Chapter Thirty — Not Yours #3
Nathan looked delighted. Ronan felt his heartbeat in his throat. No. Too fast. Too open. Elliot’s face had gone completely blank. Nathan continued.
“Tyler.”
Vance stepped forward.
“Nathan.”
“Grace.”
“Nathan.”
“Benjamin.”
Ronan’s hand closed around Elliot’s wrist under the table.
“Mason.”
Elliot’s breathing changed.
“Lucas.”
Nathan leaned back.
“There.”
Vance looked at Elliot. Not Nathan. Elliot looked at Ronan. The room narrowed. Months of lies. Mask downstairs. Five names. Everything. Vance’s voice came quiet.
“Elliot.”
Ronan could feel him preparing. Lie. Deny. Redirect. Ronan tightened his hand. Elliot looked at him. Ronan didn’t know what expression he wore. Whatever it was, Elliot stopped. Nathan watched them both.
“This is the good part.”
Ronan looked at him.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Nathan smiled.
“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.”
Elliot looked toward him.
“What?”
“Confess.”
Nathan’s voice had changed. No smile. No control.
“You weren’t supposed to confess.”
Elliot stared. Then something clicked. Ronan felt it too.
Nathan didn’t want Elliot arrested. Saint didn’t either.
The murders were leverage. The secret only mattered while Elliot protected it.
Confession destroyed something. Saint’s control.
Nathan’s game. Elliot smiled. Small. Not golden. Not murderous. Free.
“Good.”
Nathan’s face hardened.
“You ruined it.”
Elliot squeezed Ronan’s hand.
“No.”
His eyes remained on Nathan.
“I ended it.”
The door opened. Two officers entered. Vance moved toward Elliot. Ronan’s grip tightened. No. Too fast. Elliot looked at him. There was the fear. Finally. Ronan stood too. Vance said, “Ronan.”
“I know.”
He didn’t. Not really. Elliot released his hand. Slowly. It hurt. Vance stepped closer.
“Elliot Mercer, stand up.”
He did. Ronan’s chest felt like someone had opened it. Elliot turned toward him. No mask. No lie. No golden boy. Just Elliot.
“Promise.”
Ronan understood. He swallowed.
“I’m not leaving.”
Elliot’s eyes went wet.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Ronan stepped closer before anyone could stop him. He touched Elliot’s face. One second. Two. Then kissed his forehead.
“I promise.”
Elliot closed his eyes. Vance waited. Maybe mercy.
Maybe professionalism. Ronan didn’t care.
Then Elliot stepped away. Turned. Held his hands behind his back.
The cuffs clicked. Ronan nearly broke. But he stayed standing.
Nathan watched everything. His expression had become furious.
Because Saint had wanted Elliot secret. Wanted him ashamed.
Wanted him dependent. Wanted Ronan corrupted enough to protect the secret forever.
Instead Elliot had destroyed the entire structure with one word.
Yes. Vance led him toward the door. Elliot looked back once.
Ronan was still there. He would keep being there. Nathan whispered:
“Saint is going to hate this.”
Ronan slowly looked toward him. For the first time since entering the room, he smiled.
“Good.”
Nathan’s face tightened. Ronan leaned toward the table.
“Now tell us who the fuck Saint is.”