Raylan knew Collins could do that, there were no delusions about how on the impulsive edge his fate rested right now, but all that matters is that the wire wasn't at his throat anymore - even if that was temporary, it was a reprieve. Striking out wasn't an option either as that would absolutely get him killed. He had to calm down and control that twist of panicked survivalism coiling tightly in his stomach.

So he focuses instead on what Collins is choosing to say. A lot of past tenses. 'I never wanted connections, didn't need any of that'. Most importantly: 'its hard to kill you'. Even under the hard breathing and the obvious frustration, those weren't small things.

"But you don't want to do that. Go back to the way things were. If so, you wouldn't be here. I wouldn't ever know you were in this world, save for this. So give us both a chance to get you what it is you're lookin' for here, Collins. This don't have to go sideways."