Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

I woke to the soft glow of dawn breaking over the horizon. The car was still moving, but Connor was no longer driving. Ethan sat behind the wheel, his profile lit by the early morning light. Max was now in the back seat beside me, still fast asleep.

“You drove?” I asked, my voice raspy from sleep.

Ethan glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Connor needed rest. I took over about three hours ago.”

I looked around, realizing we were already approaching Princeton. The university’s gothic spires were silhouetted against the brightening sky.

“You should have woken me. I could have taken a turn.”

“You needed the rest,” he said simply. “Besides, I enjoy driving. It gives me time to think.”

As we pulled into Princeton, the campus was quiet, most students still asleep. Ethan navigated through the empty streets with the ease of someone familiar with the area.

“I’ve made arrangements for Max’s transfer to Princeton High School,” Ethan said as we drove. “He’ll meet with the school administrators tomorrow morning.”

“That fast?” I asked, surprised.

Max stirred beside me, blinking sleepily. “Where are we?

“Princeton,” I told him. “We just arrived.”

Ethan pulled up to a luxury hotel near campus. “I thought we could stay here tonight. It would be more comfortable than trying to arrange other accommodations on such short notice.”

“I’ll stay with you too,” he added casually. “It will make it easier to take you to the school in the morning.”

We got out of the car, and Connor handed our bags to the bellhop. Ethan spoke briefly with the front desk staff, and moments later, we were being escorted to our rooms.

“I’ve booked four suites,” Ethan explained as we rode the elevator. “One for each of us.”

The suites were adjacent to each other on the top floor. Mine was decorated in soothing blues and creams, with a king–sized bed and a view of the campus.

Max followed me into my suite after dropping his bags in his own room. He waited until the bellhop had left before

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Chapter 104

speaking.

‘Is he into you?” he asked bluntly.

:

“What?” I turned to him, genuinely surprised by the question.

AS

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“Ethan Haxton, Max clarified, as if I might be confused about which he he meant. ‘Is he interested in you? Romantically?”

I stared at my brother. “What would make you think that?”

Max gave me a look that suggested I was being deliberately obtuse. “It’s pretty obvious, Jade.”

“I don’t know what his intentions are, Max. And frankly, I’ve got more important things to worry about right now.”

Max nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer for the moment. ‘I’m going to try to get some more sleep,” he said, heading for the door. “It’s been a long night.”

The next morning, I was awakened by a knock on my door. Still half–asleep, I mumbled something that might have been “Come in” or might have been ‘Go away.” Either way, the door opened, and Ethan stepped inside.

“Good morning,” he said, looking annoyingly fresh and alert in a crisp suit. “It’s time to get up. Max is already awake and having breakfast downstairs.”

I groaned and pulled the pillow over my head. “Five more minutes.”

“The admissions committee is expecting us at nine,” he reminded me, his voice laced with amusement.

“Fine, I grumbled, tossing the pillow aside. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

Ethan nodded and retreated to the sitting area of my suite, giving me privacy to get ready. I dragged myself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to wake up properly.

When I emerged, dressed and marginally more alert, Ethan was still waiting patiently, scrolling through something on his phone.

“Let’s go,” I said, grabbing my purse.

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12:24 Mon, Sep 22

Badass in Disguise

Chapter 105