Chapter 17

"Wait. Did you just say that I was turned into a vampire because of some vampire's sick idea to send a love note to Buffy?"

Angel pinched the bridge of his nose. Even he was having a hard time believing it. Yet, all the evidence they'd accumulated pointed to this. Some vampire wanted to make a name for himself by taking out the slayer, so he'd started with her friends. It was the only explanation that made sense, and that said a lot about their other explanations.

Spike would have grinned if not for the fact that this vampire had also had Xander kidnapped and tortured.

"I think we got the better end of that deal, Xan."

Xander glanced at his sire. "That's true," he replied. "But he's still going to pay, right, Spike?"

Spike threw his arm around Xander's shoulders, hoping to chase away the shadow that passed over his childe's face.

"Of course. Gotta make sure he knows that no one's allowed to mess with our family, don't we?"

Xander leaned into Spike for a moment in a move not perceptible to humans before walking over to Lindsey. His vampire emerged as he stopped in front of the older man. His grin at the thought that there were still people alive who were older than him caused a shiver of fear before Lindsey could stop it.

"So, you were just going to tell us about this vampire who wanted me dead…"

"Uh…yes." Lindsey coughed, more than a little unnerved by the young vampire's presence.

He'd taken a big risk coming down here to deliver that file to Angel, but with it, they had the final piece of the puzzle. Besides, he was getting the raw end of the deal down at the firm. He knew Angel would never trust him enough for a permanent alliance, but being temporary allies was better than being permanent enemies with these vampires.

Spike cleared his throat, and Xander stepped back, but turned his head to give his sire a cheeky grin. Lindsay let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. No. He didn't want to get on their bad side. It was safer to double-cross Wolfram & Hart.

"He calls himself Romeo. He's a Sicilian vampire, probably about a hundred years old, who, you may have guessed, considers himself a great lover. He's been fixated on this Slayer ever since the rumors reached the supernatural underworld that she's died and come back to life."

"Was the plan to kiss or kill Buffy," Spike mused.

Lindsay shrugged. No one knew.

"So why turn Xander," Angel asked.

Lindsay sighed. "I heard, but I can't be sure this is completely true, so…I heard that it was a choice between the witch and Xander. So, it could be that it was just a matter of who was closer, more convenient."

Xander growled, and Spike placed a hand lightly on his back.

Though he flinched, Lindsay continued. "It could also be that they wanted to get both of you, and they were stopped before they could get the witch."

Spike nodded thoughtfully. As soon as Xander had hit the ground, Buffy had staked the vampire who'd turned him. It was possible there had been a greater objective, but that he and Xander's friends had managed to overpower them before they'd completed their goal.

"What else?" Angel pushed off from where he'd been leaning casually against the wall.

"I know only what I've told you. I tried to find out where he is, but I didn't want to make the partners too suspicious before I managed to get this information to you."

"What's in it for you?" Spike asked the burning question that was on everyone's mind.

"Working for the firm, you meet some clients who are…well, let's just say there are some even I wouldn't want to meet face-to-face, let alone represent. If it happens that I get myself into a bind, considering I'm not in favor with the partners right now because of you…" Lindsey trailed off, and Angel nodded.

"If you make it here in time, we'll return the favor. But this isn't a permanent deal."

Spike chuckled. "It's more of a three strikes you're out kind of arrangement."

"Actually…" Lindsey figured he might as well say it. "I kind of need the favor now."

"Now? When now?" Xander leveled him with a glare.

"Right now," Lindsey said as a commotion in the lobby drew their attention.

The vampires hurried out of the office to find Wesley, Gunn, Cordelia, and Fred fighting pale blue demons with white horns in the middle of their foreheads and fangs jutting out from their bottom lips. Sharp bones protruded from their shoulders, elbows, and wrists and they were quickly overpowering the humans.

Angel grabbed his sword and stepped into the fight just in time to block one of the demons from slicing Fred's throat with the bone on his elbow. Xander had only trained with a few of the weapons, and he wasn't comfortable with any of them the way Angel was, but he still grabbed the short sword he'd recently been practicing with, and jumped into the fight next to Wesley. Spike opted to grab a scythe, swinging it loosely in his grip, grinning as he ducked around Gunn's axe to draw one of the two demons into a fight.

When the last one fell, Angel handed his sword to Wesley, who took it, and marched back into his office. Slamming Lindsey against the wall, he growled. "Talk."

Lindsey stammered, but managed to gasp out the story of how he'd angered a high-paying client of W&H and that there had been a hit out on him for a couple weeks. He'd lost all hope of evading them when he realized that he could trade information for protection.

"I really meant to explain before they arrived, but I ran out of time."

His heartbeat proved he wasn't lying, so Angel dropped him. He landed on the floor, but stood up as Spike and Xander walked into the room, having heard every word of his explanation.

Spike chuckled. "You lawyers never do anything by halves do you? When you get into trouble, you really get into trouble."

"What do you mean, Spike?"

Spike chuckled again before answering Xander's question. "I mean, those were Venator demons. Venator means hunter in Latin. Not a coincidence. Pretty nasty. For a human to double-cross one, would normally mean that human wouldn't stand a chance. For that matter, most vampires would have a hard time with them. And," Spike paused for dramatic effect. "There's always more. No matter how many you cut down, more will always show up. Once you're on their list, all the clans know about you, and you're not safe until you're dead," Spike informed Lindsey.

"That's encouraging." Lindsey sighed. "I know this isn't your problem. I'm grateful you helped me this time in exchange for my information. If you can find it in you to help me get to another continent, I'd appreciate it. If not," he added hastily, seeing Angel's expression darken. "Then I'll be on my way. Take my chances somewhere else. Maybe Australia."

"That would probably be best," Angel began. He paused, sighed, and started again. "Though, if you could get more information for us, it might be worth a trade."

Lindsey stared at Angel, barely daring to hope, before swallowing hard. "Okay."