Treatment 335 - Badass in Disguise

Badass in Disguise

bChapter /bb335 /b

As a small mercy for delivering the robot, he waved his hand dismissively, signaling his men to release Miguel.

“Let him go, Night muttered, clearly bored with the whole situation.

b“/bWe came togetherb, /bwe leave together,” he said with forced cheerfulnessb, /bgesturing toward the robot with a nervous wave of his hand.

Sloane tugged on Miguel’s arm hard enough to leave marks, his eyes wide with warning.

Night immediately pointed his gun at Miguel again, the barrel gleaming under the vi’s ornate lighting. He didn’t even bother to speakb. /b

Miguel’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed nervouslyb. /b“Thisb… /bthis robot…” He fumbled for words, his mind racing for an exnation that wouldn’t get him shot.

Without warning, the robot spoke in a deep, resonant male voiceb, /basking Miguel, “Where is my master?b” /b

The voice–unmistakably Ethan Haxton’sb–/bcut through the room like a knife. Night’s face transformed from irritation to rage in an instant. His knuckles whitened around the gun, and for a moment, Miguel thought he might actually shoot.

“Lock them up,” Night ordered, his voice dangerously quiet. “All of them.”

Later, the afternoon sun cast long shadows through the vi’s windows whenmotion outside caught everyone’s attention.

“What’s happening out there?” Night demanded, rising from his chair.

“It’s me,” Jade’s voice answered from beyond the doorway, calm and familiar.

Momentster, she walked in with Ethan Haxton at her side.

Night’s expression transformed instantly, the hardness melting away as joy radiated across his face. “Baby!” The endearment burst from him like he couldn’t contain it.

He rushed to Jade, immediately checking her for injuries, his hands hovering just above her shoulders bas /bif afraid she might break. “Baby, how are you? Are your wounds healing? Chris said your shoulder was badly injured. I’ve been worried sick.”

“Almost,” Jade replied simply, her face revealing nothing.

“Let me see–it’s your left shoulder, right?”

As he spoke, Night reached to pull aside Jade’s cor, fingers brushing against the fabric. Jade blocked his hand with practiced ease, her movement swift and definitive. “It’s fine.”

Night pulled her into a tight embraceb. /b“Baby, you scared me to death.”

Jade had clearly anticipated this move–her arm was already raised defensively between them before Night even moved. “I bwon’t /bdie that easily,” she said, her voice t.

Night held her tighter. “I thought I bwas /bgoing to lose you again.”

b10:36 /bFri, bOct /bb3 /bMb… /b

Hearing this, Jade stopped resistin.

Chris, watching from nearby with his hands in his pockets, looked relieved now that Jade had safely arrived. His sharp eyes caught the subtle way Ethan’s jaw tightened. Chris’s lips curved into a slight smirk, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama.

Chris stepped forward, yfully tapping Night’s arm. “Done hugging? My turn now.” His tone was deliberately provocative.

As expected, Ethan’s gaze immediately shifted to Chris, disapproval evident in his eyes. Chris merely looked amused by the breaction/b, spark of mischief in his eyes.

Night released Jade only to warn Chris, pointing a finger at his chest. “Back off. Try touching her and see what happens.” The threat was clear in his voice.

He turned back to Jade, his demeanor instantly gentle again as he cradled her face between his palms. His thumbs traced her cheekbones with disturbing intimacy. “Baby, why have you lost so much weight? You must not have been eating or sleeping properly.”

Jade turned her face away from Night’s hands, the movement subtle but firm. She nced briefly at Ethanb, /bcatching his eye across the

roomb. /b

Night’s voice hardened as he followed her gaze to Ethan. “Baby, what’s with your robot? Did you program that damn voice systemb?/bb” /b

He shot a cold nce at Ethanb, /bsuspicion evident in the narrowing of his eyes.

“And why didn’t you give me ess permissions?” Night continued, sounding almost petnt. “I tried everything but couldn’t change it. It even threatened to blow me up. If it wasn’t yours, baby, I would have blown it to pieces already.”

“Where did you put it?” Jade asked.

“Locked it up,” Night replied casually, then added pointedly, “You still haven’t told me if you programmed that voice system.”

Before Jade could respond, aser–cutting sound interrupted the conversation—a high–pitched whine followed by the sizzle of melting metal. All eyes turned toward a guest room as the thick door was precisely cut through, a perfect rectangle glowing red–hot before falling t to the floor with a heavy, thud.