Page 318 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face did.”

“Learned from the best.”

Elliot sat too. Ronan’s expression sobered.

“I need you to hear this.”

“Okay.”

“I chose you last night.”

Elliot’s pulse changed.

“Okay.”

“That doesn’t mean I choose everything you’ve done.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t mean I’m becoming an accomplice forever.”

“You technically already—”

“Elliot.”

“Sorry.”

Ronan stared.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

“No more murders.”

Silence. There. Elliot looked down. Ronan’s voice hardened.

“That should not require thought.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Then say it.”

Elliot looked at him.

“No more murders.”

Ronan searched his face.

“Promise.”

That was different. Elliot hated promises. Promises turned future behavior into debt. He could say the words. Easy. He had lied about worse. But Ronan would know. Maybe not immediately. Eventually. He always did now.

“What if someone tries to hurt you?”

Ronan’s jaw tightened.