Eli blinked awake, the dull throb in his jaw and ribs dragging him back to consciousness. The room was quiet, save for the faint rustle of movement nearby. When his vision cleared, he found Riley leaning over him, gently pressing a cold cloth to his bruised face.
“Hey,” he croaked, his voice raspy. He winced as he tried to sit up, a sharp pain shooting through his side.
“Careful,” Riley whispered, her voice soft and laced with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Eli. You shouldn’t have been dragged into this.”
Eli groaned, rubbing his face. “You’re sorry?” He let out a bitter laugh, wincing again as he sat up straighter. “You gonna tell me now? Is this guy an ex-husband? Ex-boyfriend? Someone you should’ve gone to the cops about?”
Riley hesitated, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. She shook her head, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t know who he is. That’s the problem. I’ve tried reporting it, but without a name, a face… there’s nothing they can do. It’s like he’s a ghost.”
Eli’s jaw tightened, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Not a ghost. He’s real, and he made a mistake tonight. We’re going to the sheriff. I’ll make sure they take it seriously this time.”
Riley nodded, relief flickering in her expression. But then she hesitated, her voice quieter. “And… what about you? What’s the deal with you and your parents?”
Eli froze, his jaw clenching. He knew the question was coming, but it still hit harder than he wanted to admit.
“My brother, Adam,” Eli began, his voice flat and distant. “He died because of me. It was my job to watch out for him, to protect him. My parents trusted me with him. And I failed. I wasn’t there when it mattered.”
Riley’s heart twisted at the raw pain in his voice. “Eli, you can’t blame yourself—”
“Yes, I can,” he snapped, cutting her off. His voice softened immediately, guilt flashing across his face. “I’m sorry. I just… I should’ve been there.”
The silence that followed was heavy, but Riley didn’t push further. She could see how much it hurt him to talk about it.
Eli cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Anyway. You need to get dressed. We’re heading to the police station, and we’ll get some proper security set up for your apartment. Grills for the windows, cameras inside. No more surprises.”
Riley gave him a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, Eli.”
She stood and headed for her room, but before she could make it, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and frowned.
“Actually, can we wait? My uncle’s on his way to drop off some of my things. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
Eli nodded, though something about her tone made him uneasy. “Sure. I’ll wait.”
Minutes later, the doorbell rang. Riley opened it, greeting the tall man standing there with a warm smile. “Uncle Dave, thanks for bringing my stuff.”
Eli stood in the background, his gaze immediately snapping to the man’s face. Something about him felt… off.
Then he saw it. The anklet.
The same one he’d seen on the stalker.
Eli’s stomach churned as the pieces clicked into place. He masked his reaction, his expression calm, but his blood ran cold.