Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 204

Author’s POV:

Chase’s silver Bentley Bentayga cruised through Princeton International Airport’s arrivals area, drawing admiring glances from travelers struggling with their luggage. Inside, Chase Astor fidgeted with his designer watch, scanning the crowd for the two men Jade had asked him to pick up.

“I don’t even know what they look like,” he muttered to himself, tapping his fingers nervously on the steering wheel. His eyes darted between the terminal doors and his phone, where Jade had sent only the barest details: two men, one named Ryan, one named Zach, arriving on flight AA307.

When the automatic doors slid open and two men stepped out–one with sharp eyes that immediately surveyed the surroundings, the other younger with golden–brown hair and a baby face dotted with freckles–Chase knew instinctively these were Jade’s mysterious friends.

He pulled up to the curb and rolled down his window. “Ryan and Zach?” he called out, waving enthusiastically.

The older man nodded once, his posture relaxing slightly. “You’re Jade’s friend?”

“That’s me!” Chase hopped out of the driver’s seat, rushing around to help with their minimal luggage. “I’m Chase. Welcome to Princeton! Are you hungry? Thirsty? I’ve got snacks in the car. Premium stuff, not airport food.”

The younger man–climbed into the front passenger seat without a word, staring out the window as if Chase didn’t

exist.

*Thanks for the pickup,” Ryan said, sliding into the back seat. His voice was polite but his eyes were calculating, taking in every detail of Chase’s expensive vehicle.

Chase glanced at his silent passenger, then at Ryan through the rearview mirror. “So, how do you guys know Jade? I’m her best friend. We’ve been through some wild stuff together.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Best friend?”

“Absolutely!” Chase nodded vigorously. “I’m probably the only person who can make her smile. Well, sometimes. Rarely. But it happens!”

Zach snorted softly, still looking out the window.

‘I’m Chase Astor, by the way,” Chase continued, oblivious to Zach’s dismissal. “Jade and I go to the same school. I’m her upperclassman.”

this, Zach finally turned his head, giving Chase a brief, assessing look before returning his attention to the

window.

Ryan leaned forward slightly. “Astor? As in the Astor family?”

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8:28 Thu, Sep 25

Chapter 204

Chase beamed with pride. “The one and only!”

P:

Ryan sat back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Chase caught his expression in the rearview mirror.

“Something wrong?” Chase asked.

“Nothing,” Ryan replied smoothly. “Just interesting that the Astor heir is playing chauffeur.”

Chase laughed. “For Jade? I’d do pretty much anything. She’s-”

A violent jolt cut him off as something slammed into the back of the Bentley. Chase’s head snapped forward, then back against the headrest.

“What the hell?” Chase exclaimed, immediately pulling over to the shoulder. He jumped out of the car, his face flushing with anger when he saw the crumpled hood of a red BMW behind him.

A slender young woman with caramel–colored hair stepped out of the BMW, her designer sunglasses pushed up onto

her head.

“Aurelia Sullivan,” Chase spat out the name like it tasted bad. “Don’t you know how to drive? Or does your family’s money not cover driving lessons?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” Aurelia snapped back, examining the front of her car with dismay. “You stopped too

suddenly!”

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