Chapter 26
26
Declan
T he restaurant looks nothing like it did when I walked in earlier. What was once a quiet, greasy little diner has been completely transformed into a war room. Patrick paid off the owner and staff to take off for a while. They were more than happy to oblige, and for once, I didn’t resent Patrick’s methods of getting things taken care of.
Men in suits pack every corner of the space, their voices low and intense as they bark into phones, hunch over laptops, and exchange clipped updates. The faint smell of burnt coffee still lingers in the air, but it’s drowned out by the tension buzzing like static electricity. Every so often, a voice rises above the din, spitting orders or frustration, but for the most part, it’s a low hum of controlled chaos.
Patrick is at the center of it all, standing by the round table with his sleeves rolled up and his tie loosened. He’s the calm in the eye of the storm, his voice steady as he speaks to one of his men. But there’s an edge to him, a quiet intensity that I haven’t seen in years. This isn’t just business to him. This is personal.
Because of me. Because, despite everything, we’re still brothers and he cares about the people I care about. For a moment, I feel sad for all the time I’ve stayed hidden from him, thinking he was the cause of the greatest pain in my life. Yet here he is, using all of his available resources to help find the woman I’m in love with. I barely even had to ask. He sprang into action the moment he knew about the situation.
I’ve spent the last hour trying not to think about what might be happening to her, but every time I close my eyes, I see her face. I remember our conversation last night, her laughter, her tears, the way she looked at me this morning like I was someone worth trusting. Like she hadn’t had anyone to trust in a very long time.
I’ve spent the last five years avoiding getting close to people, telling myself it’s safer that way. But now, all I can think about is her, and the thought of losing her feels like a blade twisting in my chest. It’s worse than Cassidy even, because I know there’s something I can do to stop it. Cassidy’s death was sudden, unavoidable, but Jade is somewhere in danger, still alive. At least I hope.
Patrick looks up as I approach, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Declan,” he says, his tone even. “Good. I was about to call you over.”
I glance around the room, taking in the sheer number of men Patrick has mobilized.
“You’re not wasting any time,” I say, my voice low.
“Time is a luxury we don’t have,” he replies, gesturing for me to join him at the table. “They have a head start, and if what we’re hearing is true, they don’t plan to keep her alive for long.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I force myself to stay calm. Panicking won’t help Jade. Action will.
“What do we know?” I ask, pulling out the chair beside him and sitting down.
Patrick glances at one of his men, a wiry guy in his late thirties with glasses perched on his nose. The man nods, his fingers flying over the keyboard of his laptop.
“We’ve been following chatter from a contact in LA,” he says, not looking up. “There’s an Irish gang member who’s been working within the Mexican gang for a while now. Says he overheard something about a group coming to this town to find a girl. The priority was bringing her in alive, but…” he hesitates, his voice trailing off.
“But what?” I press, my fists clenching under the table.
“They don’t expect her to survive once they’ve got what they want,” he finishes, his tone grim.
A cold fury settles over me, sharpening my focus and pushing everything else to the background. They’re not taking her. Not while I’m still breathing.
“Who’s the contact?” I ask.
Patrick shakes his head. “That’s not important, little brother,” he says grimly. “What matters is finding her before they do.”
I nod, already pulling out my laptop and setting it on the table. “I can trace her phone,” I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “If it’s still on, I can find the last place it pinged.”
Patrick raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Thank goodness you taught yourself all that tech shit.” He chuckles wryly.
“And here you and Dad thought it was a waste of time,” I mutter, already typing.
The room fades away as I focus on the screen in front of me, my fingers moving with practiced precision. Patrick may have a literal army at his disposal, but this is my wheelhouse.
It doesn’t take long to get a hit. Her phone pinged just an hour ago, right before the signal went dead.
“The hardware store,” I say, my voice low but clear. “That’s where her phone was last active.”
Patrick glances at one of his men, nodding sharply. “Get a team ready,” he orders. “We’re moving out.”
“I’m coming,” I say immediately, shutting the laptop and standing.
Patrick gives me a long, appraising look. “Declan, are you sure about that? I know how you feel about this stuff, you don’t have to come—”
“She’s my woman,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “And she sent that email to me. This is my fight, and I’m not going to let anyone else do my job for me.”
For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, just watches me with an unreadable expression. Then he nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Alright, then,” he says, his eyes filled with a strange look of pride. “Let’s go.”
The drive to the hardware store seems to take forever, and I can’t help but fidget the longer the drive goes on. I should have just met Patrick at the diner in town. I didn’t know our meeting would go so well, of course, but at least I’d be closer when Jade needed me. I never should have left her this morning.
Patrick sits beside me in the backseat, his eyes scanning the snowy streets like a hawk. The men in the front are quiet, their expressions grim as they navigate the icy roads. Patrick must notice my tension because he puts a firm hand on my shoulder.
“I know you’re scared right now, Dec,” he says calmly. “Anyone in your position would be. And after everything that happened with Cassidy, I get it. But the best thing you can do for yourself is to tell yourself that she’s still alive and unharmed, that you’re going to find her and save her, and believe it. We’re going to get through this together, okay?”
His words are so sincere and filled with a brotherly affection that I can’t truthfully say I’ve ever felt from him. Years of resentment and anger seem to melt off of me and all I can do is nod and whisper a quick thank you.
The hardware store comes into view, its dark silhouette standing out against the white snow. My stomach twists as I take in the scene. The lights are out, the windows dark, and the front door hangs slightly ajar.
We park a block away, leaving the SUV idling as we approach on foot. The snow muffles our footsteps, but the cold bites at my skin, keeping my mind sharply focused on what’s about to happen. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a situation like this, but the skills come back to me almost instantly. My breathing slows with my heartrate, and I feel ready to take on whatever comes next. Patrick signals for his men to fan out, their movements precise and silent.
Two guards are stationed outside the store, their breath visible in the cold air as they talk quietly. Patrick glances at me, his expression calm but commanding.
“Take the one on the left,” he murmurs. “I’ve got the right.”
I nod, moving into position. My heart pounds as I close the distance, my focus narrowing to the man on the left. He doesn’t even see me coming until it’s too late. I grab him from behind, cutting off his air and pulling him down silently. He struggles, but I don’t let go until he goes limp, unconscious.
Patrick takes care of the other guard with the same efficiency, and within seconds, both men are down. His team moves quickly, dragging the bodies to the waiting SUV and stashing them in the backseat.
We step inside the store, the cold air following us in as the door creaks on its hinges, broken. The place is a mess, shelves overturned, supplies scattered across the floor, and the faint smell of blood lingers in the air. My chest tightens as I take it all in, a sharp contrast to the bright, orderly look it usually has.
“Spread out,” Patrick orders, his voice low. “Find anything that might tell us where they’ve taken her.”
I move toward the back of the store, my eyes scanning for any sign of Jade. My foot catches on something, and I glance down to see a trail of blood leading toward the storeroom. My stomach drops.
“Back here,” I call out, my voice tight.
Patrick and his men join me as I push open the storeroom door, the creak of the hinges echoing in the silence. Inside, I find Ron slumped against the wall, his face battered and bruised. I immediately reach out, putting my fingers to his pulse, and breathe a sigh of relief when I feel a steady heartbeat.
“Ron,” I say quietly, gently jostling him to wake him up. He stirs slightly, his eyes unfocused as he looks at me.
“Declan,” he rasps, his voice barely audible. “What happened?”
“I think someone hurt you,” I tell him as calmly as I can. “You’re going to be okay, but I need you to focus. Do you know where you are?”
He nods slowly as he looks around. “I’m at the store,” he says finally, wincing as he tries to stand up. I keep my hand on his shoulder so he won’t try to move and injure himself further.
“Don’t overdo it,” I tell him. “I’m going to get you some help as soon as I can, but can you try to remember what happened?”
He stares at me for a long moment and I can see the wheels spinning in his head. He’s still disoriented, but it’s coming back to him.
“These men came into the store with masks on,” he finally manages. “They jumped me and locked me in here. I heard Tawny come in looking for Jade, and I think they must have knocked her out too. You have to be careful.”
I kneel beside him, my hands gentle as I check him over. “Ron, do you know where Jade might be? Did you see her?”
He coughs weakly, wincing as he tries to sit up. “I didn’t see her,” he says sadly, and I feel my stomach drop. “But I heard them dragging Tawny down to the basement. If they have Jade, they probably took her down there too. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
His voice trails off, and I nod, gripping his shoulder tightly.
“You did enough,” I say firmly. “We’ll take it from here.”
Patrick steps forward, his expression unreadable as he looks down at Ron.
“Get him to a hospital ASAP,” he orders one of his men.
The man nods, lifting Ron carefully and carrying him out of the room.
Patrick turns to me, his eyes sharp and determined. “Are you ready for this?” he asks quietly.
I meet his gaze, my jaw tight. “I’m not leaving without her.”