Chapter 40 – Jaxon
“Shit!” Madeline’s body went slack in my arms, her voice trailing off into silence as her eyes fluttered closed. My heart seized, every rational thought replaced by pure panic.
“Baby,” I murmured, shaking her gently as I lowered her to the ground. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, but steady. I pressed my fingers to her neck, feeling the faint but solid beat of her pulse. Relief hit me, but it was short-lived.
“Come on,” I said, my voice rough as I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “You’re okay. You’re gonna be okay.”
I looked up, scanning the room, my mind racing. The turbulence we’d left behind — the blood on the floor, Sean crumpled against the wall — blurred into the background.
Right now, nothing else mattered. She was all that mattered.
Declan’s voice crackled through the comm in my ear. “Brooks,”
“Got her,” I said, my voice tight. “She’s out. Exhaustion, adrenaline, blood loss — fuck if I know.”
“Get her out of there,” Declan replied immediately, his tone all business. “We’ve got the cops inbound for Weston. You need to move before they show.”
“Copy that,” I muttered, slipping my arms beneath her and lifting her off the ground. She was light — too light — and her head lolled against my chest as I cradled her close.
Sean groaned from the corner, his voice weak but audible. “Tougher than she looks, huh?” he croaked, a bitter laugh rasping from his throat.
I turned my head, glaring at him. “You’re lucky she’s still breathing. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be.” My voice was ice, and for a fleeting moment, I considered finishing what Maddie had started. But she’d made her choice, and Sean wasn’t worth the blood on my hands.
With Maddie secure in my arms, I stepped past him, my boots crunching over the debris on the floor. “You’ll answer for this,” I said without looking back, my voice low and resolute. “Every last piece of it.”
The hallway outside was silent, the air cold against my skin as I carried her toward the exit. Each step felt like an eternity, my pulse pounding in my ears. I glanced down at her, her features soft and peaceful despite everything she’d been through.
“You did it, Scout,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “You beat them. Let me take care of the rest.”
Declan and Bennett were waiting at the car when I stepped out into the night. Declan’s sharp eyes immediately landed on Maddie, and his usual stoicism cracked, worry flashing across his face.
“Is she—” he started.
“She’s alive,” I said quickly, laying her gently on the backseat. “But she’s out cold. We need to get her checked out.”
Bennett nodded, already pulling out his phone. “I’ll call my guy. No hospitals — too many questions.”
“Good,” I said, brushing Maddie’s braid back from her face. “No hospitals.”
Declan’s hand clamped on my shoulder, his grip firm. “You did good,” he said quietly.
“She’s not safe until Sean and Calloway are gone for good,” I snapped, my gaze locked on Maddie’s face. Her lashes fluttered faintly, like she was trying to wake up, but she didn’t stir.
The cars vast interior hummed with tension as Bennett navigated the streets, his eyes sharp on the road ahead. Declan sat in the passenger seat, his phone in hand, probably coordinating whatever backup plan he always seemed to have tucked away.
I couldn’t focus on any of that. My attention was locked on Madeline.
She was still unconscious. Her face pale and streaked with grime. Her wrists were raw, faint lines of blood visible where the restraints had dug in.
I wanted to fix everything — clean her wounds, take away the pain, erase the fear — but for now, all I could do was hold her hand.
“Brooks,” Declan said, his voice pulling me out of the spiral of my thoughts. “We’re thirty minutes out from the safe house. Bennett’s contact will meet us there. She’ll get checked out, and then we’ll regroup.”
I nodded stiffly, my jaw clenching. “Weston? Calloway?”
“Cops have Weston in custody by now,” Declan said, glancing back at me. “He won’t be going anywhere. Calloway, though… he’s still out there.”
My grip tightened on Madeline’s hand, a fresh wave of anger surging through me. “Then we finish it. We bring him down, too.”
Declan’s gaze held mine, his expression calm but unreadable. “We will. But your priority right now is her.” He nodded toward Madeline, his tone firm but not unkind. “She’s going to need you.”
“She always has me,” I said quietly, my voice rough. “That’s not the problem.”
Declan didn’t say anything, just gave me a brief nod before turning back to his phone.
The van hit a bump, jostling Maddie slightly, and I shifted to keep her steady. Her head rolled against my shoulder, her soft murmur barely audible. For a second, I thought she might have woken up, but her breathing evened out again.
“You’re okay,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You’re safe.”
Safe. The word felt fragile, like glass on the verge of shattering. Because the truth was, Maddie wouldn’t really be safe until we’d dealt with the root of all this — the men who thought they could take and destroy without consequence. Calloway wasn’t just a loose end. He was a threat. One I couldn’t let linger.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, the screen lighting up with Quinn’s name. I glanced at Declan, who nodded toward the phone as he navigated the dimly lit streets. I swiped to answer, and Quinn’s face filled the screen, wide-eyed and frantic.
“Is she okay? Did you get her?” she blurted, her words tumbling over each other in a rush.
“She’s safe,” I said firmly, adjusting the phone so Quinn could see Maddie tucked against me. “We’ve got her.”
Quinn let out a breath so heavy it almost sounded like a sob. “Thank God. You have no idea how—” She stopped herself, her lips pressing together tightly before she shook her head. “I thought… I mean, Ronan said the GPS was moving, and I—”
Her voice cracked, and I could see her blinking quickly, trying to hold herself together.
“It’s okay, Q,” I said, my tone softer than I’d intended. “We got to her in time. She’s here.”
“She’s really okay?” Quinn pressed, her brows furrowing as she leaned closer to the screen.
“She’s okay,” I reassured her, glancing down at Maddie’s sleeping form. “Just exhausted. She’s been through the wringer, but we got her out.”
“Jesus, your girl’s still breathing, Sidhe,” Ronan shot back, leaning into the frame slightly. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes lingered on her longer than necessary. “That’s all you should care about.”
Quinn blinked, her brows knitting together as she glanced over her shoulder at him. “What the hell does that even mean? Sidhe?” Her voice was sharp, but there was a flicker of curiosity beneath it.
Ronan smirked faintly, his eyes glinting with something unspoken. “It’s Irish,” he said, his tone nonchalant as he leaned back slightly, putting some distance between them. “Look it up.”
She turned back toward the screen, rolling her eyes. “You’re infuriating, you know that? Always with the cryptic nonsense.”
Behind her, Ronan’s smirk softened, his gaze lingering on her profile for a beat too long. “Means Faerie,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a murmur, as if he wasn’t sure he wanted her to hear it.
Quinn froze, her head tilting slightly as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. She glanced at him again, her expression unreadable. “Faerie?” she repeated, her tone sceptical, but there was a faint flush creeping into her cheeks.
“Don’t read into it,” Ronan said quickly, brushing past her and out of the frame, but not before Quinn caught the flicker of something vulnerable in his eyes.
She stared after him for a moment, her expression caught somewhere between annoyance and intrigue. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she muttered, but the question sounded more like it was meant for herself than anyone else.
I couldn’t help but smirk. “You’ve got him rattled, Carson.”
Quinn scoffed, shaking her head, though a small, uncertain smile tugged at her lips. “Not a chance.”
Turning back to me, her voice sharp but shaky around the edges. “I’ve been losing my mind, Jax. If anything had happened to Maddie—”
“It didn’t,” I cut in firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Quinn exhaled again, her shoulders slumping as some of the tension drained from her. “Okay. Okay, good,” she murmured, but her hands trembled as she ran them through her hair. She swiped at her face quickly, trying to be subtle, probably thinking I wouldn’t notice. But I did.
So did Ronan.
He didn’t say anything — Ronan never was one for comforting words — but the way I had caught him looking at her spoke volumes.
“Don’t go soft on me now,” he muttered, his tone teasing but softer than usual.
Quinn shot him another glare, though it lacked her usual fire. “I’m fine,” she snapped, though her voice cracked slightly at the end.
Bennett’s voice cut through the quiet. “We’re here.”
“Gotta go, Quinn, we’ve got it covered,” I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for doubt. “I’ll call you with an update as soon as I can.”
She nodded, her teeth catching her bottom lip before she muttered, “You’d better. Or I’m storming that safe house myself.”
In the background, Ronan had come back into view of the camera. He stood with his arms crossed, his expression carefully neutral, but his gaze lingered on her longer than necessary. “You’re not storming anything,” he said, his tone dry but edged with something softer.
Quinn threw him a glare, though it didn’t carry her usual bite. “Watch me.”
She quickly turned her attention back to me, brushing at her cheek in a motion she probably thought was subtle. “Call me, Jax.” she said, her voice firmer now. “Don’t keep me waiting.”
“I won’t,” I promised, holding her gaze for a second longer before ending the call.
The screen went black, leaving the car in silence. I exhaled slowly, shaking my head as Declan gave me a pointed look from the front passenger seat. “Quinn storming a safe house?” he muttered under his breath, half amused. “Now that’s a mental image.”
The car slowed to a stop in front of an unassuming building, its exterior weathered and nondescript. Bennett jumped out first, scanning the area before giving a quick nod to Declan. The door opened, and I carefully lifted Madeline into my arms, her body limp but warm against mine.
“Come on,” Declan said, leading the way inside.
The interior was sparse but functional — a safe house through and through. Bennett’s contact, a woman with a no-nonsense air and a medical bag slung over her shoulder, was waiting in the small living room.
“Get her on the couch,” she said briskly, her eyes scanning Maddie with practiced efficiency. “What’s her condition?”
“Exhaustion, dehydration, and some superficial injuries,” I said as I laid Maddie down gently. “She passed out about fifteen minutes ago.”
The woman nodded, already pulling out supplies. “She’s stable. Let me work.”
I stepped back reluctantly, my hands flexing at my sides as I watched her work. Declan and Bennett stood nearby, their conversation low and urgent, but I tuned them out. My focus was on Maddie, on every rise and fall of her chest, every twitch of her fingers.
“You’re strong, Scout,” I murmured under my breath, more to myself than to her. “You’re stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. But please, baby… wake up.”
Because until I saw those fire-filled eyes of hers again, I wasn’t sure I’d ever breathe easy.
An hour later, I was sitting on the edge of the couch, Madeline’s hand in mine. She’d stirred a few times, mumbling faintly, but she hadn’t woken up fully yet. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased, every second feeling like a lifetime. I kept my focus on her face, memorizing every detail, willing her to open her eyes.
Declan walked in, his phone in hand, a rare flicker of satisfaction on his usually stoic face. He leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed and cleared his throat to catch my attention.
“They got him,” he said simply.
I blinked, my gaze snapping to his in disbelief.
Declan nodded, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “He tried to make a run for it. Cops caught him jumping a fence like some amateur thief. His men abandoned him the second they realized things were falling apart. So much for loyalty. Sean’s confession was the nail in Calloway’s coffin.”
I let out a breath. Relief flooding through me. “Good. That son of a bitch deserves everything coming to him.”
Declan stepped closer, his expression softening slightly as he glanced at Madeline. “They are both already in custody. Between the footage you handed over and the charges piling up, looks like they wont be getting out anytime soon.”
“That’s not good enough,” I muttered, my grip tightening on Maddie’s hand. “They’ll still have connections, people willing to look the other way.”
Declan tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Then we make sure they don’t have anyone left to pull strings for them. One step at a time, Jaxon.”
I didn’t respond, my focus drifting back to Scout. Her breathing was even now, her colour better than it had been when I carried her out of that hellhole.
She still hadn’t woken up, and until she did, I wasn’t going to feel right.
“She’ll be okay,” Declan said quietly, almost like he was reading my mind. “You got to her in time.”
Declan didn’t say anything else, just nodded once and stepped back, giving me space. The door clicked softly behind him as he left, leaving me alone with her again.
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my hand still holding hers.
Calloway was caught. Sean was done. It should’ve been enough to let me breathe easy, but all I could think about was how close I’d come to losing her.
“Come on, Scout,” I murmured, my voice low and rough. “It’s over now. Just wake up and let me see those stubborn, fiery eyes of yours.”
For a moment, there was nothing but the steady rhythm of her breathing. Then, a soft groan escaped her lips, and I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. Her eyelids fluttered, and when they finally opened, her hazel eyes met mine, foggy but full of life.
“Stubborn and fiery, huh?” she croaked, her voice scratchy but laced with amusement. “I think you just have a thing for difficult women.” She paused, and even had the audacity to wink at me. “Oh come on, Superman. You should see the other guy.”
I let out a breath, my lips curving into a grin despite the pounding in my chest. “Yeah, I saw him,” I said, shaking my head. “Pretty sure you broke him, Scout.”
Her laugh was soft, more of a wheeze really, but it lit up the room like nothing else could. “Yeah?,” she asked.
I nodded, “I never doubted for a second that you couldn’t break him, either,” I murmured, leaning closer, my hand brushing her hair away from her face. “But maybe next time, you could let me handle the psychos?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” she quipped, her voice weak but steady. “Teamwork, babe.”
I chuckled softly, shaking my head as relief coursed through me. “Teamwork, huh? Pretty sure you were ready to take down an entire operation solo.”
Her smile faltered for a moment, her gaze flickering away. “You were there,” she whispered.
“I was, baby,” I said, my voice firm. “You’re stuck with me.”
She tilted her head, her smile returning as she studied me. “I think I can live with that.”
Her hand shifted weakly, reaching for mine, and I took it without hesitation. Her fingers curled around mine, her grip light but sure.
“I mean it, Madeline,” I said softly, squeezing her hand. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“I scare myself sometimes,” she admitted, her voice quiet. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she added quizzically, “How did you manage to get to me, though?”
I hesitated for half a second, knowing exactly where this was going, but then I let out a low sigh. “You’re not gonna like the answer.”
She arched an eyebrow, even in her exhaustion. “Try me.”
I leaned back slightly, my hands resting on my thighs as I met her gaze. “An AirTag,” I said simply. “Sewn into your jacket.”
Her mouth fell open for a moment, her expression caught between disbelief and something else — probably fury. “You what? ”
I held up a hand, cutting her off before she could launch into full Scout-mode. “I know. It was overbearing. Neurotic. Maybe even a little crazy. But it worked, Maddie. It brought me to you.”
Her brow furrowed, and she opened her mouth to argue, but I didn’t let her. “Look, I’m not saying it was the best idea. I’m not saying it wasn’t invasive. But you’ve been in danger more times than I care to count lately, and I couldn’t just sit back and hope for the best.”
She blinked at me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You sewed it into my jacket?”
I nodded, unapologetic. “As a precaution. but if I hadn’t, we might not have found you in time. So no, I’m not sorry for it.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, though the fire in them was muted by exhaustion. “You know this is completely insane, right?”
“Absolutely,” I said without hesitation.
She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re ridiculous, Brooks.”
“Ridiculously in love with you,” I countered, the words slipping out before I even realized what I was saying.
The second they were out, the air in the room shifted. Her tired eyes widened, and her lips parted, the faintest gasp escaping her. I froze, my heart hammering in my chest as the weight of what I’d just said – what I had just admitted to her - hit me.
I hadn’t meant to say it — not like this — but the truth of it burned through me. Because it was the truth. It had been for a while now,
Her gaze locked on mine, and for a second, the world seemed to hold its breath. “You…” she started, her voice barely above a whisper. “What did you just say?”
I swallowed hard, my grip on her hand tightening as I leaned closer. “I said I love you,” I murmured, my voice rough but steady. “Because I do, Madeline. I love you. I think I’ve loved you from the moment you strutted into my life and turned everything upside down.”
Her lips trembled, and for a second, I thought she might cry. But then she smiled — a small, soft smile that lit up her whole face despite the exhaustion and the bruises. “You’re such an idiot,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
She squeezed my hand, her touch weak but sure. “I love you too, Jax,” she said, the words so quiet but so certain they made my chest ache.
There was a long pause before she spoke again. “Ridiculously in love with me?”
“Yeah, Scout,” I said, my voice low and steady as I watched her drift back into sleep. “Ridiculously in love with you.”
As I sat there, holding her hand and watching over her, I knew: She wasn’t just my Scout. She was my everything.