All Chapters of Behind the hoodie; tales of secrets, desire and power : Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

Chapter 21 – Stockholm SyndromeThe knock didn’t come againIt didn’t need toBecause the silence that followed carried something worseExpectationNoah stood frozen, every nerve in his body pulled tight while his eyes stayed locked on the door like it might split open on its own“Open the door, Noah”Daniel’s voice againCalmCertainToo familiar for someone who was supposed to be goneNoah’s throat felt dry“You didn’t tell me he knew where I live”Elliott’s expression had shifted completely now, the usual control replaced by something sharper, more alert“I didn’t know he did”“That’s not reassuring”“No”Another knockSlower this timeAlmost patientLike he had all the time in the worldNoah’s pulse pounded harder“What do we do”Elliott didn’t answer immediatelyInstead he movedStepping in front of Noah slightly, not touching him, just positioning himself between Noah and the doorA barrierInstinctive“You don’t open it”Noah let out a breath“And if he doesn’t leave”“He will”

Chapter 23 – Public ClaimingThe door shut behind Daniel with a heavy final soundNot loudBut absoluteNoah still didn’t turnDidn’t lookDidn’t moveBecause something had already shiftedSomething irreversibleElliott stepped forwardNot toward DanielBut closer to NoahUntil the space between them disappeared againPossession without touchControl without force“You shouldn’t be here,” Elliott said calmlyDaniel laughed softly from behind them“That’s funny,” he replied“I was about to say the same thing”Noah’s chest tightenedSlowlyHe turnedAnd finally faced himDaniel looked exactly like someone who had nothing left to loseRelaxedSharpDangerousHis gaze moved over Noah firstCarefulAlmost famili

Chapter 25 – The RivalThe vehicle didn’t feel realToo enclosedToo quietLike the world outside had been muted while Noah sat in the middle of something he didn’t understand anymoreThe door had barely shut before everything started slipping awayThe hallwayThe lightsElliottNow it was just himAnd the weight of everything closing inHis phone remained in his handThe image still on the screenElliottDanielAnd the third faceUnknownUnfamiliarBut somehow important“You were never supposed to be the next one”Noah exhaled slowlyHis chest tightHis thoughts scattered“What does that even mean,” he murmured under his breath“Phone down” one of the officers said from the frontNoah didn’t argueHe locked the screenSlid it into his po