Badass in Disguise Chapter 213

Jade stood silently near the back of Jensen's living room, watching the confrontation unfold with detached interest. The tension in the air was palpable as Loki—tall, lean, and unnervingly composed—faced Chris Jensen with four Scorpio family members flanking him like stone sentinels.

"Only give my sister back, and we'll consider our grievances settled," Loki said, his voice smooth as silk despite the dangerous undertones. "You burned our auction house, killed many of our people—but I won't dwell on who lost more. Just let me take my sister home."

Chris leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, looking almost bored. His wrists were still bandaged, but he carried himself as if the injuries were trivial inconveniences.

"Your sister tortured me for days," he replied with a cold smile. "The fact that she's still breathing shows remarkable restraint on my part. You think you can just walk in and take her? Life doesn't work that way."

Jade studied Loki's face for any reaction. His expression remained unchanged, but she caught the brief tightening of his jaw—the only sign that Chris's words had any effect.

"Then take me instead," Loki offered, spreading his hands. "Keep me as your prisoner. Just spare my sister's life and let her go. If I return without her, I'm dead anyway."

Chris raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the offer. "And why would I want you?"

"Liana didn't intend to harm you," Loki explained, his voice softening. "She's young, impulsive. When she captured you, her father immediately ordered her to release you. He never wanted conflict with the Jensen family. The pursuit afterward—that was Kane's doing, Liana's uncle. She never handed you over to him, which suggests she didn't want you dead."

The conversation paused as heavy footsteps approached from the hallway. Chris straightened slightly, his eyes moving past Loki to the doorway.

"Sir, Mr. Maddox Jensen has returned," a security guard announced.

"Bring Liana," Chris ordered, not taking his eyes off Loki.

The atmosphere shifted as Maddox Jensen entered the room—tall, silver-haired, with the cold authority that comes from decades of wielding power. Eleanor slipped in behind Jade, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.

Two guards brought Liana in. Her face was pale, with dark circles under her eyes, but her posture remained defiant. When she saw Chris, her eyes flashed with hatred. Strangely, she showed no excitement or gratitude at Loki's presence, despite him coming to rescue her.

"Father," Chris began, "the Scorpio family has come to—"

"I heard," Maddox cut him off, his gaze sweeping over the visitors. "Since they've come all this way, it would be rude to let them leave empty-handed." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "In fact, why not ensure they all stay?"

Loki tensed visibly.

"Mr. Jensen," he started, voice still controlled, "we came in peace—"

"Loki," Jade interrupted, stepping forward. All eyes turned to her. "Nice to see you again."

A flicker of recognition crossed his face, followed by a carefully crafted smile. "Miss Morgan. What a pleasant surprise."

"You killed Marcus, didn't you?" she said casually.

The room went utterly silent. Every person present stared at Loki, whose expression remained puzzlingly calm.

"I don't understand what you mean," he replied, looking genuinely confused. "Marcus was my cousin."

"What are you afraid of?" Jade pressed, enjoying the spectacle. "Kill Liana, and no one in the Scorpio family would ever know, right?"

Eleanor's heart rate spiked beside her.

Loki's face hardened. "Miss Morgan, we may have our differences, but I helped you in Spain. Is this how you repay me? By trying to get me killed?"

Before Jade could respond, Maddox spoke up. "Enough chatter. Since you're here, none of you are leaving."

Chris glanced at his father. "Dad, let me handle this."

Maddox studied his son for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. With the entire room watching, he stepped back, deferring to Chris's judgment—but his presence remained a looming threat.

"If you want to take her back," Chris said, turning to Loki, "there's a price. She scarred me; it's only fair she bears a mark as well. Three cuts, six sides."

Eleanor whispered urgently in Jade's ear, "What does that mean?"

Jade didn't answer, watching as understanding dawned on Loki's face.

"Let me take the punishment instead," Loki requested, stepping forward.

"No need." Liana's voice cut through the tension. She snatched a knife from one of the guards' belts with surprising speed. Before anyone could react, she pressed the blade beneath her left eye and carved a hexagon into her own flesh.

Blood streamed down her cheek as she worked methodically, her hand steady despite the pain. Eleanor gasped beside Jade, her face turning ashen.

When she finished, Liana tossed the bloody knife onto the polished floor. "Satisfied?" she asked, blood dripping from her chin.

Chris nodded once. "Get out."

Liana walked toward the door without looking at anyone, her bloodied face held high. Loki and his men followed quickly, eager to escape before Maddox changed his mind.

As the front door closed behind them, Jade turned to Chris. "I need to go to Russia tomorrow."

Chris was still staring at the blood droplets on his floor. "What for?"

"To pick up some things."

---

In the sleek black SUV driving away from the Jensen estate, Liana pressed a cloth to her bleeding cheek. The moment the gates disappeared from view, she whipped around and held a knife to Loki's throat.

"Who really killed Marcus?" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage despite her steady hand.

Loki remained perfectly still, the blade pressing against his skin. "I was sent away by Marcus himself when it happened. His men told me that before he died, Chris Jensen visited with his friends. That's all I know."

"You better not be lying," Liana hissed. "If I find out you killed him, I'll end you myself."

"He was my cousin," Loki repeated calmly. "Why would I kill him?"

"Just because you're cousins doesn't mean anything!" she spat.

"Liana," Loki said gently, "your face is still bleeding. We need to get you to a hospital before you lose too much blood."

Liana looked at him with pure disgust. "Don't pretend to care."

The car continued toward the nearest hospital in tense silence.

After a long moment, Liana spoke again, her voice ice-cold. "My father only sent you to get me?"

"Yes," Loki answered simply.

Liana fell silent, turning to stare out the window.

---

The next day, Liana walked into the Scorpio Mansion, a fresh bandage covering her left cheek. She found her father in the grand living room, lounging on a plush sofa with two scantily dressed women draped over him.

"Ah, Liana's back," he announced lazily, barely glancing up from his entertainment.

Liana stood before him, waiting for some acknowledgment of her injury, but he merely poured himself another drink, seemingly uninterested in her condition.

"You should have dealt with Jensen immediately," her father finally said, setting down his glass. "When you capture someone, you kill them quickly and leave no trace."

"Marcus wasn't killed by him," Liana stated flatly.

Her father waved dismissively. "I don't care who killed Marcus. What matters is whether you've caused problems for our family." He took another sip. "Have you?"

"Uncle Kane almost killed me," Liana said, her voice tight with controlled emotion.

"I see," her father replied indifferently. "Well, I'll speak with him. You should rest, Liana."

As her father returned his attention to the giggling women beside him, Liana clenched her fists. From a nearby enclosure, she heard the soft hissing of the family's prized Python reticulatus. The sound made her shudder involuntarily.