Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 247

Chapter 247

Author’s POV:

Jade stood in the hospital parking lot, staring up at the fourth floor where Silas’s mother was recovering.

Chase leaned against his car, keys dangling from his fingers, “Jade, where to now? I’m starving”

She glanced at her watch. Silas had been unconscious for nearly a day. His mother’s condition had stabilized. Initially, Jade hadn’t planned to get involved in Silas’s family drama–It wasn’t her business. But knowing his mother was also Dusk’s mother changed things.

“Chase, do you know where we might find someone who gambles too much and drinks even more?” she asked, her voice deliberately casual.

p with understanding. “You want to find his father.” It wasn’t a question “Hell yes

yes, I know exactly where to look.”

Chase’s eyes lit up

She turned to him. “Then let’s go.”

The underground gambling

bling den was located beneath a laundromat in one of Princetons seedier neighborhoods. They arrived just as a commotion erupted at the back entrance. A middle–aged man with thinning hair and a beer gut was being forcibly removed by two burly security guards.

by out, Murphy!” one of the guards shouted. “Don’t come back until you can pay what you owe!”

“And stay

Silas’s father brushed off his dirty jacket and spat on the ground. “Fuck you! I was winning! You rigged those machines!”

They sat in the car, watching as he staggered down the alley, muttering curses. Chase’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. Jade said nothing, merely nodding when he turned on the headlights, illuminating Murphy in their harsh glare.

The man turned, squinting into the light, and had the audacity to spit toward their car. “The fuck you looking at?” he slurred,

Chase was out of the car before jade could stop him–not that she would have. “Hey! You!” be called out, his voice sharp in the night air.

Murphy turned, swaying slightly, “What do you want,

rich boy?”

Chase’s first punch landed squarely on Murphy’s jaw, sending him sprawling. Without hesitation, Chase grabbed the front of Murphy’s shirt and dragged him deeper into the alley, away from prying eyes. Jade followed at a leisurely pace, watching as Chase slammed the older man against a brick wall.

“Look at me, you piece of shit,” Chase growled, landing another punch to Murphy’s stomach. “Take a good look at who’s beating the crap out of you. I’m Silas’s classmate.”

Murphy’s eyes widened in recognition before another blow made him double over.

“Your son is in the hospital, Chase continued, punctuating each word with a blow, “Your wife is dying. And what are you doing? Cambling away what little money you have left.”

“Please,” Murphy whimpered, blood trickling from his split lip. “I won’t do it again, I swear.“

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12:27 Sat, Sep 27

Chapter 247

“You’re damn right you won’t.” Chase grabbed Murphy by the collar, forcing him to look up. “If I ever hear you fald a hand on either of them again, I’ll come back and finish what I started. You understand me?

Murphy nodded frantically, tears mixing with the blond on his face.

“You’re garbage,” Chase spat. “No, you’re worse than garbage. You’re a monster who beats his wife and son. What kind of man does that?”

Jade watched the scene with detached interest, making no move to Intervene. Some lessons needed to be learned the hard way.

Back in the car, Chase flexed his bruised knuckles, a satisfied expression on his face. “What a waste of human life,” that… that animal have a son like Silas? It must be some genetic mutation.”

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