Page 91 of Never Tell Secrets

Elliot’s shoulders relaxed as I stepped into the hall and I gave him a reassuring smile before turning to Damien. “Look, I get that it’s none of my business, but whatever you’re doing with Keira, just don’t hurt her, okay? She’s not as tough as she seems.”

Damien blinked, surprised. “She doesn’t seem tough at all. In fact, she…oh shit.” His eyes widened as he looked over my shoulder. I turned, following his gaze. My heart sank as I found a glowering Alfie Tell stalking towards me.

“I’ll pray for you,” Damien whispered in my ear before keying in the code for his room. He pushed the door open, the sound of hushed voices reaching my ears. “Seriously? You ate all my Kit Kats?” He laughed as he entered the room, his fake outrage answered by Kal and April's giggles. The door closed behind him, leaving me to face Alfie.

I swallowed as he approached, his eyes dark. My palms began to sweat as I tried to figure out how I was going to explain this when I realised I couldn’t. I hadn’t just crossed a line, I’d stomped all over it, and Alfie Tell didn’t forgive easily.

Twenty-Nine

Without a word, Alfie grabbed my arm and began dragging me down the corridor. I followed, fighting to keep up as Elliot walked behind us. Instead of exiting the way I’d come in, he led me to another door. It led us into a smaller hallway, out a side exit and up into the open air.

His grip unrelenting, Alfie pulled me around the side of the house in the direction of his car, my heart pounding the whole way.

“Alfie, stop! I?—”

“Quiet.” The venom in his tone stole my voice away. I was silent until we got to his car where he finally released me. I rubbed my arm where his fingers had dug in but he didn’t notice, he’d already turned his furious gaze on Elliot. “Get out of my sight.”

“Alfie, it’s not his?—”

“Now!” His shout echoed and I couldn’t help but flinch. I didn’t think I’d ever seen Alfie this angry. Elliot gave me a gentle smile.

“It’s alright, Miss.” It wasn’t alright, he hadn’t done anything wrong. I watched, guilt settling in my gut as he stepped into his car.

Alfie’s fierce gaze turned on me as Elliot sped away. Without a word, Alfie opened the passenger door. I did not want to get in that car but I slid into the seat anyway. He slammed the door shut and got in beside me, his fury filling the car like toxic gas so thick I felt like it was suffocating me, burning my lungs.

He pulled away from the clubhouse, speeding us through the night and out of the black gates. Alfie was silent as he drove and that made me nervous. Street lights passed over us, casting shadows over the clench in his jaw, lighting up the fury in his eyes.

My hands twisted in my lap. I opened my mouth a dozen times to say something but each time, words failed me. We drove in the direction of my home and before I knew it, we were pulling up outside my apartment.

“Alfie, I—” I began but he climbed out of the car, cutting me off. He came to my side, opening my door. I hesitated and he leaned inside and unclipped my seatbelt. Taking my elbow, he pulled me out of the car, slamming my door shut behind us. He began marching me to my front door and I pulled my arm out of his grasp.

“Alfie, stop! Can we just talk?”

His eyes fixed on me. Every wall he had was up high, it made me cold to the pit of my stomach. He looked like the old Alfie and that scared me more than I could say. He stepped towards me, his frame dwarfing mine. With a firm grip, he took my arm again and walked me up the steps to my door.

“Are you really just going to give me the silent treatment?” I snapped, the shake in my voice betraying how worried I was.

He released me at the top of the steps. “Open the door, Lola, and go inside. I’ll deal with you later.”

“No.” I folded my arms. “Deal with me now.”

“You don’t get to dictate this. Open the door, I won’t leave you in the street.”

“Alfie, we need to—” My words cut off as he slammed me up against the wall, pinning my wrists over my head with just one hand. He looked down at me, icy fire in his cold gaze. I gasped as his other hand roamed over the waistband of my jeans. I was about to protest when his hand slipped into my pocket. He pulled out my keys and stepped away, leaving me breathless as he unlocked my door and pushed it open. Handing me back my keys he pushed me inside. I let him.

“Please say something.” I grabbed at his hand as he turned to leave. I couldn’t let him walk away. Not like this. “You can yell at me if you have to.” We stared at one another, the moment drawing out as we each waited for the other one to break.

“I’m not going to yell at you, Lola.” He pulled his hand out of mine, the rejection stinging me.

“Why? You’re clearly angry with me and?—”

“Yes, I’m angry with you but I don’t know how to deal with this in a healthy way, so I need to go. I just needed to make sure you were safe first.”

He could have just dumped me on the street but he hadn’t. He could have just told Elliot to take me home but he hadn’t done that either. He’d needed to do this himself and I still didn’t understand why. My hands twisted together into a nervous knot.

He turned to walk away and I grabbed him once again.

“Lola, let me go,” his voice shook, my grip only tightened.