Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

cupboard.
    “Go and set the table,” Kael said, wondering what the hell he was talking
    about. Julie and Julia ? He looked at his neighbor. “Would you excuse us, Mrs.
    Chalmers? Angel is always hungry when he gets home from college, and it‟s a rarity
    for me to cook.”
    “Yes, I got that impression.” She looked him up and down, reminding him of
    one of those cartoon wolves that salivate when they see the three little pigs.
    “He may look excited, but I suspect he‟s nervous, wondering if it‟s edible.” He
    put his hand on the door, indicating that he wanted to close it.
    “You look younger than you are, Mr. Saunders.”
    Perplexed by the remark, Kael said, “Oh?” She could not know how old he was.
    “Angel must be at least sixteen.”
    “He‟s eighteen. He‟s in sixth-form college,” he said.

    Angel and the Assassin: Be Brave

    103

    “That makes you perhaps forty?” She smiled. “But you don‟t look more than
    thirty or so.”
    Normally Kael told everyone who suggested otherwise that he was gay and
    that Angel was his partner, but the woman annoyed him, and she was the type who
    would gossip if he rejected her outright. It was probably best not to tell her
    anything and simply act uninterested. She had to get the message eventually.
    “That‟s very flattering. Have a good evening.”
    But she refused to take the hint and stood her ground just inside his door.
    “Would you care to have dinner with me?”
    Beginning to get that panicky, hunted feeling, he pretended not to understand.
    “I‟m going to have macaroni-cheese with Angel.”
    “Yes, quite. I didn‟t mean this evening. Perhaps tomorrow?”
    That’s it, lady. You have to die or move, whichever comes first.
    “You‟re very kind. Please excuse me.” Kael took a step toward her, forcing her
    to back out into the hall, and closed the door before she could say anything else.
    “She totally has the hots for you,” Angel said when Kael walked into the
    kitchen. He threw his arms around Kael‟s waist, pressing his head into Kael‟s chest.
    Kael kissed the top of his head. Angel‟s hair was growing long, and he no longer put
    gel in it. It felt soft and clean, and it smelled wonderful. His sweet, boyish scent
    filled Kael‟s head, and for a moment he was overcome with fierce protectiveness.
    Angel tilted his chin to look up at him. His beautiful silver eyes opened wide.
    When he spoke, his voice was filled with emotion. “Daddy, I missed you so much.”
    “I missed you too, boy.”
    The macaroni-cheese wasn‟t bad at all. Kael ate a decent plateful but couldn‟t
    even begin to compete with the amount Angel put away. The boy stopped every few
    mouthfuls to say, “Daddy, this is so good. You are a chef.”
    Kael laughed. “Yeah right. I didn‟t even try to make a pudding. I bought
    something.”
    Angel removed the plates and leftovers. “Do you want more water, Daddy?”
    “Yes, and look in the fridge.”
    Angel opened it to find a Marks and Spencer trifle. “Yes!” he said and set about
    serving it.
    “That woman thinks you‟re my son. She said I look good for my age because I
    must be forty to have a son of eighteen.”
    Angel laughed. “Did you tell her I‟m your little slave boy?”
    “Of course. I said you are my concubine and I fuck your arse for pleasure and
    spank it as a duty every day.”
    Angel burst out laughing.
    After they had eaten, Angel cleaned up while Kael watched, and then they sat
    on the couch in the living room and spent a couple of hours on Angel‟s homework.

    104
    Fyn Alexander

    With Kael‟s help, he completed a mathematics assignment and closed his laptop
    with satisfaction.
    “I‟ll get a good mark on that. Thanks so much for your help, Daddy.” He looked
    at Kael. “Daddy, how come I can‟t set up a Facebook page? I‟m in England legally.
    No criminals are after me anymore. All my friends at school are on Facebook. That‟s
    how they keep in touch.”
    “It‟s not safe, so don‟t ever do it. And don‟t go behind my back.”
    “Daddy, I‟d never go behind your back.” Angel turned sideways, his knees
    tucked up. “I just don‟t get why I‟m not safe.”
    You’ll never be safe as long as you live with me. As long as I do what I do.
    “Do not question me.”
    “Yes, Sir.”
    “Angel.” Kael had been working up to this the entire time he was making the
    macaroni-cheese. “Do you like living here with me?”
    Confusion creasing his forehead, Angel reached out