Page 379 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

The flood-control lever moved. Rebecca shouted. Water began rushing into the observation chamber. No. Elliot lunged. Ronan grabbed him.

“WAIT.”

“She’s flooding.”

“I know.”

Water spread across Rebecca’s shoes. Ankle. Fast. Saint’s voice filled the room.

“One lever stops it.”

A second panel lit on their side of the glass. Two buttons. One green. One red. Elliot stared. Saint continued.

“Green opens Rebecca’s door.”

“Then where’s the trick?” Ronan asked.

“Red opens mine.”

Silence. A side door across the room clicked. Behind it, darkness. Saint. Maybe. Rebecca’s water reached mid-calf. Elliot’s entire body tightened.

“If I press green?”

“Your mother walks out.”

“And you?”

“Leave.”

“If I press red?”

“I stay.”

Ronan understood.

“And Rebecca?”

Saint said nothing. Fuck. Elliot stepped toward the buttons. Ronan stayed beside him. Saint said:

“Choose.”

There it was. The entire game reduced. Revenge or love. Saint or Rebecca. Violence or promise. Elliot stared at red. Saint behind that door. The person who watched him. Manipulated him. Took Claire. Took Dylan. Took his mother. Listened to Ronan. Contaminated everything. One button kept Saint inside. One opportunity. Elliot’s hand moved. Ronan caught it.

“Be good for me.”

Elliot closed his eyes. Fuck. Rebecca’s water reached her knees. He opened them. Looked at Ronan. Ronan wasn’t commanding. He was asking. Again. Choose me. Choose her. Choose something other than blood. Elliot turned toward green. Saint’s voice changed.

“Don’t.”

First fear. Tiny. Enough. Elliot smiled. Interesting. Saint continued.

“You’ll regret it.”

“Probably.”

“You’ll never find me again.”

“Maybe.”