Chapter 43 – Jaxon
The private rooftop lounge of Club V offered the best view of the city — a sweeping panorama of neon and starlight, Vegas sprawling beneath us like it had been built just to be admired. The club below felt a million miles away, replaced by the quiet hum of the wind and the occasional clink of glasses on the nearby table.
Madeline was tucked into my side, her head resting lightly against my shoulder. My arm draped over her, not just out of habit, but because it felt right. Necessary. Like the weight of her there grounded me in ways nothing else could. She held her drink in one hand, swirling the liquid idly, her other hand resting on my thigh.
It was moments like this that made everything else worth it. The noise, the danger, the sleepless nights. All of it faded in the calm of her presence.
“Hard to believe, huh?” she murmured, her voice soft but laced with that familiar teasing edge.
I smirked, glancing down at her, her cheek resting against my chest. “What’s hard to believe? That I’m a patient, charming, incredibly well-rounded guy who managed to win you over?”
She let out a laugh, soft but melodic, the kind of sound that made my chest tighten. “Patient and charming? Oh, honey,” she said, glancing up at me with a glint of mischief in her eyes. “You were about as grumpy as a grizzly bear when I first met you.”
“And yet,” I shot back, pulling her closer, “here you are, Scout. Guess you like ‘big ol’ brutes,’ huh?”
She rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. “You were insufferable, you know that?”
“And you were impossible,” I shot back, though my tone softened as I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Still are.”
Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. We didn’t have to. The weight of everything we’d been through, everything we’d fought for, lingered in the quiet between us. It hadn’t been easy. Hell, it had been a war zone at times. But we’d made it through. Together.
“Do you ever think about it?” she asked, her gaze drifting back to the city below. “Everything that had to happen to get us here?”
“All the time,” I admitted. “I’d do it all again in a heartbeat if it meant ending up right here with you.”
She tilted her head, studying me like she could read between the lines of what I’d said. She probably could. Madeline always had a way of seeing through the tough guy act, past the walls I’d spent years building.
“You’re getting sappy on me, Brooks,” she teased, though her voice was warm.
“Yeah, well,” I said, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple, “You’ve got a way of bringing it out of me.”
She turned toward me, her eyes glinting with a mixture of affection and mischief. “Don’t think I’m letting you off the hook for all the grumpiness, though. That first month or so was brutal .”
“Scout,” I said, my smirk widening, “I’m pretty sure you were deliberately trying to make me lose my mind that whole time.”
She grinned, setting her glass down and turning to face me more fully. “Maybe. But admit it — you liked it.”
I huffed a laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I liked it.”
The city glittered below us, a thousand tiny lights trying and failing to outshine the woman in my arms. For the first time in a long time, the future felt like something to look forward to. Something we’d face together.
And in that moment, with her warm and steady in my arms, it hit me. I didn’t want to wait. Not another second.
“Madeline Hart,” I said, my voice low, the weight of her name on my tongue grounding me.
She turned her head, her hazel eyes locking onto mine. “Yeah?”
My heart hammered in my chest, but I didn’t hesitate. “Marry me.”
The words hung in the air between us, simple and unpolished, but they were as honest as anything I’d ever said. Her eyes widened, her breath catching as she stared at me.
“Jaxon…” she started, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m serious,” I said, my voice firm but soft as I leaned in closer. “I’ve been through enough to know when I’ve got something I can’t let go of. You’re it for me. You’re my beginning, my middle, and every damn end I can think of.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out, and for a split second, I thought I might’ve just blindsided her in the worst way. But then, her free hand came up to rest on my chest, over my heart.
“You don’t have a ring,” she said, her voice shaky but teasing.
I smirked, reaching into my jacket pocket and pulling out the small velvet box I’d been carrying around for weeks.
My thumb brushed over the edge of it as I flipped it open, revealing the diamond inside. The ring caught the glow of the city lights, casting a subtle shimmer that seemed to reflect the moment itself.
“Oh, I’ve got a ring,” I said, my voice quieter now, laced with a mixture of nerves and certainty. “Took Quinn with me to pick it out. Don’t ask how much advice I had to sit through.”
Madeline’s eyes widened, her gaze flicking between the ring and my face, a mixture of shock and wonder playing across her expression. “You… you asked Quinn for help?” she said, a small laugh escaping her despite the tears welling up in her eyes.
I shrugged, my smirk softening into something more vulnerable. “She’s got good taste — when she’s not driving me up the wall. Figured you deserved the best, and Quinn? She wouldn’t let me settle for anything less.”
Madeline’s hand flew to her mouth as a laugh broke free, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Jax… this is…”
“Exactly what I want,” I interrupted, my tone steady as I met her gaze. “What I’ve wanted since I realized there wasn’t a damn thing in this world that made sense without you.”
Her breath hitched, and she blinked rapidly, like she was trying to process what was happening. “You’ve been carrying that around?”
“Didn’t know when the right moment would be,” I admitted, my voice dropping lower. “But looking at you now? This is it. You and me, baby.”
Her breath hitched, and she bit her bottom lip, her gaze searching mine. “Jax…”
“Say yes, Scout,” I said, my voice low but steady.
She let out a shaky laugh, nodding as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Of course, yes!”
Relief and joy crashed over me like a tidal wave as I slipped the ring onto her finger, my hands trembling slightly as I did. It fit perfectly, like it was always meant to be there.
Before I could say anything else, she threw her arms around my neck, pulling me into a kiss that was messy and tear-soaked and absolutely perfect.
The velvet box tumbled to the ground, forgotten, as her fingers tangled in my hair, her lips warm and insistent against mine.
When we finally pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine, her breath hitching as she whispered, “I love you, Jaxon Brooks. Even when you’re a stubborn, overbearing pain in my ass.”
I huffed a laugh, my arms tightening around her. “And I love you, Madeline Hart. Even when you’re impossible.”
The moment felt infinite, suspended in time, until the sound of the terrace door creaking open broke through. We turned to see Quinn stepping out, her wide grin stretching from ear to ear as she spotted us.
“Oh my God, finally! ” she squealed, practically bouncing across the terrace. “I knew you had it in you, Jax, but I was starting to worry Maddie would have to propose to you! ”
Madeline let out a startled laugh, her hand flying to her chest as Quinn enveloped her in a hug. “Quinn!” she protested, her voice muffled against Quinn’s shoulder. “How long have you been lurking?”
“Not lurking, darling,” Quinn said breezily, pulling back to waggle her eyebrows at me. “Just waiting for the exact moment to make my dramatic entrance.”
Before I could respond, the terrace doors swung open again, and more familiar faces began pouring out. Declan stepped out first, flanked by Bennett and Ronan, his usually stoic expression softened by a rare, genuine smile.
“Looks like we’re celebrating,” Declan said, his deep voice carrying easily over the terrace. “Congratulations, Hart. You’ve officially signed up to deal with Brooks for life.”
“Congrats, Maddie,” Bennett added, his rare smile making an appearance.
Ronan smirked, his arms crossed as he leaned casually against the railing. “About time,” he drawled, his Irish lilt faint but noticeable. “Thought Brooks might combust from holding it in.”
Their voices mingled with laughter as more people joined the gathering — staff members we’d worked alongside, regulars who’d become fixtures at Club V over the years. Even the bartenders had come up, carrying trays of champagne and cocktails, their usual cool professionalism replaced by warm, easy grins.
“You planned this, didn’t you?” Maddie murmured, turning to look at me with an amused smile.
I shook my head, the corner of my mouth lifting. “Not exactly. Guess everyone just loves you as much as I do.”
She rolled her eyes but leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder. “I don’t think its all for me, babe. They love you too, you know.”
The crowd grew rapidly, more familiar faces joining the celebration.
Regulars clapped me on the back, offering their congratulations with wide smiles, while others surrounded Maddie, cooing over the ring and teasing her about taming “the grumpiest man on the Strip.”
Declan caught my eye from across the terrace, raising his glass in a silent toast. I nodded back, the unspoken gratitude between us needing no words.
Quinn, of course, was in her element, twirling around with her glass in hand, declaring herself the “architect of romance” for having chosen the ring. “You’re all welcome ,” she announced dramatically, tipping her glass in an exaggerated bow. “Jaxon was hopeless without me.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the grin that tugged at my lips. “Keep telling yourself that, Carson.”
“Oh, I will,” she shot back with a wink, clearly revelling in her moment of glory. “I mean, look at this masterpiece!” She grabbed Maddie’s hand, holding it up to show off the ring. “You’re practically royalty now, Maddie. I expect tiaras at brunch.”
Even Ronan, who rarely stayed for these kinds of gatherings, lingered at the edge of the group, a wry smile on his lips as he watched the little pixie do her thing. His arms were crossed, his sharp suit pristine as always, but there was an unusual softness to his expression as his gaze flicked between Quinn and the crowd.
“Architect of romance?” he drawled, his Irish lilt faint but cutting. “More like architect of chaos.”
Quinn spun on her heel to face him, her grin sharpening. “Oh, Shamrock, don’t think for a second I didn’t notice you lurking over there. Jealous you didn’t think of it first?”
“Hardly,” Ronan replied, leaning casually against the wall, his smirk lazy and confident. “Though I will admit, you’ve got a certain flair for theatrics, mo stoirín.”
Quinn’s brow furrowed, her grin faltering for a split second. “Moo what now?” she asked, tilting her head.
His smirk widened, a flicker of amusement dancing in his stormy grey eyes. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it,” he said, his tone smooth and maddeningly cryptic.
Quinn narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she stared him down. “No, no, no. You don’t get to throw out mystery phrases and expect me to just let it go. What does it mean?”
Ronan straightened, his expression unreadable, though his lips twitched like he was fighting a smile. “Like I said, don’t worry about it.”
Her mouth fell open in exaggerated disbelief. “You’re impossible, you know that? Fine. I’ll just Google it.”
“Be my guest,” Ronan said with a shrug, clearly unbothered. “Think you’ll be able to spell it?” He tilted his head, his smirk deepening. “You have your many talents. Other languages, I’m guessing, isn’t one of them.”
“Try me,” she shot back, narrowing her eyes further. “What was it? ‘Moo’ something?”
“Mo stoirín,” Ronan repeated smoothly, his voice rolling over the words like they were second nature. The way he said it sent a flicker of warmth to his normally sharp tone, but he gave nothing away.
Quinn blinked, caught off guard by the softness in his voice before quickly recovering. “Okay, that’s cheating. You make it sound… I don’t know, fancy or something. What does it mean?”
I chuckled under my breath. ‘Fancy’ was apparently the word Quinn had chosen to replace ‘sexy.’
Ronan’s expression remained cool, but there was a teasing light in his eyes. “I’ll maybe tell you one day.”
She threw her hands in the air, muttering, “Unbelievable,” as she turned to walk away, but then paused, glancing back over her shoulder, her expression suddenly suspicious. “Just so you know, I will find out. And when I do, you’d better hope it’s something nice. It sounds like you just called me a goddamned COW! ”
Ronan’s smirk broke into a quiet laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. “Cattle? Seriously, Carson? That’s where your head went?”
“Well, it does sound like ‘moo,’” she retorted, though her cheeks flushed a little as his laughter deepened. “So, forgive me for thinking you might be insulting me in your secret leprechaun language!”
“It’s Irish, Quinn. Not leprechaun,” he corrected, though the amusement didn’t leave his face. “And trust me, it’s not an insult.”
“Yeah, I’ll be the judge of that,” she shot back, jabbing a finger in his direction. “I’m onto you.”
Ronan shook his head, still grinning, as he leaned against the doorway, his voice quieter but no less teasing. “Good luck figuring it out, Sidhe . ”
Quinn narrowed her eyes playfully, leaning toward him like she was about to launch into a tirade, but Maddie tugged her back, laughing. “Quinn, let him live.”
Quinn huffed but relented, turning back to Maddie with a conspiratorial smile. “Fine. I’ll let him off the hook — this time. Only because tonight is about you two.”
Maddie shook her head, her laughter soft as she glanced between me and the chaos Quinn had created.
Quinn raised her glass again, the group falling quiet as she cleared her throat with exaggerated drama. “To Maddie and Jackie!” she declared, her voice bright and sincere. “For proving that even the grumpiest men can be tamed by the right woman.”
I groaned, the sound low and drawn out as laughter rippled through the group. “Do we really have to keep calling me Jackie?” I asked, shooting her a look that only made her grin wider.
“Absolutely,” Quinn replied without missing a beat. “It’s endearing! Makes you more of a human! Besides, you love it.”
“Not even a little,” I deadpanned, though the twitch at the corner of my mouth betrayed me.
“Face it, Jackie,” she teased, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “It’s here to stay. Just like me!”
Maddie’s laughter bubbled up beside me, and she leaned into my side, her hand resting lightly on my chest. “You’re the one who let her get away with it the first time,” she said, looking up at me with a playful glint in her eye. “Now you’re stuck with it.”
“Perfect,” I muttered, though my arm tightened around her as I kissed the top of her head. “Just perfect.”
Quinn, clearly thrilled with herself, turned back to Maddie, her grin softening as she added, “And for being the best damn partner-in-crime a girl could ask for. You deserve all of this — and so much more.”
Maddie’s eyes glistened, and she reached out to squeeze Quinn’s hand. “I love you too, you lunatic,” she said, her voice thick with affection.
“Careful,” Quinn quipped, tossing me a sly look. “Say it too often and Jackie might get jealous.”
“I’m not above kicking you off this rooftop, Quinn,” I said, smirking despite myself.
Maddie caught my eye, her cheeks flushed from the champagne and the attention. She looked radiant, like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
In that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that I’d made the best decision of my life.
As the lights of the city twinkled below us, I realized that this — her, us, together—was the best gamble I’d ever made.