Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 186

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Badass in Disguise

Chapter 186

“There,” I said, stepping back to assess my work. “Try to move your shoulder a little. Not too much.”

Ethan rotated his arm cautiously, testing the limits of his mobility. His face relaxed slightly as he realized the movement wasn’t as painful as before.

“The painkillers are working,” he said, his green eyes meeting mine. “It feels much better. Thank you.”

I packed up my first aid supplies, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing. Just basic field medicine.”

Ethan watched me, his expression curious. “You never did tell me where you learned all this.”

“No, I didn’t,” I replied flatly, closing the medical kit with a definitive click.

He smiled slightly, accepting my non–answer with surprising grace. “So,” he said, changing the subject, “any plans for winter break? It’s coming up soon.”

I shrugged, keeping my face neutral. “I’ll be going away for a bit.”

“Anywhere interesting?” There was genuine curiosity in his voice.

“Just somewhere far from here.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Dangerous places?”

I almost smiled at his perception. “Why? Worried about me, Mr. Haxton?”

“I sent you a message today,” he said, ignoring my deflection. “Earlier.”

‘I know.”

“You’re not going to clear things up for me?” he asked, his tone carefully casual.

‘You already know it wasn’t me who replied,” I said, meeting his gaze directly. “So why ask?”

Before he could respond, Night’s voice called through the door, impatience evident in every syllable,

‘Darling, are you two finished in there? The vodka’s getting warm, and my patience is getting cold.”

I handed Ethan a small bottle of pills and some extra bandages. “Take these. Just in case.”

He pocketed them, his fingers brushing against mine for a fraction longer than necessary. “Thank you.”

I moved toward the door, pausing with my hand on the knob. “Try to avoid strenuous activity with those ribs. And

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Chapter 186

keep them warm.”

When I opened the door, Night’s irritated expression instantly transformed into a saccharine smile. “Sweetheart,” he cooed, his eyes never leaving my face even as his awareness tracked Ethan’s every movement.

Ethan stepped past us into the hallway, careful to maintain distance from Night. He moved stiffly, favoring his injured side, but there was still a dignified grace to his movements that spoke of years of discipline.

Night’s cold eyes followed him down the stairs, his smile never reaching those icy blue depths. The silence stretched between them like a drawn weapon.

When the front door closed behind Ethan, I turned to find Night’s expression had shifted to one of mild amusement.

“His little rib scrape,” Night scoffed, following me back into the living room. “Such drama. You’d think he’d been shot.”

“Like you’ve never faked an injury,” I replied, reclaiming my seat on the couch.

Night grinned, unrepentant. “That was different. I needed to see my precious Shadow more often.”

He refilled our glasses with the amber liquid. “How much did you charge him for that little medical consultation?”

“In Venezuela, he paid me with about a dozen crates of military–grade weapons.”

Night’s eyebrows shot up. “Venezuela?”

“The Transcendent Military Alliance is his,” I said casually, taking a sip of vodka.

Night studied me for a moment, then asked, “If Ethan and I were both drowning, who would you save?”

I looked at him over the rim of my glass. “What kind of stupid question is that?”

“Humor me.”

“Why would either of you drowning be my problem?” I replied coldly.

Night threw his head back and laughed. “That’s my girl.”

The next morning, my phone buzzed with a message from Ethan: The painkillers worked wonders. Shoulder has much better range of motion today. Thank you again for your help.

I stared at the text, debating whether to respond.

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Chapter 186

Remember to change the dressing in 48 hours. Keep the area dry. I hit send before I could overthink it.

A few days before winter break, Night stood in my living room, his bags packed by the door.

“Arctic Fox business,” he explained, checking his weapons with practiced efficiency. “Some idiots think they can challenge my authority. I need to remind them why that’s a bad idea.”

I nodded, understanding perfectly. Leadership challenges in organizations like Arctic Fox were usually settled with blood.

“I’ll meet you at Crimson Valley in a week,” he said, holstering his gun beneath his jacket. “Don’t do anything stupid before I get there. When you arrive, be careful. If anything comes up, wait for me before you act.”

His serious expression melted into his usual playful smile as he pulled me into a hug. “And if your rib man comes knocking again, don’t open the door.”

The next day, I packed light for my trip to Crimson Valley. Just the essentials: weapons, tech, and a few changes of clothes. I was hunting for “Ace of Spades“. If he frequented Crimson Valley, he must have significant influence there.

My phone buzzed with a message from Ethan: Did you settle on plans for the break?

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