Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 317

Chapter 317

Pain was the first thing Jade registered as consciousness slowly returned. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy as she forced them open, the dim light of an unfamiliar room slowly coming into focus.

A motel room. Cheap but clean. The wallpaper was faded, with a pattern that might have been stylish twenty years ago.

She tried to speak, but her throat was so dry that only a raspy breath escaped. That small effort sent waves of pain radiating from her shoulder down through her chest. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes–not from emotion, just the body’s involuntary response to pain.

“Jade?”

T

Ethan’s voice came from beside her, laced with relief and exhaustion. His hand was wrapped around hers, warm and steady.

“Do you need water?” he asked, already moving to get it.

He kept his right hand carefully angled away from her view.

Ethan returned with a glass, gently sliding his arm beneath her shoulders to help her sit up. The movement sent fresh waves of pain through her body, but she clenched her jaw and endured it. He held the glass to her lips, and she managed a small sip before the effort became too much. The water felt like heaven against her parched throat, but swallowing was agony.

“This place is safe for now,” he said, lowering her back to the pillow. “Just rest.”

She wanted to ask questions–where they were, how long she’d been out, what had happened–but the brief moment of clarity was already fading. Darkness pulled her back under, and she surrendered to it.

When Jade woke again, the room was darker. Night had fallen, and only a small lamp in the corner provided illumination. Ethan was still there, this time holding a bowl of something steaming.

“The motel manager’s wife made some soup,” he explained, noticing her gaze. “Think you can try to eat something?”

Her stomach churned at the thought of food, but she knew she needed to rebuild her strength. She managed a small nod.

Ethan helped her sit up against the headboard, arranging pillows to support her back. As he did, the sleeve of his shirt rode up, revealing the bandages wrapped around his hand and wrist.

“What happened to your hand?” she asked, her voice still barely above a whisper.

He glanced down as if surprised to see the injury himself. “Ran into some Shadow operatives night before last. It’s just the hand, nothing

serious.”

Feeding her was a slow, frustrating process. Each spoonful felt like swallowing glass, and after barely ten spoonfuls, she couldn’t take any more. Ethan didn’t push, just set the bowl aside and wiped her mouth gently. He poured a cup of warm water and took her medication from his pocket.

He carefully crushed the pills between two spoons, mixing the powder with water before helping her drink the bitter solution.

“We can’t go back to Princeton,” she said once the medicine was down. The words took enormous effort, but she needed him to

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Chapter 317

understand. “They’ll be waiting.”

A return to Princeton would be suicide. She knew the Shadow Organization’s capabilities better than anyone–their operatives blended perfectly into crowds, striking without warning. They could find targets anywhere, even underground.

“Max, he…” she whispered.

“He’s safe,” Ethan assured her. “I contacted Colonel Edwards. The military connection should make them think twice.”

Relief washed over her face. She looked at Ethan–really looked at him. The dim light couldn’t hide the exhaustion etched into his features. Dark circles underlined bloodshot eyes, and stubble shadowed his jaw. How long had it been since he’d slept?

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