Winters Storm.

Chapter One.

Gone.


It took a lot to make Luke nervous and even more to make him scared. He’d seen and done things that would make an ordinary guy quake. He’d committed rape and murder and much, much more and still he slept like a baby every night. So what was it about the ugly little man standing in front of him that instilled such a sense of fear? The fact that the ugly little man was one of the most callous and ruthless crime lords around might have something to do with it, he guessed.

If it was depraved, illegal and or profitable Masters had an interest in it. His family was prolific, powerful and clever. Very clever, and because of that Masters had never been convicted of anything, not once. Even though he’d sat in court accused often enough he was just too smart to get sent down for it. Like all truly powerful men, Masters had the knack of engendering great loyalty and great fear in the people who worked for him. If you were clever you were loyal, if you were stupid you were dead. And if you worked for him, even in the smallest of ways you were considered family and Masters demanded absolute and total dedication on all levels from his family members…but now it looked like there was a rotten apple in the barrel.

Masters had been screaming and yelling for at least an hour. Luke watched as the muscles in his face twitched beneath the surface of his wrinkled skin. Nearly purple with rage, Masters stormed about his study yelling at everyone, waving a sheet of crumpled paper mashed in his fist under their noses, demanding answers no one had and barking orders that would most likely prove to be a waste of time. Though Masters was given to displays of anger that would quell the bravest of men this was different. He was really pissed. When he was like this people unexplainably vanished even if they weren’t to blame. His men shared looks of fearful anxiety, a few of them shifting nervously from foot to foot, others too fearful to meet his eye, the rest frozen, hoping to blend with the wallpaper. No one dared move or breathe lest they draw unwanted attention to themselves.

Sick of looking at their useless faces Masters decided to get rid of them, he wanted to be alone to think. "Get out, and don’t come back until one of you useless scum can tell me where he is," he screamed gripping the back of his leather chair, his knuckles white and tense. He looked at the tall dark haired man who stood off to one side of the other men. "Don’t go too far, I might need you later," he told him curtly.

Everitt Coulson nodded, his expression blank as he glanced quickly at Luke then back at Masters. The others moved out of his way as he moved towards the door.

The men filed out of the room behind him slowly. Just as Luke was about to walk through the door, Masters called him back.

"Luke?"

"Yes boss?"

"Where’s William?"

"On his way."

"As soon as he gets here, send him to me."

"Yes boss."

Luke closed the door softly letting go a relieved sigh. Swiftly moving away from the study he headed out front to wait for Spike. "C’mon boys, time to keep your mouths shut and your heads down. Before this is over heads will roll and I don’t intend mine to be one of them." Grunts of agreement followed.

*****

Once the door had closed Masters had visibly calmed. Now seated behind his desk he allowed himself to reread the letter. His anger on first reading it had turned to white hot rage as the words formed, their true meaning hitting him hard.

How dare he? He will pay for this insult. When I find him he will suffer the torments of hell. Thoughts of revenge filled his mind but did little to satisfy the blood lust boiling in his veins.

The letter stared up at him from the surface of his desk. Masters knew the words were unimportant. This was unforgivable. There was no way he could let him get away with this. A fleeting moment of regret for his wayward child was ruthlessly pushed aside. Family came first nothing else mattered. And once the family claimed you, you were forever one of them. No one left, Angel had crossed a line and he would pay.

Gently Masters smoothed out the wrinkles in the letter. He would keep it safe. Now was the time for calm thinking and careful planning.

*****

Bone tired, his body screaming for the rest that he just knew he wouldn’t be getting any time soon, William (Spike) Winters dragged himself out of the car; this last job had been a bitch and he was glad it was done with. The darkness of the night did little to hide the pensive postures of the men standing at the front entrance to Masters Mansion.

What did the fuck-ups do now? He wondered.

Striding up the remaining driveway Spike focused on the one person he trusted to give him a straight answer. "What’s going on, Luke?"

"You’ll have to ask Mr. Masters."

Luke didn’t even look at him as he spoke. His eyes were fixed on the dark landscape somewhere behind Spike’s head, his stance was rigid; legs slightly apart, his hands clasped in front of him and his massive chest puffed up. Luke looked the image of stone.

"Right, straight to the bleedin’ horse’s mouth it is then."

The house felt wrong. Spike was used to the strange atmosphere and the creeping dark shadows that filled the house that had been his home for years. He was well tuned to the different personalities the house displayed. Tonight it was all off. Tiredness forgotten, Spike pushed down the feeling of doom in the pit of his stomach and knocked on the study door.

A fire burned in the black marble fireplace at the far end of the room, its light adding little illumination to the weak glow cast by the small lamp on the desk. Spike stood leaning against the door, one arm bent behind him gripping the handle, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom. Silent minutes stretched out. Pushing off the door he made a cautious path towards the desk and Masters. Eyes locked on the seated man, Spike waited for him to speak. All his senses were telling him to keep waiting, to keep cool, stay alert and above all keep his gob shut.

Spike was not a patient man. This could kill him.

Masters slid a piece of crumpled paper across the desk and indicated for him to pick it up. Paper in hand, Spike glanced up at his boss’s cold eyes before reading the hand written letter. The handwriting was clearly Angel’s. Thirty seconds was all it took for him to read through it once, he didn’t bother to read it again. His fingers tightened on the sheet of paper.

"Where’s Drusilla?" He forced the question through clenched teeth and jaws, but he already knew the answer.

"Gone."

Spike roared, screaming out his rage and loss. Anger and hatred burned him. Flinging open the door he raced up the stairs never even slowing when he came to her room. He burst in and stood in the centre, slowly taking in the emptiness. Pulling open random drawers and cupboards he found nothing but emptiness. Cursing and swearing, he let loose, violently slamming and kicking them shut, breaking most in the process. Spike continued to vent his rage on the furniture, all the while wishing it was the room’s owner. Everything gone, her clothes, her jewels, all her little knick-knacks - her stupid dolls - all gone. Gone. That one word kept echoing in his head, softly at first like Masters had said it. But getting louder each time it repeated.

He realised he’d wrecked the room. Nothing had escaped his rage; torn bedding and curtains lay in tatters on the floor, a few fragments still clinging to the railings over shattered windows. The furniture was smashed and overturned, leaning drunkenly out of shape. He viewed the new arrangements trying to take in their significance. His hands and knuckles were raw and bloody. The air rasped in and out of his heaving lungs. His face was wet. With nothing left to smash he fell to his knees his head hitting the floor as he sobbed and cried.

Hours later he made his way back down to the study knowing Masters would still be there waiting for him. The room was exactly as he’d left it. He didn’t look at Masters as he moved to sit in one of the chairs facing the dying fire. Gazing into the glowing embers he heard the other man settle himself in the chair opposite him.

"I will make him suffer, William." A cold look suffused Masters face. "I have not survived all these years by letting my enemies get the better of me. And Liam is now the enemy."

Spike turned slightly to look at Masters, his eyes hard and dark.

"He thinks he can just walk away without paying a price. He forgets who I am and he forgets his place in my family. The place I gave him. He will be made to remember." Masters held Spike’s look evenly and smiled.

Spike was surprised by Masters statement. Angel the enemy! He’d always been the favoured child held above all others, except Darla. Spike had always hated him but Masters had loved him. Intrigued he waited for more.

"Find him for me William and you can name your own reward."

His voice gruff and tight from crying, Spike asked for conformation of what he’d just heard. "Anythin’ I want?"

Smiling, knowing what Spike was thinking Masters indulgently shook his head. "You can’t kill him William, he has to be made to suffer and he can’t suffer if he’s dead. We will make an example of him. All our enemies will fear us when they see how hard we can be on one of our own, one who was so well loved."

Nodding slowly as understanding began to work its way through the layers of betrayal and loss, Spike gave him a weak smile. Masters was giving him a rare opportunity a chance to climb the family ladder and replace Angel. This meant power and security and it would place him in a position second to none, answerable only to Masters. More importantly, by allowing him to name his own reward it would put revenge in his grasp. He could feel the rage and anger draining from him as his desire for revenge took hold.

"What ‘bout Dru?"

"Her I leave entirely to you."

"I’d like to make him suffer," Spike smiled, a heated light in his eye. "And I can name my own reward?"

Masters nodded. "Anything you want…you have my sworn word on it."

Spike smiled coldly and nodded.

*************************************************************

Chapter Two.

L.A.


It had taken almost three weeks to arrange the move from New York to L.A. Spike stood in a darkened room of the L.A. mansion staring out into the rain washed garden, cradling a too generous measure of JD. Painful memories and half remembered conversations ran through his mind. Spike sighed. An extensive search had revealed the extent of Angel’s desertion. A catalogue of surprises.

A year ago he’d been at the top of his game running the L.A. operation for the family. Covering everything from the very legal hotels, retail outlets and import/export businesses to the illegal gambling, drugs and prostitution that the families’ wealth was truly based on and Angel had excelled in his role as front man. Both suave and ruthless, he earned himself and Masters a reputation in the world of commerce that was only bettered by his standing in organised crime. He was cunning, always managing to keep the real dealings from the notice of the Feds, whilst all the while maintaining a pleasing public image. Everything Angel touched was successful. In the five years that he’d handled the L.A. office Masters’ wealth had ballooned steadily and secretly. Masters had let it be known to all his associates that Angel was being groomed to fill his place, publicly embracing him and naming him heir apparent.

Somewhere in the last year things had changed for Angel. Where, how and why? Spike found himself asking and not for the first time. He’d find the answers.

While Masters was lavishing praise and accolades on Angel, Spike had watched from the side lines. It was because of Drusilla’s insistence that Angel had taken the younger Spike under his wing. A grudging respect and admiration had slowly developed - not that Spike would’ve ever admitted to it. Whatever regard Spike had had for Angel it had always been tempered by an unhealthy amount of loathing. Angel had been a hard bastard always taking delight in putting Spike in his place. Angel loved playing the Alpha male dominating him at every turn. Spike suspected that Angel only taunted him to get a rise out of him an then laughing in sick delight when Spike exploded, giving him the excuse to beat him back down. When his cruelty was particularly overwhelming Drusilla would intervene. She would pout and plead with her Angel soothing the way between the two obstinate men. In those early years Drusilla was the only reason he’d stuck around.

Drusilla. Beautiful, willowy Drusilla. He’d thought they’d be together forever but despite all his years of devotion and love Drusilla had finally chosen and she hadn’t chosen him. She was fond of her own brand of cruelty. Playing one off against the other, Spike knew she’d only brought him into the inner circle to make Angel jealous but Spike hadn’t cared. He’d wanted her from the first moment he’d seen her. He’d loved her. Putting up with her constant bed flitting, hoping that she’d see that it was him and not Angel that really loved her. When Angel had been given the L.A. branch to run Spike had been ecstatic. Angel was going and Drusilla was staying which meant he’d have her all to himself.

A soft knock at the door disturbed his reflections. Frowning he called out. "Come in."

Luke was standing in the open doorway.

"What?"

Luke eyed the still full glass in his hand. "Sorry to intrude boss, but Angel’s men have arrived. I put them in the main lounge like you asked."

Two gulps and the glass was empty. "Lead the way then, let’s get this bleedin’ circus on the road."

Spike normally hated dealing with the hired help. Minions were how he saw them. Most of them brainless, loyal to the money and scared shitless if you looked at them sideways. Finding muscle with brains and backbone was rare in his experience. He had his own legion of minions. Men hired purely for their skills with a gun to swell the ranks and their ability to follow orders blindly. His own men, his ‘Guard-Dogs’ they were all hand picked and all loyal to him. He kept their numbers small and each man brought his own unique talent to the group. Intelligence, composure and ambition were vital qualities but so was brutality and they had that by the truckload. Spike didn’t doubt for a second that Angel’s men were any different.

Spike followed Luke across the polished black wood floor of the imposing hallway. One of his other men, Dixon, falling in behind him. Pausing for a moment Spike reminded Luke of their plans.

"Right you know what to do, if I give you the nod these wankers are history."

Luke nodded his understanding.

"And no fancy stuff, jus’ get the job done," Spike barked. He was preparing himself for the interrogation.

In the sitting room Spike studied the three men, two in their late twenties the other maybe in his early thirties. They were standing at various points of the room but they all turned to look at Spike as he entered with Luke and Dixon flanking him. Wesley, Gunn and Doyle. Angel’s right left and centre men. Spike gave them a chilly smile before giving the room a slow appraisal. Ten of his minions stood guard, their gazes and guns fixed on the three outsiders. Still smiling Spike gestured towards a large cream leather couch. "Gentlemen, please, sit."

The mood in the room was one of extreme tension as he waited for them to comply. They sat slowly, each meeting and holding his even look. Spike kept his position stood in the centre of the floor. Relaxed and completely at ease he lit a cigarette, gently closing his eyes savouring the first pull as he drew the smoke deep into his lungs. Blowing the redundant smoke back out of his mouth his eyes snapped open to fix on Wesley. He’d picked his mouthpiece. All trances of his smile vanished.

"Now, Wesley, you get first shot to tell me everythin’ I want to know and if I think your lyin’…well…then you get shot first."

Luke came forward, placing an armchair directly in front of the three men. Spike slipped off his jacket and loosened his tie while balancing his cigarette between pursed lips, never taking his eyes off of Wesley. Calm and cool, Spike thought to himself, I wouldn’t expect anything less from one of Angel’s men. Let’s see what I can do to change that.

Settling himself into the comfort of the chair he dropped the remains of his cigarette onto the polished floor and mashed it hard with the heel of his heavy boot, regardless of the damage it might cause. His movements more measured, he pulled his gun from his shoulder holster and carefully placed it in his lap, only then did he begin to roll up his shirt sleeves.

Wesley eyes had followed his slow actions.

"Now I know you helped Angel get away so don’t bother to deny it. What I want to know is where you helped him get away to?"

Wesley swallowed in an effort to relieve his dry throat, then spoke quickly. "Hawaii. He told me he was relocating the base of operations there for awhile. I had no reason to think he was being anything but truthful," Spike continued to stare at him, expectantly. "As soon as we were notified about his defection, I tried to trace his movements and I managed to follow him to Madrid first of all, then to a small town on the French coast where he traveled to Paris. And that’s where the trail goes cold," Wesley nervously clenched his hands. "But you know all this I sent my findings to Mr. Masters."

Spikes expression slipped from expectancy to boredom. He made a tiny gesture with the hand holding the gun. "Why don’t you tell me somethin’ I don’t know?" He raised an eyebrow. "And you better make it good mate, ‘cause I’m losin’ what little patience I have."

Wesley wasn’t a fool, he’d worked for Angel and the family long enough to know how real the danger was, the lack of violence so far only meant it was yet to come and judging from Spike’s body language he was about ten seconds away from dead. This state of affairs called for a truly unpredicted revelation. He hoped what he had covered that. It was his only hope. He looked at the two men next to him and realized it was their only hope too. He took a deep breath.
"I copied everything."

Spike arched a brow. "What’d you mean…everythin’?"

"I mean everything in Angel’s personal safe."

"Everythin’?"

"Yes, everything."

"Even the files and ledgers?"

"Yes, those and…a lot more."

Leaning slightly forward in his chair, frowning Spike asked. "What kind of ‘more’?"

"All of Angel’s bank account details…and…his personal journals."

The last part of the sentence had Spike’s eyebrows climbing toward his hairline. Blue eyes suddenly burned and a slow smile spread across his face as comprehension ignited.

"I’m guessin’ Angel didn’t know what you were up to, copyin’ the books and such, all secret like?" he was almost gleeful.

Wesley shook his head. "If he did…I’d be dead."

Smiling widely, Spike let himself sink back into the shelter of the chair. "Well Wesley old mate! No doubt about it, Peaches would’ve popped you but I’m gonna let you live." He placed his gun back in the holster, his smile taking in the three men.

*************************************************************

 

Chapter Three.

Dear Diary.


Sitting behind his desk Spike was reading, but he couldn’t quite believe his eyes. It had to be a joke. Wesley stood in a patch of early morning sunlight, having returned with the copied files and box files containing the neatly bound pages of Angel’s copied journal. He looked like shit.

Once Spike had scanned the files he’d handed them to his bookman, Cooper, knowing Masters would be relieved to know what Angel had taken. Angel’s bookman had vanished. Wesley confirmed he’d gone missing the same night Angel had. Spike suspected he was dead Angel wouldn’t leave a liability like that lying around. He knew exactly what damage those files would do if they fell into the wrong hands and only his bookman could’ve pin pointed what was missing.

It was the contents of the journal that amazed him. Not bothering with the first box that dated back to the year Angel arrived in LA Spike was reading an entry dated barely six months ago.

Mirth tinged his voice. "Is this for real? I can’t believe Angel wrote this drivel…it’s his handwritin’ but…" he chuckled glancing up at Wesley. Spike could see the truth on his face.

"So Angel thinks he fell in love?" he laughed. "When?" He began riffling deeper through the papers "When Wesley?"

"I don’t know, it wasn’t my love affair," Wesley sighed rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. "You’ll just have to keep reading to find out."

"But you’ve read this…right?" Wesley shook his head. "Bloody hell! Wes, you should its hilarious! He sounds like a fuckin’ teenager with his first hard-on for the Sunday school teacher…there’s even poetry!"

"Like I said it wasn’t my love affair. I stopped reading when I realized the nature of his feelings. I merely copied it. I had no desire to be acquainted with his intimate thoughts."

"Oooh! Wesley! No need to get hoity-toity," Spike chuckled but sobered quickly. "You liked Angel didn’t you?"

His guard up, Wesley wondered where that question had come from. He reminded himself for the thousandth time since walking into the mansion the previous evening that although Spike may at times act and sound like a common thug he was far from simply just that and if he ever forgot it he’d be dead. So, how to answer?

He shrugged.

"Since you didn’t say no, I’ll take that as a yes."

Yep, not simple.

Standing he dropped the pages back into the box and leaned casually against the front of the desk. "You didn’t always like him though, clearly you didn’t trust him or you wouldn’t have copied all this stuff."

"That was only in the beginning…before," Wesley broke off and sighed, he was too tired for this,

"Before he met this…hang on…how did he describe her?" Spike reached for the pages again, scanning them until his eyes fell on the paragraph he was searching for. "This creature…my golden goddess of sweetness and light," he gagged. "My God! I don’t know if I should laugh or throw-up. It’s a fuckin’ joke, its drivel, it’s juvenile. This isn’t Angel," he ranted shaking the pages in frustration.

"Maybe so, but never the less it’s there and whatever you might believe, Angel clearly believed himself to be in love." Wesley wondered why he felt the need to play devils advocate. Why the hell should he care? "Love can make a man act out of character, even crazy." Under his breath he added. "As you should know."

Spike rounded on him, anger burning in his eyes. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Wesley cursed himself. Less than zero to sixty and he’s furious. He chose his next words carefully. "I only meant that we can all be subject to the madness that love can induce. Why do you find it so hard to believe that Angel is any different then the rest of us?"

"Because he’s a fuckin’ demon born the wrong side of hell! He can’t love, he’s not capable of love," he snapped. Thinking of his own feelings for Drusilla Spike shook his head in denial. "He could never love."

Wesley didn’t know how to respond to this. To him it was clear Spike was caught in the storm of his own love induced madness. Hate and fury had a tight grip on him. He feared the lengths Spike might go to in an effort to purge himself of these destructive emotions, but there was nothing to do but wait and see. Wesley watched Spike as he reached for the top most papers. Angel’s last entry. Very short, only a page. He remained silent as Spike read, his face blank. Long moments dragged painfully out, the only sound in the room the ticking of the clock on the mantle. Glancing at the clock Wesley noticed how late it was. Spike seemed to have forgotten he was there. He’d moved to the Georgian doors and gazed out into the garden.

His emotions under control once more, Spike turned to face Wesley. He gestured to a chair and waited for Wesley to sit. Holding him with a steady look he mused, "She didn’t go with him, why? He took Drusilla and not her. If he loved her so much why did he leave her?"

Wesley shifted, unsure if he was meant to answer but just as he was about to draw breath to do so, Spike spoke again. "Is she still in the city…this ‘creature of sweetness and light’?"

Wesley nodded. "Yes, her name’s Buffy…Buffy Summers."

"Bloody hell, she sounds like a hooker. What the hell kind of name is that?! Wait she’s not a hooker is she, because that would be…"

Wesley cut in. "No she’s not. She works for a privately funded agency specializing in finding runaways, sheltering abused women and generally helping hard luck cases get back on their feet."

Spike laughed. "So she’s a white hat," his laughter rising. "Guess I was right ‘bout the hard-on for the Sunday school teacher."

Wesley shrugged. He really wanted to go home. He was dog tired and sleep was in short supply.

Abruptly Spike said, "Go home Wesley you look like shit. Come back tomorrow first thing I’ll ‘ave read all this crap by then," Wesley wondered if he could read his mind but didn’t care, he was half way to the door when Spike continued. "Wesley, maybe you did like Angel but you work for me now and I don’t give a flyin’ fuck if you like me or not, anythin’ this drivel doesn’t tell me about little Miss White Hat you’re going to find out for me."

Wesley simply nodded. Spike turned his back in a dismissive gesture. Wesley took that as permission to leave.

 

Chapter Four.

Partners.

A knock at the door pulled Spike from his thoughts. He’d being reading for two hours. Slowly he stretched out stiff muscles. "Yes?" He snapped

"Sir?" An unknown voice spoke and hesitantly opened the door, sticking his head around the edge until his eyes fell on Spike. "You didn’t order lunch so chef sent up a tray." He pushed the door wider revealing his waiters uniform and a cart. "Can I bring it in sir?"

"Sure, leave it there." Spike indicated a spot on the floor near a seating area beside the fireplace.

"Might I suggest the patio sir, it’s a lovely day and the view is breathtaking."

Sudden anger flared in Spike at the waiter’s friendly suggestion. "You can suggest whatever you like but leave the bloody cart where I said." he snapped.

"Yes sir. Sorry sir I didn’t mean to…"

"What’s your name?" He gruffly interrupted.

"Jonathan sir." All traces of friendliness gone, he cowered.

"The rules are simple Jonathan, when I tell you to do somethin’ you do it. Do you understand?"

He nodded.

"What?" Spike barked.

"Yes sir. I understand."

"Good because you can be sure if I ever want your suggestions you wouldn’t be a fuckin’ waiter. Now piss off."

Jonathan hastily scurried from the room inadvertently banging the door as he closed it.

Dismissing the waiter from his thoughts, Spike checked out the contents of the cart. Someone had gone to quite a lot of trouble to provide him with a large selection of sandwiches, cold cuts and salads, there were pastries and fresh fruit for dessert but it was the large pot of steaming coffee that Spike honed in on first. Gulping down half a cup of the near scalding liquid, he randomly piled sandwiches on a plate not bothering to see what they were. Ignoring the rest of the cart he took his lunch back to his desk and the pages of the journal he’d being reading.

He made a mental note to interview the staff. Some of them might need replacing, although Jonathan’s obvious terror of him could only help to keep the rest of the staff on their toes. Still it was important that the mansion run smoothly and that depended on good staff. Maybe this was an area Wesley would prove useful in.

God! He’d been famished. The plate mostly empty and his hunger easing off, Spike’s attention returned to the pages spread out over the surface of the desk. The hours pouring over the diary had only served to baffle him. Thankfully Wesley had kept everything in chronological order making it relatively easy to find the entry where Angel had recorded his first meeting with Ms Summers. Spike was still reeling from the tone Angel had adopted in his description of the woman it was so…sappy…that was the only word he could think that fit the lengthy retelling of the event.

Eighteen months ago Angel had seen her with some undisclosed group of people and orchestrated an introduction. Nothing unusual about that Angel often manipulated women. He loved the chase and had being known to invent elaborate schemes to achieve his goals. He was ruthless and disciplined and as long as he was entertained he didn’t care who got hurt or what damage he caused. Spike had been witness to countless such games. Angel would bully, brow-beat or cajole a person until he got his own way and if that didn’t work well…he simply got nasty…very nasty.

A memory came to mind of a time years ago when the three of them had stayed at an exclusive resort in the Caribbean. Life was first-class in those days; an endless round of parties, drink, drugs, sex and violence. It was all on tap. Masters provided everything and anything they wanted. He was pampering them, drawing them in deeper. Angel and Drusilla were already hooked on the ‘good life’, dependent on the buzz that filled their lives and Spike was happy to follow if it meant he had Drusilla’s attention. She was his focal point, but while he and Drusilla had being content with the many diversions thrown at them, Angel’s eyes had obviously found a new target to focus on.

*****

A young newly-wed couple sickeningly in love. She was beautiful with long soft brown hair, clear grey eyes and a *really* good body. The husband was equally good-looking, tall and athletic. They were childhood sweethearts and married straight out of high school. Spike couldn’t remember their names.

Angel full of mischief and malice had set out to ruin them and he sweet-talked and coaxed Drusilla into playing along, not that she needed much persuading, Spike thought bitterly. She wallowed in the attention Angel would lavish on her, every now and then she’d hold out just to make sure he coddled and petted her enough to satisfy her craving for his special affections.

In a little corner of his mind a weak voice had told him this was all wrong, that he should say something. Drusilla and Angel had laughed at him, sweeping out to hunt the young couple down leaving Spike to follow with a bad feeling stirring in his belly.

"It’s just a bit of fun Spike my boy!" Spike tried to pull back as Angel patted him on the cheek. "Come and sit at the bar and watch a master at work; you never know you might learn something." He laughed as he ruffled Spike’s hair.

So he’d sat at the bar being rude to any unfortunate male or female who tried to approach him. After telling a couple of curvy blondes to ‘fuck off’ no one bothered him again. He only had eyes for Drusilla and she was off playing with Angel. He could see them sitting at the same table as the honeymooners. Angel must have bribed the waiter to ensure that.

They were a formidable tag team. She took her cues perfectly, picking up on all his little signals, smiling and laughing in her hypnotic way while he charmed and flattered effortlessly. In the course of the night they had managed to break the couple’s monopoly on each other and persuaded them to dance, Drusilla gracefully moving in the young mans arms, Angel gallantly offering to stand in as escort to the bride. Once he had her in his grasp he’d pulled her deliberately close, rubbing against her, her uncertainties showing on her pretty young face. But just as Spike was sure she was about to pull away Angel whispered in her ear, she giggled and relaxed. By the end of the night the two couples were bestest buddies. By the end of the week they were something else entirely.

The week had dragged for Spike he was bored and pissed off, Dru was completely absorbed with Angel and his little game. The honeymooners were spending more and more time with Angel and Dru who took every opportunity to inappropriately flatter and flirt with their new friends, whisking them off to expensive restaurants and exclusive clubs. Then Angel learned that the girl was a big fan of a certain rock group that was performing on a neighbouring island. He managed to get them all tickets and have a helicopter fly them there as a surprise. The youngsters squealed like excited ten year olds. At the end of the night when he pulled out backstage passes to the after-show party he knew he had them. He was their God.

*****

The casino was where Spike spent his days and nights, winning or losing he didn’t care. It was just a way to pass the time until Angel and Dru either got bored with or finished their game. The card tables were getting stale though; he needed something new to divert him or something Dru shaped. All week she’d devoted herself to Angel, not visiting his bed once claiming her ‘daddy’ needed her and it was important to maintain their ruse as a couple.
He’d turned to other women but it was just a fuck and not the fuck he wanted, leaving him unsatisfied. Shunning female company he went back to the luxury four bedroom ‘family’ suite Masters had made available to them.
He’d drank enough to be pleasantly buzzed and was contemplating hitting the well stocked bar before he had to listen to Dru and Angel inevitably go at it when they got back from wherever the hell they’d gone.

The moment he opened the door he knew they’d beaten him back, a mix of harsh and low moans were coming from Angel’s bedroom. The double doors were wide open; he wouldn’t be able to escape the show as he had to pass Angel’s room to get to his own. He slammed the door behind him angrily in a futile hope that they’d at least try to pretend at discretion. The sounds only got louder. Not wishing to stand in the hallway, all night he went to the bar keeping his back to the bedroom.

Shocked surprise whipped him around when he realized there was more then two people providing the sound effects. The four of them were naked on the grossly large bed slithering against each other in an erotic display of male and female flesh. Spike moved towards the room, a jumble of conflicting feelings surging in him. Disbelief and disgust warred with envy and lust.

No one noticed him approach; they were too caught up in their sexual acts. He found himself unable to look away, although he hated to admit it, he was too aroused. So he just watched, not daring to go any further in and incapable of leaving. His cock throbbing painfully in response to the scene laid out before him. He rubbed it lightly through his jeans, a low sound escaping his dry lips.
Drusilla was straddling the young man’s face her head thrown back in bliss as he licked and sucked her. She groaned as she rode his mouth, while his hands held her hips encouraging her to move faster. His own stifled moans filled the room, in appreciation of Drusilla’s pussy and of the other two mouths that worked on his hard cock nibbling and licking up and down his length.

His wife lay across the bed, her head positioned under his raised knees, her pretty mouth busy licking on his heavy balls. Angel’s mouth helped her suck her husband’s cock while at the same time he slowly fucked her. Moving with deep thrusts, every few moments he’d pause to draw her into passionate kisses that left her breasts heaving, then their mouths would return to double suck her husband.

Drusilla’s moans were becoming desperate she was bathed in sweat her long dark hair clinging to her flesh like black ribbons. Suddenly her cries reached a crescendo, and she bucked wildly as she finally came, her hands gripping her lover’s head tightly as she took her pleasure only releasing him when she was satisfied. She fell to the side, exhausted.

Spike groaned from his hiding place.

Free from her weight, the young man propped himself up on his elbows and watched his wife and Angel kiss passionately over his straining erection. One of his hands crept down to stroke his wife’s silky hair but Angel caught it and slowly brought it to his mouth, sucking on the fingers. The young man gasped, drawing a smile from Angel. His wife lifted her head trying to join in, Angel let her have her way while he moved downwards, taking the boy’s throbbing cock gently his lips. He sucked gently on the head drawing a loud cry from the man’s lips. Raising himself onto his knees, the young man let his cock slide in between both mouths, sliding his fingers in their hair, pulling them closer to him, his eyes squeezed shut as he immersed himself in the pleasure he was receiving.

Unable to help himself, Spike freed his cock into his hand with a sigh, his thumb moving around the sticky fluid leaking from the tip spreading it down his length increasing the wonderful ache.

Drusilla crawled behind the boy, pressing her breasts to his back and encircling her arms around him, letting her hands slide up and down his sweat slicked body. She murmured in his ear while nipping at the lobe as he looked down at the image she was describing. Angel looked back at him as he watched the slow slide of his tongue reach her sensitive slit, lust burning in his eyes. He pulled back from the panting man and distracted the girl with a hungry kiss. She moaned into his mouth, thrashing beneath him, her own orgasm fast approaching. Drusilla’s hand flew down to the boy’s abandoned cock, pumping it vigorously still murmuring her crude words as she built him higher and higher.

Angel broke the kiss and leant back to ease the girl’s hips up, angling her slight frame to allow him to drive deeper. Building his pace, he thrust into her a bruising pace. Her cries tinged with pain and pleasure. Smiling when he heard her distress he slapped one firm buttock hard, satisfied when she gave a sharp cry, he let her hips fall back to the bed.

Spike pumped faster.

Angel braced his weight on one hand to maintain his momentum as he slid the other hand down to fondle her clit, simultaneously rubbing and fucking her into a frenzy. His touch on her swollen nub caused her to arch her back, desperate for her release. Harsh gasps and whimpers spilled from her lips as he continued to plunge into her pussy. Realizing the boy was about to come he gently twisting her clit, she screamed as her orgasm overwhelmed her, shaking uncontrollably. Her violent release plus Drusilla’s skilled hand triggered her husband’s climax. He came hard, across her face and breasts, grunting as Drusilla pumped him to completion, not noticing his brides startled eyes.

Jaw clenched, Spike thrust rapidly into his hand, his own orgasm seconds away.

The duel vision of the couple peaking together sent Angel wild, his thrusts turned brutal, he was incensed, sweat dripping off his face as he labored over her spent body. She screamed again as he thrust once, twice, three times.
climaxing, he roared his domination over her, head flung back he pumped his semen deep into her pussy. Shuddering, he collapsed on her dazed form, as the other man fell back into Drusilla’s arms. Their heavy breathing slowing from gasps to sated sighs.

Spike wiped his hands on a bar napkin he’d found in his pocket. He’d spilled into his hand when Angel roared, his own growl of release masked by Angel.

Long moments passed the four bodies on the bed drowsily shifting. Thinking the performance over Spike was about to slip back into the main room when Drusilla surprised him by crawling over the sleeping boy to lie beside the girl who was slowly coming out of her daze.

Angel laid spooned on her other side, peppering her face, neck and shoulders with little kisses. He shared a conspiratorial look with Drusilla. Almost fully alert now, the girl tried to squirm out of his arms but Drusilla penned her in place. Forcing her head down, Angel kissed her hard, snaking his tongue into her mouth, teasing and sucking her tongue into participation. Sliding two fingers into her he began to caress her inner folds using his thumb to swirl and rub her clit. She clutched his shoulders, hissing in discomfort as he rubbed her over-sensitive flesh. Removing the wet fingers from her centre he offered them to Drusilla, who sucked them happily.

Spike felt desire stirring again.

Finished sucking on Angel’s fingers, Drusilla slithered down the girl’s body. Positioning herself between her legs she lowered her mouth to gently lick the wet opening. The first soothing touch on her clit causing the girl to shudder and moan, her legs falling a little further apart. Angel and Drusilla both pushed her knees aside, spreading her wide. Drusilla buried her face between her thighs and hummed her appreciation, kneeling on all fours. Drusilla started to slide the fingers of one hand into her own pussy while she continued her assault on the girl.

Spike had a great view of both Drusilla and the girl. He watched, growing harder as the girl’s hips bounced under Drusilla’s talented tongue. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped him when Drusilla’s fingers pushed into her own centre. His cock jumped to life.

Propped over the girl, Angel placed open mouthed kisses on her neck and breasts. Easing a nipple between his lips, he nibbled with blunt teeth, softly lifting the other breast he caressed the supple flesh, rolling the nipple gently between a finger and thumb in imitation of the other. Wanting to feel her touch on his hard shaft he placed her hand where he needed it, helping her glide up and down his length showing her how he like it. Once she got the rhythm he released her hand returning once more to play with her breasts.

Touching, kissing, caressing, sucking, and licking.

They were swiftly reaching climax Drusilla sucking hard on the girl’s clit her own fingers plunging rapidly in and out of her dripping pussy while the girl’s hand on Angel’s cock squeezed and pumped in time to Drusilla’s lashing tongue. The girl was the first to come, squealing as Drusilla sucked on her clit, flooding Dru’s mouth and chin with juices. Drusilla followed babbling into the girl’s pussy drumming her feet on the bed as her orgasm rocked her.
Angel groaned in need, Drusilla sensing his frustration twined her hand with the girl’s and together they pumped him faster. Seeing his balls tighten, Drusilla lowered her mouth to the purple tip of his cock and sucked hard. He came shouting her name, shooting into her mouth, thrusting into their hands as they pumped him dry. Drusilla let his softening cock plop from between her lips swallowing him down he grabbed her kissing her passionately licking the combined juices from her lips.

Spike’s cock was rock hard and throbbing viscously. His hand wouldn’t do this time, he wanted to fuck…anyone. But since that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon he bit the inside of his cheek, drawing blood, hoping the pain would distract him and willing his cock to calm.

Angel was caressing Drusilla and whispering in her ear. The girl had rolled on to her side and was staring at the two of them with wide confused eyes. They were smiling at her. Angel reached out to tenderly brush her damp hair from her face.

There was a groggy groan from the other side of them as the boy pushed himself into a sitting position. Seeing him awake, his wife clambered onto his lap. He pulled her in tightly to his chest, kissing her lips and face as she wrapped her arms about his neck, letting him rock her back and forth. Easing himself back against the headboard he shifted her into a more comfortable position arranging her so he could nuzzle her neck.

Drusilla was giggling as Angel murmured in her ear, gazing at the girl in her husband’s arms with mischief and longing. Smiling and nodding she crawled over to the couple winding her arms about them in a friendly hug. The girl didn’t seem to welcome this but the boy just smiled at her and returned her friendly kisses. Meanwhile, Angel got off the bed and walked over to the bedside table. He poured some scotch into a couple of heavy glasses. Offering one to the young man, he brought the other one to Drusilla’s mouth and let her drink her the golden liquid. Seeing this, the boy copied him, smiling as his wife took tiny sips from the glass. Returning to the bedside table Angel casually rolled a joint, lit it and inhaled deeply letting the smoke fill his lungs, his appreciation lighting up his face as he exhaled. Back on the bed he made himself comfortable next to Drusilla leaning over her to pass the joint to the boy he snagged the glass from her hand.

Imprisoned in the deep shadows behind the door Spike watched as they poured booze into each others open mouths and puffed on the shared joint. Only the girl remained uneasy but she was soon laughing and giggling like the others the effects of the stimulants acting on her rapidly. Thankfully Spike’s hard on was slowly dying down.

Drusilla had wormed out from between the two men leaving Angel to fall into the gap. Playfully she pulled a silk scarf from a corner post of the headboard and wound it around Angel’s eyes as a blindfold. Angel joined into the spirit of the game and pretended he didn’t know why it had suddenly gone dark. The young couple were laughing uncontrollably. Finding more scraps of silk Drusilla then bound his hands behind his back. Bouncing up and down clapping her hands like a six year old she announced she wanted to play the kissing game. This was met by puzzled frowns from the couple Drusilla explained the simple rules. They each had to kiss Angel one at a time anywhere they liked and Angel had to guess who had kissed him. If he got more correct then wrong he got to name his prize, if he lost they got to decide on his punishment.

A childish quarrel broke out among them Drusilla trying to coax and beg them to join in. They finally relented when it was agreed that the still shy and uncertain young man wasn’t expected to kiss Angel on the mouth or anywhere else deemed unpleasant. Angel waited quietly for them to work out the details feigning indifference.

Spike wasn’t fooled. What were they up to? He shifted slightly, feeling stiff from standing so long in one position. Leaning his back against the wall he contemplated lowering himself to the floor but decided against it he didn’t want to risk being noticed.

Shushing the giggling pair Drusilla was signaling for the young girl to go first. She leaned forward placing a brief kiss on Angel’s shoulder. Pretending to think hard, Angel puzzled and pondered drawing the game out putting on a show for the benefit of the two youngsters. They groaned when he guessed accurately. Next to try was Drusilla. Getting as close to him as she could without touching him, she placed her kiss in the centre of his chest right over his heart.

Spike felt a jolt of jealously hit, the kiss was too affectionate, too intimate. He wanted to pull her away from the bed and away from Angel…but he couldn’t she wouldn’t want him to. In that moment Spike realized she’d always do what she wanted to do. She was right where she wanted to be, playing sick twisted games with Angel, never once thinking of him, or taking his feelings into consideration. But he wanted her, he loved her and he was going to make her see that it was with him she belonged. He could wait.

Angel had no trouble guessing who the kiss belonged to. Drusilla practically glowed when he breathed her name in reward she kissed him on the mouth good and hard laughing. The kissing game went on for a few rounds everyone giggling and groaning in between kisses and guesses. The air becoming erotically charged with the combined smell of sex and pot, the two couples were now utterly relaxed and uninhibited. Drusilla called an end to the game freeing Angel from his silk bonds. Grinning, delightedly at wining he reached for his drink downing it in one long gulp. The game had moved the other three all over the bed and now Angel swiveled his head looking at each one in turn eventually his eyes settled on the young boy.

Spike couldn’t hear what was being said on the bed but he could see the boy’s hesitant body language and timid looks, but he nodded his agreement after momentarily pondering Angel’s request. Spike’s interest was renewed as he waited to see what would happened next.

The two girls squealed in excitement, moving out of the way as Angel helped the boy onto his back. Angel handed a silk scarf to the boy’s wife and raising his arms above his head he instructed her how to tie his wrists to the headboard. Meanwhile Drusilla was busy tying down his legs the lengths of silk were much longer to allow for the distance to the footboard and to enable some movement. The operation was finished when Angel fitted the blindfold. Angel explained that this time they were going to play the kissing game with a slight twist, not only would he have to try and guess who was kissing him but also who was touching him.

The game began the same as the first with lots of giggling and silliness. The kisses and touches started off tame and light but when the distinctive kiss and touch of someone feminine was placed on his semi-erect cock things became much more erotic. Drusilla watched his hardening cock as she let it slip from her mouth, her hand lingering a moment longer. It wasn’t difficult to see how this had affected the captive, his gasp of surprise and his shudder of sudden arousal was evident. Not to be out done by Drusilla his wife didn’t even give him time to guess who had ‘kissed’ him before she swirled her tongue in his ear and firmly pinched a flat nipple. The captive moaned loudly.
As she pulled back, Angel attacked his other ear and nipple copying the young girl’s moves exactly. The captive groaned turning his body into the erotic touches. Drusilla was scattering tiny kisses along the flesh of his inner thigh and lightly running her nails along the other making his muscles tremble. The captive completely stimulated, was panting fast, his cock hard and aroused, straining and twitching in need.

His wife took his throbbing cock in her small hand and began slowly stroking him, drawing her thumb lightly over the tip spreading the drops of pre-cum round the head before letting her hand slip gently down to the base and squeezing slightly. She glided all the way up, until she reached the top and began again…and again and again. Lowering her head she stiffened her tongue to a point and lapped up the gooey moisture leaking from him. The game was forgotten as the sensual bombardment continued, the captive lost to the sensations the others were creating in his body.

Excited by her performance Angel moved in to share her position, only this time he replaced her hand with his own and pumped her husbands cock into her mouth while fondling her breasts. He shared a look with Drusilla. She was kneeling on the bed, admiring the sight, gently running her hands up and down the boy’s inner and outer thighs. Angel leaned towards her kissing her open mouth drawing little moans from her.

Fully and painfully aroused by the erotic scene Spike groaned thumping his head on the wall behind him frustrated beyond belief cursing himself for a fool for ever entering the room and cursing Angel and Drusilla for…everything but especially for torturing him like this. He screwed his eyes shut vowing not to watch any more. Thirty seconds of listening to the hypnotically compelling sounds and he wanted to tear his ears off, sixty seconds and he wanted to scream and weep like a girl. He felt just as much a captive as the man tied to the bed. He was trapped. Resigned he opened his eyes.

Prying the girl from her obvious enjoyment of blowing her husbands hard cock, Angel hauled her up and over the struggling captive. Directing her to straddle his hips facing the headboard, he reached beneath her dipping two fingers into her core, testing her moisture. Satisfied, he helped guide the boy’s cock into her aching centre.

They both exhaled noisily, babbling endearments and obscenities to each other. Angel peppered her upper body with little nips and sloppy kisses, suckling on her nipples. Her eyes closed and head thrown back giving him access to her throat and chest she hummed her pleasure while slowly sliding herself up and down her husbands cock.
Angel moved to a standing position in front of her. Drusilla joined in rubbing and stroking him to full hardness. Sliding his hands into the girl’s hair, he brought her mouth to his straining cock as he slowly thrust into her mouth, her eyes wide and glazed as she rode the cock buried between her legs and sucked the stiff one Angel was feeding her. Drusilla’s hands were everywhere fondling Angel’s balls and squeezing the girl’s breasts then rolling the boy’s ball’s and kissing the girl’s breasts. Standing, Dru wrapped her arms around Angel and passionately kissed him, Angel fingered her soft wet folds as he whispering to her. Drusilla nodded and giggled, lifting her head she looked directly at Spike and smiled at him.

Bastards! They’d known all along he was there watching them. Anger and resentment burned him; humiliated at being caught out but defiant Spike stood his ground silently glaring, watching them watch him.

Drusilla got off the bed and walked towards him he drank in the sight of her nude body flushed and glistening with the sweat of sex, her juices running down her inner thighs.

God! She was beautiful.

Entering the shadows she reached out with both hands to cup his face and draw him down into a sensual kiss. She tasted delicious, all flavored with sex. Locked in the kiss she pulled Spike away from the wall, walking backwards as she led him to the bed. Her hands undressing him, caressing his flesh with soft touches. By the time they reached the bed his upper body was naked. At the last moment, she turned him, giving him a slight push he bounced onto the bed.

He sat there watching her, a thrill shot through him in anticipation of all that was to come; her kisses and touches inflamed him promising so much. She was on her knees slipping his shoes off sliding her fingers up the leg of his pants to caress his calves before pulling his socks off, trailing up to his belt buckle and zipper. The moment she had his cock in her hand he released a thunderous breath. Dru cooed her appreciation of his impressive erection stroking him several times; reluctant to stop but needing to get his pants off, Spike wriggled out of them. Taking control he yanked her onto his lap her legs dangling either side of him. Pushing his tongue into her mouth he kissed her hard and possessively, she groaned into his mouth. He thrust two fingers into her wet quim driving them as far as he could, her gasp of pleasure was all it took to shatter his remaining self-control he flipped her onto the bed roughly dragging her legs over his shoulders.

He caught a glimpse of a smirking Angel just before he plunged his face into her pussy sucking hard on her clit and thrusting his fingers in her hole. He knew he was being forceful but he didn’t care; she deserved a little punishment. Drusilla shrieked in ecstasy thrashing under him, trying to lift her hips off the bed in an effort to get even more contact with his tongue. She was begging him not to stop, to never, never stop. Climaxing hard she screamed his name tearing at the bed covers wildly.

Swiftly he climbed atop her and plunged his cock into her still quivering core, her inner muscles clenching around him. He knew he wouldn’t last long…this time. She was still babbling his name, begging him to fuck her hard, fuck her fast. He plunged in and out of her secretly overjoyed every time his name slipped from her lips. He wanted to feel her come around him. Finding her clit he flicked it gently, sending her over the edge again, her muscles clamping down on him, his eyes rolled up and he growled spilling into her in hard spurts, flooding her. Trembling above her he slowed his thrusts, soothing her engorged clit, gently bringing her down. Sated he collapsed onto her. Weakly, Spike lifted his head to watch Angel who was kneeling beside the couple stroking himself as he stared at Dru. Smirking he winked at Spike.

The captive boy was thrusting to a screaming orgasm pulling on his bonds, straining up as he came, his wife bouncing on him ecstatically, so close to coming herself she didn’t seem to realize he passed out. Just as she was about to explode Angel wrenched her off her husband and pushed her on to all fours. She cried in protest struggling angrily against him, but Angel laughed at her weak attempt to get away as she lashed out with a foot trying to kick him. He slapped her hard on her ass easily subduing her, and roughly grabbed her around the waist, hauling her back onto him rubbing his throbbing cock against her clenching pussy.
Panting with unfulfilled need she moaned at the sensations he was stirring up. Angel smirked and rubbed his cock along her well lubricated slit coating his shaft in the collective sticky fluids and spread the liquid along the cleft of her ass with his cock. She gasped in alarm when he brushed the tip of his cock over her virgin hole. Panicking, she tried to break free of his grip. Swiftly, Angel grasped a handful of her long hair and twisted it cruelly in his fist, pulling her head back painfully he whispered something low and harsh in her ear. Gasping she fearfully glanced at her unconscious husband and shook her head emphatically. Smirking Angel pushed her head down, smashing her face onto the bed, effectively muffling her protests and pulling her hips high he forced her legs wide and positioned himself as he held her still. She cried and begged him to stop.

"Angel?" Spike questioned alarmed for the girl, he could plainly see she didn’t want any part of what Angel was about to do.

"Mind your own business," he snapped, smirking and thrusting his chin towards Drusilla. "Or I might just decide to have my fun with Dru instead…only I won’t be as considerate to her as I will with the blushing bride."

He turned his attention back to the girl. Rubbing himself over her slippery flesh, he slowly pushed forward, groaning as he entered her, ignoring her pleas and whimpers as he gripped her hips, pulling her back onto him as he pushed into her. She was crying helplessly, her face buried in the covers and her arms over her head. Fully seated Angel began to move within her, slowly at first, sliding in and out carefully then after a few minutes he picked up the pace swiftly pushing in and out with each thrust grunting hard. Her tears and pleas only served to provoke and excite him to thrust harder and faster. Overwhelmed by the sensations of fucking her he was soon straining to hold back. His need to come was torturous. He fingered the soft folds of her pussy delighted to find her wet. Viciously, he thrust three fingers into her pushing hard on her clit with his thumb. She screamed, her muscles clenching involuntarily. Feeling her clench and spasm around his cock and fingers he roared, shooting into her with rough thrusts, pumping his hips as her muscles involuntarily milked him dry. Exhausted he slumped to the side dragging her with him before pulling out of her torn twitching body.


*****

Spike hadn’t thought of the girl’s rape in years. It wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever seen Angel do but it was still one of the ugliest. The girl had committed suicide a short time after returning home. He had no idea what became of her husband.

Staring at the pages in his hand Spike shook his head. He just couldn’t relate the words of love and longing written with such devotion and tenderness to the man he knew Angel to be. They were a contradiction to everything he believed about him. By Angel’s account Buffy was his one true love. He’d read from their first meeting to his last entry but there was nothing there that told him why she hadn’t gone with him. What had happened to separate the lovers? Had they quarreled, drifted apart or had Angel simply just grown bored of her and cast her aside as he’d done with countless other women in the past. The journal gave no indications, all it told him was that Angel had loved her and from Angel’s entries he’d believed completely that she loved him. So why? Spike was determined to find the answers but first he had to find Angel.

*************************************************************

 

Chapter five.

Tell me.


The next day, sitting down to breakfast, Spike decided to deal with a few mundane matters. Wesley had shown up punctual if not happy. "What can you tell me ‘bout the staff?" he asked, sipping his second cup of coffee.

"Not much. Angel replaced them every six months except for the chef, the housekeeper and the gardener. He didn’t take much interest in the running of the house; if there was a problem Mrs. Jennings dealt with it. The permanent staff was, of course, vetted by Masters usual methods."

"And what ‘bout you, what did you do around ‘ere?"

"Well I…that is I was mostly a front man…a go between," he stammered. "I made sure things ran smoothly. I made sure nosy officials looked the other way and that any legal matters concerning the legitimate businesses were taken care of, and I kept Angel updated on all the various problems that sprang up from time to time."

"Very useful," Spike said sarcastically. "Are you willin’ to continue to be useful?"

"Do I have a choice?" Wesley answered.

"Actually yes," Spike gave him a searching look. "You can stay here and help me out or you can return with Gunn and Doyle to Masters in New York."

"You’re sending them to Masters? Why?" Wesley hadn’t expected that, He’d assumed they’d be allowed to continue in their normal roles since Spike had deemed not to kill them.

"Because I don’t trust them and even if I did, I don’t need more muscle."

"And you trust me?" he asked incredulously.

"Of course not, but with you I know who I have to watch. You may have gotten away with your spy games with Angel but you’ve exposed yourself now…I’ll be watchin’ your every move. You won’t be able to take a piss without me knowing about it." Seeing the blank look on Wesley’s face he asked. "Do you doubt me?"

"No," he replied, because it was true.

"Good...so what’s it to be Masters or me?"

Wesley had spent a good part of the night thinking about what he was going to do, but because he didn’t know what was expected of him he’d been unable to come up with any answers. Now he did and he found despite everything he wanted to stay where he was. The thoughts of facing Masters was no more appealing then working for Spike but better the devil you know…even if he didn’t know him all that well.

"Well it would have to be you."

"Good choice. I knew you were smart," he scoffed. "From now on, besides your usual duties as ‘front man’ you’re to make yourself available to me and Luke in whatever capacity we might need you as situations arise. The first thing I want you to do is dismiss all the staff except for that weasel Jonathan." He paused to let Wesley respond, smirking when Wesley nodded reluctantly.

"I can replace most of the staff by the end of the week. It might take longer to find replacements for the housekeeper and chef but I’ll do what I can," he replied. "May I ask what’s so special about Jonathan?"

Shrugging, Spike said. "I don’t like the little suck up, so from now on he’s the only member of the household staff allowed in and out of my rooms. He’s to be my new personal domestic. Okay?"

No other explanation was given. Spike pushed away from the table indicating for Wesley to follow him.

"Right, now we’ve got that crap out of the way let’s go and get some real work done." Unlocking the study door, Spike went straight to his desk, unlocked the drawer and pulled out the copied pages of the journal. Wesley took the seat opposite and waited for Spike to begin. He didn’t have long to wait.

"It describes ‘ere how they met for the first time. Angel says that he had some woman introduce them. Do you know who the woman was?"

Wesley thought hard for a second…then it came to him. "Yes, her name’s Faith. She works for the family, well for you actually."

"Really? How?" he asked.

"She’s one of Glory’s girls," Wesley said, unsure what good it was going to do going over the details of the journal.

"Does she still work for Glory?" Wesley nodded. "How does she know Miss Summers?"

"Another of Glory’s girls, a Miss Cordelia Chase they used to go to high school together." Spike gestured for him to continue as Wesley tried to recall anything that might be useful. "Cordelia’s parents lost everything when the IRS caught up with Mr Chase for evasion of taxes. Cordelia left the small town she grew up in and came to L.A. hoping to make it as an actress. Needless to say, that didn’t happen and now she works for Glory. Through all this, she remained friends with Ms Summers. If memory serves, there’s another girl from Sunnydale who also went to the same high school working for Glory…a Melody? Hilary?"

"Sunnydale, that where she’s from?" Wesley confirmed with a sharp nod. "How often does she see Faith and Cordelia?"

"Usually every other week or so, they meet up to have lunch, spend an afternoon at the beach or just generally hang out together."

Spike seemed to be puzzling this bit of information. "Well you do seem to know a thing or two don’t you Wesley."

"Just doing my job, and gathering information plays a very big part of that. I can hardly give whoever’s in charge up-dates if I don’t know what’s going on in the various businesses," he defended himself. "Glory runs an escort agency which makes the girls the business. Therefore I know about the girls and what I know whoever’s in charge knows."

Arching an eyebrow at him Spike said. "Whoever!"

"You…I meant…give you up-dates and you..." he stammered.

"Fine, fine. You made your point. You know your job, no need to get on your high horse," Spike said, holding his hands up in a calming gesture "So you know all about Glory’s girls, now tell me what you know about Buffy Summers, and don’t bother saying ‘nothing’. I’m not a bleedin’ idiot, I know you read the journal."

Wesley hesitated for a moment dropping his eyes to the floor. He wondered how much harm would come to Ms Summers by telling Spike what he knew but what choice did he have? At any rate anything, he told himself, Spike was sure to have a second party double check, so if he left too much out it could boomerang on him. Knowing this didn’t make him feel any better. It was one thing to give Spike everything he knew on Glory’s girls; they were part of the structure. But Ms Summers wasn’t. She was an innocent bystander someone, who had met the wrong kind of man but had somehow managed not to get sucked into the life he led. To Wesley that made her very smart or incredibly lucky.

"Wesley, I’m waiting."

It looked like her luck had just run out, and being smart might not be enough to help her. Wesley could guess Spike’s interest in her. He felt terrible.

Sighing heavily, Wesley began. "Her father lives here in L.A. but the relationship has been very strained since her parents divorced when she was sixteen. That was when she moved to Sunnydale with her mother and younger sister Dawn. I think there’s about a five or six year age gap between them. Her mother, Joyce, owns her own gallery. It’s a modest business, giving her the financial independence she needed to raise the girls. Buffy went to Sunnydale High and then UC Sunnydale. After graduating she took a job working for a charity organization where she helps find safe housing for battered women and runaways. She’s well liked among her circle of friends and colleagues…"

Wesley tried to paint as bland a portrait of Ms Summers as he possible could in a forlorn hope of deflecting Spike’s interest.

"You know where she works?"

"Yes, she’s currently working on an inner city housing project, a half-way house."

"You kept tabs on her? Why?"

He shrugged. "I felt it was for the best, Angel disappeared and I needed information. She was an obvious choice." he hated admitting this.

Spike seemed lost in thoughtful contemplation his focus turned inward drumming the fingers of one hand on the desktop. A small smile played over his mouth. He leaned forward depressing a button on the house intercom.

A disembodied voice crackled from the box. "Yes sir?"

"Send Gilbey to me," he barked curtly. The voice was cut off mid reply as Spike silenced the intercom and sat back to wait for Gilbey. They didn’t have to wait long.

Gilbey was a tall, slim built man with sandy brown hair and dark brown eyes. He wouldn’t have been at all memorable if it weren’t for the ugly jagged scar that ran the length of one side of his face, from just below his right ear down and across his throat to slide away under his loose combat style t-shirt. It made Wesley shudder just thinking how the man could have acquired it.

"You wanted to see me boss?" His voice was rasping and harsh, no doubt an effect of the wound.

"Yes, Wesley here is goin’ to give you an address of a young woman; Buffy Summers. I want you to head a team over there and I want the works when you’re there. Cameras with sound in every room, a tap on every phone and bring me a copy of her address book. You know the routine, I want everything on her, her friends, everything. Work your usual mojo." Spike shoved a note pad towards Wesley.
Wesley was incredulous. "You’re going to SPY on her?!"

Spike fixed him with a cold hard look. "Yes, now write her address down and give it to Gilbey."

Scribbling on the pad, Wesley angrily tore the page off and thrust it at Gilbey. The other man slipped it into a hip pocket, nodded to Spike and left. A cold churning began to swell in the pit of Wesley’s gut.

"Why are you doing this? You can’t possible think she knows where he is. Angel isn’t a fool, he wouldn’t have left her behind if she was a danger to him."

"You’re right, I don’t think she knows where he is. But I do think she’ll prove to be very helpful all the same. You lack vision Wesley, if you think she’s out lived her usefulness."

They glared at each other for a moment; one angry, the other cold. Depressing the intercom again, Spike told the box to send Dixon and Luke to him. When they arrived he wasted no time.

"Dixon I’ve got a job for you."

"Yes boss?"

"Gilbey is on a tag and wire job. I want you to go with him and get whatever information you need to shadow Ms Summers. Don’t make any slip-ups. I don’t want her spooked, she’s not to know you’re there. This is important Dixon, so don’t mess it up."

"What if she twigs to me boss, you want me to bring her in?"

Spike’s cold eyes conveyed everything.

"Right boss, she won’t twig." Spike accepted that with a nod then turned his attention to Luke.

"What’s the news on Angel?" he asked the thick necked man.

Wesley didn’t like him. The fact that he didn’t particularly like any of Spike’s men was a given but for some reason Luke invoked a much stronger sense of dislike. He seemed devoid of any normal expression. The term ‘cold hard killer’ sprang to mind.

Wesley realized he was missing something crucial when he heard Luke reel off a list of cities and locations. Presumably, places that Luke was having searched.

"Cooper thinks he can get a tag on him as soon as he tries to use one of his accounts; it’s just a matter of time," he shrugged. "Hours, days, weeks it doesn’t matter. When he surfaces we’ll know."

"Good. I want you to organize the retrieval team. Nothin’ flash, I want it business like. As soon as we’ve got a confirmed location - and I mean confirmed - I don’t want to look a right wanker. We hit him fast and hard, very hard."

Luke nodded his understanding.

"So no rookies. I don’t want anyone losin’ their heads and doin’ somethin’ stupid. I want him brought back ‘ere in one piece."

"And Drusilla?"

"You know how to handle her. She won’t give you any trouble if you’ve got Angel she’ll follow meek as a lamb."

"Right," he said nodding.

Spike held him with a steady look. "And you make sure you treat her as gentle as a lamb. One mark on her and you’ll answer to me."

"Right boss.”

After they left, Spike turned once more to Wesley. He knew the beginnings of an idea were taking shape, it was all a matter of timing and pulling the right people into play. He didn’t trust Wesley but he could use him, and to get Drusilla back and make Angel pay, he was willing to use anything and anyone. It was obvious Wesley was trying to shield Buffy in a subtle way; that only made her all the more worth taking a look at, even if she hadn’t been involved with Angel. Though no point in letting Wesley get in a snit. It was time to test his usefulness.

Shifting on his chair he clasped his hands loosely on the desktop. "So Wesley, I want you to get me a detailed report on Ms Summers. See what you can dig up and include her relationships with any of Glory’s girls."

"I thought Gilbey was going to do that?"

"He is to an extent. He’ll do an up to the minute check on her employment record, bank accounts and a whole heap of other really relevant stuff. I want you to give me her past. Who was her first boyfriend? Has she ever been in any kind of trouble? Did she ever cheat on an exam? Good or bad, I want to know and the more details the better," he flashed him a friendly smile. "And don’t forget to attend to the staff replacements for me."

Completely unconvinced by the disarming smile Wesley stammered his acceptance of the tasks, distasteful and mundane. Seeing Spike’s attention shift to the stack of files on the desk Wesley strode to the door half expecting Spike to call him back or call out some pointed last remark and was disquieted to find he made it all the way out of the room.

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