Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223

Author’s POV:

Sergeant Ford winced as Walter Morrison’s fingers probed the damaged tissue of his right shoulder. The fluorescent lights of the Morrison Pharmaceutical Research Center cast harsh shadows across the examination room, highlighting the deep lines of pain etched into Ford’s face.

“How bad is it?” Ford asked, his voice steady despite the discomfort.

Walter Morrison shook his head, his white eyebrows furrowing. “Worse than last time. The scar tissue is expanding, further restricting your range of motion.” He stepped back, wiping his hands on a towel. “Keep going like this, and someday you won’t even be able to hold a spoon to feed yourself. I’m afraid I can’t help.”

Ford silently pulled his shirt back on, his movements careful and measured. “It’s fine. I knew what I was getting into. Thank you for your time.”

Walter hesitated, then added almost casually, “There is someone who might be able to help.”

Ford froze, his fingers still on a button. His practiced indifference vanished instantly, replaced by naked hope.

“Really?”

Jade sat on her living room sofa, laptop balanced on her knees. The house was quiet except for the soft click of keys beneath her fingertips. On the screen, lines of code scrolled past as she navigated through digital barriers with

practiced ease.

Shadow Organization’s electronic security system had been partially designed by Jade in her previous life. She knew every backdoor, every failsafe, every potential weakness–it was like walking through her own backyard with a blindfold on. Familiar territory, even in the dark.

She inserted a small exploit into their network, bypassing their first–level authentication. Then another. And another. With surgical precision, Jade planted triggers throughout their system, each one connecting to the next like dominoes waiting to fall.

With a satisfied smile, she hit the final key.

“Let the show begin,” Jade whispered to herself, leaning back to watch the chaos unfold.

On a private island in waters, alarms blared through the Shadow Organization’s headquarters. Red emergency lights bathed the corridors in an eerie glow as security personnel ran to their stations, weapons drawn.

In the control room, screens flashed with warning messages. Firewalls collapsed one after another as if they were

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Chapter 223

made of paper rather than the most sophisticated code money could buy.

“What the hell is happening?” demanded the security chief, his knuckles white against the back of a technician’s chair.

The technician’s fingers flew across the keyboard, perspiration beading on his forehead. “Someone’s inside our system. All security protocols are being overridden simultaneously. They’re past everything–even the quantum encryption layers!”

“Trace it!”

“I’m trying!” The technician’s voice cracked with panic. “The attack is bouncing through servers in Tokyo, London, New York, Sydney… It’s like they’re everywhere at once.”

“That’s impossible,” the chief muttered, but fear had already crept into his voice.

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JOKER stood in his private office, watching the security feeds with narrowed eyes. The chaos unfolding across the compound would have alarmed most, but his expression remained calculating.

“It’s her, isn’t it?” his lieutenant asked quietly.

JOKER nodded slowly. “The signature is unmistakable. No one else could navigate our systems with such… intimacy.” He traced a finger along the edge of his desk. “I didn’t expect her to strike back so soon, or so directly.”

“But who is she?” The lieutenant’s frustration was evident. “How does she have Shadow’s skills? Her methods are identical–the same precision, the same patterns.”

“That,” JOKER said, his voice hardening, “is what we need to find out. She’s declared war now. No more games.”

The doorbell chimed, pulling Jade away from her laptop where she’d been monitoring the digital chaos she’d unleashed. Through the security camera feed, she spotted Walter Morrison standing on her porch with his assistant.

Jade closed the laptop, hiding her smile. Her little gift to Shadow Organization would keep them scrambling for days. Setting the computer aside, she headed downstairs to answer the door.

“Dr. Morrison,” Jade greeted him, genuinely surprised by his visit. “This is unexpected.”

Walter Morrison offered a polite smile, his assistant hovering nervously behind him. “Miss Morgan. I apologize for the intrusion, but I’ve come with a… professional request.”

Jade stepped aside to let them in. “Professional? I wasn’t aware we had any professional connections.”

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Chapter 223

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“We don’t–yet,” Walter said, entering her living room. “I’ve brought a patient with me. His condition is beyond my expertise, and I thought you might be able to help.”

Jade raised an eyebrow. “Where?”

“The patient is still outside,” Walter continued. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be available for a consultation. If it’s inconvenient, we can leave.”

“Tell me about this patient first,” Jade said, curious despite herself.

Walter cleared his throat. “Former special forces. One of the best snipers in his unit. Right arm suffered severe damage resulting in permanent tendon and nerve injury. It ended his military career.”

Jade tilted her head, the pieces falling into place. “Let me guess–this patient’s name wouldn’t happen to be Ford, would it?” After all, she’d just seen him at the police station yesterday.

Walter’s eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. “You already know him?”

“We’ve met,” Jade said dryly. “Recently, in fact.”

“That’s… unexpected,” Walter admitted.

“Where is he now?” Jade replied.

“Waiting in the car with Colonel Edwards.” Walter glanced toward the door. “Should I invite them in?”

Jade nodded. “By all means.”

Outside in a black SUV, Sergeant Ford shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat. Colonel Edwards watched him

with thinly veiled concern.

“Relax,” Edwards said, his deep voice filling the car’s interior. “If Morrison vouches for this doctor, they’re worth

seeing.”

Ford grimaced. “It’s not the doctor I’m worried about. It’s getting my hopes up again.”

The driver’s door opened, and Walter Morrison leaned in. “She’ll see you now.”

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