Chapter 36 – Jaxon
I stormed back into the club, the noise barely registering. My focus was razor-sharp, my jaw tight as I pushed through the crowd toward the stairs to Declan’s office.
People moved out of my way without a second thought, my expression clearly telling them now wasn’t the time to mess with me.
When I reached the door, I didn’t bother knocking. I shoved it open, finding Declan standing near his desk, a phone pressed to his ear. His sharp gaze flicked to me, and he held up a hand to whoever he was talking to.
“I’ll call you back,” he said, his tone clipped, hanging up without waiting for a reply. “Jax,” he started, but I didn’t give him a chance to finish.
“It’s Sean,” I said, slamming the dog tags and the pen drive containing the footage Madeline had given me onto his desk. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Fuck, I probably was going to get fired for this, but if anybody could help me, it was Declan Frost.
He looked down at the items, his sharp eyes narrowing as he picked up the dog tags. “Talk,” he said simply, his voice calm but laced with the kind of authority that made most people snap to attention.
“Sean’s been working with Calloway,” I started, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Fixing bets, laundering money. Maddie figured it out and gave me that footage to prove it. I didn’t believe her—” My voice broke, but I pushed through. “I didn’t believe her until I watched it. She’s gone now, Dec. She left through the back door, and these—” I gestured to the dog tags — “were in the dirt outside. She didn’t leave them there on purpose.”
Declan’s jaw tightened as he plugged the pen drive into his laptop, his expression hardening as the footage played. The conversation between Sean and Calloway filled the room, every word cutting through me like a blade. Declan didn’t say anything as he watched, his face impassive, but I knew him well enough to see the storm brewing beneath the surface.
When the clip ended, he leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. “You’re telling me Sean took her?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I’m willing to bet on it.”
Declan was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the dog tags in his hand. Then he set them down carefully, his movements deliberate and stood. “We’re going to find her.”
“I’m not waiting around,” I said, my voice sharp. “I need everything you’ve got on Sean. His addresses, his contacts, anywhere he might’ve gone. I’m going after him.”
Declan raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m just going to let you run off on a warpath?”
“If you like Madeline as much as you have said that you do, you won’t stop me,” I shot back, my tone hard.
His lips twitched into a faint smirk, though there was no humour in it. “I’m not stopping you, Jaxon. I’m sending backup.”
“I don’t need—” I started, my voice sharp, but he didn’t let me finish.
“You do,” he said firmly, cutting me off before I could dig myself deeper. His tone left no room for argument, each word measured. “If Sean’s working with Calloway, this is bigger than just one guy and you’re already neck-deep in shit without a backup plan.”
His gaze was as sharp as the edge in his voice. “You need someone to cover you while you focus on Miss Hart. If you don’t like it? Tough shit. I don’t make suggestions. I give orders. You either accept the help given to you, or I’ll remove you from the equation entirely. Let my contacts handle it themselves to return her safely without your involvement.”
The insinuation that I couldn’t handle this on my own was like sandpaper against my pride, but I couldn’t ignore the truth in his logic.
Still, the idea of stepping aside, of letting someone else take the lead when Maddie’s life was on the line?
It didn’t sit right with me. It never would.
I opened my mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes told me it would be a waste of time. Declan Frost didn’t just give lip service to loyalty. When he said he’d help, he meant it.
“Fine,” I said finally, my jaw tight.
“I’ve got someone who can help with this,” he said, his tone clipped. “We’ll need someone who knows how to dig without leaving a trail.”
Every second Maddie was out there felt like a second too long, but Declan’s calm precision kept me from going rogue.
“Clarke,” Declan said, his voice steady and commanding. “It’s Frost. I need a favour.”
I paced the room like a caged animal, every nerve in my body wound tight. But as I heard him speaking, something clicked in my head — a sliver of hope amidst the whirlwind of emotions shooting through me.
“Wait,” I said sharply, interrupting the call. Declan shot me a look, but I was already reaching for my phone. “I might have something that could help.”
He held the phone to his chest, raising an eyebrow. “What?”
“Madeline’s jacket,” I said, my voice firm. “There’s an AirTag sewn into it. She doesn’t know — it’s a precaution I took when I started getting worried about her safety – when she moved in with me. If she’s still wearing it, we might be able to track her.”
Declan’s expression didn’t change, but I saw the flicker of approval in his eyes. He lifted the phone again. “Hold on, Bennett. We might have a lead.” He nodded at me. “Pull it up.”
I unlocked my phone, navigating to the app that connected to the AirTag. My hands were shaking, and I had to force myself to steady them. If this worked, if it was still active…
There it was. The screen loaded, showing a faint signal. My heart jumped into my throat as I saw the location — on the outskirts of the city, in an industrial area.
“She’s there,” I said, my voice tight with a mix of relief and fear. “That’s got to be her.”
Declan nodded, relaying the information to Bennett over the phone. “We’ve got a vague location. Industrial district, southwest side.”
He hung up and turned to me, his gaze sharp. “Good thinking. Now let’s move.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I grabbed my jacket, the adrenaline coursing through me like fire as I followed Declan out of the office. The location on the app pulsed steadily, and I gripped my phone tightly, willing it to stay active.
Maddie had no idea about the AirTag. She’d probably chew me out for it later, but right now, I didn’t care. It was our best chance at finding her.
She could hate me all she wanted after I found her safe and whole.
She could scream at me, curse my name, tell me I’d overstepped every boundary she’d ever set - I didn’t care. I’d take the brunt of whatever she threw at me, as long as it meant she was there to throw it.
I could hear her voice in my head already, that mix of exasperation and affection she always managed to hit so perfectly.
“Seriously, Jaxon? You sewed a tracker into my JACKET? Who does that?”
She’d call me crazy, but maybe — just maybe — she’d understand. I’d done it because I couldn’t stomach the thought of anything else happening to her, of not knowing where she was if something went south.
Declan’s phone buzzed as we reached the club’s front doors. “That’ll be Detective Clarke,” he said, glancing at the screen. “He’s already on his way.”
A sleek, dark car pulled up just as we stepped outside, the headlights cutting through the night like a blade. The man who stepped out moved with an easy confidence that immediately put me on edge.
He was younger than I had anticipated, around the same age as me - mid-30s, maybe. Dressed in a suit that managed to toe the line between professional and casual, he looked like he could transition seamlessly from a boardroom to a back-alley brawl. And from the set of his shoulders, it could have been either on any given day.
His dark hair was slightly dishevelled, like he’d run a hand through it too many times, but it didn’t take away from the sharpness of his appearance. If anything, it added an edge to the look. But it wasn’t the suit or the air of control that made me uneasy — it was his eyes. Piercing and grey, they scanned everything in a matter of seconds. Me. Declan. The tension radiating off us in waves.
Those eyes didn’t just see. They assessed, calculated, like they were cataloguing every detail and storing it away for future use. I got the distinct feeling he wasn’t someone who ever missed much — or let things slide.
“Jaxon Brooks,” he said, his tone neutral but carrying an edge. “I’ve heard about you.”
“Detective Bennett Clarke,” I replied, shaking his hand firmly. His grip was steady, controlled, the kind of handshake that told you he didn’t have time for bullshit.
“I take it this is the woman?” Bennett asked, his sharp gaze flicking to the phone in my hand, where Maddie’s AirTag location was still pulsing. His voice was even, though I caught the faint edge of curiosity beneath the professionalism.
“ My woman,” I corrected him on impulse, the words leaving no room for doubt. My voice was steady, a declaration of exactly who Maddie was to me. “Madeline Hart. She’s been taken by someone we know. Sean Weston.”
Bennett’s brows drew together, the faintest flicker of recognition crossing his face. “Weston,” he repeated, like he was turning the name over in his mind. “I know of him. Heard he’s been working your floor security for a while. Always struck me as a little... off.”
“He was more than off,” I bit out, the anger simmering just below the surface. “He’s been dirty for months. We didn’t see it — I didn’t see it. He’s been working with one of our high rollers, Vince Calloway.”
“Calloway?” Bennett’s expression darkened, the name clearly striking a nerve as he let out a low whistle. “That bastard’s been on my radar before. Dirty bets, arms deals — the guy’s a walking disaster. No solid evidence ever sticks to him.”
“Well, Weston’s been helping him use the V as a front,” I said, my tone hardening. “Now Maddie’s caught in the crossfire because she was digging into the wrong people.”
Bennett leaned forward, his voice dropping. “You’ve got proof?”
Without a word, I reached into my pocket and handed him the pen drive. He held it between two fingers, his expression unreadable as he glanced between it and me. “What’s on here?”
“Footage from the club,” I said, my voice tight, “Weston meeting with Calloway in one of the VIP lounges. They didn’t even try to hide it — thought no one was watching. My girl’s a journalist. She’s been working this story for a while. Too damn stubborn to let it go, even when the threats started coming.”
Bennett’s eyes narrowed, “Threats? How bad are we talking?”
“Bad enough,” I ground out, my jaw clenching at the thought of Maddie facing all of this. How I had failed to protect her when it mattered. “She said a colleague helped her pull this footage. Calloway and Weston have been using Club V as a front for God knows how long. Madeline got too close, started piecing it together. Now she’s paying for it.”
Bennett let out another low whistle, his sharp gaze flicking from the pen drive back to me. “Sounds like she’s got guts.”
“Too much for her own good,” I muttered, pacing a few steps to burn off some of the restless energy coursing through me.
“Agreed,” Bennett said, his tone measured. “We’ll use the footage to connect the dots, build the case. But right now, our priority is getting her back in one piece.”
I nodded, though the words did little to calm the fire burning in my chest. “She trusted me with this,” I said quietly, the weight of it settling on my shoulders. “Trusted me to help her, and I let it get this far.”
Bennett’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he was silent, weighing the situation like a man who knew exactly how dangerous it had become.
Bennett plugged the drive into a small device he’d pulled from his jacket. A portable monitor lit up, and his expression darkened as he watched the incriminating footage. When it ended, he snapped the device shut and slipped it back into his pocket.
“Messy,” he said, his tone clipped. “Calloway isn’t the type to let loose ends hang. Weston’s panicking, which makes him even more unpredictable.”
“We’ve got a location,” I cut in, holding up the phone.If she’s still wearing her jacket, we can track her.”
Bennett nodded, his expression unreadable. “Good. That gives us something to work with. But if Weston’s taken her, he’s not working alone. Calloway doesn’t leave his hands dirty. You’re not just going after one guy.”
“I don’t care if it’s one or twenty,” I said, my voice low and firm.
Bennett’s lips twitched in what might have been approval, though it was gone just as quickly. He turned to Declan. “I’ll need backup. Quiet but efficient. No cops.”
Declan nodded. “Already arranging it. Jaxon and I will move in with you.”
I glanced at Bennett, my brow furrowing. “No cops? Thought you were one.”
His jaw tightened, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. “I am,” he said, his voice clipped. “But it’s complicated right now.”
Declan shot him a knowing look but didn’t press. I, however, wasn’t about to let it slide. “Complicated how?”
Bennett exhaled sharply, his hand brushing over the badge clipped to his waistband like it was a burden he wasn’t sure he wanted to carry anymore. “Let’s just say the department doesn’t exactly look kindly on guys who go outside the lines to get the job done. Right now, I’m walking a fine line. So, no cops .”
His tone left no room for argument, but there was an edge to his voice that told me there was more to the story. I decided to file that away for later. Right now, Maddie was all that mattered.
Bennett raised an eyebrow, his sharp gaze flicking to me. “You’ve got experience with this kind of thing, Brooks?”
“Enough,” I said, my voice clipped. I didn’t elaborate, but my posture straightened slightly, instinctively. I didn’t need to list off my service record for him to know I could handle myself.
Bennett studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Military?” he asked finally.
“Yeah,” I said, my jaw tightening. “A few tours.”
That faint twitch of approval returned to his face, his eyes flicking briefly to Declan. “Good. We’re going to need someone who can keep their head if things go sideways. If this turns into a fight, someone who knows how to finish it.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to. Declan and I both knew that if it came down to it, I’d do whatever it took to get Madeline back.
Bennett nodded, seemingly satisfied. “That’s good,” he said. “Calloway’s goons are ruthless, and Weston? He’s got nothing to lose now.”
“Neither do I,” I said, my tone unwavering.
Bennett gave me a long look, and for the first time, I thought I saw a flicker of respect in his eyes. “Then let’s get to work.”
A short while later, the car sped down the dimly lit streets, Declan behind the wheel, his expression grim, while Bennett sat in the passenger seat, scanning the route ahead like a hawk. His sharp eyes didn’t miss a thing, constantly alert, while I sat in the back, feeling the weight of every passing second.
My phone was balanced on my knee, the screen glowing faintly in the dim light as Quinn’s face filled it. Her usual charm and brightness were muted, replaced with a rare intensity I hadn’t seen before. The slight furrow in her brow, the tightness in her jaw — it was clear she was feeling the pressure just as much as I was.
“Tell me you’ve got something,” I said, my voice gruff as the city blurred past the window.
I’d called her earlier, knowing full well this wasn’t your everyday favour. What I’d asked of her was bigger than anything I’d ever put on her shoulders before, but I also knew there was no one better for this.
Asking her to work with Ronan Hayes was like throwing gasoline on a fire. Their back and forth at the club was mostly playful, sure, but it didn’t take a genius to see the tension between them. Ronan’s stoic, calculated personality clashed with Quinn’s fiery, no-filter personality like oil and water. Still, if there was one person who could put that aside and get things done, it was Quinn.
More than that, Quinn wasn’t the type to sit idly by when people she cared about were in trouble.
Maddie was family to her. She would burn the whole damn city to the ground if it meant she would be helping.
I knew she’d move mountains for her, even if it meant swallowing her pride and working with someone like Ronan Hayes.
“I’m not going to lie,” Quinn admitted, her voice quieter than usual. That rare tone of vulnerability caught my attention, tightening something in my chest. “When you told me to team up with him ” — she rolled her eyes so hard I could practically feel it through the phone, and in the background, I heard Ronan scoff faintly— “I almost told you to shove it. But… you’re right. For Mads, I’d do anything.”
“Glad to hear it,” I said, managing a faint smile, though the tension twisting my gut didn’t ease. “I knew you’d come through.”
“Don’t butter me up now, Brooks,” she shot back, though the usual bite in her voice was softer, almost teasing. “Ronan’s been barking orders at me like he owns the damn place. But,” she added with an exaggerated, dramatic sigh, “he’s good at this. Scarily good, actually. Which is…annoying.”
“Annoying for you, maybe,” Ronan’s voice cut in dryly, laced with amusement. “I’m not exactly having a great time working with you either, Carson.”
“Keep it up, Shamrock,” Quinn snapped back, not missing a beat, “and I’ll shove that tablet where the sun doesn’t shine. Believe me, I’d make it fit.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Declan, sitting in the driver’s seat, let out a low chuckle. Even Bennett smirked from the passenger side, though his focus never left the weapons he was meticulously checking over.
“Anyway,” Quinn continued, undeterred, “We’ve been digging. Calloway’s got a safe house he’s mentioned before when he’s drunk — a place by the river. Ronan found a warehouse that fits the description. We’ve got coordinates, and he’s already tapped into nearby cameras. There’s a van there that matches Weston’s.”
“Quinn,” I said, my tone softening despite the pressure burning in my chest. “I owe you one.”
“As if it wasn’t obvious, babe - you owe me a damn vacation when this is over,” she quipped, but her voice cracked slightly at the end, betraying the emotion she was holding back. “Jax… just bring her back, okay?”
In the background, Ronan’s calm, measured voice broke through again. “Coordinates are sent. You’d better move fast — if Calloway’s involved, it’s only a matter of time before they relocate.”
“Got it,” I said, already feeling the adrenaline kick in as I slid my phone into my pocket. “Let’s move,” I told Declan and Bennett, my voice tight.
Declan took a sharp turn, the tires screeching slightly against the pavement. Bennett was already double-checking the weapons we’d brought, his movements precise, his focus unshakable.
In the back of my mind, Quinn’s words echoed:
For Mads, I’d do anything.
So would I.
Scout was out there, and Sean thought he could take her and get away with it. He had no idea what was coming for him.