Angel and the Assassin

like that?”
    “I‟m more animal than human,” Kael said. It was true; he was. But the
    emotions he was feeling for Angel were frighteningly human.
    Angel looked up into his eyes. The beautiful silver irises and dark pupils were
    almost luminous. “Daddy, she‟s probably really worried about me. That was why I
    sent that e-mail to Maria-Jesus. It was my mom who called the police when they
    couldn‟t find me, right? Because she was worried.”
    No, she wanted nothing to do with you.
    “Yes, it must have been. The maid got in touch with her, and she called the
    police and said she was worried about you. That must have been what happened.”
    The peace that settled over Angel‟s face when he heard the words almost broke
    Kael‟s heart. “I just don‟t want her to be worried, Daddy.”
    “She‟s bound to be worried,” Kael lied. He knew perfectly well Samantha
    Andresen didn‟t give a shite about her son. “I‟ll make sure she gets a message
    saying you‟re safe. But do not try to contact her again, at least not until everything
    is sorted.”
    “No, Sir, I won‟t. When all this has settled—whatever this is—can we go and
    visit her together? She‟ll be so happy to see me and happy that I have an amazing
    man taking care of me. You‟d really like her.”
    I doubt it.
    “Of course we can.” If Angel got out of this dilemma alive—and Kael would see
    to it that he did—who knew what the future would hold for them. In his job he
    couldn‟t keep a partner. It would be impossible to keep his profession from the boy.
    Anyway, he was a lone wolf; he was used to being alone, and he liked it. Angel
    would drive him nuts making a mess every time he walked in the door. Leaving
    crumbs, forgetting to put the lid down on the toilet. No, he‟d soon get sick of that
    life.
    “Daddy, how come you‟ve got this thing about being so clean and tidy?”
    Kael chuckled. “I got it from my mum. She worked in launderettes all my
    childhood. Can‟t get cleaner than that, can you?”

    116
    Fyn Alexander

    “Do you think there‟s more than that, something a bit emotional maybe? You
    know, psychological?”
    “Emotional? Have you been watching that bloke on TV, big and bald like me,
    but not nearly as handsome?”
    Angel laughed. “Dr. Phil? Yeah, I watch Dr. Phil sometimes. I hate dirty
    people, but it‟s so extreme with you, Daddy.”
    They lay quietly until Kael said, “I grew up on a council estate.”
    “What‟s that, Sir?”
    “It‟s a big neighborhood of subsidized housing for poor people; the local
    councils run them. They‟re like ghettos. Anyway, when I went to College Grange on
    a scholarship, all the boys there were rich and they seemed to equate being poor
    with being dirty, even though my mum was the cleanest person you could ever
    meet. A lot of the names I got called when I first got there all started with dirty this
    and dirty that. Maybe that‟s part of my”—he paused for effect—“anal
    retentiveness.” He had no idea why he came out with that.
    Angel looked up into his eyes very seriously. “Daddy, I think you just made a
    big stride emotionally by realizing that.”
    Kael didn‟t know whether to laugh or what, so he nodded with great gravity.
    “Thanks.”
    “Sir, what did you do to those kids who called you names?”
    “I beat them up. They never did it again.”
    “Somehow I knew you were going to say that.” The delicate chin tilted up.
    “Daddy, do you think I want a daddy because I never had a father?” Angel gazed up
    at him expectantly as if he just knew Kael had the answer.
    “I never had a father, and I don‟t want a daddy,” Kael said. “Listen, boy, you
    know what you want, and that‟s all that matters. Do you know how many people
    wander through life never knowing what they want? Lots, trust me. Then there‟s
    the ones who know what they want but are afraid to go after it.” He thought of
    Conran, who probably spent much of his time preoccupied with wanting a flogging.
    “Sometimes all that psychology crap just gets in the way of living the life you want.”
    “Daddy.” Angel shook his head as if he was in awe. “You are the smartest man
    I have ever met.”
    Kael could not answer. He wanted to say something flippant or clever. He
    wanted to laugh, but all he felt was incredibly responsible for Angel‟s safety and
    emotional well-being. He wanted to live up to Angel‟s belief in him, so he stayed
    silent, holding him close, wanting to