Page 29 of Sweet Dreams
And that's right when I finally saw the bastard's face. For a brief second, his pale face tilted in my direction and the streetlight was shining right onhim.
The phone slipped from my hand, landing with a crash on the pavement. Ivan looked over at me to see what the hell happened and the guy took advantage of the opportunity. He jumped up and ran, disappearing down the dark street. Ivan was at my side before I realizedit.
"Esa? What is it? Are you okay?" Ivan was grabbing my hands, trying to get my attention away from the spot where I last saw the guy runningaway.
Before I could even swing my stunned gaze over and focus on him, a squad car pulled up, siren and lights disturbing the night. The car slammed to a halt right by Ivan's truck. The officer exited the vehicle asking, "Are you twookay?"
"He just ran down the street. He's in all black, maybe a few inches shorter than me. White guy," Ivan told him. The officer called it in for another unit to patrol a few blocks to see if he was still on foot. It was then I looked over at Ivan, seeing a line of blood trickle down from his splitlip.
"Ivan!" I gasped. "What the hell did he do toyou?"
"I'm okay. Just a split lip, no biggie.” He used his sleeve to wipe up the blood on hischin.
"Let me see it," I demanded. I grabbed his face with my hands and yanked him down to my level so I could check it out. It didn't look deep, so I doubted stitches were in order. But still. That motherfucker hit my man and made him bleed. I was pissed. The kind of pissed off that mutes all noise around you and focuses your thoughts to just one thing: revenge. Nobody hits my man and gets away with it. Enough wasenough.
"I know who it was," I saidquietly.
The officer had stepped over to us, probably to ask more questions, but he stilled at mystatement.
"Tell Detective Ramirez I know who's stalking me now," I told the policeofficer.
"Babe, who?" Ivan interjected, anger seeping into his tone. Anger toward this bastard who was stalking me, anger toward the fool who would hurt me or anyoneelse.
"It's Rylan Elliot, my ex-boyfriend," I whispered. I was starting to shake all over now. The adrenaline was still circulating from the attack. I was so incredibly angry that Ivan was hurt by this asshole, and now I was also scared. Scared that the guy who made me feel so badly about myself in college was back. Scared that he'd mess things up for me with Ivan. What guy wanted to date a girl with a crazy ex who would physically assaultyou?
Ivan wrapped me up in his warm hug, giving me comfort, when he's the one who just got attacked. I should be comforting him. He stroked my back, kissed my hair over and over, saying, "It's okay, baby. Detective Ramirez will find him and arrest him. He won't hurt you again. Shh...I gotyou."
More police arrived, including Detective Ramirez. They asked us a bunch of questions, during which Ivan never let me out of his arms. An ambulance also arrived, and the paramedics insisted on looking at Ivan's injuries, if for nothing else, in order to document what Rylan did to him so we could press charges. They put a butterfly bandage on Ivan's lip, took a look at the back of his head where he had a slight lump. No signs of concussion, thankGod.
Detective Ramirez shared his theory that Rylan was upset I was dating Ivan now, so he finally attacked him. Who knows how long Rylan had been stalking me, just never making contact. The incidents all started happening right after I started dating Ivan as if he'd become angry that I was with anotherman.
We were then free to go home. Ivan and I would have to come to the police station the next day to press formal charges and also to take out a restraining order againstRylan.
Back in Ivan's truck, we sat at the curb with the doors locked, in silence. Ivan had a look on his face I just couldn't place. He was angry, I got that. But something else going on there too that I couldn't put my finger on. It was making me nervous. He wasn't talking and a part of me wondered if he was starting to regret dating me. I mean, hello? He just gotattacked!
Before I could figure out how to ask him if he was having second thoughts, he started the truck, put it in gear, and drove off. He called his parents, speaking through theBluetooth.
"Ivan?" Mitchanswered.
"Where the hell was your private detective tonight?" Ivan barkedout.
"What do you mean? Did something happen? Are you alright?" Mitch asked in rapidsuccession.
"Yes, dad, Esa and I were attacked right by my truck, outside the restaurant. Where the hell was that asshole?" Ivan's voice was getting louder and louder. I kept silent and pressed into the door. Ivan noticed my tensing, reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling me back to my normal spot. I wasn't afraid of him, I just didn't want to get in the middle of a fight with his parents. I'd just met them for God's sake, I couldn't be in the middle of a family 'discussion'.
"Are you okay?" Mitch asked, concern evident in hisvoice.
"We're fine. I have a bump on my head and a split lip. But why wasn't the detective there? The guy gotaway!"
"We told him to take the night off seeing as we'd both be there with you two at dinner. I'm so sorry," Mitch said, obviously feeling badly that he'd given the guy time off on the worst nightpossible.
Ivan sighed, ran his hand through his hair and down his neck. "It's okay, dad. You couldn't possibly have known. Can you just call him and update him on what happened? Esa identified him. It's an ex-boyfriend from college, Rylan Elliot. We need to locate himASAP."
"Sure, son. I'll call him right now. Is Esa there?" Mitch asked. Ivan glanced over at me and squeezed myhand.
"Yes, I'm here, Mitch," I answeredquietly.
"I'm sorry, honey. I should have taken your safety more seriously. We'll find this guy and get him locked up so you're safe again. You'll be okaytonight?"
