Page 391 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“No.”

Vance asked:

“What is he talking about?”

Elliot said nothing. Ronan could hear the clock. Could hear ventilation. Could hear his own pulse. Then Nathan leaned toward Vance.

“He kills bad people.”

Elliot closed his eyes. There it was. No more implication. No more room. Ronan stared at Vance. She looked at Elliot. Every suspicion she had ever swallowed came back into her face at once.

“You’re saying Elliot Mercer killed five people.”

Nathan smiled.

“Yes.”

Vance’s gaze did not move.

“Is that true?”

Ronan’s stomach dropped. Elliot opened his eyes. Looked at her. Then at Ronan. The question sat between them. Lie again. Or truth. Ronan had promised not to leave. He had not promised to keep lying forever. Elliot knew that. Ronan could see it. For the first time, Elliot did not ask him what to do. He simply looked at him. Ronan squeezed his wrist. Whatever you choose. Maybe Elliot understood. Maybe not. Then Elliot turned toward Detective Vance.

“Yes.”

The word was almost silent. Ronan stopped breathing. Vance didn’t move. Nathan’s smile vanished. Interesting. He hadn’t expected that. Elliot continued.

“Yes.”

Louder.

“I killed them.”

Ronan’s chest hurt. Not because Elliot confessed. Because he had chosen to. No Saint. No Ronan. No manipulation. His choice. Vance stared.

“Tyler Ames?”

“Yes.”

“Grace Holloway?”

“Yes.”

“Benjamin Cole?”

“Yes.”

“Mason Kerr?”

“Yes.”

“Lucas Harper?”

“Yes.”

The names sat in the room. Five dead. No taking them back. Vance’s hand moved slowly toward the radio on her belt. Ronan’s stomach dropped. Elliot looked at him. Fear. Real. He had chosen the truth. Now came consequences. Ronan remembered the bedroom. If you ever do turn me in… visit me. Fuck. Vance called for officers. Elliot’s hand found Ronan’s under the table. He held on. Ronan did too. Nathan stared at him. Confused now.

“You weren’t supposed to do that.”