Page 347 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Elliot stopped. There. Tiny. Enough. Ronan kept his arm around him.

“No mask.”

Elliot’s jaw tightened.

“No weapon.”

Silence.

“No killing.”

His head turned. Slowly. Their eyes met.

“She’s tied to a fucking chair.”

“I can see that.”

“They took her because of me.”

“Yes.”

“They followed her before because of me.”

“I know.”

“If they hurt her—”

“They haven’t.”

“Yet.”

Ronan’s stomach tightened. He hated that word too. Vance stepped closer.

“Claire’s alive in the photograph. We need to preserve that advantage.”

Elliot looked at her.

“Advantage.”

“Yes.”

“She’s leverage.”

“Yes.”

“Against me.”

“Yes.”

Ronan felt Elliot’s body tense again. Vance did too. She continued carefully.

“Which means Saint needs her alive until they get whatever reaction they want.”

Elliot laughed once. Cold.

“You’re assuming they’re rational.”

“I’m assuming they’re deliberate.”