Badass in Disguise Chapter 173

"So, what do you think of my brother? Two days in, do you like him?" Jade asked, glancing at Zach from the passenger seat as they drove toward Princeton.

Zach's eyes remained fixed on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel at precisely ten and two. "He's smart. Quiet. Keeps to himself mostly."

"That's not what I asked."

Silence filled the car for a moment before Zach cleared his throat. "Shadow Organization assassins are elite. They excel at everything, especially killing. I'm just..." He frowned, the expression deepening the scar near his left eyebrow. "I'm good at fighting. That's it. But if I fail to protect your brother, would you be angry? Would you cut ties with Titan Defense Group?".

Jade turned to look at him fully. "I never expected you and Ryan to risk your lives. Remember this—if you can't win, run. Max's life matters, but so do yours."

Zach's eyes flickered toward her briefly, surprise evident in his usually stoic expression. "You care if we live or die?"

He hadn't expected this from Jade. In his experience, mercenary leaders treated their subordinates as disposable weapons—tools to be used while the bosses remained safely distant from danger. After Nobody, Jade was only the second person he'd encountered who treated her people as actual human beings—even as friends—rather than expendable assets.

"only fools sacrifice their pieces needlessly. Smart players know when to retreat." Jade said, gazing out at the passing buildings,

The light turned green, and Zach accelerated smoothly, his grip on the wheel loosening slightly.

---

In the sleek office of Haxton Enterprises, Ethan leaned back in his leather chair as Connor delivered the news.

"Richards Group CEO Roland Richards is begging for mercy, sir," Connor said, his tablet clutched in one hand.

Ethan's eyebrows shot up. "Why would he come to me?" A smile tugged at his lips as a thought occurred to him. This had to be Jade's doing. Maybe she was finally accepting his position in her life, giving him tests to pass. It was promising—a sign that she was beginning to trust him with matters important to her.

"Richards targeted Zach at Princeton, sir," Connor explained, swiping through files on his tablet. "Had him beaten and hospitalized. Then sent men after him at school yesterday. Chase Astor intervened and passed the matter to you."

Ethan's pleasant fantasy shattered. "Ah." So not Jade testing him after all. Just Chase Astor playing wingman.

Connor waited patiently for instructions, his posture perfectly straight.

"Tell Richards to get the fuck out of New York," Ethan finally said, his voice cold despite the casual profanity. "No company in New York will work with Richards Group. Anyone with investments or shares should divest immediately. Those who drag their feet can join him in exile."

"Yes, sir."

"One more thing, Connor." Ethan's green eyes gleamed dangerously as he leaned forward. "The fact that Richards can still beg means he's not hurt enough. Have someone remedy that."

Connor nodded and left without another word, the door closing softly behind him.

---

Chase Astor wiped sweat from his brow as he finished his pre-game basketball practice. His teammates were already heading to the locker room, but Chase wanted to find Jade before the big game against Randview College tomorrow. He bounced the ball once more, letting it roll away as he reached for his water bottle.

"Chase Astor!"

The shrill voice made him wince. He turned to see Aurelia Sullivan marching toward him, her face set in determination. Her designer boots clicked aggressively against the polished floor.

"Not now, Sullivan. I'm busy," he said, trying to move past her.

"I brought you money for your car," she said, blocking his path.

Chase stopped dead. "Oh really? Did you bring enough money?" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he looked her up and down.

"Your fireworks were cheap garbage," Aurelia snapped. "Quality fireworks don't explode from a minor impact. Maybe if you spent less on your hair products and more on your pyrotechnics—"

"Cheap?" Chase sputtered, outraged. "Are you questioning my purchasing power? I don't buy cheap anything! You're the cheap one—cheap personality, cheap apologies, cheap driving skills!"

"I apologized and I'm paying for damages," Aurelia said through gritted teeth, her face flushing with anger. "We're even. Take the money and leave me alone."

"I don't want your money," Chase said, trying to step around her. "I need to find Jade."

Aurelia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Still playing lapdog to Morgan? Pathetic."

"Says Edward Sheldon's lapdog," Chase retorted with a sneer. "Following him around with physics problems like some desperate tutor. News flash—he's not interested in your equations."

Color flooded Aurelia's cheeks. She thrust a bank card at his chest with enough force to make him step back. "I don't like owing people money! Take it!"

Chase caught the card reflexively as Aurelia spun on her heel and stormed off, her boots leaving angry taps in her wake.

"Your car was trash anyway!" she called over her shoulder.

Chase stared at the card in his hand, shaking his head in disbelief. "Sullivan women," he muttered, pocketing the card. "All fire and no sense."

---

Chase finally spotted Jade in the hallway. He ran a hand through his hair and put on his most charming smile.

"Jade!" he called, jogging over. His smile faltered slightly when he saw Edward standing close to her, their heads bent over a textbook.

"Chase," Jade acknowledged, her expression neutral as always.

Edward glanced up, his intelligent eyes assessing Chase before returning to the book.

"Big game against Randview tomorrow," Chase said, ignoring Edward completely. "You'll come watch me play, right?"

Jade shrugged. "Depends on my schedule."

"You should come," Chase insisted, leaning against the lockers with practiced casualness. "I'll score twenty points just for you. The whole school's talking about it—Randview brought in some transfer students just for their basketball team."

"Sounds riveting," Jade said, not looking up from the textbook Edward was showing her.

Edward adjusted his glasses, clearly uncomfortable with Chase's presence hovering over them.

"I should get going," Chase said, but not before giving Edward a hard look. "Just remember, Sheldon—ask for help if you need it, but don't get any other ideas. Anyone trying to compete with Ethan Haxton tends to have unfortunate accidents." He tapped his temple knowingly.

Edward simply stared at him before returning his attention to the textbook in his hands. "Your concern is noted," he said quietly.

Jade glanced up at Chase, one eyebrow slightly raised.

Chase flashed her a wide grin before sauntering away.

---

The gymnasium buzzed with excitement the next day. Princeton students packed the bleachers on one side, while Randview College supporters filled the other. The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished floor mingled with the roar of conversation as both teams warmed up.

Chase scanned the crowd, looking for Jade's face among the sea of people. He dribbled the ball absently, more focused on the audience than the pre-game drills.

The doors at the far end of the gym opened, and the Randview cheerleaders streamed in, their short skirts and practiced moves drawing immediate attention. Their routine was flawless, ending with their star cheerleader performing an impressive series of flips that had the Randview section erupting in cheers.

"Damn," a teammate whispered, coming to stand beside Chase. "That's Randview's strategy? Distract us with their cheer squad?"

Chase snorted. "Could be worse."

"Hey, why don't you ask Jade Morgan to be our cheerleader?" his teammate suggested with a smirk. "Level the playing field."

Chase's head whipped around so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. "Are you insane?"

His teammate paled slightly. "I was just joking, man."

The referee's whistle cut through the chatter. Both teams lined up on the court, the atmosphere electric with tension.