Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 181

Chapter 181

Jade’s POV:

97

I felt Night’s gaze on me as I navigated through Princeton’s evening traffic. His eyes hadn’t left me since we’d gotten in the car twenty minutes ago. The weight of his stare was becoming impossible to ignore.

“What the hell are you staring at?” I finally snapped, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Instead of backing off, Night leaned closer, invading my personal space until I could smell his expensive cologne. “Darling, this face is still so new to me,” he said, his accent thickening with amusement. “I need to memorize every

detail.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’ve been staring since the airport. It’s creepy.”

“It’s appreciation,” he corrected, fingers reaching out to touch my cheek before I swatted them away.

Night’s attention shifted to my wrist as I changed lanes. His playful expression hardened. “What is that piece of garbage on your wrist?”

I glanced down at my worn watch. The leather strap was cracked, and the face was scratched, but it kept perfect

time. “It’s a watch.”

“That’s not a watch. That’s an insult to timekeeping.” Night grabbed my wrist, pulling it toward him despite my protest. “You wear this trash, yet you made me search for that limited–edition one for your pretty boy Haxton?”

“It tells time. That’s all I need it to do,” I replied, yanking my hand back.

“You know what else is interesting?” Night continued, ignoring my comment. “You ‘die,‘ come back to life, and the first people you meet with are Titan Defense Group and Chris Jensen–not me. Chris bragged to me for half an hour after seeing you.”

I kept my face neutral. “I was worried about your safety.”

Night’s face lit up. “I knew it! You care about me the most, baby.”

His smug expression made me want to slam on the brakes and send him flying into the dashboard.

“How long are you planning to stay in Princeton?” I asked, changing the subject.

Night stretched out, making himself comfortable. “As long as you need me, darling.”

“That’s not an answer.”

He sighed dramatically. “The perils of being irreplaceable. So many people demanding my time.”

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8:17 Thu, Sep 25

Chapter 181

“What about the power struggles within Arctic Fox?” I pressed. “Your 791 Group has always been a target for the other units. Has the situation calmed down? You seem awfully relaxed to be here wasting time with me.”

97

Night scoffed, waving dismissively. “What’s there to worry about? In our world, power comes from strength. Anyone who dares challenge me gets eliminated. Simple as that. They’ve learned to behave.”

His casualness about killing was so familiar it almost made me smile. Almost.

“Besides,” he continued, his voice softening, “seeing you is worth any risk. They can go fuck themselves if anyone has a problem with it.”

Night shifted in his seat, studying me again. “Now, about this Haxton character…”

“What about him?”

“What’s the deal? Is he just another mark or something more?” His tone remained casual, but I caught the tension underneath.

“Still assessing,” I replied coolly.

Night’s fingers drummed against his thigh. “I don’t like him.”

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