Badass in Disguise Chapter 150

Jade's POV:

I felt Night's gaze on me as I navigated through Princeton's evening traffic. His eyes hadn't left me since we'd gotten in the car twenty minutes ago. The weight of his stare was becoming impossible to ignore.

"What the hell are you staring at?" I finally snapped, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Instead of backing off, Night leaned closer, invading my personal space until I could smell his expensive cologne. "Darling, this face is still so new to me," he said, his accent thickening with amusement. "I need to memorize every detail."

I rolled my eyes. "You've been staring since the airport. It's creepy."

"It's appreciation," he corrected, fingers reaching out to touch my cheek before I swatted them away.

Night's attention shifted to my wrist as I changed lanes. His playful expression hardened. "What is that piece of garbage on your wrist?"

I glanced down at my worn watch. The leather strap was cracked, and the face was scratched, but it kept perfect time. "It's a watch."

"That's not a watch. That's an insult to timekeeping." Night grabbed my wrist, pulling it toward him despite my protest. "You wear this trash, yet you made me search for that limited-edition one for your pretty boy Haxton?"

"It tells time. That's all I need it to do," I replied, yanking my hand back.

"You know what else is interesting?" Night continued, ignoring my comment. "You 'die,' come back to life, and the first people you meet with are Titan Defense Group and Chris Jensen—not me. Chris bragged to me for half an hour after seeing you."

I kept my face neutral. "I was worried about your safety."

Night's face lit up. "I knew it! You care about me the most, baby."

His smug expression made me want to slam on the brakes and send him flying into the dashboard.

"How long are you planning to stay in Princeton?" I asked, changing the subject.

Night stretched out, making himself comfortable. "As long as you need me, darling."

"That's not an answer."

He sighed dramatically. "The perils of being irreplaceable. So many people demanding my time."

"What about the power struggles within Arctic Fox?" I pressed. "Your 791 Group has always been a target for the other units. Has the situation calmed down? You seem awfully relaxed to be here wasting time with me."

Night scoffed, waving dismissively. "What's there to worry about? In our world, power comes from strength. Anyone who dares challenge me gets eliminated. Simple as that. They've learned to behave."

His casualness about killing was so familiar it almost made me smile. Almost.

"Besides," he continued, his voice softening, "seeing you is worth any risk. They can go fuck themselves if anyone has a problem with it."

Night shifted in his seat, studying me again. "Now, about this Haxton character..."

"What about him?"

"What's the deal? Is he just another mark or something more?" His tone remained casual, but I caught the tension underneath.

"Still assessing," I replied coolly.

Night's fingers drummed against his thigh. "I don't like him."

"You don't like anyone."

"That's not true. I like you." He paused dramatically. "And I'm jealous."

I shot him a glare. "Keep talking and I'll throw you out of this moving car."

Night laughed, clearly enjoying my irritation. "There's my Shadow."

As we approached the Grand Plaza Hotel, I noticed something odd. "You came alone this time. No security detail, no VIP treatment. That's not like you."

"Why would I need bodyguards when I have you?" Night grinned. "Besides, sometimes it's better to fly under the radar."

I pulled up to the hotel entrance. "Since when do you care about being under the radar?"

The valet approached, and I handed him the keys. As we entered the lobby, I froze. Standing by the reception desk was Ethan Haxton, accompanied by his aunt Olivia and Connor.

"Miss Morgan, what a coincidence!" Olivia called out, her eyes lighting up at the sight of us.

Night leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Coincidence my ass. Your boy is stalking you."

"This is Princeton's most expensive hotel," I muttered back.

"Don't defend him," Night growled.

Olivia approached us, elegant in her designer dress. "Ethan has reserved a private dining room to welcome me back. Since you're here, why not join us?"

Before I could decline, Night stepped forward with a charming smile. "We'd be delighted. I love lively company."

I shot him a glare that he pointedly ignored.

In the private dining room, Night pulled out my chair with exaggerated gallantry, then sat so close to me our shoulders touched. He picked up the menu and began ordering without consulting me.

"My darling will have the seared scallops to start—she loves seafood but hates shellfish except for scallops. Then the rare steak, no sauce on the side. And bring us your best Cabernet."

"Darling, what do you think?" Night asked.

I shrugged. "Sounds fine."

Night reached for the red rose in the table's centerpiece and tucked it behind my ear. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman. Perfect."

I removed the rose and stuck it into Night's perfectly styled hair. "There. Much better."

Anyone else would have been furious—Night was obsessive about his hair and spent ridiculous amounts of time styling it. But he just beamed at me like I'd given him the greatest gift.

I caught Ethan watching us, his jaw clenched tight. When he noticed me looking, his expression softened into a slight smile.

"Stop looking at him," Night demanded. "Look at me. What's so interesting about him anyway?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You're quite straightforward, Mr. Night."

"My darling appreciates directness," Night replied, his eyes never leaving my face. "She hates the convoluted games businessmen like you play. All that pretense and façade."

Ethan's smile didn't waver. "For someone who's clearly dated countless women, you seem to understand this one particularly well."

"Just passing flings," Night replied with a dismissive wave. "What I feel for my Shadow is genuine." He turned to Ethan, his smile sharp. "Though I wonder if your reluctance toward women might indicate... certain issues? My darling is an exceptional doctor. For the right price, I'm sure she'd be willing to examine your problem."

I looked at Night, unimpressed. "Being selective means there's something wrong with him? Don't let Chris hear you say that."

Night snorted. "Chris might prefer men for all I know. Perhaps Mr. Haxton shares that preference?"

Ethan's eyes darkened, but his smile remained in place. "Dr. Morgan seems quite familiar with my preferences. Perhaps you should ask her."

The waiter arrived with our food, breaking the tense moment. "Dinner is served."

Throughout the meal, Night was attentive to my every need, refilling my water glass before it was empty and making sure the best cuts of meat were on my plate.

"I've brought something special," Night mentioned casually. "A 1932 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. It arrives in two days. We should share a bottle, for old times' sake."

As we left the restaurant, Night carried the rose in his hair, completely ignoring Ethan's presence. In the car, he finally spoke about our dining companions.

"Is that the best he can do? Chase after my darling with that weak game? He should practice for a few more years."

I started the engine. "Have you made any other new friends I should know about?"

Night looked at me. "Are you asking if I've been playing well with others? You know I only tolerate people when necessary."

"Just keep a low profile," I warned. "You're in someone else's territory now."

Night smiled, unworried. "I'll behave. For you."

I floored the accelerator, making him grab the dashboard. His laugh filled the car as we sped through the night, leaving the hotel—and Ethan Haxton—behind us.