Page 51 of Never Tell Secrets

“Me.” Damien snatched it out of Eli’s hand and stuffed it in his pocket, grinning at Keira. “Guess you’re stuck with me for the night.”

“Guess so. Maybe you should stretch first, you know, warm up a little. I wouldn’t want you to pull something when I put you through your paces later.”

“Anyway,” Eli continued, and I think we were all grateful for the interruption, “when you’re ready to leave, find your key carrier so they can remove it for you. Each collar has a tracking device inside so that our security team can make sure that youaren’t anywhere you shouldn’t be.” He cast a stern eye over each of us and I tried not to bristle at the insinuation. It made sense. They had to cover themselves. “These collars can only be handed out by a Teller. The initial on the back signals to the members which Teller you’re with–in this case, Mr Tell. The collar also warns our members that you are only a guest, meaning that you’re protected but also don’t have access to certain privileges or activities. After reading the paperwork you understand now what those activities are. If you try to enter the Onyx Rooms in any way, you’ll be reported and immediately removed from the property. Whilst it might seem extreme, this collar also protects you. Without it you may find yourself drawn into situations you aren’t ready for.”

Eli’s speech finished, a silence fell over us, five sets of male eyes resting on us three, waiting for our decision. I’d known about the collar already, Alfie had told me about it the night he told me about Charles, but now that I was holding it in my hand, the thought of wearing it filled me with anxiety.

“We really can’t go in without putting it on?” I looked up at Alfie. He turned to me, sealing us off from the rest of the room.

“It isn’t sexual. You aren’t being collared, just protected. There’s no ownership or control here.”

“Right, because you’d never force a tracker on her, would you, Moneybags?” As always, my best friend had hit the nail right on the head.

Alfie kept his gaze fixed on me. “Trust me.” I fell into his gaze, realising that that’s what all this was. One big trust exercise. He was trying to show me he had changed. If I wanted to stand a chance at ever trusting any other man again, I had to try to trust him first. I had to mend that part of myself that he’d broken.

Slowly, I handed him the collar and turned away from him, lifting my hair. I felt the eyes of everyone in the room on me as he fastened it around my neck.Why does it feel tight?Iswallowed the lump in my throat.Why does it feel good?I wanted to lean back into his arms, to feel his ownership, but I kept my spine straight.

Keira was watching me, concerned, but I gave her a smile, telling her I was okay, even though deep down I was in turmoil. Curiously, Maia tipped up her chin as Mr West placed her collar around her neck, holding his gaze with none of her usual shyness. Keira tried to take hers from Damien but he held it out of reach.

“Allow me.” Before she could argue, Damien stepped into her space, fastening the collar around her neck with deft fingers. I watched the tension hum between them for a moment before she stepped out of it, turning to Eli.

“Can we party now?”

He gestured towards a side door. “You’re good to go.”

Keira grinned, spun, and flounced out of the room.

“Keira…” I called as Maia, Damien, and the rest of the Tellers followed suit. Alfie took my wrist.

“Don’t worry, my Tellers will keep an eye on them. They’ll be fine, I promise. But you…you don’t leave my side tonight.” I gave him a withering look, one that reminded him I was way over taking his orders. “Lola, please.” What was he telling me? Tonight was huge for him for so many reasons.I need you.Those were his unspoken words.

“Fine.” I agreed.

He smiled, relaxing. “Are you ready?”

Excitement overtook my anxiety, bubbling up into my chest. I grinned up at him, smiling at my excitement mirrored in his own eyes.

Eighteen

We caught up with our friends, their laughter echoing through the backstairs as we wound through a series of secret passageways. This had to be the most thrilling experience of my life.

The noise from the party grew and suddenly, Damien threw open a door ahead. Keira, Maia, and the other Tellers followed him out onto a balcony to a round of raucous applause.

Suddenly nervous, I paused, but as always, Alfie was there, his hand slipping into mine. I looked up at him and for just a second, the world disappeared just like it used to. It faded away until there was only his eyes on me, his skin on mine, here in the dark of the passageway.

For a moment, all the badness faded away and we were just us again. I was his and he was mine and nothing else mattered. But the cheers broke through, his steady gaze reassured me, and I gave him a nod. Facing forward, I stepped out onto the balcony and…holy crap. What strange world had I just stepped into?

I was almost eye to eye with a chandelier and below was a sea of tuxedos and gowns. Gowns of soft lilac and pastel pinks. Keira and Maia were going to blend in perfectly but I was going to stick out like a sore thumb.

I glanced at Keira, a giddy grin on her face. Maia seemed surprisingly calm. Suddenly, the crowd hushed and, without turning, I knew why. I heard Damien chuckle for a heartbeat before the room erupted, the cheers deafening me. Alfie’s arm snaked around my waist as he looked out at the hundreds of people below. The reaction shouldn’t astound me but it did. He hadn’t been here in twelve years but he hadn’t been forgotten. That both impressed and appalled me.

He bent and I shivered as his whispered breath tickled my ear. “You stay at my side, O’Connell.”

I tilted my head back and looked up at him. “They don’t scare me.”

Ignoring the cheers, all eight of us descended the stairs into the sea of people. Everyone watched us but no one approached Alfie, though the other Tellers received handshakes and back slaps. Alfie intimidated them. I wasn’t surprised.

I felt envious eyes on me, running over my dress. I looked up at Alfie. “Why aren’t I dressed like everyone else?”