through the window and follow again that man who had destroyed everything in his past, but wanted to give him a future.

“Come home with us, please,” Konrad begged and took Guntram's hand.

“I…”

“Please, we all need you.”

“Yes.”

“I swear to do all in my hands to compensate you for the pain I caused you. I never wanted to lie to you, but I didn't have the courage to tell it and then, everything entangled more and more… What did you say?” He stopped the words flowing out of his mouth without sense, order or method.

“Start by hearing me better,” Guntram smiled nervously. “I said yes. I will come home with you and the babies.”

“I never loved anyone as much I love you. Never, I swear. You changed my life and I can't live without you. These months you were away, I was nearly crazy. I feared that Repin could have killed you or that you would have done something very stupid…”

“Shhh, hearts attacks are my field of expertise, Konrad,” Guntram joked, moved by the other man's nervous breakdown. “I also love you, but don't you ever lie to me again.”

“No, I will not.”

“Do you have something more to tell me?”

“I have reached an agreement with your father. He should convince you to return to me and I will name him President of the Lintorff Foundation in six months, but he and the whole institution should move to Brussels, Paris or China because I don't want him near you or in my house,” Konrad confessed, expecting to hear Guntram explode. “I also deposited some money for you in an account he settled in Basel. He can't touch that money. Only you.”

“I will speak with my father tonight,” Guntram mumbled, slightly crossed at Michel for organising his life without asking his opinion. 'He's getting too comfortable in his role as father'.

“Guntram, no. I don't want him in Zurich. He can visit you or phone you, but never staying under the same roof as I. We never liked each other and we will never do. Also I swore to him, never let you participate in the council or grant any power to you. He also will give me the information he has over us.”

“If he does it, how could he protect himself? Constantin will kill him the minute he finds out that he helped me to escape his people in Vienna. I'm concerned about the people who work with him.”

“If he's the president of my foundation, he will be well protected. Goran will see to it. In a way, had it not been for him, you'd probably be in St. Petersburg or six feet under, so for that I'm grateful to him.”

“I can't lose him again, Konrad.”

“I swear I'll do my best to protect him as long as he doesn't rise against me.”

“My father in the Foundation? Was that not your aunt Elisabetta's new job?”

“Ferdinand's problem. He has to break the news to her. I hope he survives it,” Konrad said nervously, hoping that his friend would come out of the mess relatively unscathed. 'If he wants my support for his divorce, he should earn it.'

“Poor woman! She likes her position! Perhaps if I speak with him, my father would accept the vice presidency.”

“No, let him where I place him. He should be busy enough there. Perhaps Elisabetta would like to take care of the Public Relations. Do you want to say hello to Goran? I think he missed you.”

“Yes, of course. Where's he?” Guntram asked, his gaze looking for the missing man, but as usual he had vanished into thin air, after seeing that his Duke was on the right path.

“And you have to get that dog out of my room! The animal has taken over your closet and we can't get it out! She bites everyone who comes near your clothes! She even tried to bite me! And she snores so loudly that I had to move to your former bedroom. I was really considering a final solution for her!”

“You wouldn't dare!” Guntram protested.

“No, I wouldn't. Having the monster around gave me hopes that you would return for her and I could tell myself that you were only away for holidays,” Konrad confessed nervously. “Please, come home and get rid of her.”

“No way, she stays, Konrad.”

“All right, but out of our bedroom,” Konrad said and noticed how Guntram's body went rigid. “If you want, of course. I'll force you to do nothing with me. I understand you need time to accept me again.”

“I'm returning because of your babies. I still love you, but I will have to trust you again. This is not so simple for me.”

“Would you take our seal again?” Konrad asked, getting a small box from his jacket's pocket. “It's only for a few years, until Klaus marries.”

“It will be my pleasure to give it back then,” Guntram said and extended his right hand to Konrad who quickly slid the ring in before his lover would reconsider it.

“My father says I should invite you for tea, but it's too early. Do you want to go for a walk?”

“Sure, he needs more time to put the cyanide in the coffee. Your father hates me.”

“No, he told me he wanted to shoot you down,” Guntram smiled and offered his hand to Konrad so he would stand up.

“Good to know, I'll carry a kevlar vest when he's around.”

“He's the best father I could wish.”

“Yes, father; not father in law. There is a whole world difference, Maus.”

Sitting in the medium size garden in front of one his most cunning adversaries and pretend that everything ran smoothly was a test for Konrad already frayed nerves. The house was adequate for his consort; an old five bedrooms villa in a good area, with a garden well protected with a high wall and some old trees. Acceptable furniture and nothing vulgar. Not what he would have expected from “Jerôme, le Rouge”, as his elder brother used to call him when he was not around: 'all the young idealists are now thinking on their pensions schemes.' The “maid” (as if a bossy middle aged foreigner woman could be called like that) had dared to complain that Guntram had left all his brushes in the water and not removed his watercolours from the kitchen table. “Do it once more, and you'll find your things in the trash can. It's my kitchen!” When Konrad was going to give her a piece of his mind, Guntram only smiled and gave her a hug with a “don't be mad at me Fairuza, please.”

“Is that your boyfriend? He's too old for you! Drop him and I will look for something much better when we're back in Brussels,” she said in French, “Germans are all the same, no blood in their veins. Let me look among my people.”

“I like him just as he is. Boring and all,” Guntram whispered in her ear. “Is my father home?”

“He's working, don't disturb him. You can take the antiquity to the garden or the living room. Mr.

Lacroix forbids you to take him to your bedroom!”

'So much for love of sixty-eight!' Konrad thought, starting to be irked with the man's audacity. 'I named Guntram my consort! What else does he want?'

“I think we should do as she tells, Konrad. My father can shout very impressively. I heard him on the phone several times,” Guntram lifted an eyebrow and smiled. “I think, he's becoming more and more like my grandfather,” he whispered.

“Yes, I bet a hundred Euros that he will allow me to drink a cup of coffee and kick me out at seven.”

Konrad smiled, partly appeased.

“Curfew time it's at 7:30, Konrad.”

“Good to know.”

They sat in the garden in front of the table under the trees, Konrad telling Guntram about the birth of his children and how he had nearly collapsed when he had seen them, both asleep in their cots at the nursery.

“And the mother?”

“She's not the real mother, only a surrogate one. I thanked her and parted my way. She has other children and psychologists recommend that we don't have much contact. The lawyers took care of everything. She will be very well provided, don't worry Guntram.”

“What if she wants the children back?”

“She can't have them back; they are not hers. They're mine and yours too. I was planning to bring them to Switzerland on the 5th and perhaps you could meet me in Zurich,” Konrad suggested, and took the small hand between his. “The drawings you made for them are framed and hung in the nursery. They look very well.”

A strong cough made Konrad almost jump to the attack, letting Guntram's hand go. Eating his own fury at the interruption, because his kitten was slowly accepting his touches once again, he looked at the older man.

“This is my house and that is my child. I will appreciate if you refrain from inappropriate contacts with him till he's under your care, Duke,” Lacroix barked in German in a voice that would have made Friederich or the old Duke envious. “Guntram, go and tell Fairuza to serve coffee in the garden,” he said in French and his son quickly obeyed him.

“For a second I thought I've heard the Vicomte,” Konrad smirked.

“My father was a stern but down to earth man. He knew very well how to deal with people like you. You should show some respect to my son. He's still young and in his father's house,” Lacroix glared at him.

“Mr. Lacroix, rest assure that I hold your son in my highest esteem. He's my Consort and has accepted my family's seal again,” Konrad protested.

“I was expecting much better from you, sir. Did you ask for his father's permission to offer it? To tell him to come with you? Circumstances have changed in the past months. I will not allow you to treat him as one of your flings. I'm not a lenient man. Guntram is my only child and the only reason I kept myself away from him was because of you. If I have accepted to go away once more, is because he loves you and I will do anything for his happiness, but learn from now onwards that you will treat him with respect and keep your hands to yourself, sir, till I grant my permission.”

For once in his life, getting such a speech, the same he would have pronounced if he would have a vulture around one of his sons, felt like a stab in the back. In normal circumstances he would have destroyed the man daring to utter such words, but this was the father of his love and he would have to endure him. “I will respect your wishes, sir.”

“I know you perfectly well, Lintorff. Don't try any of your tricks with him.”

“I wonder if I could take your son back to Zurich on June the 5th? This is the day my children arrive from America.”

“I will take Guntram to Zurich on the 7th. You might need a day to settle down,” Lacroix growled on the limit of his tolerance toward the man.

Fairuza set loudly the tea tray and huffed at seeing the blond man still sitting with his long time employer and set the table mumbling in Arab. Guntram came after her and left the pastries on the table, without looking at the two men glaring at each other. 'I'll be glad if I can prevent them to tear themselves into pieces in an hour.'

The men had decided to keep their conversation polite and on neutral grounds like Economics and how Michel envisioned his future “rule” of the Foundation. Konrad had listened to him and had only made a face when he had listed two projects for women in Sudan because of the large Muslim majority in the country. Guntram was overwhelmed by the easiness his father seemed to know the inner workings of the Foundation, the people inside the Order, its politics and the different tax system within the European Union and the United States.

Guntram didn't like at all when both men decided to speak about his future and career.

“I'm concerned about my son's education, my Griffin. He has stopped to attend school, although he has recovered some of the lost time. Perhaps he should return to London to finish his studies.”

“I believe Guntram should decide that. I would prefer that he attends the University in Zurich or changes school in England to Oxford. I think, I would be able to move to England for a year or two,” Konrad opined without checking with the boy at all.

“Both are excellent choices but the best would be Zurich or Basel. Guntram can learn some German before the next term and restart there. I believe his Art teacher was also there.”

“Ostermann is one of the main figures there. I think the director there studied under him. I like their scientific approach much more than London's University one.”

“It would be for the best. Guntram,” Michel interfered before the young man could express his opinion, already looking outraged at both men. “Zurich is near your home and you can attend school in the mornings and be with the children in the afternoon. My Duke, I must insist that my son continues with his studies and relates with people his own age. He's not your property nor your sons' nanny.”

“Yes, I understand and share your concerns. He will start next September in Zurich. Ostermann assured me that his studies in London are recognised by the University. I'll ask Monika to find a suitable teacher for him. He must learn German.”

“Absolutely, he's partly German from his mother's and my side.”

“I don't want to study German!” Guntram exploded at the two men deciding the rest of his life without bothering to ask his opinion.

“Nonsense,” Michel and Konrad answered in unison almost automatically. Guntram gaped at them. He noticed that Konrad and Michel look at each other, irked that their reaction had been the same, but Konrad briefly nodded before backing away and leaning against his chair, ready to enjoy the show. If Lacroix wanted to play “father”

he should convince Guntram of the benefits of studying in Zurich, learning German and be a nice and obedient son.

Perhaps he could also get a lesson or two for the future.

“Guntram, the best would be that you study in Zurich. I will not stress the security reasons for my decision because I believe you understand the risks associated with you leaving every week for London. Of course, his Excellency could travel to visit you to London, but this is abusing his kindness. You told me several times that you preferred Ostermann’s style and I also think he's better for you. Studying with him is a unique opportunity for your career and you should not waste it. If you're going to be the children's legal tutor, you should at least speak the language, especially if you want to live in Zurich. Finally, your mother was partly German as I'm.”

“You can't decide my life!”

“As long as you live under my roof and my protection, I decide over your life, child. Once you follow your,” Michel huffed before saying the abhorred word, “…Consort, you both together will decide what the best course of action is. Till that moment, you remain under my care.”

“I don't want to study in Zurich!”

“All right, go back to London. In case of need you can always ask for a cup of sugar to Repin. He lives only three hundred metres from… what was the name of your street, my Duke?”

“Melbury Road.”

“Ah, that must two hundred metres then,” Michel corrected himself.

“All right father, I see your point!”

“Good. I will establish a trustee fund for Guntram's education in your bank, Duke. All his expenses must come from there.”

“Mr. Lacroix, I assure you that it will be a pleasure to look after your son.”

“I prefer that he does not feel indebted to you any longer. It's bad for any kind of relationship if one of the partners is in clear disadvantage in front of the other. We cannot overcome the age difference but we can sooth other aspects.”

“Guntram is my consort! I swore to look after him!”

“Guntram is my son. His education and welfare are my sole concern.”

“As you wish, but I will take care of his medical expenses and support him in my house.”

“I must insist that he looks for a position as long as his health allows it. Guntram told me he had an offer to illustrate some books and I think he should accept it. Don't you think, son?”

“Yes, father,” If Michel was on his side, he could take the offer Coco van Breda had made last January, the same that Konrad had forbidden him to accept just because she was “a lower member from our entourage”. He could see how Konrad was fuming and glaring at his father.

“My son was educated to be an independent man, Sire,” he clarified, getting ready for a dialectic battle with Lintorff.

'When did we reopen the negotiation? This man is meddling more and more!' “I will respect your wishes.”

“Excellent. When does your plane leave?”

“Tomorrow night, at eleven,” Konrad said.

“You can visit my son tomorrow, if you want.”

“I was wondering if you could have lunch with me in Frankfurt, sir. At my house and allow Guntram to stay with me till my departure, if he wants so.”

“It would become too late for him and I must fly to Paris the day after.”

“I would be honoured if you accept to be my guests. My driver can take you in the morning to the airport. My Tutor has arrived to the city this afternoon, with Guntram's dog. He might see to him.”

“No, he stays here.”

“I insist as you will not be here to protect your son. My house in Frankfurt is perfectly safe for him. The minute Repin finds out that I was here, he will check what could be so interesting for me in Aschaffenburg.”

“Do I have your word that Guntram will not be disturbed?”

“Of course. He may remain in that house till you deem necessary and my Tutor will oversee his stay in Frankfurt,” Konrad was about to explode. This was much worse than he had envisioned ever. 'Twice per month? I should have say twice per year!'

“Very well, Griffin. It's getting late and you must return to Frankfurt. Guntram may see you to the door.”

“Good-bye, sir,” Konrad said, barely keeping his temper in check.

“In ten minutes back in the house, child,” Michel said to his son and Konrad was on the brink of an explosion, only stopped by the shy and encouraging smile he got from Guntram.

Walking toward the door helped him to loose part of his fury and calm down before he would shout or fight with the man. 'So much for hippie love! All of them are the same, free love till it's your son or daughter.

Hypocrites!'

“You must understand my father, Konrad. It's very difficult for him. Nothing is how he imagined for me.

He thought I was going to be normal and marry, you know?”

“You're married to me! Should we go to the darned Town Hall in Frankfurt and register our union? If you want we marry in Spain or Holland! This has been the most humiliating moment in my whole life! At forty-seven years old I was treated like a horny teenager and sent home before I start to drool over you!” he roared, but kept his voice low. Guntram looked at him speechless. “I'm sorry, kitten. Your father drives me mad. Do you see why we can't be together under the same roof? I'll do my best to comply with his conditions, but he's always pushing the limits one centimetre more each time he sees me!”

“I also don't like when he bosses me around, but you must understand that he had to give up on me for many years. He only wants the best for me.”

“I'm not sure if I could stand him.”

“I will not leave him behind. Not even for you, Konrad. To be honest, I don't know if this is a good idea at all. That I love you doesn't mean we can live together,” Guntram said seriously and Konrad felt his world collapse once more.

“We can live together if you forgive me. We did it before and it was the happiest time in my life. Please, Maus, come home. I'll fly to Australia just to be away when he visits you!”

“Nothing so extreme. Berlin, would be sufficient,” Guntram chuckled and Konrad also laughed, still unconvinced, but glad that his love was lowering his defences. When the laughter stopped, Guntram said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “do you know what the best part of a bossy father is?”

“When he goes away?”

“When children disobey the papa,” Guntram whispered and kissed Konrad on the lips very fast, without giving him time to react and catch his kitten once more. “See you tomorrow, go before he comes and shoots you down.”

“Probably he already has a good firing solution and is only waiting for you to move aside,” Konrad grunted while Guntram opened the gate, moving aside to let him pass.

“That's right. See you tomorrow.”

“At ten the car will be here. Go inside.”

Massaiev was surprised when he read the report late at night. What on Earth was Lintorff doing in a sorry place like Aschaffenburg a day ago? Certainly not playing the tourist or visiting relatives! Why was Pavicevic coming along too?

Time to speak with Repin and pray that this will finally be a true lead because the whole month spent in Buenos Aires in March had been fruitless and frustrating to no end. The men had even looked inside that horrible slum, having to teach several lessons in their quest for the boy. Repin had given up by April mostly because Lintorff had the same results: Nothing at all. None of his friends had been contacted or had any idea about Guntram's whereabouts. During the first two weeks, they obtained some leads through a credit card under his name from different places all over Argentina, but then, nothing else came up. Total silence, as if Guntram had died.

'Probably, this is what happened. The boy was very sick and the stress must have killed him. Poor child!

He didn't deserve such a miserable end. He had never hurt a soul, with the exception of boss' and it was more because of his stubbornness than Guntram's fault.'

He left his office and walked toward Constantin's studio to wait for him at its door, remembering that his employer might be with his children. 'Something good came out of this. Repin cares more about them; even about Vania, who was nothing but a stray dog till Guntram arrived. They got along almost immediately and he always asks about him, even if the others are forgetting him. Guntram was writing to him and his father read the letters even after they had broken up. The three books he made for the child are beautiful and Repin is right to keep them away from the child and only show them on special occasions. A true loss.'

“What is now, Massaiev?” Repin asked the man standing proudly in front of his door. The months of uncertainty had also taken his toll on him and he had pass from his murdering rage at the boy for rejecting him to a real concern for Guntram. Without money, medications, friends or support, he had not many chances to survive in Latin America. This and his character bound to depression, had led him to expect the worst outcome and now he only waited for the news about his death.

“I'm not sure about this Mr. Repin. It's puzzling to say the least.”

“Speak up.”

“Lintorff went yesterday to a small city in Bavaria, with Pavicevic. The place is called Aschaffenburg.”

“What was he doing there?”

“We don't know. The men tried to follow him, but several Serbs almost killed them. They had to retreat before they shot them dead. Lintorff's men were more aggressive than usual.

“It couldn't be so easy,” Constantin mumbled. “Find Lacroix immediately and bring him here.”

May 30th, 2006

The woman was still buffing from running since the previous day. She had to pack everything for her employer, so useless as usual regarding the house chores, and his son, too nervous and happy to remember the most basic things. The lad had only piled up his papers in no order and stuffed them into a plastic bag and voilà! Moving done! Fairuza had yelled with him and his contribution had been… to place his shoes on top of the ironed shirts!

'All this is the antiquity's fault! Nothing good can come out of this! How can his own father let this man come near his son? Even if Maurice does not like girls, and that's a sin, he should get him someone of his age! He could be his father! Maurice should meet one of my nieces and he would change his mind.'

Still upset, she closed the boy's bag determined to stay with him as long as his father was in Paris. 'No way, I'm leaving Maurice-Guntram alone in that place in Frankfurt! That bloody Duke of his looked at me as if I were filth!'

She growled and glared at the tall man waiting at the door frame for the bags. “To the car with this and go to the kitchen for mine too. If something is missing you will not like what's going to happen to you!”

Mirko Bregovic just looked at her with infinite contempt, 'Those animals are good for nothing. It's disgusting to touch one of them' before he picked the item and went to the car.

The large Mercedes parked in front of an old house, similar to Guntram's father but of a much larger size in a narrow street forming a cul de sac near Kennedystrasse. Friederich Elsässer waited at the main entrance when the chauffeur hurried to open the car's door.

From it, descended Jerôme de Lisle, much older, but still looking the same, with the dismissive, aristocratic and proud air that had always characterised him. Although Friederich was aware of his coming since several weeks, he was not prepared to see the man returning from his grave, lordly and energetic as always. Only the broad smile from Guntram and that the boy hugged him with real affection, breaking all protocol rules, took him out of his lethargic state.

“Hello, Guntram,” the old man greeted the boy and patted his cheek. “I was very concerned about you.”

“Hello, Friederich. I was in Aschaffenburg at Mr. Lacroix's house,” Guntram answered softly the lesson he had learned from his father.

“I'm glad he looked after you while you were meditating. You always had a great ability to forgive, my child,” Friederich said and noticed how Michel stiffened at hearing the way he was addressing Guntram. “Come inside, the Duke will arrive soon from his meetings.”

The howl and mad race Mopsi made from the kitchen the moment she smelled or heard Guntram, almost marked the spotless floor and moved some of the small carpets. Guntram went to the ground level and caressed his dog, ruffling her ears as she loved so much. She was almost jumping on top of him to lick his face when Friederich noticed the woman dressed in dark clothes, standing next to Lacroix an wearing a scarf over her head.

His heart almost stopped at the view.

“This is Fairuza ben Ali. She's here to look after Guntram when I'm not here” Michel announced simply.

“I'm afraid I was not informed, sir.” Friederich said very stiffly.

“Now you're. Show me his room and mine. I have to check everything is fine. Maurice, don't let that filthy animal touch your face! It's dirty and impure! How can you have such a thing??” she said and ran over the Austrian, still unable to believe that one of “those people” had set a foot inside the house. “Where is his lunch? I have to control it. His doctor left very strict recommendations!”

“Fairuza, this is Mopsi and she's very clean!” 'There goes my Schweinbraten, ' Guntram resigned himself to his fate. She was going to stay with him and make him eat boiled chicken or fish.

“The hygiene is not the problem; the animal is. She has no purpose; doesn't protect the house or hunts!”

“The dog has a purpose, Fairuza,” Michel intervened before Friederich would kick her out of the house.

“She helps Guntram to release the stress, exactly as his doctor told him to do. Animals are good for it. You're right that he shouldn't let the animal jump on him.”

“In that case,” she conceded and looked at the old butler, but he choose to ignore her and lead Guntram and Michel to the living room as it was his duty, with Mopsy shaking her tail to the lawyer just because he smelled very similarly to her master and also knew well how to pet her properly.

One of the maids asked kindly Fairuza to follow her to the kitchen and service area. Mr. Elsässer will have to solve that problem later because in the moment he was busy with the Duke's boyfriend. 'He's so young!

Almost like a child! Must be younger than Master Armin.'

Guntram sat in the sofa with his father at his side and the dog jumped to his lap as it was her habit, still sniffing the stranger. Friederich remained standing and looking to Michel, still in shock to see him. 'After all, he saved Konrad,' he repeated for the tenth time.

“Have you seen the babies already, Friederich?” Guntram asked.

“I have only seen pictures. I stayed all the time in Zurich, in case you would return. His Excellency was very worried about you. We all were.”

“I stayed with my father, Friederich.”

“Guntram!”

“I can't lie to Friederich, papa.”

“Thank you, my child. Here is your mobile. Antonov brought it this morning. I believe there are new pictures made by the nurses,” Friederich took out of his pocket a small phone and a visit cards box and extended both to Guntram who muttered a “thank you,”

“I must see to your domestic service, but I assure Mr. Lacroix, that I'm more than qualified to look after your son.”

“I would prefer that Guntram sees a more cosmopolitan environment that the one he normally lives in.”

Michel only said. “Fairuza has been looking after him almost like a mother; a bossy one, that's,” he clarified and Guntram chuckled, “but a very dedicated one. She has been with me for seven years and will return to Brussels once Guntram decides to return with the Griffin.”

“Very well, sir,” Friederich mumbled and left the room, leaving Guntram showing the pictures to his father till the lawyer had enough of the babies and asked his son to be quiet as he needed to work on a case.

The chauffeur was clever enough as to move aside before his Duke would have hit him with the door, while Hartick did his best to run to open the other door for Goran. Without waiting for him, Konrad climbed up the stairs from the entrance very fast in his haste to see Guntram.

“Is he here?” He asked Friederich, gloomier than ever standing at the front door.

“Mr. de Lisle is in the living room with Mr. Lacroix, Sire.”

“Excellent,” but Friederich continued to block the door. Konrad coughed, but the man still looked at him very crossed. “Something wrong, Friederich?”

“There's a Muslim in this house, Sire and she plans to stay. She says she takes care of the young sir. I have no place for one of their kind.”

“Of course not!” Goran growled, ready to remove the woman from the house.

“One moment, please. Why is she here?” Konrad sighed, remembering her from yesterday and how much Guntram seemed to like her.

“Mr. Lacroix brought her. He says that she has been taking care of the young sir while he was living with him, almost like a mother.” Friederich said and Goran nearly threw up.

“I'll get her out!” Goran said. “No Muslim will be near Guntram, my Griffin.”

“No, the less I need now is Lacroix yelling that we are a bunch of fanatics and taking him away. Let her be, but rent a room for her in a hotel nearby. I will not have a Muslim sleeping under my roof,” Konrad was again becoming enraged with the man. 'That Guntram speaks with one of them, can be blamed on his deficient education but that Lacroix does it, is inexcusable! He's perfectly aware of the rules!' He stormed toward the living room and jerked its door open, truly furious with the man, once more doing what he pleased, now under his own roof.

“Hello, Konrad,” Guntram smiled shyly from his place in the couch and rose to greet him and Konrad's fury vanished to really see his kitten, once more, waiting for him. He returned the smile, without caring about Lacroix's presence in the room.

“Did you have a nice trip?” Konrad only took Guntram's hands and briefly squeezed them, fighting his desire to kiss them when he saw Michel standing behind his son and glaring at him.

“Yes, thank you,” Guntram blushed under the intense looks from Konrad and shouted happily “Goran!”

when he saw the dark haired man standing at the entrance. Much to his father's horror, his own child went to hug the assassin, who returned the gesture with brotherly affection and lightly slapped Guntram on the head with a “next time you do something so stupid, little brother, you will not like your punishment. If you fight with the Griffin, come to me. The Russians were after you and still are.”

“I know, Goran. I wasn't thinking at all. I just wanted to leave,” Guntram muttered, very ashamed of his own idiocy. “I said no twice to Repin.”

“Guntram, that will not stop him. He only understands one language. Now, introduce me to the person who protected you all this time,” Goran said and released the boy.

“This is Michel Lacroix. The Godfather. You didn't meet him back in the 80's,” Konrad said dismissively and Michel fulminated him with his glare. “Oops, I mean, Guntram's Godfather,” he corrected himself with a smirk.

“How do you, Mr. Lacroix?” Goran said, extending his hand, after all, the man was no part of the team who had killed his father and the old bill had been settled in December by someone of his own blood.

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Pavicevic,” Michel shook the hand.

“I will be in charge of your security as you're the new President of the Lintorff Foundation.”

“Not yet, in several months time.”

“We must discuss your new residence and staff anyway. The sooner this will be settled the better for Guntram.”

“I understand.”

“It seems you have already brought your own domestic service for Guntram. Rest assured, sir, that Friederich can look after him perfectly well as he has done in the past. There's no need to leave your maid here. She can take a flight back to Brussels tomorrow,” Konrad said.

“Fairuza stays till the 6th, my Griffin. She will oversee that Guntram takes all his medications and she has grown very attached to him.”

“My own doctor will asses his condition tomorrow. It should be fine.”

'This is worse than a divorce trial,' Guntram thought. 'Will they establish a visitation schedule now?'

“Guntram has his own doctor in Aschaffenburg.”

“But he will live in Zurich. Far away from Bavaria. Dr. Wagemann will visit him tomorrow,” Konrad slightly rose his voice, but the French didn't seem to be intimidated a bit and only rose an eyebrow challenging to continue.

'Well, the Duke finally met his match. Speak of hellish fathers in law!' Goran thought very amused. 'Ten to one, this man doesn't let the Duke touch one single hair of Guntram till he's in Zurich and fifty to one that he moves to the castle within two months, no matter what the Duke thinks. I should not worry to move people to Brussels.'

“Dr. Wagemann is an excellent physician, Michel,” Guntram said, hoping to stop the upcoming confrontation and his father backed off only mumbling that it was all right to see him. “Thank you very much Konrad for bringing Mopsi here. I really missed her.” He took the tall German to the other side of the living room with the dog coming with them. “Is Jean Jacques here too?”

Much to Konrad's secret joy, Goran was clever enough as to remove Lacroix from his presence with the excuse that he wanted to discuss some security issues. Both men went to the library, where the lawyer also announced that he was going to remain, working.

'Strange he's giving up so easily. Must have something nasty under his sleeve.' Konrad thought but decided to use the opportunity to spend some time with Guntram alone and perhaps improve his own value in front of the boy. He took out his mobile phone from his pocket and searched for the new babies' pictures. 'Again the bloody de Lisle is right, show photos and be quiet! Bloody lawyers!'

“Guntram, would you like to see new pictures? They're less red than before,” Konrad asked taking the big sofa near the window with the excuse that the light was better there and Guntram should sit next to him and very close if he wanted to see them.

“That would be nice, thank you,” Guntram answered and sat exactly where Konrad wanted, taking the phone from his hand and starting to look at them.

Konrad could feel how the boy was slowly becoming more receptive to him (not only to the children) and decided to make a move. 'Gosh, this is worst than when I was 16 and wanted some fun! What's next?' he briefly thought before he would put his arm around his kitten shoulders.

The door burst open and when Konrad was going to shout the impertinent who had dared to interrupt him in his own private library.

“Guntram! Time for your nap! Hurry up, boy!” Fairuza shouted from the door, glancing fiercely at the

“antiquity” already trying something because he was almost on top of her child.

“Fairuza, it's really unnecessary!” Guntram complained in French without rising his voice, but crossed that he was once more “sent to bed” and in front of Konrad. He was not a baby!

“Your doctor said so. Go now or I tell your father!” Fairuza crossed her arms and looked defiantly at him. “Move now!”

“The young man has already expressed his desire to remain here,” Konrad said in a very low tone in French. 'Learn bitch, I understand each word you say.'

“I take care of him. Not you. Guntram goes to bed now! You go somewhere else!” Fairuza was not a woman to be scared so easily off and much less by an infidel.

The minute Konrad was going to give her a piece of his mind and explain how his ancestors dealt with her “kind”, Guntram interfered to avoid the clash. “Yes, Konrad. The doctor ordered it. My heart was not working very well during the past month and after that time in the hospital, I take it more seriously. If you would excuse me.

I'll see you at tea time, if you're still here,” He rose from the sofa and gave the phone back. “Your children are certainly cute.”

“Thank you,” Konrad answered mechanically, still engaged in his battle of looks with the woman. He could only witness how his planned afternoon with Guntram had just been cancelled. 'Bloody Lacroix! This is why he let me alone with Guntram!'

After Guntram followed the woman and closed the door behind him, leaving an enraged man behind, Konrad needed to count up to thirty before storming out of the living room in direction to the library. Without bothering to knock, he burst into the room to find Goran and Michel sitting in his desk. Of course, Lacroix had his place and Goran was taking notes. Konrad coughed loudly, expecting that the Lacroix would vacate the seat but the man only raised an eyebrow and remained where he was.

“Good you could finally join us, my Griffin,” Michel said, slightly moving his head toward the empty place next to the Serb. “When was this photo taken?” He took the silver frame from the desk and showed it to the Duke. “It looks like Italy.”

“It's San Capistrano, a family residence. That's the courtyard,” Konrad mumbled, sitting and glaring to the man.

'Two months? No way, one month before he's installed in the castle. I really should not bother to move people to Brussels. Perhaps send Mirko for appearances' sake. He always wanted to visit the place,' Goran thought after seeing the brief exchange.

“Ah, yes. Guntram told me when you were together there. He enjoyed it very much. Your Art collection, I mean. He spoke about it lengthy.”

“Indeed,” Konrad growled already furious with the man.

“Mr. Pavicevic and I have started to discuss about my security after Guntram moves back with you. I was telling about my own resources.”

“I would be interested to hear this, if you don't mind, Mr. Lacroix.”

“No, of course not. Honesty is crucial among… how would you describe this? Business partners, my Duke?”

“Guntram is my consort and the tutor of my children. He's part of my family now and has been accepted for most of them,” Konrad said, feeling very miserable because…

“By transitive character we should be family too,” Michel smirked and returned the picture to the table.

“No, that would be too much for both of us. Business partners is fine. That Guntram likes you is a mystery beyond reason. It's a test for my faith.”

“You were telling Pavicevic about your ventures.”

“Certainly. I have a law firm with an old classmate, Nicholas Lefèbre. Perhaps you have heard about us; Wolfensohn and Partners. Nicholas and I bought it in 1994, and we have offices in Brussels, Paris and Geneva. The old Wolfensohn was getting too old and decided to sell. We employ over one hundred fifty people and specialise in corporate law. We have among our clients several banks and industries. Last year, our bill to Mr. Repin was over forty millions and from people associated to the Order another…”

“You costed me seventy-four million euros! You had absolutely nothing! Did you bribe the judge?”

Konrad shouted, making Goran flinch as he was deeply engulfed in the talk with the lawyer, horrified at the thought of

'our associates as his clients too?'

“I'm flattered that you still remember the Banksy case,” Michel answered simply. “As I was saying before the interruption, we also have some members of the Order among our…”

“Those were Jews! You have a Jew firm!” Konrad roared, hitting the table with his fist.

“Law has no religion, sir. Madame Bansky only claimed a part of her legitimate inheritance. Her family deposited several valuable paintings in your vault before the war. Somehow you forgot to return them. It was my pleasure to work on her case pro bono. Personally. I left many of the other clients in the other lawyers' hands. This has nothing to do with religion but with justice.”

“You had nothing but a few old photos! Not a single document proving her ownership of the paintings!

Do you think I will open a safe box to the first who comes with a tearful story to me? You raided my own office for that case!”

“I did not! The police served a Court Order. Just adding a little pressure on you to negotiate. Your lawyers were very disagreeable to us and refused to talk. She was almost eighty years old and to go through the whole process could have lasted over ten years. The poor woman deserved to enjoy her money. As for documents, people don't pack when they're running for their lives. Don't complain so much. It was a good settlement for all of us. In 15

years, you can check what's inside of her safe box and sell it as it belongs to you know. The appraisals were over one hundred thirty-five million, if I remember correctly.”

“You have broken one of our rules! You sided with the enemy! We have no contact with such people!

You helped one of them against me!”

“I was no part of the Order and I choose my own clients. The poor woman was living in an old people house without her children's support. Now she's very happy with her money.”

“And you too,” Konrad said very irked.

“Of course, my Griffin. We shared: thirty-five percent, although she wanted to give me fifty percent and leave nothing for her children. She bought a very nice villa in Cannes. She invited me several times and I guess she will live up to her 90 years.”

“De Lisle, this is…”

“Lacroix, if you please,” Michel abruptly cut the Duke's tirade. “As I told you in our previous meeting, I have access to many of your brothers' new dirty laundry and some of yours too. Do not try my patience because if you fight with me, those seventy-four millions, legitimately belonging to someone else, will be nothing compared to what I can do to your finances. We agreed for Guntram's sake to disarm, but I will not tolerate one single word out of place from you. You still owe me my entire family's lives.”

“Your whole family were traitors!”

“Even my nieces? Even my son? Be careful with what you say, my Duke because this is only a truce for Guntram's sake. I have given you my word that I will not raise a finger against you any longer, but you still persist in your vendetta against us. Remember who looked for us first. At my age, I will not take orders from a spoiled brat like you.”

“I'm very glad that your line finishes with you,” Konrad felt the hatred he had for the man come once more to the surface.

“Perhaps it does, sir. Perhaps.”

“I doubt Guntram is your son. He's nothing like you.”

“Are you finished?” Michel said very dryly.

“Very well. What else do you have to say?”

“Wolfensohn and Partners has an excellent reputation. Even you trust us with your affairs, despite we are not part of the Order,” Konrad only huffed at the taunt, still enraged. “I have my own security and I don't need yours at all. It would be very stupid from me to trust your men.”

“The minute you cross that door, Repin will kill you.”

“He's not that stupid. Killing me is his death sentence and he knows it. I can take care of myself. I will sign tomorrow the sale of my part of the law firm to some investors.”

“How much do you own of it?”

“About sixty-nine percent, Nicholas has a fifteen percent and the rest is in the hands of the other partners. He will also sell and retire because he's tired of all. He will not accompany me to the Foundation.”

“He will be one of Repin's first targets.”

“Nicholas thinks differently and he will leave Europe. He prefers something sunnier. I will remain in Brussels.”

“With all due respect, my Duke. To move the Foundation to Brussels will pose many problems for all of us,” Goran said and Konrad fulminated him.

“I agree with you Mr. Pavicevic, but we can't stand each other,” Michael said kindly.

“I'm not moving out of Zurich and you're not moving in with me,” Konrad growled, looking at Goran fiercely.

“It's a large city. You stay in your corner and I'll stay in mine. Zollikon is a quiet place and I don't need much. I'm ten years older than you and frankly tired of planes.”

“This is not what we agreed!”

“I will not set a foot in your property beyond the 7th, but I refuse to leave my son once more behind. He has not many years left and you're very mistaken if you think that I will miss them. I have agreed that our talks are monitored. What more do you want? Do you want to rob him his father once more?”

“If Mr. Lacroix moves to Zollikon, it would be much easier for us, Sire,” Goran suggested. “This is our land; the Russians would never try anything there.”

“And you can keep your own people working for me. Wouldn't you like to “control” me better? Guntram can visit me after school or in the weekends if you're away,” Michel mocked partly Konrad.

“This is not what we agreed. When are you going to stop?”

“Now, right now. I move to Zürich, run your Foundation to the best of my abilities and see my son twice per month or how many times he wants. I will not forbid him to visit me. Your people can spy all what they want. I have no interest to get Guntram in the middle of your… entourage.”

“You forgot the part where you give me all the material you have about us.”

“Have you made the transfer for Guntram?”

“Part of the money is there.”

“Complete it and you will get it. What I have on Mr. Repin's companies remains with me.”

“The Order could use it and it would be a proof of your loyalty to us, especially after working for the other side.”

“No, do your own dirty work.”

“All right. Goran will take care of the details.”

“There's no need. I'll use my own people.”

“Please, my people are better and the Russians respect them. They also look after Guntram,” Goran interfered. “My men respect him.”

“Keep all your men for him, Mr. Pavicevic.”

“If Repin kills you, he kills Guntram too, Mr. Lacroix,” Goran said softly.

Michel thought for a long time as having the Order's people around was certainly an inconvenience for him. “All right, I'll take no more than three of your men. I will keep my own.”