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The following story contains sexual content and deals with homosexual relationships. It is not for people under the legal age. If you are offended by the contents of this story, or it is illegal in your location to view this type of material, leave now
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Chapter 3 - Losing faith
Three years ago, life had been a living hell. The constant hiding, the fear of being caught, the fear of being killed and most of all the thought that all of that robbed him of his sanity. Three years ago he was going insane. Then life changed. Or better yet, he changed, for he truly believed that nothing would change for him as long as he didn't change as well. Loyalty, a funny concept in those days, was now taken seriously, and it was that loyalty that could save him now. He had been sure that the past had stayed buried. He knew that nothing disappears completely, there are always ways to bring back the dead, but he was sure that he had done a good job hiding his tracks. Stupid. Now he was found and everything could be lost, all he had worked for these past couple of years, all the lies, even the good intentioned ones, all the effort into building a normal life and most of all, Niko. Now he could lose Niko. The only loved one he had left.
He had given up on blaming bad luck, karma or any other kind of superstitious crap. No, this was his fault, most of all this was all his fault. He wanted to scream, so hard, until his lungs got so sore he would have trouble breathing, but he knew he couldn't. Vincent was still with him, still asleep. Vincent, one more in the middle of this blood game. It was no longer gentleman's card play. It was a blood game. He felt like kicking himself for acting too much on his emotions, he should have known better than to get involved with someone again, specially a cop. It was like playing with fire. With Niko it had been different, he had been a helpless kid, lost in his own self doubt, he had felt compelled to help him, but Vincent... No, that was his own lust talking higher, and people, people like him, could pay dearly for lust. Now his time was cut short, he had to tell him the truth. One week, he reminded himself, one week. It was far from comfortable time, but he had no choice. He recalled the phone call from Liam, the voice he wanted to forget.
"Pietro, i need you again."
"What? Liam?" Michael was in shock.
"Who else my friend?"
Friend? hardly.
"How did you get this number?" It was s stupid question he knew, but right now he wanted to make time. He had to think.
"Lets spare the useless chatter shall we? We both know that i am a busy man." The grave voice sounded again, making his insides twist in anger.
"What do you want Liam? My debt was paid!" Michael's shock had now been replaced by exasperation.
"No, not really mon ami, last i checked, you only paid half the debt, you didn't finish the job." Liam pointed and Michael knew the game, and its rules. He was right.
"I couldn't" Michael started, talking lower so he wouldn't wake up Vince "You didn't tell me all the facts, i had a team ready, and i was forced to lie to them because of you."
"Now, now Pietro, i am not at fault if you are a coward."
"I am not a coward, but i couldn't take them, it was that woman's savings, i couldn't!"
"See, that's why i always thought you would leave, too much of a conscience."
"Yes, i understand why you would think that a bad thing." Michael said sarcastically.
"Pietro i really have no time for this, so lets get down to what is going to happen."
"I told you, i am off the cons." Michael insisted.
"Really? I don't think so. I want those stones, and you are going to get them for me!" Liam said with more strength.
"Why would i do that Liam?"
"Because i am sure you wouldn't want anything to happen to a boy age 19 with blue hair."
Even before Liam had finished the sentence Michael was panicking. "NO! No you CANT!"
"You know i can, i am looking at some lovely photos of the young man, you know, if i were you, i wouldn't give a damn, but knowing you, i know that young Nickolas, that's his name right? Will be safe."
"Listen you backstabbing son of a bitch, if something happens to Niko i swear there wont be a hole big enough for you hide from me, I'LL KILL YOU, DO YOU HEAR ME!" Michael was lost, he didn't know what to do. He was no longer preoccupied if he awoke Vincent or not, he was just afraid.
"Funny, you calling me a backstabber when it was you that only finished half of the job and ran to the US. If you want to protect your little faggot, than i suggest you do what I'm telling you. You know how the game is played Pietro, you knew when you joined."
He dint have a choice, he had to protect Niko, even if that meant going back into that life. "No... the rules changed when you got in. Fine, what do you want me to do?" the words sounded bitter.
"That's the way i like things. Well its simple, i want the stones."
"I told you" Michael started exasperated "That woman doesn't..."
"Shut up!" Liam said angry interrupting him "That old hag is dead."
"Oh! Who took the stones then?"
"The government."
"Classic!" Michael knew where this was going, and as much as he wanted to cry in desperation, laughter seemed to be wining.
"They are currently in the Royal Bank, first division. They are going to be moved soon, so we'll have to act quickly. You have a week."
"A WEEK? Are you out of your freakin mind? I cant pull that off in a week!"
"Well i believe that you have a strong incentive to try your best!" Even thousands of miles away he could see him smiling.
"I'll need a team."
"I don't care what you do, i just want the stones. You have a week." With that he heard the dial tone.
It had begun.
Blast from the past was an understatement. A week was all he had. He was pacing his office, trying to come up with something to give him any kind of hope, when he heard Vincent.
"Hey? You OK?" The man said from the doorway. He was just wearing his boxers and he was standing there looking amazing. His big stature covered in all his hairs, the blond hair all tossed in a bedside manner, and the deep brown eyes full of concern. Michael sensed that this was going to be hard.
"Actually no. We have to talk." He could see Vincent turning apprehensive instantly.
"Is something wrong? Did i do something?" He was worried.
"No, no, nothing like that, i just have to tell you something about me that i don't know if your going to like. Actually i know you're not going to like it, i'm just worried of how much."
Vincent didn't say anything, he just sat down on one of the chairs on the other side of the desk and waited for Michael to continue.
"OK... hum... there is no easy way to say this... I'm a con artist."
"What?" Michael could see the surprise on Vincent's face.
"A con artist, well I'm not anymore, but i used to be."
"What? I don't understand... you're a crook?" Vincent was visibly disturbed.
"No, wait... its not like that, look, my real name is Pietro..." He couldn't even finish before Vincent jumped from his chair and stared at him.
"Your real name? What is this Michael? What the hell is going on?"
"Let me just finish, please calm down." Michael had been afraid of this. Vincent was going into hysterics.
"CALM DOWN?" How do you want me to calm down, when you're telling me that you're a con artist named Pietro?"
"I'm not a con artist OK? I was one. After my parents died i moved from Paris to London, and then i got to know the wrong people. I pulled a lot of stuff, there is no excuse, but i changed. After the last job i couldn't take it anymore so i moved here."
"So what? You're wanted?"
"Yes, in the UK yes i am."
"Oh great! THIS IS JUST FANTASTIC ISN'T IT? What am i suppose to do? Turn you in? Take you to the station and ship you to England?" Vincent asked screaming.
"Yes, if you want." Michael's voice had returned to a calm tone. He realised that hope was lost. Vincent didn't want to understand. "Or you could trust me and let me finish."
"TRUST YOU? You're asking me to trust you? You gotta be joking. I don't even know you Michael or Pietro or whatever your name is. I have to get out of here."
"NO! Please Vince..." Michael started, going around the desk to reach the bigger man.
"Don't even touch me! I am gonna get the fuck out of here and i hope we never see each other again."
That hurt. The pain he wasn't feeling moments earlier made it self present. It started in his gut and soon it was all over his body, the pain of loss.
He had stopped himself from caring about Vince. He kept telling himself that now was not the time, he had more important things to think about. Like, how to get a team assembled fast enough to rob one of the most protected banks in London. He knew who to call though. It was just a matter of sweet talking now. He first made flight arrangements, with or with no team, he had to get to London. Michael Grangé could travel, Pietro could not. After taking care of the flights, he called his old friend Charlie. He was the man to call when someone wanted something but didn't know how to get it.
"Charlie?"
"Who is this?" He heard the raspy voice of his old friend.
"Its me Charlie, Pietro."
"Pietro? Oh my god, are you calling from hell?"
"Very funny..."
"Seriously i thought you were dead, you been keeping so quiet. You in London?"
"No, but i am going to be soon. I'm in the US."
"US? Wow, you do take being wanted seriously don't you?"
"Look Charlie I'm gonna make this short cuz i don't have a lot of time."
"OK, shoot." Always the helpful one that Charlie.
"I need you to help me steal the Royal, and before you say anything, i know its crazy but i need to. I just have a week. Liam called, he wants his stones. I need to get into that bank. He threatened my family Charlie, i don't have a choice."
"Four." was all charlie said, and it left Michael a little confused.
"I'm sorry what?"
"Four, we need four people. With me and you we are missing two."
"OK... can you get them."
"Bennie and Stuart."
"OH no, please, isn't there someone else?"
"I'm sorry but with a week time, i don't think you get to be Mr Choosy OK? Besides, they will agree on doing it for free, and unless I'm mistaken this is a favour, we get nothing."
"Yeah alright. Bennie and Stuart it is."
"OK, when are you arriving?"
"4 PM tomorrow."
"OK, well I'll have everything ready by then."
"Thanks Charlie, you're a saint."
"Yeah yeah, remember that when you pull one that actually gives me profit will you?"
"Niko?" He was at the airport waiting for his flight to be called, he knew he had to call Niko, but calling at the last minute gave him a chance to cut things short.
"Hey Mickey, where are you? I wanted you to meet my new roommate, were both here at the Cafe, and you know what? He's Australian and..." He could tell Niko was exited, unfortunately there was no time for that.
"Yes... great, Australian... super, look, i need to go to England for a few days, i need you to manage the Cafe."
"WHAT?" There it was.
"Look i have no time to explain, something came up, I'll tell you about it when i return."
"And that will be... when?"
"A week."
"A week? OK, you have a lot of explaining to do when you get back, where are you anyway?"
"I'm at the airport."
"Already? OK, look, at least tell me what happened?"
"I cant Niko." Michael wanted to, he wanted to tell his best friend everything, but for his own sake he knew he couldn't.
"Michael? Whats going on."
"Look my flight was just called, i have to go..."
"No. Micheal don't you dare hang up on me, are you hearing me? Michael?"
It had to be done. He hung up and started for the gate where his plane was ready for boarding.
It was 3 hours into the flight and finally the kid behind him had stopped jumping up and down his seat. Sometimes it was just better to sedate the little bastards, well that or put them in a cage like the dogs. He was bitchy, he knew, but he had a right to be. It wasn't just the fact that he just had a week to save his best friend's life, the fact that he had to break into the Royal Bank's vault to steal a couple of stupid rocks, it was the fact that the woman next to him wouldn't stop talking. She hadn't shut up since the plane lifted off the ground. By now he already knew most of the woman's life story. Apparently she was from Kansas, and had been in town seeing her sister that had a "Homosexual" for a son. "Poor girl." She took the opportunity of being away from home to go and visit her family in England. She was very excited, but then again, she had been very excited with both the plane food and the horrible movie.
"...so" she continued to say "i told him, son, you do what you want to do, whats important is to follow your heart, you know? He is just a sweet boy, people just don't get him, but one day he will be the best dancer ever."
'Ahh yes, and he isn't gay I'm sure.' was all Michael was thinking about. Until now he had said two words to the woman, she just seemed to be on autopilot and wouldn't shut up.
"So anyway, after that i went to my sisters, the one in Milwaukee, not the one with the gay son, and i told her that her husband should get a decent job, you know? Being in construction isn't a future, he needs..."
'PLEASE SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUUUUUUUUT UUUUUUP.' but all he said was "Hum" and "Oh" and just kept on nodding.
"Well most of the times i go to discount stores, but i found out that you can get reasonable things in normal ones if you know how to talk to those potty mouthed young men that are managing those places."
'OH please just plunge the plane into the Atlantic, please, just do it.'
Then he felt it again, the back of his seat was rocking.
'OH NO, HE'S AWAKE!' he thought as he realized that the annoying kid on the seat behind him, had slept all he needed.
'AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'
After the relaxing trip he made his way to the airport exits, no point in going to baggage claim, he had travelled light. He got to the exit to see the huge line of people that were waiting for a cab.
'Damn it.'
From the looks of things, he would be there half an hour, and he didn't want to take the subway.
'Alright, time for Pietro.' he thought.
He started making his way to the front of the line and noticed that the next person to get a cab would be a young men that looked like his age. He smiled.
"Excuse me?" The man turned to face Michael. "Oh my god, its really you!" Michael exclaimed faking excitement and making the best British accent he could muster.
"Do i know you?" The man asked confused.
"Do you know me... god i missed your jokes, its been what? 10 years? God i missed you." Michael said embracing the man who could only stand there holding his briefcase.
"Hum... yeah... i missed you too..." the man said stuttering.
"So? Come on, tell me about you, whats been going on?"
The man still looked confused but went with it. "Well, i graduated college, and i started working for Sampson and sons."
"Oh that's bloody brilliant ain't it? I'm happy for you. You look great." From the corner of his eye he noticed a cab approaching. "Well look, we have to catch up, here" he took one card he used to give in his con days and gave it to the man "call me and we can set something up, i don't want to lose contact again OK?" He hugged the man once again.
"Yeah sure." The man said.
"OK, well it was great seeing you but i have to go, the plane was late leaving from Germany and now I'm late for a meeting." The cab stopped in front of them and he started to open the door. "Well, see you around, please call." He got in the cab and through the window, he smiled at the man who was still looking at the card.
"Where to?" The cab driver asked.
"Russel Square, and i know the way so just make this a straight one." The cab driver didn't say anything, just took off.
He paid the cab and got off at Russel Square. It still felt strange to walk around in a country where he was number 10 on the wanted list. He put on his sunglasses to cover his blue eyes and walked forward. After a block, he crossed the street and was soon facing a door. A black door on a white building.
'How British.' He thought.
He rang the doorbell and waited. After a few seconds he heard the door click open and he pushed it to get inside. He went up the flight of stairs, and right there waiting for him, with his arms wide open and a smile on his face, was Charlie.
"Hey my friend." Michael said hugging him. "How are you."
"Good, excited." the man said smiling. "Come on, the guys are here, we should get things ready."
With that they got into the apartment and Charlie closed the door behind them. Charlie wasn't a tall man, actually he was rather short. His small stature however, was compensated for brilliance. The man was a genius when it came to long term cons. And his adorable blue eyes had gotten him out of difficult situations once or twice.
They made their way to the living room, where Michael could see Bennie the arrogant Irish kid, and Stuart, the not so arrogant Irish man, both leaning over a big table studying specs.
"Hey guys, Pietro is here." Both men turned when they heard Charlie pronounce the name of the legend.
"Well well, there he is." Bennie said smiling. "Good to see you."
"Yeah its been a long time." Stuart added coming to Michael to shake hands.
"Yeah what can i say, i like my vacations." Michael said with a forced smile.
"OK OK, lets leave this for later, right now" He said turning to Michael "i want to show you something."
He pulled Michael to the Specs that were all covering the big table and started explaining.
"OK, these where the ones i could pull out in just a few hours, here" he said pointing to a design of the safe in one of the specs "is the safe, but this wont do, i mean i have everything i need until i reach the safe. I need the original safe specs."
"OK" Michael said getting the point. "Where do i get them?"
"You don't." Michael was confused with Charlie's answer "Bennie does." Then he was appalled.
"What?"
"Look you are wanted... WANTED, you cant be a roper, let the kid do it."
He looked at Bennie who was just looking at him smiling. "Fine."
"OK" Charlie said relieved "So, when we have the specs we can be more certain if they changed anything, but from what i know its going to be the usual, pressure pads, motion detectors and video feed."
"OK can we bypass all of that with just one week?" Michael asked worried.
"Sure that's no problem but again, that is if they didn't change anything, so what we need right now is the specs."
"OK, who has them?"
"There are two copies, one, inside the safe so that wont work, and the second one, in the chief of security's house."
"OK..." Michael said thinking.
"The chief of security" started Stuart "has a daughter, a very fine fine daughter, not that you would know what that means." He said smirking at Michael.
"So what? Bennie goes in through the girl and gets the specs? Do we know where he keeps them?"
"Yes we do. He has a safe in his house, we aren't sure where, but we can get them." Charlie said wile he looked at Michael.
"OK, well, then lets do it, we need those specs as soon as possible." Michael said looking at Bennie.
"Don't worry Pietro" Bennie started to say wile he walked out of the living room, "I can make a woman do anything."
Michael just looked at Charlie who was rolling his eyes and smiling.
Vincent was barely holding up. Even if he didn't want to admit it he liked Michael a lot. Despite everything he still liked him. He was at his parents house, they were having a small gathering to commemorate Brian's engagement with Andrea. Sometimes, the fact the his brother was marrying his ex wife still bothered him.
He was in his parents library, alone, trying to figure out why he felt so bad when it had been Michael that had lied to him.
"Vince?" He looked up to see his younger brother Evan, standing near the door, looking at him with concern. Much like he had been just a day ago in Michael's office. "Bro you OK?"
"Not now Evan." He said it a bit more angrily than he intended and he immediately regretted it. Evans shoulders dropped, his head bent low and his whole demeanor made him look downcast. "Evan i..." But it was too late. The 22 year old boy was leaving the room not looking back, leaving Vincent to wallow in his self pity once again.
Well that's it for this chapter, hoped you liked it. Again, i just want to say sorry for any typos, i really have to get someone to edit. Anyway
All the best
Mike