Badass in Disguise Chapter 245

Pain was the first thing Jade registered as consciousness slowly returned. Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy as she forced them open, the dim light of an unfamiliar room slowly coming into focus.

A motel room. Cheap but clean. The wallpaper was faded, with a pattern that might have been stylish twenty years ago.

She tried to speak, but her throat was so dry that only a raspy breath escaped. That small effort sent waves of pain radiating from her shoulder down through her chest. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes—not from emotion, just the body's involuntary response to pain.

"Jade?"

Ethan's voice came from beside her, laced with relief and exhaustion. His hand was wrapped around hers, warm and steady.

"Do you need water?" he asked, already moving to get it.

He kept his right hand carefully angled away from her view.

Ethan returned with a glass, gently sliding his arm beneath her shoulders to help her sit up. The movement sent fresh waves of pain through her body, but she clenched her jaw and endured it. He held the glass to her lips, and she managed a small sip before the effort became too much. The water felt like heaven against her parched throat, but swallowing was agony.

"This place is safe for now," he said, lowering her back to the pillow. "Just rest."

She wanted to ask questions—where they were, how long she'd been out, what had happened—but the brief moment of clarity was already fading. Darkness pulled her back under, and she surrendered to it.

When Jade woke again, the room was darker. Night had fallen, and only a small lamp in the corner provided illumination. Ethan was still there, this time holding a bowl of something steaming.

"The motel manager's wife made some soup," he explained, noticing her gaze. "Think you can try to eat something?"

Her stomach churned at the thought of food, but she knew she needed to rebuild her strength. She managed a small nod.

Ethan helped her sit up against the headboard, arranging pillows to support her back. As he did, the sleeve of his shirt rode up, revealing the bandages wrapped around his hand and wrist.

"What happened to your hand?" she asked, her voice still barely above a whisper.

He glanced down as if surprised to see the injury himself. "Ran into some Shadow operatives night before last. It's just the hand, nothing serious."

Feeding her was a slow, frustrating process. Each spoonful felt like swallowing glass, and after barely ten spoonfuls, she couldn't take any more. Ethan didn't push, just set the bowl aside and wiped her mouth gently. He poured a cup of warm water and took her medication from his pocket.

He carefully crushed the pills between two spoons, mixing the powder with water before helping her drink the bitter solution.

"We can't go back to Princeton," she said once the medicine was down. The words took enormous effort, but she needed him to understand. "They'll be waiting."

A return to Princeton would be suicide. She knew the Shadow Organization's capabilities better than anyone—their operatives blended perfectly into crowds, striking without warning. They could find targets anywhere, even underground.

"Max, he..." she whispered.

"He's safe," Ethan assured her. "I contacted Colonel Edwards. The military connection should make them think twice."

Relief washed over her face. She looked at Ethan—really looked at him. The dim light couldn't hide the exhaustion etched into his features. Dark circles underlined bloodshot eyes, and stubble shadowed his jaw. How long had it been since he'd slept?

"Ethan," she said softly.

He leaned closer immediately. "What is it? Are you hurting?"

His hand touched her forehead, then her cheek. "You're still running a temperature, but the medication should help with that. You won't feel as bad once it kicks in."

Her body felt like it had been soaked in sweat a dozen times over. The sheets beneath her were damp, and her skin felt clammy.

"Would you like me to help clean you up?" he asked hesitantly. "It might make you more comfortable."

She couldn't answer, but her lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile.

Ethan caught her expression and leaned closer, his face almost touching hers. "What's that smile for?"

He rested his cheek against hers, closing his eyes. The tension seemed to drain from him at the contact, as if her consciousness alone provided relief.

The medication had sedatives mixed in, and Jade felt herself drifting back into unconsciousness. Her eyelids grew heavier with each passing second. Ethan sat by her bedside, still holding her hand.

It was nearly four in the morning when footsteps approached their door. The hallway was quiet, and the soft sound of the doorknob turning barely disturbed the silence. The door opened smoothly.

Ethan stood just inside, facing the two figures at the threshold.

"Sir," greeted Maverick, his voice low and respectful. Beside his stood Sloane, both clearly having traveled far and fast to reach them.

The two stepped inside. Maverick reached into his jacket and produced a small package.

"What you requested, sir," he said quietly.

Even in the dim light, Ethan's exhaustion was visible. His normally impeccable appearance was disheveled, his face drawn with fatigue.

Maverick lowered his voice further. "You should get some rest, sir. Sloane and I will take watch outside."

The two slipped out as quietly as they had entered. Maverick headed downstairs to guard the entrance, while Sloane remained in the hallway outside their room.

Ethan moved to the bed and carefully lay down beside Jade, mindful not to disturb her.

Despite his bone-deep exhaustion, sleep eluded him. Every few minutes, he would jerk awake, checking on Jade's breathing.

Outside their temporary sanctuary, the Shadow Organization had mobilized its forces. This was their perfect opportunity to remove their most troublesome adversary while she was vulnerable.

Assassins from around the world converged on Africa, determined to complete the mission. Soon, the continent would be crawling with Shadow operatives, all hunting for Jade.

Ethan wanted nothing more than to let Jade recover in peace, but as soon as she was lucid enough, she insisted they relocate. They couldn't risk staying in one place too long. In the previous town, Ethan had killed two Shadow operatives, and their colleagues were likely already following the trail.

As darkness fell the next evening, they set off once more on their dangerous journey.

The four made it to the next location without incident. Ethan carried Jade with extreme care, terrified of reopening her wounds.

When they reached a hospital in the new town, Maverick went in first to scout the location. After confirming it was safe, Ethan carried Jade inside.

While the staff changed Jade's bandages, Sloane suddenly tensed, her hand going to the Bluetooth earpiece she wore. After listening for a moment, her expression hardened.

"Shadow operatives are here," she informed Ethan tersely.

Without hesitation, Ethan gathered the necessary medications and carried Jade out before the nurse could begin the IV drip. They escaped the hospital just in time, finding a small inn several blocks away.

Maverick checked the premises first, then signaled the all-clear. Inside their room, Ethan carefully laid Jade on the bed and removed several IV bags and tubing from his coat—items he'd grabbed during their hasty hospital exit.

He unwrapped the bandage from his injured hand, exposing the stitched wounds on his fingers. Then, with determination, he prepared to insert the IV needle into his own hand, practicing the technique.

"Sir, let me do it," Sloane protested, stepping forward.

Ethan ignored her, focusing on the task.

He continued practicing on himself, while Sloane stood by with cotton swabs to stem the bleeding from his unsuccessful attempts.

Soon, both Ethan and Sloane's hands were covered in needle marks. Even after successfully inserting the needle several times, Ethan continued practicing, much to Sloane's visible concern.

Jade's veins were much finer than theirs, leaving little room for error. Ethan had anticipated this challenge and had taken a tourniquet from the hospital. He secured it around Jade's arm, making her veins more visible, then carefully inserted the needle.

He succeeded on the first attempt, breathing a sigh of relief as he secured the IV line and gently laid her hand back down on the bed.