Badass in Disguise Chapter 237

The SUV came to a halt several hundred yards from the massive structure looming in the desert.

Miguel shifted nervously in the driver's seat, squinting through the windshield. "This is insane," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "How the hell are we supposed to get in there? There's not a single bit of cover for hundreds of yards. Even with the radar jammed, we'll be spotted in seconds. No way to sneak in." He turned to face me, exasperation clear in his voice. "What's the plan? Just charge in guns blazing?"

I lowered the binoculars and gave him a flat look. "We walk in."

I turned my attention to Selene. Her wrists were still bound, though I'd loosened the restraints enough to prevent circulation issues. I had reset her dislocated leg earlier. "Time to move," I told her.

Selene climbed out of the SUV, wincing as her injured leg hit the sand. I followed closely, positioning myself behind her slender frame. She'd make an excellent human shield if needed.

"What about me?" Miguel called through the open window.

"Stay with the vehicle," I ordered. "Be ready to leave quickly if necessary."

We trudged through the sand, the fortress growing larger with each step. Selene's limp became more pronounced as we approached, but she didn't complain. Smart woman. The high walls stretched at least fifty feet into the air, built in a neo-classical style that seemed wildly out of place in the middle of the desert.

Four guard towers marked the corners of the compound, but as we drew closer, I could see they were unmanned. The main gate stood open, its electronic security systems dark and inactive.

We passed through the entrance without resistance, not a single alarm or guard in sight. The moment we stepped inside the fortress walls, the howling desert wind died away, and the stinging sand no longer whipped at our faces. The silence was absolute—no footsteps, no voices, not even the hum of electronics.

"Where is everyone?" I whispered, more to myself than to Selene.

"I don't know," she replied, her voice tight with tension.

I pressed my gun into the small of her back. "Keep moving."

The interior of the fortress was a stark contrast to its exterior. Instead of rough stone and desert functionality, the halls were lined with polished marble floors and modern art pieces worth millions. Recessed lighting cast a soft glow across leather furniture and glass tables. This wasn't a military installation—it was a luxury residence.

"Which way?" I demanded, nudging Selene with the barrel of my gun.

She hesitated, eyes darting between three identical corridors. "I... I'm not sure. I've only been here once before."

"Then guess."

Selene reluctantly led me down the left corridor, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor. I kept close behind her, using her body as cover while scanning constantly for threats. The small drone I'd brought with me hovered silently above.

The drone circled the space, encountering none of the infrared security measures Selene had warned about.

My earpiece crackled softly. "Master, signal jamming complete," Ethan's voice came through clearly. Ahead of us, the red indicators on several security cameras blinked and went dark.

We continued deeper into the building, passing through a series of lavishly decorated rooms. Each one empty. Each one silent.

"Master," Ethan's voice came again, "I'm detecting unknown signals directly beneath your position."

*Underground facility. Of course.*

We found a grand staircase leading to the second floor. The marble steps gleamed in the soft light, curving gracefully upward. I motioned for Selene to ascend, following a few steps behind. The drone zipped ahead, scanning the upper level for threats.

The second floor was as deserted as the first, more luxurious rooms sitting empty and pristine. The drone hovered outside a set of black ebony doors at the end of the hallway, its sensors detecting something unusual.

I approached cautiously, then fired a single shot from my silenced pistol, destroying the electronic lock. With a swift kick, I forced the door open and shoved Selene inside.

The room was a study, walls lined with leather-bound books and display cases filled with antiques. A massive desk of polished redwood dominated the center of the space. On it sat a chessboard, pieces arranged in what appeared to be the middle of a game.

I scanned the room carefully, noting the subtle cameras hidden in the ceiling corners—all inactive now. My attention returned to the chessboard. The position looked familiar—a classic endgame puzzle where white appeared to be in a losing position.

*Unless...*

I reached out and moved the white bishop diagonally across the board, turning an apparent checkmate into a winning position. A soft click emanated from the bookcase behind the desk.

The entire wall of books began to rotate, revealing a gleaming titanium security door behind it. Selene's eyes widened in genuine surprise as she glanced back at me.

The door was serious business—a sophisticated rotary combination lock with a complex mechanical system. This wasn't something I could just shoot open.

I reached into my backpack and pulled out a modified headset. The headphones had been altered, with a metallic device attached to the cord that occasionally flashed red. The USB connector had been replaced with a stethoscope-like sensor.

I placed the headset over my ears and pressed the sensor against the metal door near the lock mechanism. Slowly, I began to turn the lock, listening to the subtle clicks and whirs of the gears inside.

My fingers worked deftly, feeling for resistance and listening for the telltale sounds of pins aligning. After several minutes of intense concentration, I heard the final tumbler fall into place. The digital display flashed green.

The massive door swung open with a pneumatic hiss—and immediately, a cloud of white gas billowed from the gap.

I jerked backward, but not fast enough. Even the small amount I'd inhaled was potent. My vision blurred instantly, legs buckling beneath me. As I collapsed to the floor, I saw Selene holding her breath, her restraints suddenly falling away from her wrists.

The last thing I registered before consciousness slipped away was the drone dropping from the air, disabled by some kind of electromagnetic pulse.

I woke to the sensation of weightlessness. My wrists and ankles were bound in electronic shackles, suspending me spread-eagle in the center of a reinforced glass cell. Beyond the transparent walls, I could see a vast laboratory space, white-coated researchers moving between workstations filled with advanced equipment.

*Shit. Not again.*

The scene was horrifyingly familiar—too familiar. In my previous life, I'd been imprisoned in a similar facility on that Caribbean island, the one that had gone up in flames with me inside it. That lab had been built specifically for me, to extract and study my genetic material.

This underground bunker was clearly cut from the same cloth.

"Finally awake, I see." A woman's voice, cool and cultured, came from beyond the glass.

I struggled to lift my head, fighting against the lingering effects of the gas. Standing before my cell was a robust woman in her late forties, her muscular frame imposing despite her height. She wore a tailored emerald-green suit that emphasized her powerful physique. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back in a severe bun. A retractable metal whip, also green with glinting metal accents, was coiled around her wrist like a bracelet.

Queen of Clubs. The youngest of the organization's old guard.

"I must admit, I'm impressed," she continued, circling my cell with measured steps. "You're only the second person ever to find my hidden room, let alone manage to open it." Her lips curved in a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Very clever indeed."

I remained silent, conserving my strength and assessing my situation.

"Unfortunately," she added, "being too clever sometimes backfires, doesn't it?"

I met her gaze steadily, a bitter smile forming on my lips. "Yes... clever people often outsmart themselves."