Angel and the Assassin 3: Sins of the Father

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    leather chesterfield and sat down. Angel cuddled in beside him while Romodanovsky
    sat opposite. When his hot chocolate arrived, Angel took off his coat and sat sipping it.
    He smiled every time Kael looked at him. “How come you lied to get me here, Mr.
    Romodanovsky?” Angel asked.
    “Because I knew you would save my life.” The man spoke as if to a child.
    “You knew Daddy would come if you got me here. Don’t think I’m not angry
    about it, because I am. You used me. You made me look stupid.”
    As if Kael were not there, Romodanovsky said, “I wanted Mr. Kael Saunders to
    see what I can offer him. Tell him you would like to work for me. You will be very well
    paid.”
    Angel looked at Kael, who said nothing. “Daddy makes the decisions for us.”
    Stretching his long legs in front of him, Romodanovsky chuckled. “Daddy. How
    sweet.”
    They all looked at the door when a uniformed man walked in. He spoke in
    Russian to Romodanovsky. “Sir, there were two men. They both had gang tattoos. They
    were probably fairly well trained but low intelligence, low-ranking members of an
    organized crime gang. The rifles were expensive. Part of a shipment that was stolen at
    the border three months ago.” The man looked at Angel. “I don’t know how he
    managed to see that far without binoculars or how he managed to shoot with such
    accuracy at such a distance through trees, unless he has military training.”
    “The only training I have, I got from Daddy,” Angel said in halting Russian with a
    heavy accent.
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    “You speak Russian. Why didn’t you tell me?” Romodanovsky looked at Angel,
    his smile showing he was impressed with the boy. He waved away the man, who
    quickly left the room.
    “I understood most of what he said.”
    “And where did you learn?” Romodanovsky’s smile broadened. “Don’t tell me.
    Daddy taught you.”
    “Yes,” Angel said simply. “Everything I know that’s of any use, Daddy taught
    me.”
    “You saved my life, not only by spotting the threat but by eliminating it. I will
    write you a check for your service.” He rose and crossed the room to the sideboard.
    Even though Angel’s face lit up, Kael said, “Don’t bother. Consider it a favor. We
    don’t work for you, and we never will. And we’ll be leaving in a moment. I expect to be
    driven back to Moscow and not to see you again.”
    With a checkbook in his hands, Romodanovsky asked, “Will you leave Russia
    immediately?”
    “No. I might as well use the opportunity to show Angel the important sites in
    Moscow. We’ll stay a couple of days. It will be very educational.
    “What a good daddy you are,” Romodanovsky said. “I can have the minister of
    tourism take you around.”
    “No,” Kael said firmly. “I know my way around Moscow. I’ve been here before.”
    He stood up. “We’re leaving. Angel, get your coat on.”
    Romodanovsky walked them outside to the car. This time Kael got in the back
    with Angel, grateful to have his boy safe in his arms again. “Take us straight to the
    Hilton Hotel in Moscow,” he told the driver. He neither looked at Romodanovsky nor
    said good-bye.

    * * * *
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    224

    “A double room,” Kael said in Russian to the desk clerk at the Hilton
    Leningradskaya. He tossed his American Express card on the counter.
    “Mr. Saunders, the King Presidential Suite has been booked for you and paid in
    advance by Mr. Romodanovsky.” The man leaned forward and spoke quietly when he
    said Romodanovsky .
    Looking at Angel, Kael said through his teeth, “That wanker just won’t quit, will
    he?”
    “Daddy, let’s take it. If he wants to pay, let him. I’m tired. I want to eat, and I want
    to lie down. I’ve hardly slept since I left London.”
    Only now, in the harsh light of the bronze chandeliers in the beautiful ornate
    lobby, did Kael see that Angel’s face was pale and drawn. The boy had drifted off to
    sleep in the car about halfway to Moscow. Now he looked ready to cry with exhaustion.
    “Give me the key,” Kael said to the desk clerk.
    The man handed him the door card. “Do you have luggage, sir?”
    “No,” he said walking toward the lift. “Is there a gym?” he called over his
    shoulder. He needed to work out for a couple of hours to stop himself from killing
    someone.
    “Yes, sir. There is a booklet in your suite with all the amenities listed.”
    The three-room suite consisted of a