Angel and the Assassin 3: Sins of the Father

are easier.”
    A chuckle escaped Kael. Zoe and Amelia weren’t easy now. God help their fathers
    when they reached their teens. “I think it depends on the kid.”
    “But you have none. How would you know?”
    I’ve got Angel, and I am a father to him in some ways . “I have friends with children.”
    “Are they girls?”
    Kael smiled and nodded.
    “Well, there you are then.”
    Putting down his glass, Romodanovsky rose and went to the bedroom. After
    several minutes, Kael followed. The door was ajar. Romodanovsky had changed into
    casual trousers and, bare-chested, was picking up a soft, dark casual shirt from the bed.
    “Please come in,” he said when he saw Kael in the mirror. He pulled on the shirt but
    did not button it. Kael glanced about the room and was about to return to the study
    when Romodanovsky walked up to him. There was a split-second pause when they
    looked into each other’s eyes, and then, to Kael’s complete surprise, the man reached
    out and placed his hand tenderly on Kael’s cheek. Neither of them moved. What did he
    want? The gesture seemed paternal, but coming from a man who admitted he had no
    paternal feelings at all, it must mean something else. Despite their age difference, Kael
    found the man very attractive.
    It seemed an eternity but was no more than a few seconds, and then
    Romodanovsky took a half step closer and closed his mouth over Kael’s. He smelled of
    expensive shaving soap, no colognes, no fragrant deodorants, just a clean, manly smell.
    Kael’s senses were intoxicated. He tasted brandy on the man’s lips and on his tongue
    Fyn Alexander | Sins of the Father
    48

    when he pushed it between Kael’s lips. Romodanovsky trailed his mouth away from
    Kael’s and up to his ear. “Come to bed with me,” he said quietly.
    Suddenly angry and not sure why, Kael took a step back. There was
    unquestionably an attraction between them. Mature and physically fit, the Russian was
    exactly the type of man Kael had always found attractive. And he would have accepted
    his offer in the past. Now he would not accept it because the only man in the world he
    loved was Angel. And he was as loyal to his boy as he knew Angel was to him.
    But why was he angry? Why did he feel betrayed? Perhaps the paternal gesture of
    a moment ago had led him to believe Romodanovsky admired him. Never, until he met
    Angel, had he cared if anyone admired him. He reveled in Angel’s admiration. And he
    loved it when his mum told him how great he was. But other men’s opinions meant
    nothing.
    Curling his fingers into his palm, he struck Romodanovsky across the cheekbone
    with his knuckles, making certain not to break the bone, though he felt like it. Shocked
    at both the gesture and the pain, the man recoiled, his hand to his face. The skin had
    split just under the eye, and a trickle of blood ran through his fingers. A volley of
    Russian swear words issued from the man as he stood up straight. Kael walked into the
    bathroom, soaked a fresh hand towel in cold water, and took it to him. He found
    Romodanovsky examining his face in the mirror. Seeing Kael, he turned to face him.
    The look in his eyes was murderous. Kael offered him the cold compress.
    Romodanovsky snatched the cloth and sat on the end of the bed, pressing the towel to
    his face.
    “What the hell is wrong with you? You’re supposed to protect me, not assault
    me.”
    “You made a pass at me,” Kael said calmly.
    Meeting his gaze, Romodanovsky said sarcastically, “How shocking. You’re a
    homosexual. Don’t deny it.”
    Fyn Alexander | Sins of the Father
    49

    “I wouldn’t dream of denying it. I’m proud of it. But what the hell are you? A
    married man with five children.”
    “What does that have to do with anything? You were attracted to me the moment
    you saw me in the entrance hall this morning.”
    It was true; he had been. “Then why did you ask me if I was fucking the blonde
    girl?”
    “To see what you would say. But I know you are not.”
    “Let me look at your eye.” Lifting the man’s chin on his fingers, Kael examined the
    swelling cheek and the small cut. “You’ll live. I’ll send for some ice.” He strode to the
    door and stepped out into the hall. Mattie got up as soon as she saw him.
    “Everything okay, sir?”
    “Get some ice from the kitchen. He’s hurt his face.”
    It took about ten minutes for Mattie to fetch the ice, and in the meantime,
    Romodanovsky finished dressing and sat in an