Page 236 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Fuck.”

Elliot straightened.

“I deserved that.”

“Shut up.”

“I did.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Elliot closed his mouth. Ronan dragged both hands through his hair. His chest hurt. Not physically. Every breath felt too shallow.

“You murdered him.”

“Yes.”

“You stood there this entire fucking time while everybody—”

His voice broke. Ronan stopped. Started again.

“While Claire cried. His parents begged for information. Police searched. You watched all of it.”

Elliot looked down.

“Yes.”

“And then Lucas.”

Elliot’s eyes lifted. Ronan saw it. There. Different.

“Did you kill Lucas?”

Silence. Ronan’s stomach dropped harder.

“Elliot.”

“Yes.”

The answer was quieter. Ronan closed his eyes. Two. Two people. Not one terrible night. Not panic. Not accident. A pattern. He opened his eyes.

“How?”

Elliot’s face tightened.

“You don’t need—”

“How?”

“I killed him.”

“I know that. How?”

“Ronan.”

“Tell me.”

Elliot stared. Then looked away.