Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 273

Chapter 273

“Bad news,” Allan said.

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Stella lowered her gaze. ‘With faces that serious, anyone could tell it is bad news,’ she thought.

“Ms. Carter,” Jaxon greeted politely, and then turned to Sebastian. “This batch of meds just got hijacked.”

Stella raised an eyebrow, thinking, ‘Meds?’ She saw the guys in front of her look even more grim.

Sebastian glanced at Jaxon. “How’s everyone?”

Jaxon frowned, his voice steady. “Seven injured, two seriously hurt, and all the meds are gone.”

“What kind of meds were they transporting?” Stella asked, her tone calm.

Charles instinctively glanced at Sebastian.

Sebastian frowned impatiently. “Just say it.”

Charles spoke in a low voice, “We’ve always been supplying meds to all the peacekeeping forces overseas. This time, it’s Farronia. Because of the local unrest, our unit stationed at the heart of the western crossfire has been without supplies for nearly three weeks.”

Nathan was left completely stunned. It was only now that he realized just how deep Charles and the whole Trent Pharmaceuticals were working with Sebastian. He instinctively glanced at Allan.

He remembered how he had once asked himself, “Out of all those people, why do you think Mr. Gray picked you to go to the island?” And Sebastian even knew about it, letting him send that mental health report to Jaffina.

Nathan had always thought it was because of his own skills. ‘So, was it really just because I’m a Trent?’ he wondered. ‘In this way, Mr. Gray could work with the Trent family out in the open, and no one would suspect a thing’

Nathan didn’t know what to say. The truth hit him like a ton of bricks, shattering his whole world.

Allan, who’s usually so flippant, now had a steely look in his eyes. “We’ve always stayed out of each other’s way with those local militias, but this time they sent a hundred men for a sneak attack? They’ve really got some

nerve,”

Sebastian’s gaze was lowered, and then out of nowhere, he said, “Use the satellite phone to get in touch with the peacekeeping forces.”

Everyone’s attention snapped to him.

Allan’s face grew tense. “Sebastian, what do you mean?”

Stella shot him a look and finished his sentence. “They’ve got the meds now, but they’re missing doctors.”

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So, they needed to let them know that they gotta stay sharp and watch out for ambushes.

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Emerson glanced back at Stella. Even with all these men around, she carried herself with laid-back confidence, totally at ease, but there was a quiet authority in the way she moved.

He was familiar with the Yates family.

For Stella to command the respect of these battle-hardened guys, she had to be something special.

Jaxon nodded. “I’ll call them right now.”

Suddenly, Stella’s phone started ringing urgently. She gave her phone a frosty look.

It was Cedar, the head of the Dorestan Medical Alliance.

She picked up, face unreadable.

“Bad news,” a deep, middle-aged man’s voice came through the receiver.

Stella asked him to keep going.

Cedar said, “There’s chaos in Farronia. The peacekeeping doctors have been kidnapped. The biggest local militia is sending out an international signal, demanding that Shark step in and perform a surgery. Otherwise…”

A cold glint flashed in Stella’s eyes. “Go on.”

Cedar continued, “They’re threatening to execute the doctors.”

As Cedar was still talking, Jaxon returned from his call, looking grim. He shook his head at Sebastian, signaling bad news. Too late. The base got hit, and the doctors were gone!

“They want Shark,” Jaxon said, his voice heavy. His face was dark. Shark was a legend. No one knew if Shark was a guy or a girl, how old, or where they were from. Even surgeries depended on Shark’s mood.

‘How the hell are we supposed to reach Shark?’ Jaxon wondered.

Hearing that, Allan shot a meaningful look at Stella. ‘Shark, huh?’ he thought to himself.

Charles frowned. “I’ll call the Dorestan Medical Alliance Headquarters and see if they can-”

“No need,” Stella said coolly, cutting him off, her tone calm as she ended the call. “I’ll call Shark.”

She said it so casually, like she was just talking about the weather.

Everyone turned to look at Stella. Charles looked like he wanted to say something, but with Sebastian there, he kept quiet.

But Nathan couldn’t hold back his emotion. He blurted out, “That’s Shark we’re talking about!”

‘Shark isn’t just some nobody!’ Nathan thought. ‘Shark is a legend among the freelance doctors.’

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Stella just shrugged, tossing out a casual “Oh.” She honestly couldn’t figure out why Nathan was so hyped, but she played along anyway.

Nathan stared, dumbfounded. “Oh? That’s it?”

‘That’s it?’ he thought, completely thrown off. His voice went up an octave, his face full of disbelief.

Stella held back a sigh but answered patiently, “What else did you expect?”

Nathan burst out, “How are you so chill? That’s Shark! Shark!”

‘So?’ Stella thought, totally unfazed.

Emerson asked, his tone clear, “You actually know Shark, Ms. Carter?”

Having already been stunned by Stella back at the Red Shadow Training Grounds, Allan lifted his chin with a

smug grin and said, “Our Stella doesn’t just know Shark. Shark is her master!”

‘Wait, am I supposed to be my own master now?’ Stella wondered, totally thrown off.

But Allan just shot her a wink, giving her that “I totally get it” look.

‘Like hell you do!’ Stella thought, rolling her eyes.

“Seriously? Shark is your master?” Nathan shouted, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

Stella stared, bewildered.

Everyone stared at her, but she didn’t say yes or no. She dodged the question and turned to Sebastian. “Are we heading to Farronia?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian replied.

Stella raised an eyebrow. “When do we leave?”

Sebastian reached out and smoothed a wind-blown strand of hair from her cheek. “Right now.”

The private jet was already waiting.

Stella didn’t hesitate. “I’m coming too.”

Charles frowned, not approving. “Ms. Carter, Farronia’s a powder keg right now, and we’re heading straight into the crossfire-”

Stella didn’t even let him finish. “I’m going.”

Charles turned to Sebastian, almost like he was complaining, “Mr. Gray.”

But Sebastian didn’t even glance his way, just reached out and smoothed a stray lock of Stella’s hair.

Stella cut in again, sounding laid-back. “If I’m not going, then Shark isn’t going either.” Her words were pure

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Everyone stood there, dumbstruck.

Sebastian kept his expression cool, but.inside he found her defiant streak irresistibly cute. “Wherever I go, you go.”

That finally made Stella happy. She raised her hand, pressed a finger to her lips, and whistled.

Instantly, a scruffy little peregrine falcon came zooming in from the distance. It made a cute sound as it dove straight into Sebastian’s black shirt pocket. “Chirp!” Then it squeaked from inside the pocket and gave a little tilt.

Everyone stood there, dumbstruck.

Sebastian lifted his eyes with a lazy glance. “Not bringing anything else with you?”

At his words, Stella looked as if something just occurred to her. She turned her head toward a spot, cool as

ever.

Everyone followed her gaze.

With his usual devil-may-care attitude, Allan whistled. “Oh.”

Half an hour later, at the international Airport, two military vehicles pulled up with a deafening screech, one after the other.

Emily stepped out, face blank, just as Stella strolled over, looking totally chill.

“Well, you’re pretty calm this time,” Stella remarked.

Emily forced a smile, but didn’t say a word, just turned her head away and puked.

“Sorry, sorry,” she muttered. She was carsick, big time.

Everyone just stood there, at a loss for words.

After puking her guts out, Emily wiped her mouth with a swagger. “Alright, who’s the unlucky patient this time?” Her eyes were steely with resolve, like a warrior heading straight into battle, ready to face whatever came her way.

Everyone just shook their head or shrugged.

In the lounge, Emily was slumped in her seat, looking like death warmed over, when she suddenly felt something poke her. She turned her head and saw that there was a nasal inhaler dangling from the tip of the plain plant’s leaf.

Stella rested her chin in her hand and shot Emily a lazy “help yourself” gesture.

‘Did I puke so hard that I’m hallucinating?’ Emily thought, dazed. ‘Otherwise, why am I seeing a skinny little

black snake?’

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She reached for the nasal inhaler hanging off the plain plant, her voice lost. “Thanks.”

She tugged at it, but it wouldn’t budge!

Emily and the plain plant locked eyes in a silent showdown. The plain plant rustled.

Emily stared, completely baffled. “What does that even mean?”

Stella smiled. “It’s waiting for you to give it a compliment.”

Emily fumbled, “Uh… nice… nice plant?”

The plain plant rustled even harder.

Emily’s head snapped up. “Why does it look so mad?”

Stella let out a lazy yawn. “You have to really mean it when you praise it.”

Emily protested, “I am being serious!”

‘I really am being sincere!’ Emily thought.

Stella shook her head. “Still not sincere enough.”

The plain plant nodded in agreement.

Emily was nearly in tears. “Then what am I supposed to say?”

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Stella, cool as ever, recited, “You’re supposed to say you are the most stunning, world-class, envy-of-birds, beauty-of-the-ages, legendary plant ever.”

Emily was left speechless.

The plain plant rustled and danced. A soothing, one-of-a-kind scent spread through the lounge, and the security guy was about to pass out right there, eyelids drooping, ready to hit the floor.

The next second, Sebastian, still talking to the embassy folks, turned around expressionless and shot the plant a cold, “Ugly!”

The plain plant stopped its move and thought, ‘I’ll kill myself…

Before it could even finish its dramatic collapse, Sebastian just snatched up the whole plant, pot and all.

Then the plain plant scared, and the scent vanished from the room in an instant. It even curled its leaves, giving a “Yes, Sir!” salute.

Emily shook her head. She grabbed the nasal inhaler in silence and started blowing her nose.

She saw the embassy staff, turning a blind eye, hand them a large brown envelope. “Once you land, there’s only so much we can do,” he said.

Chace 2

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wid all sorts of clashes broke out all the time

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