Page 263 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Ronan stared. Then his face hardened.

“Because you’re mine to deal with.”

The words hit Elliot like a physical thing. Possession. From Ronan. Not Elliot. His chest tightened.

“That’s fucked up.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Elliot smiled despite himself. Ronan stepped closer. Not touching. Close.

“You do not get to interpret that as permission.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Liar.”

“Maybe.” Ronan’s mouth twitched. Then his expression changed again. Serious.

“This person knows.”

“Yes.”

“About you.”

“Yes.”

“About us.”

“Yes.”

“And apparently expected me to choose you.”

Elliot swallowed. He’ll choose the monster he knows.

“Maybe.”

Ronan stared.

“What if that’s the point?”

Elliot frowned.

“What?”

“What if they’re not trying to expose you?”

Cold moved through him.

“Then what?”

Ronan looked toward the dark window.

“What if they’re trying to turn me into you?”

Silence. Elliot stared at him. The thought settled slowly. The messages. The evidence. Wrong brother. Dylan. Forcing Ronan to lie. Forcing him to choose. Each escalation pushing Ronan across another boundary. One lie. Then another. Then another. Not exposing Elliot. Corrupting Ronan. Elliot felt something disturbingly close to admiration. Then disgust at himself for feeling it. Ronan saw.

“What?”