Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

:

93

A soft knock on the hotel suite door pulled me from my light sleep. I’d returned to bed hours ago after my midnight excursion, careful not to wake Ethan who seemed to be sleeping on the couch.

Through the slightly open bedroom door, I heard Connor’s voice: “Sir, I need to-”

“Not now,” Ethan cut him off firmly.

I stretched and got up, pulling my fingers through my tangled brown hair. Might as well face the day. I opened the door fully and stepped out of the bedroom, wearing the silk robe Ethan had provided. The morning sunlight filtered through the half–drawn curtains, casting long shadows across the

luxurious suite.

Connor’s reaction was immediate and intense. His expression contorted into something between shock and horror as he looked at me emerging from his boss’s bedroom, then back at Ethan who was fully dressed and appeared to have been awake for hours. His mouth opened and closed several times

before any words came out.

“She–she…” Connor stammered, apparently unable to form a complete sentence. The vein in his forehead pulsed visibly as his face flushed crimson.

I gave him a cold glance as I walked toward the suite’s coffee machine. Poor guy probably thought I’d spent the night with his precious boss. The thought almost made me smile. I could practically hear the gears in his head grinding to a halt as he tried to process what he was seeing.

“Good morning, Miss Morgan,” Ethan said smoothly, not a hint of discomfort in his voice. “Did you sleep well?”

I poured myself a cup of coffee before answering, inhaling the rich aroma that filled the air. “Well enough. How was the couch? Not exactly the luxury you’re accustomed to, I imagine.” I took a deliberate sip, watching Connor over the rim of my cup.

Connor’s eyes widened further, darting between Ethan and me like a tennis spectator on amphetamines. The mental gymnastics playing out on his face were almost entertaining enough to

make this whole charade worthwhile.

“I’ve slept in worse conditions,” Ethan replied, his expression revealing nothing. He folded the newspaper he’d been reading and set it aside. “Military training tends to cure one of needing

excessive comfort.”

1/4

7:56 Fri, Sep 19

Chapter 56

I arched an eyebrow at that interesting tidbit but filed it away for later analysis. “I’m sure you have.”

Ethan watched me over his tablet. “You gave me quite a start last night.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Did I?”

“When you got up in the middle of the night,” he clarified. “Do you often sleepwalk?”

I set my cup down, meeting his gaze directly. My mind raced through possible responses, calculating the best approach. “Sleepwalk? No, not that I’m aware of.”

“Interesting.” Ethan tilted his head slightly. “Around two in the morning, you were standing in front

of the couch, just… staring at me.”

His tone suggested he didn’t believe for a second that I had been sleepwalking. He was testing me, watching for my reaction. Those green eyes missed nothing, analyzing every micro–expression that

crossed my face.

I shrugged, maintaining a perfectly calibrated level of casual indifference. “Strange. I don’t remember that at all. Did I do anything else embarrassing I should know about?”

“No,” Ethan said, his eyes never leaving mine. “You just stood there, completely still. Like you were

deciding something.”

The tension in the room thickened. Connor shifted uncomfortably, tugging at his collar as if it had suddenly tightened around his neck.

Connor cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with whatever was happening between us. “Sir, if I

could have a moment of your time–it’s rather urgent.”

“Of course,” Ethan replied, finally breaking our eye contact. “Miss Morgan, please make yourself

comfortable. I’ll just be a moment.”

They stepped toward the suite’s entrance, speaking in hushed tones. I pretended to focus on my coffee, leaning against the counter in a pose of relaxation while stretching my enhanced hearing to

its limits.

“Those men we spotted last night–they’ve been identified,” Connor whispered urgently. “They’re with Apex Tactical Group.”

“Apex Tactical Group?” Ethan asked, his voice dropping even lower.

2/4

7:57 Fri, Sep 19

Chapter 56

“Yes, sir. About twenty of them checked into the hotel. They’re on the floor below us, watching the elevators. Their presence coincides exactly with our arrival.”

“Interesting timing,” Ethan murmured, glancing briefly in my direction.

“Sir, I don’t understand why professional mercenaries would be tracking…” Connor hesitated, glancing in my direction. “…a high school student.”

93

I suppressed a smile while taking another sip of coffee. If only he knew who he was really dealing with. The coffee was excellent–dark and rich with hints of chocolate and cherry. Even in dangerous

situations, I appreciated quality.

“Have they made any moves?” Ethan asked.

“No, sir. Just surveillance so far. But they’re heavily armed. My team spotted at least three men with concealed submachine guns.”

“Keep our security detail alert,” Ethan instructed. “And Connor, I’d like to know more about Apex’s

recent activities.”

They returned to where I was sitting, Connor still looking at me with barely concealed suspicion. His right hand kept drifting toward his jacket–where he undoubtedly carried a weapon.

“Shall we have breakfast?” Ethan suggested, his tone conversational as if we were on a casual vacation. “The hotel restaurant is quite good.”

“Lead the way,” I replied, rising from my seat. “Just give me a few minutes to get dressed.”

Walking into the hotel restaurant felt like entering a lion’s den. The spacious dining area was crowded, but not with the usual tourists or business travelers, Nearly every table was occupied by hard–faced men with military postures and vigilant eyes–mercenaries from around the world, all in

town for La Corona.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify