Page 429 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“It probably looks like boundaries.”

Ronan almost groaned.

“Everyone loves that word too.”

“Because it matters.”

Bell looked toward the locked doors.

“You can visit.”

“Yes.”

“You can support him.”

“Yes.”

“You can care about his legal defense.”

“Yes.”

“You can refuse to help him conceal crimes.”

Ronan’s jaw tightened. There. The part he had already failed. Bell continued.

“You can love someone and still refuse to participate in the worst thing about them.”

Ronan looked down. That sounded familiar. Be good for me. No more murders. Promise. Maybe he had asked Elliot for exactly that. Now it applied to him too.

“Okay.”

Bell stared.

“Are you having a breakthrough?”

“Fuck off.”

“Better.”

Ronan smiled faintly. Then his phone vibrated. Except Vance still had it. Both looked toward the reception desk. Vance’s coat lay there. Her phone? No. A different sound. Bell’s phone. He checked. Unknown email. His expression changed.

“What?”

Bell looked at Ronan. Then turned the screen. One sentence. COUNSEL SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO GIVE ADVICE HE WASN’T ASKED FOR. Ronan went cold. Saint had been listening. Again. In the lobby. Right now. Bell slowly looked around. Ceiling. Desk. Security camera. Vent. Ronan stood.

“No.”

Bell looked at him.

“What?”

“Don’t give them the reaction.”

“Ronan.”

“That’s what they want.”

He forced himself to sit again. His body hated it. Every nerve wanted movement. Search. Destroy. Find. Instead he sat. Bell stared.