Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 220

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The afternoon sun streamed through the living room windows of my apartment. My bandaged hand was a constant reminder of yesterday’s basketball game and the wounds that had reopened during my dominance over Brock Reynolds and his team. Ethan sat across from me, scrolling through his phone, occasionally glancing up with an amused expression at the continuing fallout from the “Princeton Strip Show” as the school forum had dubbed it.

My phone vibrated on the coffee table. Ryan’s name flashed on the screen.

“Yeah?” I answered, leaning back on the couch.

“Boss, we have a situation.” Ryan’s voice was tense, lacking its usual casual tone. “Max is missing.”

I sat up straight. “What do you mean ‘missing“?”

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“He was at school, then he wasn’t. His last class ended thirty minutes ago. I’ve checked everywhere–cafeteria, library, usual hangouts. The watch signal disappeared too.”

A cold feeling spread through my chest. The watch I’d given Max for Christmas wasn’t just waterproof—it had a built–in tracker only I could access.

“I’ll call you back,” I said, ending the call and immediately reaching for my backup laptop on the side table.

Ethan set his phone down, his relaxed demeanor vanishing. “What’s wrong?”

“Ryan says Max is missing.” My fingers flew across the keyboard as I logged into my tracking system.

Ethan moved from the armchair to sit beside me on the couch, his shoulder brushing against mine as he leaned in to see the screen.

“Your hand is still injured. Let me help,” he offered, reaching for the laptop.

“The tracking system is my design. I know it better,” I replied, not taking my eyes off the screen. “The signal’s being blocked, not hacked. That’s something.”

Connor’s phone rang, drawing our attention. He stepped away to answer it, but his concerned expression as he glanced back at us confirmed he was receiving similar news.

“The security team just called,” Connor said after hanging up. “They lost visual on Max after his last class.”

I refocused on my screen, bypassing security protocols and accessing deeper tracking functions. “Got it. The watch and phone are both at the eastern building on campus.”

“That’s the old science wing,” Ethan said, leaning closer. “It’s been empty since last semester. They’re planning to rebuild it over the summer.”

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Connor watched with barely concealed amazement as my fingers moved across the keyboard, breaking through security systems like they were made of tissue paper.

“I’m pulling up the school’s security feeds,” I said, windows of surveillance footage popping up on my screen. I scrolled through different cameras, analyzing each feed. “The system hasn’t been compromised. This was targeted specifically at Max.”

“You can access the school’s private security system?” Connor whispered, eyes wide.

I ignored him, sending a text to Ryan with the location. “Ryan and Zach are heading to the eastern building now.”

On the screen, students moved through hallways, filtered into classrooms, everything appearing normal. Then I spotted him–a muscular man in a tactical–style outfit walking out of the teacher’s office area.

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“That’s Sergeant Ford,” Ethan said, frowning. “The training camp instructor. But what would he be doing there during regular school hours?”

“Coincidence,” I muttered.

My phone buzzed with a message from Ryan: Found him. East building janitor’s closet. Unconscious but breathing. Dropped him where a teacher would find him. He’s being taken to the infirmary now.

I immediately switched to the infirmary’s camera feed, watching as two staff members carried Max to a bed. His face was pale but he appeared unharmed.

“He looks okay,” Ethan said, his voice low and reassuring. “Could this be the Shadow Organization?”

I didn’t answer, continuing to watch the screen as a nurse checked Max’s vital signs. Instead of speculating, I needed

facts. “We’ll ask Max when he wakes up.”

Connor was staring at me, his professional demeanor cracking as realization dawned on his face. “You’re X,” he said,

his voice barely above a whisper.

I glanced at him, neither confirming nor denying.

“The hacker. The one who…” Connor trailed off, looking at Ethan, whose lack of surprise confirmed what he suspected. “You knew?”

Ethan merely nodded once, his attention still on the screen showing Max.

Connor fell silent, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open. He looked from me to Ethan and back again, visibly struggling to find words.

“You’re… actually X?” he finally managed, his voice cracking slightly.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered. “And you’re just… such a young girl?”

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I didn’t respond, turning my attention back to the screen showing Max.

On screen, Max stirred, his eyes fluttering open. I immediately dialed his number, putting the call on speaker.

“Hey,” Max’s voice was weak.

“What happened?” I asked, keeping my voice calm despite the rage building inside me.

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“Not sure,” he mumbled. “A teacher I didn’t recognize asked me to help move some equipment. When we got to the storage room, I felt dizzy… then nothing.”

“Can you describe him?”

“Not really. Everything’s fuzzy.”

“Does anything hurt? Feel off?” I pressed.

“Just my head. Little dizzy still.”

“Stay there. I’ll come get you soon.” I hung up and closed the laptop, my mind already calculating possibilities and

responses.

“He was drugged,” I told Ethan. “Probably something fast–acting, meant to knock him out quickly.”

Ethan’s expression darkened. “If you don’t have other enemies, this has to be the Shadow Organization. But why target Max and not harm him?”

“It’s a warning.” My voice was ice cold.

Ethan studied my face carefully. “They’re afraid of directly confronting you.”

I nodded slightly. The Shadow Organization had good reason to fear me. Ace of Spades, King of Hearts, Umbra, Silhouette, Eclipse–all dead by my hand. I knew their operations, their personnel, their weaknesses. And they’d lost their greatest asset when they betrayed Shadow–me.

In direct confrontation, one on one, not a single member of the Shadow Organization could match me. JOKER might last longer than most, but the outcome would be the same. But they could target the few people I cared about. That’s what made them dangerous.

“Will they go after Max directly next time?” Ethan asked, his concern evident.

“They’ll try,” I said, my tone making it clear what would happen if they did. “We’ll be ready.”

My war with the Shadow Organization had officially begun.

He was quiet for a moment, then asked, “And when it’s over? When you’ve finished what you started? Will I get the

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Chapter 220

answers I’m looking for?”

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The question hung in the air between us, loaded with meaning. Before I could respond, Connor cleared his throat.

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“Miss Morgan,” he said, his voice filled with a newfound reverence. His earlier shock had transformed into barely contained excitement as he stared at me with undisguised admiration. “I can’t believe I’ve been in the same room as

X this whole time.”

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