Chapter 23

[MADDOX]

“I’ve got some leads from Europe,” Jade explained through the other side of the phone as I yanked the door of my car open and slid inside, tossing the briefcase in the backseat. “Already booked a flight. Hopefully, it wouldn’t end up with another dead end.”

“Jade, whatever happens. If he’s the right person, you know better than to make direct contact,” I told her, clenching the steering wheel tight, hoping she wouldn’t ignore my advice like she often did. “You’re only there to confirm his identity. And once that happens, you’ll leave everything to me. Do you hear me?”

“Loud and clear,” she muttered, but I could practically imagine her rolling her eyes at me. Not that I cared. Her safety was more important than anything.

“He is dangerous, Jade.”

“I know, Maddox.”

“If you know that much, then you’ll fucking keep your distance. If he even got the whiff of what we're up to, we can’t even imagine what he would do. He might hurt you. Like he did to—”

“Don’t worry about me,” she sig