Chapter Five

Who Are You?

She stood waiting for the elevator with her foot tapping impatiently, her mind working a mile a minute, and her anger growing with everyone.

The elevator beeped and the doors opened. Walking inside she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She needed time to sort through all the bullshit that he’d ever told her. Time to remember every little detail and go over every conversation they’d ever had. Because at this point she didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t.

“Buffy.”

Her eyes opened to see Angel’s hand halting the doors. They opened up and he stepped inside. The doors closed and the elevator started to move. She felt trapped. She felt like she couldn’t breathe and her traitorous body betrayed her as she stared at him.

There was so much he wanted to say to her, so many questions he wanted to ask. But now that they were alone in the confines of the elevator, all he could think about was being inside of her. Taking two steps he was right in front of her. He leaned against the wall and pressed himself against her.

She leaned her head back and looked into his eyes. Her breath became erratic as her eyes darkened with desire. She loved him so much. She wanted him more then anything she had ever wanted. All her anger and mistrust flew out the window as her passion for him took over.

His hand reached up cupping her cheek and he leaned forward, “Buffy.”

She moaned hungrily as his lips descended on hers. Her arms wound around his waist pulling him tighter against her as his hand slid up then down the side of her body, enjoying every curve and nook.

Her hands skimmed down his strong back and gripped his ass, squeezing his cheeks, pressing his hardness closer into the apex of her thighs.

Angel grunted then gyrated and pushed against her harder. He left her lips and moved down her neck licking and sucking a path down to her throat. He sucked the sensitive skin into his mouth and gently suckled. Buffy moaned uncontrollably as she continued to squeeze his tight ass.

He growled impatiently and then suddenly left her. Reaching back he hit the stop button and the elevator jerked coming to an abrupt stop. He wasted no time in claiming her waiting lips once again, hungrily biting and nipping them as he did.

His hand gripped her leg then eagerly caressed the soft skin of her thigh as he moved closer to his goal. Reaching her panties he fervently slid them down her legs and pulled them off throwing them aside. He dropped to his knees and raised her leg putting it over his shoulder. As soon as his nose caught her perfumed scent his mouth watered. Gripping her ass he moaned pushing her up to his mouth.

Buffy’s head fell back and she gripped his head as his cool tongue lapped at her throbbing pussy.

He ate her voraciously. Licking and sucking, running his tongue up and down her wet slit. He couldn’t get enough. This was his nourishment. This was his lifeblood. If he were never to taste her again he knew he would die.

His thoughts turned him into a raging animal as he attacked her with more gusto, desperately trying to drain her of every drop of creamy goodness that she had to offer.

Buffy was putty in his mouth as her body gave him everything he wanted. Her head slammed back against the wall as she rapidly convulsed. Her hips jerked up into his mouth as a thousand bright lights flitted across her eyes. Angel moaned, squeezing her ass harder, pressing her further against his hungry mouth, reveling in every drop of cum that he tasted.

Slowly, her body slowed but Angel gave her no time to recuperate. He stood up, unzipped his pants pulled out his cock and fully sheathed himself inside of her. “Oh God!” he said, as his eyes closed.

This was exactly where he wanted to be. Tightly incased inside of her. Warmed by her warmth. Her panting breath against his neck. Her fingers digging into the skin of his back as he drew out and then slammed back inside of her.

Buffy jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. She kissed his neck then bit down hard squeezing her inner muscles around his cock as he plunged madly inside of her. His pace never faltered, he took her violently, slamming inside of her and then pulling out. Their breathing became louder until they both were shouting to the gods their release.

They came together, riding their orgasmic waves as one. Their bodies held tightly together, their hips slowly rocking back and forth. Their lips met and they kissed each other until the waves receded and their bodies were still once more.

Buffy put her legs down and smoothed her skirt and Angel pulled his pants up. They held each other’s eyes, love and sated passion stared back at each other, hiding the mistrust and the sadness.

Peering into his dark eyes she wondered if maybe Faith was right. In a blink of an eye she decided to take a chance and see if he’d be honest with her. “Is there something you need to tell me Angel?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is there anything that you want to tell me?” She quietly asked again then waited with baited breath to hear his answer.

He let go of her and stood back to look at her. It was the moment of truth, the moment that he knew would come. But he wasn’t ready to give up his truth at least not until he heard hers. ”No.”

She stared at him, her eyes growing hard and distant as her heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach.

“Is there something you need to tell me?” He asked.

She walked around him and hit the resume button. The elevator started to move and she turned back to look at him. Yes there was but seeing that he wasn’t willing to share then neither was she. “No.”

For the first time in eight months they looked at each other with mistrust in their eyes.

The doors opened and she stepped out, Angel made no move to follow her. “I’m tired. I have to go to bed.”

He nodded his eyes distant and cold. “I’m going to join the gang for another drink.”

She nodded back and the elevator doors closed.

Angel held his anger in check while standing in the elevator. He picked up her forgotten panties and breathed in its musky scent. Quaking once more with desire he irritably tucked them away in his pocket. The second the doors opened he stormed out and into the VIP lounge.

“Let’s go. NOW!”

Everyone jumped up from their seats and quickly walked out without any word to Faith or Willow.

“Well that’s very rude.” Willow commented.

Faith stared at Spike as he headed toward the door. He turned around to look at her.

“SPIKE NOW!” Angel yelled.

Spike smiled at Faith and then left.

Faith watched them go through the mirror. Once they got in the elevator she threw her towel down and left the lounge. “I’ll be back Red.”

She ran out of the lounge and over to the stairs, not even bothering to wait for the elevator. She had to find Buffy. She climbed the stairs two at a time and reached the third floor. She flung open the door and ran down the hall. She didn’t bother to knock she just ran inside. “BUFFY?” She called out but silence greeted her.

She walked further into the room and saw a note on the table, she picked it up.

Faith,

Don’t worry I’ll be okay. I’m going to Angel’s to do some snooping.

Be back later.

Luv ya.

B.

“Damn it Buffy!” Faith threw the note down and picked up her cell phone. She dialed Spike’s number but it just rang and rang.

“FUCK!” She threw the phone down and sat on the couch.

She was nothing but a freaking traitor. She felt so low, so unworthy to be a friend to anyone and that made her miserable. God she hated Angel and she hated Spike.

But mostly, she hated herself.

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

The ride back to the Hyperion was eerily quiet. It was apparent to everyone that something happened with Buffy but no one was brave enough to ask.

Fred was close to tears and swimming in guilt. She thought it was her fault for opening up her mouth. She didn’t mean too she was just so excited to finally meet Buffy that she hadn’t been thinking straight.

Gunn sat next to her with his arm around her shoulder stroking her arm, trying to sooth her.

Oz couldn’t get Willow off his mind. He was glad that he remembered to give her his cell phone number. He couldn’t wait to see her again.

Wesley, like Fred, felt guilty. He thought his blundering infatuation with Buffy was what caused the rift in between the lovers, and he feared for his well being.

Spike sat in the front calmly smoking a cigarette. He knew what was going on. He also knew that he was going to get a lot of shit from Faith for this. But what could he do? Angelus was his own man and if he wanted to screw up the best thing he ever had then that was his business. Of course, he did feel a little bad about that comment he made to Buffy.

Spike knew she had no friends from her past. He knew that her past was something that you didn’t talk about. And like a dufus, with knowing everything that was going on, he brought it up. Well there was nothing that could be done about it now. What was done was done.

What he could do now was make sure that Angelus didn’t fuck things up more.

The Hummer skidded to a halt in front of the hotel. “I’m going to meet with Wilkens. I’ll be back later. You guys wait here.”

They all nodded their agreement and got out of the vehicle heading inside.

Except Spike.

Angel gripped the steering wheel; he was seething with anger and disappointment. He was tired of all this fucking around, he wanted answers and he was going to get them now.

“Spike get out.” He snarled.

Spike took a drag of his cigarette. “No. I’m going with you.”

“No. You’re getting out…NOW!”

“Angelus I know what happened back there between you two but it doesn’t matter.” He turned to Angel, “You cannot walk into the lions den with your head up your ass. You’ll get eaten alive my friend and I can’t allow that.”

“You don’t know shit and my head isn’t up my ass. I know exactly what I’m doing.” He gritted.

Spike sadly shook his head and leaned closer. “Humor me, just for a second. You followed Blondie. You asked Blondie if there was anything that she wanted to tell you. And she of course answered no. And then Blondie proceeds to ask you if there is anything that you want to tell her. Because we both know by those questions back there that she’s wondering some things about us. Now of course you, being the stubborn jackass that you sometimes can be, answered no. Now you’re pissed off, she’s pissed off and you think you’re going to get all the answers that you need from someone who most likely wants to crush you like a little bug. Do I have that right?”

Angel visibly relaxed. His eyes closed and his grip loosened on the steering wheel. Spike always amazed him. He was so fucking intuitive of people that sometimes it made Angel’s head spin. He turned to look at him and he couldn’t help but smirk. “You’re a pain in my ass.”

Spike smiled, glad to see that he lightened up a little. “Of course I am mate, that’s my job, to keep you on your toes.”

Angel chuckled and let go of the wheel.

“Listen Angelus, I understand how you feel, you know I do. But you cannot go to see Wilkens with this fuck you attitude and you know it. You have to be the bloody Scourge mate! You can’t show him any weakness or he’ll pounce on you. And then you’ll be giving Uncle exactly what he wants. And I know you don’t want to do that.”

He was right. God he hated that.

He had to get a grip on himself. Whatever Buffy had in her past didn’t matter to him. The fact that she was lying didn’t matter. It hurt that she didn’t trust him enough to tell him. But considering he had a doozy of a lie himself, who the hell was he to say anything. He had always known that there was nothing that would make him stop loving her, nothing that would take him away from her, and that still ran true. She was his girl and she would always be.

“Your right,” Spike smiled at him, “I have to be calm. It doesn’t matter anyway. There’s nothing in this world that they could tell me about her that would make me stop loving her.” Angel quietly said.

Spike slapped him on the shoulder, “that’s the spirit brother.”

Angel turned to him. “But I still need to do this alone.”

Spike eyeballed him and saw that he was back in control. He nodded and opened the door. “Fair enough.” Closing the door, he poked his head back inside the truck. “Remember you’re the Scourge of Europe.”

Angel shook his head.

“You’re the man.”

Angel shook his head again.

“You’re the man with the hot loving chick waiting for him at home.”

Angel looked at him funny and then shook his head again.

“You’re the man who…”

“I got it Spike.”

“Okay good. Remember keep your head on your shoulders and out of your ass!”

Angel smiled at him. “I will.”

Spike stepped away from the truck and watched as Angel drove away.

“I bloody hope so.”

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

He arrived at The Beverly Hills Hotel at the exact agreed upon time. After handing the keys to the valet he walked into the hotel and up to the elevator. He pressed the button and the doors opened. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the penthouse. He only got to the second floor when the elevator stopped and the doors opened.

Two men walked in and stood in front of him with their arms crossed against their chests. The doors closed again and the elevator started to move.

“Mr. O’Rourke?”

Angel stared hard at the man. “That depends.” He quietly said.

“We’re to escort you up to the Penthouse.”

Angel nodded and took the time to look them over. They were both big and they both had the look of a killer in their eyes, which matched the holsters that they were clearly wearing under their Armani suits.

He couldn’t help but grin. Armani suits never worked well when you were wearing shoulder holsters and packing two guns. They always puffed out on the sides and lost their conformity to the body. Which pretty much told everyone what you had on underneath. He had plenty of Armani’s but he wasn’t stupid enough to wear them on the job.

“Nice suit.” He commented.

The man looked at him oddly then nodded.

Angel smirked at him; idiot.

The elevator stopped and the two men stepped aside just as the doors opened.

“Good evening Mr. O’Rourke. My name is Mr. Trick please follow me.”

Angel stepped out of the elevator and followed Mr. Trick, almost laughing as he did. The name definitely suited the man – literally. He had on a brilliant purple satin suit with shiny black wing tipped shoes. To Angel he looked more like a pimp than a ruthless killer, which most likely worked in the man’s favor.

They walked down a long hallway and finally reached a set of double doors.

Mr. Trick knocked once and then opened them, turning to Angel. “If you’d please.”

Angel knew the drill and lifted his arms up. Mr. Trick smiled at him and began patting him down. He stopped when he was through and stepped back to look at him. “I’m going to need those.” He said nodding to Angel’s chest.

Angel put his arms down. “Sorry. I don’t go anywhere without my girls. I know I’m an overprotective dad but you can never be to sure these days.” He said winking at a scowling Mr. Trick.

“Sir I’m going to have to insist that you…”

“It’s alright Mr. Trick, let him in.”

Angel grinned at a pissed off Mr. Trick. He didn’t give a shit; he wanted to make sure that they understood…he wasn’t their bitch.

Mr. Trick glared back at him then smiled coldly at. “After you.”

“No. After you, I insist.”

Angel bowed to him gracefully and Mr. Trick smirked, “A cautious man.”

“Always.” Angel replied and Mr. Trick, whose hard eyes did not reflect the warm smile on his face, walked inside the room.

Angel took a deep breath, put on his game face and followed Mr. Trick inside.

“A cautious man is a righteous man, and the type of man that I like to do business with.”

Angel didn’t know what to expect from Wilkens. He honestly had not even once thought about what a crooked CEO would look like. In retrospect he probably would have thought he would be an old man with grey hair, a surly face, and a very round well fed body. But Richard Wilkens the III was none of that.

He looked to be only in his mid to late forties. He had light brown hair and a trim physique, and his face was open and friendly. When he spoke his voice was chipper and pleasant. He looked every inch the conniving politician that he was. Angel didn’t trust him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Angel, may I call you Angel?” The Mayor said as he strolled forward and held out his hand.

Angel held the man’s gaze, his own face stern and unfriendly. He shook the Mayor’s hand, “No.”

The Mayor chuckled as Mr. Trick glared at him. He didn’t like him. He was trouble there was no doubt about it.

“Okay. Well then what should I call you?”

“Angelus.” Angel answered.

Except for his crew, no one in the business called him Angel. As far as anyone knew he was Angelus, the Scourge of Europe. Angelus had an eviler ring to it, whereas Angel sounded soft. He supposed his parents choose that name for exactly that purpose, to strike fear in the hearts of his enemies. And Angel knew from experience that it worked.

The Mayor smiled at him, “Angelus it is then. Please come in, have a seat. Can I get you a drink? How about a nice strong glass of Irish whiskey?

Angel’s eyebrow rose, wasn’t he well informed. “No thank you. I don’t plan on staying long.” He said as he walked further into the room, taking note of Mr. Trick who stood obediently on the Mayor’s right side, and the two goons that now blocked the closed door. Angel noted that they were not wearing Armani’s. But they were definitely packing. His arm instinctively pushed against his side and his own weapons.

“Suit yourself.” The Mayor sat down and looked at him. “So I bet you’re wondering why you’re here.” He said cheerfully.

Before Angel could answer him, The Mayor answered for him. “Of course you are. You normally don’t meet the men that you, oh shall we say…assist them in their endeavors.” He smiled broadly at Angel and Angel just nodded at him.

“Well don’t you worry about a thing, it’s nothing bad. In fact it’s all good. The moment you walked in here I liked you. And I now feel perfectly comfortable in doing business with Uncle.”

“I’m sure Uncle will be pleased.” Angel responded.

The Mayor smiled at him, “Of course I’ll forget that screw up you made.”

Angel’s eyes darkened and his voice was low and hard, “Excuse me?”

“Yes, yes, you know the one where you changed the plan and sent someone else to do your job.” He continued to smile at Angel, stressing the words you and your.

Angel’s hands tightened into fists at his side and he sneered at the Mayor. “A screw up implies something done unintentionally. I didn’t screw up. I intended to send my second so he went. The job got done.”

“Yes, and very nicely too it’s why I’ll forgive your transgression against me. For the future however, I do expect you to obey my wishes and not your own.” There was a look of madness in his eyes as he continued to smugly smile at Angel.

Angel was ready to whack the asshole right here and now. He didn’t like being disrespected and he thought that perhaps a little reminder of what respect was might be in order. But thinking again, he knew that would be a mistake. He could take them all out he wasn’t worried about that. It was the aftershock that worried him.

He was about to speak but the Mayor held up his hand. “Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get down to why you’re really here.”

“By all means.”

“Angel…oops, my bad.” He winked at him, “Angelus, do you know what’s wrong with this country?”

‘The scumbags like you.’ Angel thought. “No but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me.” He answered.

The Mayor smiled at him, “You bet ya.”

He stood up and walked around to the front of his desk where he leaned against it. “Leadership.”

“The last time I knew we had plenty of leadership in this country.” Angel said.

“Yes but what kind of leadership is that Angelus? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but our beloved sacred country is being overrun by gangs and drugs. Why even our kids can’t play outside without fear of getting shot by some hooligan.”

“From what I understand we have you to thank for that.” Angel flippantly replied.

Mr. Trick took a step forward his hand reaching for his weapon as he scowled angrily at Angel.

But The Mayor just smiled, grinning from ear to ear. He looked at Mr. Trick. “See Mr. Trick, cautious and righteous. I love a man that does his homework.” He slapped his knee and Angel seriously started to consider the possibility that the man was insane.

Turning back to Angel he said, “Well that’s neither here nor now. The point is Angelus that this country is lacking the strong leadership that it needs to continue to flourish as the super power that your ancestors strived to make it.”

“See I know the history of your family Angelus. I know the history of Uncle’s entire organization. And I respect and appreciate all that it has done to keep this country running smoothly and efficiently. And I, well I just want to help out in that enterprise.“

Angel was getting bored; so far he hadn’t heard anything that he needed to hear. “Look Mr. Mayor that’s great and I wish you the best with your venture. But I really don’t see why you’re telling me all of this or why I’m even here for that matter. “

“Of course you don’t son.”

Angel almost growled…son?

“That’s because I haven’t gotten to the good part yet.”

“The good part?”

“Yes, yes. You see Angelus. I want to run for President and that requires a lot of money. Money, which I’m sure a cautious man like yourself knows, I don’t have a lot of, at least enough to suit me.” He smiled while adjusting his suit.

“Uncle takes care of the business transactions. You should be talking to him.”

“Yes I did. And may I just say that I was completely shocked to learn that you were considering leaving the business.”

Angel’s eyes darkened and his body tensed, this was it. This was what he had been waiting for. “Why would that concern you?” he asked quietly.

“Well because you’re the best! And I want the best on my team Angelus.” The mayor walked back around to his desk and stood there. “I have a very important job that needs your expertise. It must go off without a hitch. My entire venture, as you call it, depends on it.”

Angel was willing to play along, for now. “What kind of job?”

“Well what you do best of course. Steal.”

“Let me guess…more diamonds.”

The Mayor slapped his knee again, chuckling, “I knew you were smart! Yes, well they’re not just a women’s best friend you know.” He started to laugh and all his goons laughed with him. Angel stood there not laughing. He was getting more annoyed by the minute; he still didn’t see why this concerned him.

“Mr. Mayor…” He stared to say but the Mayer raised his hand to halt him. “I know you still don’t understand.”

“Well Angelus, as you were kind enough to point out to me, I do have ‘friends’ in some of the more unsavory classes, ones that my political peers wouldn’t look too kindly on. And recently I’ve had a small falling out with one of them and I fear that he, in an attempt to get back at me, will try to steal them for himself.”

The picture that Wesley showed him flashed through his mind and his eyes glinted back at the mayor like hard steel.

“I want you to steal them before he does. And all things considering I figured that you would have the inside information and beat him to the punch.”

Angel’s voice was low and steely, “why would you think that?” he asked, knowing that he wasn’t going to like the answer.

The Mayor smiled and pulled a manila folder out of his desk, sliding it across and passing it to Angel. “Well I figured since you’re on such…intimate terms with one of them that you would be privy to such information. And therefore would be in the best position to steal them first.”

Angel stared at the folder. He was itching to pick it up and delve into it. But he knew that if he did then he would look too anxious, and that would be a mistake.

“Excuse me?”

The Mayor smiled, and this time, his smile was pure unadulterated evil. “Since Uncle informed me of your desire to leave the business I asked him to let me talk to you. I just knew that I could convince you to stay.”

“Why would I listen to you?”

“Why, well because I know things Angelus a lot of things, things that Uncle doesn’t even know of, if you can believe that. I am just full of information, sometimes I amaze myself really.”

“But I’m getting carried away. You see the beauty of this arrangement Angelus is that you don’t have to listen to me. All you have to do is read.” He pushed the folder toward him again. But Angel didn’t move. He didn’t even look at it.

“You are stubborn aren’t you?” He sighed, “Angelus all I’m asking is for you to read it. Then when you’re done you can decide if you still want to leave the business or not.”

Seeing that Angel wasn’t taking the folder he picked it up and handed it to him. “Now you’ll have to excuse me, I have an important meeting. Please take it. Look over it. You can inform Uncle of your decision.”

He turned away the second Angel took the folder. “Good day Angelus.”

Angel took the folder and didn’t spare them another glance. Turning, he quickly left the room.

“I don’t like him. He’s a wise ass and he’s going to be trouble. You can’t trust him.” Mr. Trick said.

The Mayor sat down at his desk. “Oh don’t worry about him Mr. Trick. Uncle is confident that when the boy sees what’s in that folder everything will be the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Why do we even need him? There are plenty of thieves out there that can get the job done.”

“No Mr. Trick, not like the Scourge of Europe. He’s the best there is. Well there is another who’s just as good.” He looked out the window anger on his face as he continued, “One that I can’t get too unfortunately, and that’s why we need him on our side.”

Mr. Trick wasn’t sure. But he wasn’t the boss. ”He’s not going to play nice.”

“Don’t worry. Sometimes the job is the only thing a man has. Unfortunately for him, Angelus has forgotten that. Since I’m such a great guy I’m going to help him out and remind him. He’ll play.”

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

Buffy finished sweeping the first floor of Angel’s house and was making her way up the stairs. She had already been here for over an hour and the thought did occur to her that it was too long. But she didn’t care. She knew that if she looked hard enough she would find something, so she continued with her search up the second floor.

She had just rounded the corner and stepped into the alcove when there was a flash of light. She moved quickly and flattened herself against the wall, peering outside the window. A car drove down the road and past the house. She breathed a sigh of relief and as she did, her elbow hit the wall.

There was quite swoosh and she jumped away just as the wall moved and slid back.

She stood there with her mouth open and her eyes wide. What the hell was this? She looked over her shoulder to make sure she was still alone, then slowly peeked inside the dark room. She lifted her flashlight and moved it over the walls until she spotted a switch. She hit the switch and then jumped inside the room as the lights turned on and the wall began to close.

Well, well wasn’t this interesting. Her eyebrow lifted questioningly, why would Angel need a secret room?

Her eyes quickly scanned the room; there was a desk that wrapped around the entire length of the wall. There was a black cabinet to her right, which upon closer inspection was beautifully covered with intricate carvings. Next to that was a small table with three bottles of Whiskey on it and two glasses. She snorted his favorite drink.

Moving back over to the desk, her fingers lightly touched all the computer equipment. This was some high tech stuff. She wasn’t too much of a computer whiz but she knew enough to know that the equipment in this room was not your run of the mill home computer.

Her eyes darkened violently, “Stuntman my ass.” She mumbled.

The more she stood in the room the more her fury grew. He had been lying to her from the beginning. All that bullshit that he told her about never hurting her, how he would always be honest with her, was just that – bullshit! All the while he’d been lying and sneaking around behind her back. Running around and doing God only knew what! She couldn’t believe she had been so stupid, so gullible!

She stood in the room her fists clenched at her side, her eyes sparkling dangerously as she looked at the cabinet. No better place to start.

She walked over to it, her hand reaching for the knob and pulled. She snorted, of course it was locked. Smirking, she pulled a hairpin out of her hair. “Child’s play. “ Putting it inside the key hole she jiggled it until it clicked and the lock sprang open. She grinned, “You’ll need better locks than that baby to keep me out.”

She opened the double doors and stood back. To her surprise there was a small arsenal of weapons inside. She saw knives and swords, pistols, shotguns, automatic weapons; there was even a small rack of hand grenades. She touched them in awe; she had never seen hand grenades before and she wondered what kind of situation actually called for the use of a hand grenade? “I bet those don’t fire blanks.”

As her hand lightly grazed them, she pushed the rack and it popped free. Her eyes widened as she pulled it open to reveal a safe that was hiding behind them. She smiled evilly then flexed her fingers, “Umm…just like old times.” She mumbled as she leaned next to it and began to turn the lock.

Hearing the final click, she smiled and opened the safe. Inside she found stacks of money from different countries and a dozen different passports. Each one had the face of her Angel on them, along with a different name.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Disgusted she threw them back inside the safe closed it up and pushed the grenades back into place, and then she closed the cabinet.

She turned around and stared at the desk, “You’re next.”

She sat down and started to work on the file cabinets lock, which she knew would be locked. As she worked at them she continued to grumble to herself about how stupid she had been. How she never once saw through his lies. She couldn’t help but think that he was having a good laugh at her expense.

Finally unlocking it, she pulled it open.

Speedily her fingers moved over the files, reading everything with steely determination. She didn’t care if she was here all night. She was going to read every single one of those files. She would find out here and now everything her lying naughty lover had been up too. Then she was going to find him and kick his ass!

There was a file on everyone. Spike, Gunn, Fred, Oz, and Wesley, they all had one. In fact she was a little surprised that there wasn’t one on her. She pulled them out, one by one and started to go over them. Each folder listed that person’s area of expertise, their latest missions, and how well they did on it. It was a freaking report card for criminals! She wasn’t surprised. It was just as she figured. She smiled, “Glad to see I haven’t lost it.”

Putting the folders aside, she started going through the other files. Each one was a backdrop on a previous job. As she stared at the dates, she mentally noted that they each took place when he told her that he was going out of town for a movie shoot.

Opening them up she infuriatingly realized she couldn’t read any of it. They were all written in a foreign language that she couldn’t make out. The only thing she did understand was the dates. The most recent was just the other night, movie night. “That explains Spike and Faith’s absence.”

The oldest file was dated six months ago. She guessed that he kept even older files somewhere else in the house because she knew this wasn’t something he just started to do. This was a lifetime occupation.

Scrutinizing them a little closer, she saw that she was able to read what it said on the bottom of each mission. They were stamped, with what looked like wax. Lifting it up she studied it and snarled with anger, it was a Gryphon, and it said The Order of Aurelia. “What the hell is that?” She looked further down to see a name scrawled out in pen…Uncle. Now she knew why he didn’t want her to invite ‘Uncle’ to the opening of the Graveyard. Because he didn’t have an Uncle!

She slapped the folder down. She had never in her life felt like she did in that moment. She felt betrayed and used; she was so enraged she felt like she was going to snap.

All this time she thought she knew him. But she didn’t know anything about him! She could only imagine what those missions entailed. With the arsenal that he had in the cabinet he certainly wasn’t selling Girl Scout cookies.

For some reason she wasn’t too upset with what he really did. That wasn’t what bothered her. If it did then she would be nothing but a hypocrite. What bothered her were the lies and the fact that he didn’t trust her, and that realization was a knife through her heart.

It made her wonder if he even loved her. She had trusted him with her past, loved him with everything in her being and he had done nothing but lie to her. Yes there were things in her past that she never told him. But those were inconsequential; they didn’t affect her life now or her relationship with him. But this, this was life altering.

She didn’t need to see anything more. She’d seen everything she needed to see. Now she had to decide what she was going to do about it. Could she still love a man that didn’t trust her? Did he even love her?

As she stood, her eyes landed on Spike’s folder that was open and two words that popped out like a glowing sign. She stopped breathing.

‘Faith knows.’

That’s all it said, but she read what it meant. She inhaled sharply. Faith knew. Faith had known all along and never once told her. She was seething mad and her face twisted with fury as she screamed her heartbreak out loud. Her hand violently swept the desk and knocked all the contents off and onto the floor.

Faith knew! Faith had probably known all along and she never once told her. Betrayed by her boyfriend and now betrayed by her best friend!

“It’s a bitch isn’t it…betrayal.”

She quickly turned to confront him and her shattered heart skipped a beat.

He stood in the doorway his body was tense, his hands were clenched at his side and his voice…his voice sent shivers of fear down her spine. She swallowed as she started to get nervous. She discovered his secret. She didn’t know him. She had no idea how he was going to react. He could easily snap her neck in two and from the cold distant look in his eye she feared that would be the case.

“A…Angel.”

He walked inside slowly, “Well, well aren’t you the little entrepreneur.” His eyes scanned over the open files on the desk and then quickly looked at the cabinet, where he detected small scratches on the wood. “I see you haven’t lost your skills.”

She looked at him peculiarly. So he did have a file on her somewhere. Her eyes crossed angrily as the truth of the situation slapped her in the face. She stared at him quivering with all the hurt and anger that she felt inside. “How could do this to me? How could you lie to me like this?”

Taking a step closer to her, he looked down at her. His black eyes hiding every drop of pain that ate at his heart like cancer. “I can’t believe you’re asking me that question. I mean I’m good at what I do Buff but a woman of your means surely knew what was going on all along.”

She glared at him vehemently, “What the hell does that mean?”

“What was the plan Buff? Go separate ways for a while till things cooled down and then hook back up?”

She looked at him strangely, “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I guess I was just a pit stop along the way right? I mean a passionate woman like you can’t go long without getting fucked!” He sneered at her and she slapped him across the face, her own face a bright red.

“How dare you! You were the one lying to me all this time and instead of giving me explanations you’re accusing me of something!”

“Don’t play innocent with me Buffy! I’m on to you’re little scam now and all you’re little lies!” He yelled.

“What the fuck are you talking about? What lies?”

“I’m talking about this!” He pulled a file out of his jacket and threw it at her. Its contents spilled out onto the floor and she looked down. She didn’t need to read it to know what it was, probably her whole damn life.

Buffy looked up at him tears of anger and sadness filled her eyes. She knew her past would come back to haunt her one day but this just pissed her off.

“You have no right to be mad at me! You’re more of a criminal then I WAS!” She stressed the word was. “I don’t know exactly what it is you do Angel but at least I never killed anyone!”

“I’m not talking about your criminal past, for some reason that doesn’t surprise me.”

“Then what the hell are you talking about?”

He couldn’t believe she was still playing the scam. He grabbed a piece of paper off the floor and shoved it in her face, snarling at her with the full brunt of his fury. “I’m talking about the fact that you’re MARRIED MRS. ABRAMS!” He screamed in her face.

She took a step back confusion on her face. This was what he was mad about? Okay she never told him that little part of her past, but what did it matter.

“So what if I was married to Parker? WAS is the key word Angel because he’s dead! It doesn’t matter.”

“Oh well that would be true if he really WAS DEAD!”

Her heart stopped it had to, because the fear that entered her body when she heard those words would have surely killed her. “Wh…what…no he’s dead.”

Angel didn’t see her fear, he only knew that she didn’t belong to him and never had. He grabbed her roughly by the arms and hauled her up to him. “STOP LYING, I know all about it!”

“About what?” She cried out.

His hands dug into her arms painfully as he repeated what he read in the file. “The art heist at the museum and how the cops were on too you guys. You, Parker and Adam staged his death and then went your separate ways until things cooled off. You fucking played me! You were using me until you were reunited with your precious Parker!”

She tried to step away from him, but his hands just gripped her harder. “No…he’s…de…dead.”

Her head was shaking wildly back and forth, her heart was pounding. He had to be dead. He couldn’t be alive.

But Angel was merciless. He couldn’t see her confusion and he couldn’t hear her panic. All he saw and felt was his own pain and heartbreak. When he read that file and saw that she was married and that Parker was still alive, his entire world came crashing down. She wasn’t his. She had never been his and he couldn’t deal with that.

She finally broke free of his grasp, “No he’s dead! He has to be dead!”

“No you’re loving husband is still alive. And if I understand everything correctly he’s on his way here to find you, his wife!” He screamed.

Buffy blanched. This couldn’t be happening to her. She had to get out of here. She looked up at Angel. His eyes were cold and hard. He had completely turned himself off to her. He thought that she knew and he hated her.

“Angel, I swear to god I didn’t know!” She pleaded with him taking a step toward him, desperate to make him understand.

Angel looked back at her with loathing and undisguised hatred. Her expertly tearful confession all those months ago about Parker and her past came back to him. Every lie and how easily he fell for it made him sick to his stomach. “You know you were right. You are whore.” He quietly said to her taking a step back.

It was like he didn’t even want her to touch him. The vehemence in his voice was worse than the word that he spoke. He hated her. It was as simple as that. Tears fell rampantly down her face. Her body shook with the desolation that consumed her.

He saw her beautiful tear streaked face. He saw her body convulse, but he had no sympathy for her. To him, she looked like a beautiful lying bitch whose deceit had just been discovered.

Buffy made one last attempt to plead with him, “Please Angel you have to believe me. I didn’t know! I love you!” She implored him, but he took another step back and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Get out.”

She was taken aback by the coldness she read in his eyes. He was hurt and he was angry and he believed the worst. It was clear that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with him now and she had to come to terms with that. She couldn’t afford to lose any time if Parker was truly coming for her then she had to leave and quickly. She could only pray that one day she would have the opportunity to prove him wrong.

She straightened her shoulders and turned away from him. She stopped in the threshold of the doorway. Her hands braced the walls, desperately trying to find the strength to stay on her feet. “I’m sorry Angel, I…I’m sorry.”

She fled down the stairs and out of the house, tears streaming down her face.

His body reflexively moved forward to stop her but he gripped the doorway to prevent himself from chasing her. He couldn’t go after her. She had lied to him. She had betrayed him. She was just biding her time until Parker came back for her. She was just another treacherous lying bitch.

All the emotions that he had held back let lose the second he heard the front door close.

“FUCK!”

Like a possessed madman he attacked the interior of the room. Kicking and punching the walls. He picked up the chair and threw it at the desk. The chair landed on the computers and the screens shattered and sparked. Grabbing the cabinet he threw it on to the floor, its contents emptying out onto the carpet. He loved her and she betrayed him.

He fell to his knees mentally and physically exhausted, his own tears falling freely. The one thing he never wanted to lose, he lost, and the worst part was that she was never even his to begin with.

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