Page 297 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Not exactly.”

“What then?”

“Being known.”

That landed. Hard. Elliot continued quietly.

“Someone knew what I’d done and didn’t hate me.”

Ronan’s chest tightened. Fuck. He understood that. Too well now.

“You thought Saint accepted you.”

“Yes.”

“And now Nathan thinks you did it for him.”

“Yes.”

Ronan looked toward the storage room. Then back.

“Maybe Saint wanted you to.”

Elliot’s face hardened.

“I chose every one.”

“That's not what I mean.”

“I know.”

“You don’t get to take full responsibility just because manipulation makes you uncomfortable.”

Elliot stared. Ronan continued.

“You killed them. That’s on you.”

“Yes.”

“But if someone spent months feeding whatever was already wrong in your head—”

“Careful.”

Ronan stopped. Not anger. Pain. He softened.

“Whatever was already there.”

“Better.”

“Asshole.”

“Yeah.”

Ronan rubbed his neck.

“We need the forum records.”

Elliot laughed softly.