Badass in Disguise


    <b>Chapter </b><b>185 </b>


    “Your friend doesn’t seem pleased,” hemented, ncing around my minimalist bedroom with evident curiosity.


    “He’ll survive<b>,</b><b>” </b>I replied dismissively. “Take off your shirt. I need to check your ribs properly.”


    Ethan carefully unbuttoned his shirt, revealing already darkening bruises along his left side. His torso was lean and well–defined, betraying regr workouts despite his busy schedule. I kept my touch clinical as my fingers pressed gently against his ribcage, checking for discement or severe damage.


    “Breathe in slowly,” I instructed, my face inches from his chest as I listened for any telltale sounds of lung damage.


    Ethanplied, watching my face as I worked. I maintained a professional detachment, focused entirely on my examination. He seemed almost disappointed by this.


    “Nothing’s broken,” I finally dered. “Bruised ribs, maybe a mild shoulder sprain. The pain will be significant for a few days<b>, </b>but there’s no serious damage.”


    “You’re very thorough,” Ethan observed. “Where did you learn medical examination techniques? Most people would just say ‘take some aspirin.“”


    I reached for my first aid kit, removing bandages and antiseptic. “I never give people check–ups,” I said as I prepared a bandage, my movements precise and practiced. “I only do surgery.”


    I began wrapping his torso, my hands moving with practiced efficiency. My fingertips brushed against his skin, and I noticed his heart rate quicken beneath my touch, the pulse at his throat visibly increasing. I nced up at his face, finding his green eyes watching me intently, a mixture of pain and something deeper, more vulnerable in his gaze.


    A sharp knock on the door interrupted the moment.


    “Darling,” Night called from the hallway, voiceced with impatience and thinly veiled jealousy. “How much longer? Should I order food, or are you nning to y doctor all night?”


    I ignored him, focusing on securing the bandage with small metal clips. I then reached into my kit and removed a small vial and syringe.


    “This will help with <b>the </b>pain,” I exined, filling the syringe with practiced ease. “It’s a mild analgesic, nothing that will impair your judgment.”


    “Is Night more than a friend?” Ethan asked suddenly as I prepared his arm for the injection, <b>his </b>eyes never leaving my face<b>. </b>


    I paused, my eyes meeting his. “Night is the person I trust most in this world,” I admitted, my <b>voice </b>softening almost imperceptibly.


    Ethan’s gaze dropped to my hands. “Before I met you, I never envied anyone,” he said quietly. “Now I find <b>myself </b>


    8:18 <b>Thu</b>, Sep <b>25 </b>


    :


    envying quite a few people. First Zach and Ryan, then your brother, then Chris<b>, </b>and now Night.”


    “Mr. Haxton is too aplished to envy anyone,” I replied, administering the injection with perfect precision<b>, </b>my free hand steadying his arm.


    97


    “I grew up abroad with my aunt,” Ethan continued, seemingly needing to share this piece of himself. “She raised me, became like a mother to me after my parents… well, that’s another story.”


    I looked at him curiously as I disposed of the needle. “Why are you telling me this<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Ethan’s eyes found mine again, earnest and unguarded. “I envy them because they mean something to you<b>, </b>because they know you better than I do. I can’t learn about you through other channels<b>, </b>so I thought perhaps… if I let you know me, you might let me know you.” He gave a self–deprecating smile. “It sounds foolish now that I’ve said it aloud. I don’t even know if you want to know me.”


    My lips curved into the barest hint of a smile, so slight it was barely perceptible. “It’s not foolish.”


    The pounding on the door grew more insistent, the wood actually vibrating with the force of Night’s knock. “Darling! If you don’t answer me, I’m going to kick this door down! And we both know I can do it!”


    I applied thest adhesive bandage to Ethan’s shoulder with gentle precision. “We’re done here. The pain should


    subside soon.”


    Ethan began rebuttoning his shirt, fingers lingering on the buttons. “Miss Morgan, there is something <b>I</b>….”


    “Darling!” Night’s voice was now a low growl of warning, the kind that had made hardened mercenaries retreat in


    fear.


    Ethan straightened his cor, leaving whatever he had been about to say unspoken.


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