Page 330 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

I KNEW HIM BEFORE YOU DID.

Ronan’s jaw tightened. Elliot felt something vicious stir. No. Promise. He breathed. Ronan typed again. And he still chose me. Elliot stared at him. Ronan hit send. For the first time, Saint did not immediately respond. One second. Five. Ten. Ronan smiled. Elliot should have stopped him. Instead, pride moved through him. Then the phone vibrated. WE’LL SEE. Ronan’s smile disappeared. Another message. ASK HIM WHAT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 8 AT 11:43 P.M. Elliot froze. Ronan looked at him. Tyler. February eighth. The first murder. His stomach dropped. Another message.

ASK HIM WHO WAS THERE.

Ronan slowly stood. His eyes remained on Elliot.

“What does that mean?”

Elliot couldn’t answer. Because from all of the lies, half-truths, confessions, blood, masks, and bodies, there was still one thing Ronan did not know. Tyler Ames had not died alone. And Elliot had never told Ronan there had been a witness.

Chapter Twenty-Seven — Who Was There?

RONAN

TUESDAY · 9:46 A.M.

Ronan had reached the point where he could tell how bad an answer was going to be by how long Elliot remained silent. One second meant irritation. Two meant calculation. Three meant Elliot was deciding whether the truth could be survived. This silence had reached seven. The black phone remained inside the storage container beneath the porcelain mask. Its last message glowed against the screen.

ASK HIM WHO WAS THERE.

Ronan looked at Elliot. Elliot looked at the floor. Eight seconds. Nine.

“Who was there?”

Nothing. Ronan laughed softly. Not amusement. Exhaustion.

“Of course.”

“Ronan.”

“No.”

He stepped backward out of the storage room. Elliot followed.

“No fucking ‘Ronan.’ You told me Tyler was the first.”

“He was.”

“You told me you killed him.”

“I did.”

“You told me Nathan couldn't have done it because he was in the hospital.”

“Yes.”

“And somehow you forgot to mention somebody watched you do it.”

“I didn’t forget.”

Ronan stopped. There. At least that was honest.

“You deliberately didn’t tell me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”