Page 319 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Police.”

“What if police aren’t there?”

“Defend me.”

“Until?”

“Until they aren’t a threat.”

Elliot stared.

“And then stop.”

“That’s vague.”

“It really fucking isn’t.”

“What if—”

“No.”

Ronan moved closer.

“No loopholes.”

Elliot almost smiled.

“You know me too well.”

“Apparently somebody has to.”

That warmth again. Dangerous. Elliot swallowed. Ronan continued.

“You don’t get to decide someone deserves to die because they hurt me.”

“I don’t like that rule.”

“I’m devastated.”

“Ronan.”

“No.”

“What if they—”

“No.”

Elliot stared. Ronan stared back. There would be no winning. Not because Elliot lacked arguments. Because Ronan had stopped treating this like an argument. It was a boundary. Interesting. Elliot nodded.

“No more murders.”

“Promise.”

He hesitated. Then:

“I promise.”

Ronan exhaled. Relief. Elliot immediately hated the promise because of how much that relief mattered. Now he had to keep it. Fuck. Ronan touched the side of his face.