Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 348

Chapter 348

:

Colonel Edwards had deployed personnel around Princeton to protect Max, disguising them as campus security to avoid causing panic. Sergeant Ford had volunteered to take the position of security chief.

Max’s three roommates had even been replaced with young agents posing as exchange students, accompanying Max to and from classes. In their four–person dorm, Zach was also hidden, providing additional protection.

Shadow Organization had been looking for an opportunity to get to Max, intending to use him as leverage against Jade. But with Colonel Edwards‘ people everywhere, they’d been hesitant to act.

Yet somehow, Max had left campus voluntarily, avoiding all his protection.

Jade remained calm as she accessed her laptop, her fingers flying over the keyboard. Within minutes, she had hacked into Max’s phone.

“There,” she said, pointing to a video file that had been sent to Max hours earlier.

The video showed Linda and Emily, tied to chairs in what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. A masked figure stood behind them, holding a knife to Linda’s throat.

“They’re using Linda and Emily to control Max,” Jade said, her voice cold. “And using Max to get to me.”

She quickly traced the location of Max’s phone, only to discover it had been discarded on a lawn within the Princeton campus. The trail had gone cold.

Max walked along the path leading to Princeton’s north gate, his heart pounding with fear. The south gate was closer to the Computer Science building and was guarded by Sergeant Ford. Following the kidnapper’s instructions, he had to use the north gate instead.

He crossed the street, walking unsteadily forward. In the distance, a silver van was parked, its occupants watching his approach intently.

Max spotted the van and slowed his pace. For a moment, he considered running back to campus to contact Jade and Ethan. The thought died as quickly as it had formed. He couldn’t risk his mother and Emily’s lives.

On the other side of campus, Sergeant Ford was sprinting toward the north gate, phone pressed to his ear. “I’m heading to the north gate now,” he reported to Jade, his voice urgent.

As Max approached the van, two fellow students intercepted him, concerned about his pale face and trembling hands.

“Max, are you okay? You look like you’re about to pass out,” one of them said, gripping his arm supportively.

“I’m fine,” Max insisted, trying to pull away. “Really, I just need to go.”

The van’s horn blared impatiently. Max glanced nervously toward it, then back at his classmates.

1/2

10:37 Tue, Oct 7

Chapter 348

Seriously, we should take you to the health center, the ashey stay

‘I don’t need help. Mas sald, growing desperate. Please, just fr Poe

The van’s engine revved loudly.

230

Chase Astor was driving his Bugatti down the adjacent road when he spotted the commotion.

“Isn’t that Max?” he muttered to himself, recognizing the familiar figure surrounded by two other students.

His eyes narrowed as he noticed the silver van accelerating toward the group. The three students, backs to the approaching vehicle, were oblivious to the danger.

Max finally sensed something wrong and turned, his eyes widening in horror. He grabbed his classmates arms, trying to pull them away, but it was too late.

Everything happened in a blur. The van barreled toward them at full speed.

“Shit!” Chase cursed, slamming his foot on the accelerator. His Bugatti shot forward, tires screeching.

In the split second before the van would have hit the students, Chase’s car swerved between them, taking the full impact of the collision.

The crash was deafening. The force of the larger vehicle sent the sports car tumbling, rolling toward the very students it had just saved.

Max pushed his classmates away with all his strength before the car slammed into him.

“Max!” Zach’s voice rang out as he ran toward the horrific scene.

Sergeant Ford and Zach arrived with reinforcements, but the damage was done. Bystanders gathered around the wreckage as emergency services were called.

Both Chase and Max were rushed to the emergency room, their conditions critical.

Chapter Comments