Rebellious Desire part 11
Angel paced impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. To say that he was unhappy having Xander back in his father’s house was an understatement. Nearly two weeks had passed after the attack on Xander’s life, and they were still no closer to finding a culprit.
That night had been one of the most terrifying in Angel’s life. He’d thrown his training aside, caring only about getting to Xander and making sure he was alive. The assailant had escaped, and Angel couldn’t quite forgive himself for that error in judgment.
Xander was okay and had only spent the remainder of the night of his attack in the hospital. Angel would never forget seeing the paramedics carrying him out on a stretcher, Xander’s pale body motionless and strapped down, an oxygen mask over his face. He still woke up in a cold sweat reliving the nightmare.
Then, he’d had to step aside and let Rupert ride in the ambulance with Xander and Andrew. Even though he was sure Xander would be okay, not being by his side in those moments had ripped another hole in Angel. Instead, he’d been forced to follow in the Viper with Graham, who was just as anxious to get to the hospital with Andrew.
Xander’s cousin had a mild concussion from where his head had hit the doorway. Neither Xander nor Andrew had been able to give any type of description of the attacker. Graham had been at a disadvantage on the stairs and could only say that the person was medium height with a slim build.
Angel couldn’t believe that someone had nearly killed Xander when he’d been right there in the same house. To add fuel to the fire, he hadn’t been able to come up with any leads, other than to talk to Xander’s Uncle Wesley. Problem was, Wesley had been mysteriously unavailable for the week following the attack.
Now, here they were back at the scene, having spent the past two weeks living in Angel’s house. It had been, well, pretty wonderful actually. They’d talked and made love and now, more than ever, Angel wanted to get to the bottom of this mystery and make sure Xander was safe.
How long did it take for Xander to put on a damned tuxedo? Angel started pacing, tempted to go up the stairs and sit with Xander while he changed. Being back here was making him antsy, and Angel feeling antsy wasn’t good for anyone. Just when he was about to storm the stairs, he caught a glimpse of movement and looked up.
It was worth the wait. Xander was stunning. He came down the stairs, looking every bit as dashing as any James Bond wannabe, and Angel nearly grabbed him and kissed him senseless. Xander merely smiled, knowing exactly what Angel was thinking, and stopped just far enough away that Angel would have to convince his feet to move so he could pull him into his arms.
“If you wrinkle me, Andrew will have a hissy fit.” Xander smiled the little crooked smile that Angel knew meant he was really happy.
“I think I can take him.”
Xander sniffed. “Yeah, but then you’d have to deal with Graham. And I know, I know, you could take him too, but don’t you think that would ruin their big day? Both of them taken down by the big bully?”
“Hey! I’m not a bully!”
Xander sniffed again. “Okay, Angel. It’s your story. You tell it how you want it.” Then he laughed and stepped into Angel’s arms. “I can’t wait to get you home and out of that suit.”
Home. Xander called his place home. Angel liked the feeling that gave him. “You sure we have to stay? They wouldn’t miss us.”
“Angel, my love, I’m the best man. I’m pretty sure I’d be missed.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah.”
“I suppose we have to stay, then. You remember the rules?”
Xander sighed and tried really hard not to roll his eyes. “Yes, dear. Don’t go anywhere by myself. Keep you in sight at all times. If I see anything suspicious, click my heels together three times and say ‘There’s no place like home’. Oh wait, I made that last part up.”
“This isn’t funny, Xan. I’m serious.”
Xander placed his hand on Angel’s face, running his thumb softly over the worry line that had formed. “I know. I promise you I’ll be careful.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Angel watched Xander walk out to the pool area and greet the guests. He nodded to both the guards he’d assigned to Xander and they followed discretely, their eyes roving the attendees, making note of anything suspicious. His head turned to find the other guards he’d placed around the property. He wasn’t taking any chances.
The nearly invisible earpiece in his ear beeped, and Angel touched it softly. “Go ahead.”
“Angel, we’re in position. Both of the uncles are on location and covered by a team.”
“Thanks, Groo. Anything else?”
“Nope. We’re on it, Angel.”
Angel’s attention was again pulled to the top of the stairs where Spike was now descending with a man wearing the most colorful suit Angel had ever seen. “Spike.”
“Oh my God! Lemon drop! You never told me that there would be such studs in attendance! I didn’t even have my hair done today!”
“Shut it, Lorne. He’s taken.”
“Of course he is. They always are.” Lorne continued down the stairs and smiled at Angel. “Hello, pumpkin. You know, I have the perfect concealer that would cover up those dark circles. And with just a hint of color on those lips…”
Angel growled. Lorne pretended to swoon into Spike, his hand waving in front of his face. “Oh, well, and he’s such an animal. How am I to resist?”
Spike chuckled. “He’s a tough one, but you can manage.”
“Spikey, honey muffin, I don’t know how. I can’t even imagine that you let this one slip through your fingers. I mean, look at him! He’s divine.”
Spike winked at Angel, and turned his million dollar smile on Lorne. “Well, there was that one time…”
Lorne squealed. It was very high pitched, and Angel was tempted to shoot him just on principle. Spike could tell that Angel wasn’t in the mood for more teasing, though, and shooed Lorne away. Angel scowled as he scurried around the room and immediately began flirting with the first man he came across. Hell, he never should have agreed to let Spike bring him in.
“Don’t mind him, luv. He’s just a bit high strung. Best makeup artist around, and Andrew was frantic about covering up his bruise.”
“Yeah, well, if they would have postponed like I asked, it wouldn’t have been an issue.”
“Angel, they offered. Xander was the one who threw a tantrum at that suggestion if I recall.”
He was right. Andrew and Graham had offered to delay their ceremony until after the investigation but Xander had adamantly refused. They’d argued, long and loud, but Xander wouldn’t bend. The ceremony would take place as scheduled.
Then Spike had offered to bring in Lorne and Andrew had gotten excited again, and Angel could forget anyone listening to anything he said on the matter. He glared at Spike. He could blame Spike for part of this. And for bringing up “that one time”. It was an unspoken agreement that it would never be mentioned.
Of course, Angel knew exactly why Spike had done it. Just after his firm had taken Spike as a client, Spike had attended some big Hollywood shindig. There had been the usual threats, and Angel had tried to convince Spike not to attend. That had worked about as well as trying to convince Xander that delaying the ceremony was the best idea.
They’d gone to the party, and other than a minor hassle with an overzealous fan, the night had gone well. Until they’d tried to leave and Spike had been swarmed. Angel had curled Spike under his arm and shoved his way through the crowd to the waiting car.
His focus had been on the crowd and not on Spike. So while Angel was getting them to safety, Spike had decided to see exactly what Angel was packing. In his pants. Angel hadn’t realized just how drunk Spike had gotten. He’d watched him tossing back drinks at the party and knew Spike was feeling it, but this Spike was drunk and horny and didn’t want to take no for an answer.
Angel had gotten them into the car, Spike’s hand down his pants and all, and had proceeded to give the star a piece of his mind. Angel was livid. Spike had put both of them at risk with his antics. Spike had tried to come onto him again in the car, using all his wiles. Angel hadn’t fallen for them.
He’d been planning to resign, but Spike had called him the next morning and apologized. It was one of the only times he’d ever heard Spike the least bit remorseful for his actions. They’d formed a tentative friendship after that, one that had grown more than he’d thought it ever would. Spike rarely allowed any reminder of his drunken attempt at seduction, although he did frequently mention the size of Angel’s package, and Angel continued to keep the star, now his friend, safe.
One of the points in Xander’s argument for not delaying the ceremony was that Angel was capable of having a friendship with Spike and still protecting him. Spike knew that, and was reminding Angel that they were indeed friends, after all that had happened, and that Angel still kept him safe.
He was also reminding Angel of the moment when Xander had turned those big brown eyes on him and whispered, “So, you don’t think you can keep me and my family safe?” It was like a knife through his gut, and Angel had acquiesced, knowing that he would do anything in his power to not only keep Xander safe, but happy.
That in mind, Angel turned his attention back to the crowd. He immediately spotted Kate, and hid a smirk at the detective in a dress. If Kate saw him laughing, she would kick his ass, and Angel didn’t doubt for a minute that she could.
Angel had pulled out all the stops for this one, and that included calling in some favors with the LAPD. Fortunately, he and Kate went back a ways, and she’d gotten some of her fellow detectives to volunteer for some undercover work. They would all be keeping their eyes out, and Angel figured having a police presence, however unnoticed by the crowd, couldn’t hurt.
The ceremony was finally ready to begin, and Angel and team took their places. Riley came in late, meeting Angel’s eyes over the crowd. He made his way over to Angel and whispered, “I’ve got something for you.”
“Good.” Both their eyes continued scanning the crowd, but nothing out of the ordinary was happening. “I’ll meet up with you during the reception. Stay on guard. And don’t get distracted, Ri.”
Riley’s eyes hardened, but he knew Angel had figured out that he and Spike had something going. “I know how to do my job, sir.”
Angel sighed. “I know, Ri. But we can’t afford any mistakes, today. I can feel it. Something is going to happen.”
“Your gut is rarely wrong, Angel. We’ll keep him safe. Both of them.” Angel nodded, and Riley made his way back across the room to his position.
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