Page 178 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Ronan looked at him.

“No.”

“What?”

“They're trying to redirect her.”

“To who?”

Ronan stared. The answer existed between them before either said it. Wrong brother. There were only two brothers. Ronan looked at Elliot. Elliot understood.

“No.”

“That's what it says.”

“No.”

“Elliot.”

“No.”

Fear sharpened his voice. Ronan had almost never heard that sound from him.

“They're trying to point Vance at you.”

Elliot shook his head.

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

“Why would someone do that?”

“I don't know.”

“Unless they know something.”

Ronan regretted the sentence immediately. Elliot went completely still. There. The fracture again. Trust. Suspicion. Fear. All three occupying the same space. Ronan stepped closer.

“That's not what I meant.”

“Yes, it is.”

“No.”

“You said it.”

“Because I'm trying to understand.”

“And that's always where you end up.”

“Where?”

“Me.”

Elliot backed away. “Every road leads back to me eventually, right?”

“Stop.”