Page 85 of Never Tell Lies

All I saw was Alfie.

Mine.

No. He wasn’t.

Remember the pain. Remember it, Lola.

Then he was in front of me. Blocking my path.

“We need to have a conversation.” His voice was cold but his touch burned and I shied away as he reached for me.

“I think you need to explain why you’re tracking her like she’s some kind of animal,” Keira cut in, still holding my hand.

“That is none of your concern, Miss Larson.”Oh hell.I winced, knowing what was about to come next.

“None of my concern?”Yep, here it comes…“Pull that stick out of your arse, will you? I’ve known her for twenty years, you’ve known her for two fucking minutes. Have some respect for who I am in her life and explain to me why I should let my best friend anywhere near you.” Keira crossed her arms and jutted her hip. All the men just stood there, staring at her in silence. Alfie paused, assessing her. I knew that look.

“I’m glad that you are so protective over your friend, but so am I. The trackers are just to ensure that she’s safe. I don’t stalk her and I’m not crazy. I can see what you’re thinking, but I am not Adam.”

Keira made a sound that told everyone she wasn’t entirely convinced. I didn’t know what to do. I caught Bradley’s eye. He looked concerned and hurt. Guilt washed over me.

“Stop looking at him,” Alfie snapped, and I jerked my gaze back to him. His eyes were blazing with barely restrained rage. I realised then that I was dealing with a part of Alfie Tell that I’d never met before.

“She doesn’t need to follow your orders. She’s not a fucking dog.” Bradley scowled at Alfie. “Lo, what do you want to do? Do you want me to call you a taxi?” He tried to step between us, Alfie turned, and if Elliot hadn’t stepped between them I don’t know what Alfie would have done. Elliot gave Alfie a steadying look that seemed to halt him for the moment, a look that seemed more like a father to his son than an employee to his boss.

Bradley looked between the two of us, from Alfie’s fierce gaze to my frozen face. “You aren’t leaving with him, Lo. He’s not right in the head.” I swear Alfie grew in size. His gaze zeroed in on Bradley as if he was scanning him for kill points.

“Maybe she should come home with me.” Keira stepped between the two of them. “She can call you tomorrow.” They both looked at her as if to say, ‘Which one of us are you talking to? Which one of us is she going to call?’

“No,” Alfie snapped, stepping away from Elliot. “She isn’t going anywhere except with me. Right now. I’m sick of this tip-toeing bullshit.” He took my arm to pull me away, Keira took my other arm, and chaos ensued again as Bradley shouted, Elliot got him in some sort of hold, and then Riley joined the fray. Keira yelled over my head at Alfie, the two of them pulling me in two different directions. I could feel myself splitting down the middle.

Frustration and desperation over the last two weeks bubbled up and suddenly, it erupted. Without thought and with his hand still firmly on my upper arm, I balled up my fist and punched Alfie square in the chest. He was so surprised he loosened his grip enough for me to yank my arm away.

Everyone fell silent around us. Shocked. I felt Keira release my other arm and I stepped away from her, glaring up at him.

“I hate you!” I yelled. “I want you out of my life! I want you out of my head! Why won’t you just go?” I moved to shove him again but he grabbed my wrists. His touch burned me and I pulled out of his grip.

“You don’t know what you want, do you? You say you want a break then you’re angry at me for giving you space. You went to my hotel, wanting me back, but now you hate me again?” He cocked his head, looking me over. “You’re running scared in every direction but forwards.”

“Stop doing that. Stop manipulating me!” I needed to calm down. My throat hurt from screaming at him, but after days of silence and keeping it in, it felt good to scream. “You said you wouldn’t wait forever. I should have known you wouldn’t wait more than a day for me.”

“You infuriating woman. I meant I wouldn’t wait long before coming back to you, not that I wouldn’t wait long before giving up.”

His words made me pause. Had he really meant that? The girl inside me who’d been abandoned by her father at four years old couldn’t believe it. “You left me.”

“And it hurt.”

I stared at him.“Of course it did!”

“Good. I needed it to hurt, Lola. You needed to understand whatthisis.” He gestured between us. “This was never over. You needed to understand how much it hurt to lose me, so you’ll think twice the next time you try to tell me you need abreak.” He gave a sick laugh that sent a shiver up my spine. “Did you really think I would just let you put me aside?”

I took an involuntary step away and of course he moved with me, mirroring me. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us but I didn’t care. I was too focused on the piercing gaze in front of me. I swallowed, pushing down the urge to buckle.Remember the pain, Lola.

“This.This is why I needed that break. Because you can’t stop playing with me for two seconds. I’m not a fucking chess piece, Alfie!”

“That is a matter of perspective.” His tone was cool, as smooth as syrup.

“Are you a sociopath?” Keira asked. Alfie glared at her but she didn’t waver.

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