Angel and the Assassin 3: Sins of the Father

Kael
    let Angel win more often than not in order to build up the boy’s confidence.
    But at that moment, he felt like punching Romodanovsky in the nose.
    “Checkmate.” The silver queen was knocked on her side, and the Russian’s gaze
    met Kael’s.
    Fyn Alexander | Sins of the Father
    45

    Calming his breathing to betray no emotion, Kael said, “Well done.” He sat back
    comfortably, and for a long moment, they looked at each other, until Romodanovsky
    rose and brought two glasses of brandy back to the table. He sat one in front of Kael.
    “Are you going to bed?” Kael asked. “It’s after one.”
    “No, I need very little sleep. When I was younger, perhaps your age, I slept a little
    more. How old are you?”
    On the few bodyguard jobs he’d done, Kael had never shared information about
    himself and rarely spoke to his charges. Usually he stood outside their rooms at night.
    But there was something about this man. “Thirty-three.”
    “And your name?”
    “I’m sure you could find out if you want, but I won’t tell you.”
    The Russian chuckled. “Mr. Kael Saunders. Yes, I already know. Are you
    married?”
    “No personal information,” Kael said.
    “I am married.” Romodanovsky got up and began to walk about the room. The
    old caged-animal analogy sprang to Kael’s mind. The man’s energy was remarkable for
    his age. He looked like he was spring-loaded and ready to fly. “I have five children, all
    boys.”
    Kael watched him but did not respond. A barely discernible noise outside the door
    brought Kael to his feet. In a few long strides, he was at the door, his hand up to silence
    Romodanovsky and keep him away from the door. He opened it silently to find one of
    his team whispering to Mattie. When he saw Kael, he said, “Just passing on the message
    that everything is fine, sir. There’re so many bobbies and security guards around
    Number 10 at the best of times that having us here is probably overkill.”
    “That’s true, but make sure you stay awake.”
    “Is everything all right?” the Russian asked when Kael closed the door again.
    “Yes, it was one of my team patrolling the house.”
    Fyn Alexander | Sins of the Father
    46

    “I heard nothing. How did you hear that?”
    “It’s my job. I’m very good at it. And you’re better than me at chess.”
    That lopsided smile tilted Romodanovsky’s mouth again. An aggressive sexuality
    emanated from the man that Kael understood because it matched his own. Only Angel
    had kept his desire to roam at bay this last fifteen months. His love for his beautiful boy.
    “You like to win. You hate to lose. You’re like me,” Romodanovsky said.
    Sitting down again, Kael did something he never did on a job. He took the brandy
    and drank it, enjoying the sudden headiness and the heat going down his throat.
    Romodanovsky went over at once with the decanter and refilled his glass, but Kael
    would not touch another. This man was having an effect on him that he did not
    understand and did not want to deepen.
    Romodanovsky sat opposite him again, sipping on his brandy while looking
    unwaveringly at Kael. Refusing to be intimidated, Kael held his gaze until the other
    man smiled and looked away. “You can call me Arkadiy,” he said. When Kael did not
    respond, he continued, “My eldest son is named after me. He is a diplomat. The others
    are businessmen, and the youngest is still at school. Cambridge.”
    It must have been the brandy, but Kael could not keep the recognition from his
    face.
    “Did you go there?” Romodanovsky asked.
    “Yes,” Kael said. “I studied languages.”
    “My son Dmitri is studying law. He is a good boy but rather effeminate. He used
    to cry a lot when he was little. I tried to toughen him up by making him play rough
    sports, but nothing worked. Do you have children?”
    Kael shook his head. The last thing he had ever wanted was children.
    “It used to be easier for fathers. You dropped your sperm and then got on with
    your life. These days a man is expected to change their nappies and carry them about
    while they cry.”
    Fyn Alexander | Sins of the Father
    47

    Freddie and Adam with their two little girls came to mind, and the way they
    loved and nurtured them. Kael pitied Romodanovsky’s children. “Are you close to your
    sons?” He already knew the answer, but he was curious what the man would say.
    “Fathers and sons should not get too close. Perhaps if I had had a daughter.” He
    shrugged. “Girls