Page 113 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Vance said nothing. Ronan laughed once.

“That's a yes.”

“Did Elliot threaten Mason?”

“No.”

“Lucas?”

“No.”

“Anyone else connected to either investigation?”

“No.”

Immediate. Too immediate. Dylan. Finger threat. Already admitted. Vance's eyes didn't move. Ronan corrected.

“Other than Dylan.”

“Anyone else?”

“No.”

“Has Elliot ever been violent?”

The answer arrived in Ronan's head before he wanted it to. Biting. Scratching. Not violence. Not like this. Jealous rage. Slamming doors. Throwing one of Ronan's coffee mugs hard enough to break it after an argument last spring. Once shoving Ronan against a wall. Ronan had kissed him two seconds later. Different. All of it different.

“No.”

Vance watched. Ronan knew he had hesitated.

“Not physically violent,” he clarified.

“What does that mean?”

“He gets angry.”

“Everyone gets angry.”

“Exactly.”

“Does he lose control?”

“No.”

That answer felt true. More true than anything else. Elliot almost never lost control. That was part of him. Even when furious, he became colder. Sharper. Still. Vance leaned back.

“Does he frighten you?”

Ronan laughed. Actually laughed.

“No.”

“Never?”

“No.”

“Do you think he's capable of hurting someone?”