Chased by My Possessive Ex (Dylan) novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

DYLAN

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The exhaustion finally claimed me somewhere in the middle of the flight, the adrenaline draining out of my body until there was nothing left to hold me awake. The noise of the helicopter faded into a distant hum, my thoughts dissolving into heavy darkness as sleep pulled me under.

When I stirred again, I wasn’t in the air anymore.

I was wrapped in warmth and solid strength, arms firm around me, holding me close. My face rested against a familiar chest, steady and strong, the slow rhythm of a heartbeat grounding me even in my half-asleep state. The smell of him surrounded me-clean, familiar, safe.

Hunter.

He was carrying me.

I barely opened my eyes; the world was blurred and soft, with lights passing overhead as he moved through the halls of his mansion. His steps were slow and careful, as if he was afraid to wake me, one arm securely under my knees, the other around my back, holding me like I was something fragile instead of broken.

I felt the shift as he pushed open a door, the quiet of the room wrapping around us. The softness of the bed met my back as he lowered me gently, his hands lingering for a moment longer than necessary, reluctant, protective.

Even half-asleep, I felt it-the safety, the calm, and the unspoken promise in the way he held me.

I stayed perfectly still, my breathing slow and even, pretending to sleep as Hunter’s arms loosened and he carefully settled me against the bed. I could feel the mattress dip beside me when he straightened, the quiet shift of his weight as he stepped away. His voice followed, low and controlled, carrying the authority he used when he spoke to his men.

“Secure the perimeter. No one gets in or out without my clearance,” he ordered, calm but unyielding. “Double the guards. I don’t want any mistakes tonight.”

Boots moved softly across the floor, the low murmur of responses filling the space. I kept my eyes closed and my body still, listening.

Then I heard the name.

“What do you want us to do with Beckett, boss?”

My chest tightened instantly, my senses sharpening even as I stayed motionless. Hunter’s tone changed, darker, colder. “Put him in the east wing. Restrain him, keep a medic on standby, and make sure he’s watched at all times. If he wakes up, I want to know immediately.”

There was a brief pause, then a firm reply from one of the men. “Yes, sir.”

Hunter continued, his voice steady but edged with restrained fury. “He doesn’t leave that room. Not for any reason. If he tries anything—anything at all—stop him. Let me know immediately.”

13:08 Thu, Feb 12

Chapter 82

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My heart pounded quietly in my chest, but I didn’t move. I didn’t breathe any faster. I stayed wrapped in stillness, pretending to sleep, while my mind raced.

The room stayed quiet after the door closed, the heavy silence broken only by the faint sounds of the house settling around us. I kept my eyes shut and my breathing slow and steady, still pretending to sleep, even though my mind was wide awake and alert.

A moment later, I felt the mattress dip beside me.

Hunter didn’t leave.

The weight of him sank into the bed, careful and controlled, as if he was afraid to disturb me. The warmth of his body pressed close, familiar and grounding, and then his arm slid around my waist, firm and protective, pulling me gently against his chest. His other arm followed, enclosing me completely, creating a shield around me that felt more like safety than possession.

His face buried against the back of my neck, his breath warm against my skin, slow and steady. I felt the tension in him, the restrained energy still humming beneath the surface, even as he tried to rest. His hold tightened just slightly, instinctively, like he needed to feel that I was real, that I was here, and that I was safe.

I stayed still in his arms, letting him hold me, letting the quiet settle between us. The chaos of the night felt distant in this space, muted by the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his breathing.

And even though I was pretending to sleep, my body responded anyway, relaxing into his hold, sinking into the comfort and protection he offered, knowing that as long as he was there, nothing was getting close to me.

After long minutes of quiet, his whisper barely broke the silence, but it shattered something inside my chest.

“I thought I lost you again.”

The words were soft, almost broken, heavy with fear he hadn’t allowed himself to show in front of anyone else. His arms tightened around my waist, not painfully, just enough to make it clear that he needed the contact as much as I did. His breath trembled against my skin, slow and unsteady, as if the weight of everything he had held back was finally catching up to him.

My heart clenched, emotion swelling in my chest so suddenly it hurt, I stayed still, still pretending to sleep, but my body betrayed me anyway, instinctively pressing back into him, seeking his warmth, his steadiness, and his presence. His hold adjusted immediately, stronger, more protective, like he felt the movement and took it as permission.

“I can’t do that again,” he murmured, his voice low and raw against my nape. “I’m going to burn the world if something bad happens to you again.”

The words weren’t loud, but they were honest in a way that cut deeper than any shout ever could. They carried exhaustion, fear, and something painfully close to love that he wasn’t ready to name out loud.

I felt his lips brush lightly against my skin-not a kiss, just a touch, something gentle and grounding, something that said more than words could. His forehead rested against my neck, his breathing slowly evening out, but his arms never loosened.

He stayed like that, holding me as if letting go would make me vanish, as if sleep itself was a risk he couldn’t

afford to take.

13:08 Thu, Feb 12

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ซจะ

Chapter 82

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And wrapped in his arms, listening to his quiet, uneven breaths, I realized that I wasn’t the only one trying to survive what happened tonight.

Hunter was too.

I couldn’t pretend anymore.

My body shifted slightly in his arms, just enough to let him feel that I was awake, that I was aware, that I wasn’t lost in sleep like he thought. His breathing changed instantly, subtle but sharp, the way it always did when his instincts went on alert.

“Hunter,” I whispered softly.

His hold tightened for half a second before easing, his head lifting slightly from my neck. I felt his breath pause, then steady, like he was bracing himself for something. I stayed close to him, not pulling away, not turning fully around, afraid of what I might see in his eyes.

For a moment, he didn’t speak. His arms stayed around me, firm and protective, but his body was tense, coiled tight beneath the calm. I swallowed, my heart beating faster, fear creeping in—not of him, but of what he might do.

“What are you going to do to Beckett?” I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

The change in him was immediate.

His body stiffened, his arms loosening just enough for him to pull his face back so he could look at me. Even in the dim light, I could feel the shift in his energy, the irritation flashing hot and sharp.

“After everything that just happened,” he said, his voice low and edged with anger, “that’s what you want to ask me about? Him?”

I turned slightly in his arms to face him, my heart racing. “Hunter, I just—”

“You almost died,” he cut in, his jaw tightening, his eyes dark with restrained fury. “You were terrified. You were breaking in my arms. I thought I lost you, and the first thing you do when you wake up is say his name. Why, are you worried about him?”

“That’s not what I meant,” I said quickly, panic slipping into my voice. “I’m just scared of what you might do. I’m not worried about him. I’m worried about you.”

His expression hardened, hurt mixing with anger. “So now I’m the danger too?”

“No,” I said immediately, turning fully toward him now, my hands gripping his shirt. “You’re not. You’re the only reason I’m alive. But I know you, Hunter. I know what you’re capable of when you’re angry, and I’m afraid you’re going to destroy yourself trying to punish him.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

His eyes searched my face, conflicted emotions crashing behind them-rage, fear, protectiveness, pain. His breathing was slow but strained, like he was holding something violent back inside his chest.

13:08 Thu, Feb 12

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