Sins of the Father

ANGEL AND THE ASSASSIN 3:

SINS OF THE FATHER

Fyn Alexander

www.loose-id.com

Angel and the Assassin 3: Sins of the Father

Copyright © January 2012 by Fyn Alexander

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

eISBN 978-1-61118-756-4

Editor: Judith David

Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Printed in the United States of America

Published by

Loose Id LLC

PO Box 809

San Francisco CA 94104-0809

www.loose-id.com

This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Warning

This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id LLC’s e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

* * * *

DISCLAIMER: Please do not try any new sexual practice, especially those that might be found in our BDSM/fetish titles without the guidance of an experienced practitioner. Neither Loose Id LLC nor its authors will be responsible for any loss, harm, injury or death resulting from use of the information contained in any of its titles.

Chapter One

Liverpool, England

“Isn’t this the best Christmas day ever? And wasn’t that the best Christmas dinner?” Angel said.

Ruffling his boy’s light blond hair, Kael said, “You sound like Tiny Tim. And you said that last year.”

With care Angel tucked glasses into the top rack of the dishwasher. “Yes, and this year is even better. I can’t wait for next year.”

Placing a couple of plates carefully in the dishwasher, Kael reached for another. “Daddy, you don’t have to do dishes. That’s my job.” Angel looked up at him, his beautiful gray eyes bright with happiness.

Angel and Sharon had cooked their Christmas dinner while Kael wandered about trying to make himself useful, and they had done themselves proud. Even the sprouts, which Kael normally hated, were good. Angel had made them to a special recipe with chestnuts and a wine sauce. Sharon had looked tired after the meal was eaten, and Angel ordered her to sit with her feet up, insisting he would take care of everything.

Kael leaned his buttocks against the counter and crossed his arms. “So do you like your presents?” It was a stupid question. When Angel had opened his gifts that morning and had seen the latest Xbox, he had stared at it in disbelief and pure joy.

“Are you kidding? I love my presents. I still can’t believe you got me an Xbox.”

“I knew how much you wanted it. And you’ve been working so hard in school and at the firing range and all the other things I expect of you. You deserve a treat, but when we’re home, you make sure everything else is in order before you play with it.”

“Yes, Sir. I’ll consider it off-limits unless I have nothing else to do.”

“Good boy. But I’ve been meaning to ask you.” Kael lifted the stylish, heart-shaped gold pendant on the short gold chain hanging around his neck. He never wore jewelry, especially not necklaces, though this one was masculine despite being a heart. He had been both surprised and touched when he opened the beribboned gold box. “How did you afford this?” The only money Angel had was his monthly allowance from Kael, and he could not have saved that much. It was an expensive necklace.

Angel put the last plate in the dishwasher and tossed in a soap cube. “I sold the Rolex watch my mom gave me.” The boy hadn’t mentioned his mum in months, and he had never worn the watch. “When she didn’t get in touch with me on my birthday or even send me a card, I guessed I probably wouldn’t see her again for a long time. I never liked that watch anyway, and I wanted to get you something special.”

Love surging through him, Kael pulled the slender young man into his arms, pressing him close to his chest. “I’ve already got something special. I’ve got you. I love you, sweetheart.”

Slipping his arms around Kael’s chest, Angel tilted his chin for a kiss. “My Daddy,” he said quietly.

The doorbell rang, and a moment later, Sharon called, “Kael, come and see who’s here.”

Holding Angel’s hand, he walked into the living room and stopped dead. A man he had not seen in ten years took several steps toward him with his hand stuck out to shake. “All right, Kael. How are you, mate?”

Shocked to see Shawn standing in his mum’s living room, Kael stared for half a minute before remembering himself. He shook Shawn’s hand briefly and reluctantly. “I’m fine.”

“Who’s this?” Shawn asked. “Your boyfriend?”

Sharon ruffled Angel’s hair. “Didn’t I tell you Kael is gay?”

“Yeah, I think I knew,” Shawn said. If anyone knew, Shawn definitely did.

Kael hated the word
boyfriend
. It sounded sissy. Worse still, it sounded casual, as if they weren’t an actual couple but just dating. “This is Angel. He’s my partner. He lives with me.”

“Domestic partners? Isn’t that what they call gay couples these days?” Shawn had always had a warm, intimate smile, a smile that had caused Kael’s heart to beat faster when he was fourteen years old. Shawn had been thirty-five when they had an affair that summer, two years older than Kael was now. He still had the same sparkly blue eyes and boyish grin. He wasn’t any taller, though being shorter than Angel’s five feet ten by three inches. Kael’s boy had gained two inches in the last year.

Shawn shook hands with Angel, but he looked at Kael. “You like them young, Kael?”

“Not as young as you like them,” Kael said under his breath. Angel’s hearing was as acute as his own. With a question in his eyes, he looked up at Kael.

Sharon had gone to the kitchen and could not have heard. She returned a moment later with a bottle of beer. “There you go, Shawn.”

The only reason Shawn could be back in his mum’s life was if he was at a loose end and looking for a woman to cadge off. Kael wanted to smack the fucker. Shawn went over to the big easy chair and threw himself down, looking very comfortable, which told Kael that he had been there before and probably spent the night.

Angel stood at the couch waiting for Kael to sit down first. It was a small, unobvious gesture of submission. That they were a gay couple was never hidden. Kael had been out and open about his sexuality from the age of fifteen. But when it came to Angel’s submission, Kael had told him when strangers were present to behave as he thought appropriate depending on the situation.

Kael sat, stretching his long legs out in front of him. Angel sat beside him, tucking his legs under himself and leaning into Kael’s side as he always did.

“So what have you been up to, Kael?” Shawn asked.

Completely unaware of the tension between them, Sharon said, “He teaches languages in London. Don’t you, Kael?”

Though he had not taught languages since early in the year, Kael had neglected to tell his mum, and while he hated lying to her, he could not tell her that he worked for the British Secret Intelligence Service. He looked directly at her when he said, “Yes. I teach languages. I also translate.”

“What do you do, Angel?” Shawn asked.

Quickly and briefly, Angel caught Kael’s eyes, asking permission to speak. With people they knew well, he spoke freely, but with strangers he always asked permission. The smallest nod from Kael was sufficient consent. Sometimes Angel picked up such subtle cues that Kael wondered if he was psychic. Or perhaps it was that couple thing of reading each other’s thoughts. “I go to college. I’m taking A levels,” Angel said, his tone carefully polite.

“He passed all his GCSEs in June, didn’t you, love?” Sharon was as proud of Angel as if he truly was her son. “He’s clever, like Kael.”

“What are you going to do with yourself after that?” Shawn asked.

The way Shawn was watching Angel made Kael want to leap up and smack him. It was the way Shawn had looked at him all those years ago, intimate and engaging. Angel smiled. “I’m not sure yet.”

“He’ll take Daddy’s advice,” Kael said, claiming ownership of his boy.

“Daddy?” Shawn half laughed, looking confused.

“Yes, Daddy. That’s me,” Kael said. “He calls me Daddy.” Angel glanced up at him, slightly surprised but pleased that Kael had acknowledged the depth of their intimacy.

To Shawn Angel said, “I always take Daddy’s advice.”

“Whatever turns your crank,” Shawn said, draining his beer. “When did you start shaving your head, Kael?”

“About six or seven years ago.”
Less chance of leaving evidence at a kill.

“Kael had lovely hair when he was little, all blond and curly,” Sharon said.

Sudden laughter broke from Angel, and he looked at Kael. “You had curly hair, Daddy? I can’t imagine you as a baby.”

“I was adorable, wasn’t I, Mum?” He grinned at her.

“You certainly were. And you still are.”

“You spoiled him rotten from what I saw when he was a teenager,” Shawn said to Sharon with what appeared to be a touch of resentment creasing his forehead. “I’ll just go outside for a smoke.”

Rising with him, Kael said, “I’ll come out with you for some air.”

“Do you smoke now?” Shawn asked.

“I’d never do anything so disgusting, but I’ll keep you company.” He looked at Angel. “You stay there, boy.” Kael grabbed his leather jacket from the hall cupboard and followed Shawn outside. As they walked down the stairs and outside the building, he watched Shawn with renewed wonder that he had ever loved and admired this man.

The moon sailed high in a black sky, reflecting on the water of the Mersey. The red tip of Shawn’s cigarette went back and forth to his mouth in the darkness.

“What do you want, Shawn?” Kael asked.

“I’m seeing your mum again,” he said.

Involuntarily Kael’s fists clenched, but he kept them at his side. It had been a couple of years since his mum had had a boyfriend, and Kael wanted her to find someone new. He’d just hoped her standards had improved and she would find a man who was not a user like all the other useless wankers she’d been with over the years. “For how long?”

“Just the last few weeks. She said you bought her the flat.” The area outside the building was dark, but Kael, with his exceptional eyesight, easily saw the skepticism in Shawn’s face. “A place like this on a teacher’s wages? Either you got into crime—because you were clever enough to make a success of being a big-time criminal—or…”

Kael cut him off as much to distract him from his train of thought as anything. “As opposed to a petty criminal like you? Have you been in jail recently?”

Shawn gave a small laugh. “Yeah, I was actually. Possession of stolen goods. But you either got into crime big-time or you do something as well as teaching.”

“I teach government people how to speak other languages. Politicians, people like that. And I translate for foreign dignitaries,” Kael lied. “That’s why I get paid so well. And just so you know, I kept the flat in my name in case Mum got involved with any bums. She always had a knack for picking useless dickheads.” It wasn’t true. The flat was his mum’s, lock, stock, and barrel, but Shawn didn’t need to know that.