Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 368

Badass in Disguise

Chapter 368

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60

At the mansion’s main gate, a sea of black–clad men stood in tight formation. Their faces were hard, expressions cold as they stared down Haxton’s security team through the iron bars. Both sides had their hands hovering near their weapons, trigger fingers itching, the air thick with tension.

stood at the front, a pistol already drawn and hanging casually at his side. His eyes burned with rage as he glared at the mansion beyond the gate. Despite his injury, he stood tall, his presence commanding and dangerous.

“Haxton!” Night’s voice boomed across the courtyard, echoing against the stone walls. “Get your ass out here now, or I swear to God I’ll blow this place sky high!”

He raised his gun toward the security cameras. “I know you can see me, you coward. You have until I count to three to bring your sorry ass out here.” Night’s lips twisted into a sneer. “One!”

Haxton’s security team braced, weapons half–raised. Their training was evident in their disciplined stance, but the strain showed in their eyes. They knew Night’s reputation–knew what he was capable of.

“Two!” Night’s finger moved to the trigger, his knuckles whitening with pressure.

The tension crackled like electricity in the air as both sides prepared for bloodshed.

Just as Night opened his mouth to say “Three,” the mansion’s front door swung open. Ethan Haxton strode down the path toward the gate, his face a mask of cold determination despite his exhaustion. His tailored suit couldn’t hide his weight loss, but his posture remained commanding.

Night lowered his gun slightly. “Where is she?” he demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.

“She’s inside,” Ethan replied evenly, meeting Night’s gaze without flinching. “She’s receiving the best medical care possible.”

“I’m taking her with me,” Night stated, as if it were already decided, shifting his weight to ease the pressure on his injured leg.

“You can see her,” Ethan conceded, his tone diplomatic but firm. “But you’re not taking her anywhere.”

Night’s laughter was harsh and mocking, cutting through the tense silence. “Who the fuck do you think you are? You think you have any say in this? You think you’re qualified to make decisions about her?”

Ethan stood straighter, his voice gaining strength with each word. “Jade is my girlfriend. She’s my future fiancée, my future wife. I have more right than you–than anyone–to make these decisions and do what’s best for her.”

The color drained from Night’s face before flooding back in a rush of rage. He raised his gun, pointing it directly at Ethan’s head, his hand perfectly steady despite his fury.

“That’s fucking bullshit!” Night roared, his voice echoing across the grounds. “Ethan Haxton, say one more goddamn word and I’ll blow your brains out!”

“If you want to fight, I’m game.” Ethan reached over and took a gun from one of his security guards, gripping it firmly. He stepped forward, his gaze unwavering, the steel in his eyes matching Night’s. “But let me make this clear: you’re not taking her.”

The standoff intensified, neither man willing to back down. The security teams on both sides tensed, ready for the situation to explode.

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11:40 Wed, Oct 8

Chapter 368

Suddenly, Chris Jensen appeared, rushing toward Night. Before Night could pull the trigger, Chris grabbed his arm and forced it down.

“Kill him, and how will you explain that to Jade? Chris said through gritted teeth, muscles straining against Night’s strength.

Night shoved Chris away with surprising force. “I haven’t even settled the score with you for lying to me. Stay out of this if you want to remain friends.”

60

During his brief appearance in Nigeria, Night had rushed to the Shadow Organization’s headquarters in England after losing contact with Jade and Ethan. There, he’d encountered Shadow assassins. With multiple bases destroyed and unable to contact leadership, assassins had flocked to headquarters only to find it sunken beneath the sea.

Night, already injured, had been seriously wounded in the ensuing fight. When he regained consciousness, Chris Jensen was at his bedside. Chris had told him Jade was severely injured but had concealed that she was comatose. Night had believed Jade was in Chris’s care until Chris prevented him from seeing her, making Night realize something was wrong. Under pressure, Chris revealed Jade’s true condition and that Ethan had taken her to the Haxton mansion.

“Chris, are you out of your fucking mind?” Night snarled, veins standing out on his neck. “You gave her to him? We’ve known each other for over twenty years! How long have you known this asshole?”

“Jade was already with him,” Chris replied calmly, maintaining his composure. “She admitted it herself.”

Night fell silent for a moment, visibly processing this information. Then he turned to Ethan with renewed contempt, his eyes burning with hatred.

“Jade?” Night sneered, the name sounding like a curse on his lips. “You don’t even know who she is. How dare you think you deserve her?”

“I know exactly who she is,” Ethan replied firmly, emphasizing each word.

Night’s eyes widened in shock as he realized Jade had shared her identity as Shadow with Ethan. His grip on his weapon tightened as the implications sank in.

“Your wound has reopened,” Chris observed, gesturing to Night’s leg where blood was seeping through his pants, forming a dark stain. “Go back and heal first. In your condition, you can’t take her anyway.”

“I will take her, and I’ll make sure she’s comfortable,” Night insisted, his voice dangerous, ignoring the blood soaking his pant leg.

He turned to Ethan, leveling his gun again. “You have family inside that mansion. Hand her over, and I promise they’ll be safe. New York might be your territory, but bullets don’t care about territory. Are you sure you can protect everyone in there?”

Ethan chambered a round in his gun, the metallic click unnaturally loud in the tense silence. “I only need to kill one person–you.”

“Then let’s see whose bullet-” Night began, his finger tightening on the trigger.

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