Page 246 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Elliot’s stomach tightened. There. Dylan. The shift. The rule breaking. Ronan saw it immediately.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Fuck that word.” Elliot closed his eyes. Ronan stepped closer. “Which one didn’t fit?” Elliot said nothing. Ronan’s face changed. Understanding. Not complete. Enough. “Mason?” “No.” “Lucas?” “No.” “Then one of the first three?” Elliot shook his head. Ronan stared. His confusion deepened. Then: “Dylan.” Elliot’s eyes opened. Ronan went still. “You were going to kill Dylan.” Silence. Elliot could lie. Pointless now. “Yes.” Ronan’s face emptied. The reaction frightened Elliot more than anger. “Why?” He already knew. That made it worse. “Because of me.” Elliot swallowed. “Yes.” Ronan stepped backward. “Jesus Christ.” “I didn’t.” “That is not the point.” “I know.” “You were going to kill him because he slept with me.” Elliot’s jaw tightened. “And because he kept pushing.” “Pushing what?” “You.” Ronan laughed in disbelief. “I am not an object.” “I know.” “Do you?” “Yes.” “Then why were you going to murder someone for touching me?” Elliot’s voice dropped. “Because I couldn’t stand it.”

Silence. There. No justification. No moral rule. No victim behavior. Only truth. Ronan stared. Elliot forced himself to keep going.

“I hated that he knew you that way.”

Ronan said nothing.

“I hated him talking to you. Touching you. Acting like he could still have something.”

“He couldn’t.”

“I know.”

“You obviously didn’t.”

“I did.”

“Then why?”

Elliot looked at him.

“Because knowing didn’t change how it felt.”

Ronan’s expression softened for one dangerous second. Then hardened again.

“Feelings don’t give you permission to kill people.”

“I know.”

“Stop saying that.”

Elliot laughed softly.

“What else am I supposed to say?”

“That you understand why this is fucked.”

“I do.”

“That you regret it.”

There. Elliot stopped. Ronan noticed.

“Do you?”

The question hung. Elliot thought about Mason. Lucas. The first three. He regretted getting caught. He regretted Ronan knowing this way. He regretted fear on Ronan’s face. Did he regret them being dead? Not exactly. That truth felt monstrous even to him. Ronan watched. He knew. Elliot didn’t need to answer.

“Oh my God.”

Ronan looked away.

“I’m sorry.”