Page 15 of The Sniper

“We can’t let him get away,” she said, her voice clipped.

Daniels shook his head, his gaze locked on the rooftop where the sniper had disappeared. “He’s got the advantage up there. We go after him now, we’re walking into a trap.”

Reyna opened her mouth to argue, but the look he shot her stopped her cold. It wasn’t just the look of a man giving an order—it was the look of a man who wasn’t about to lose someone else on his watch.

“Fine,” she said, reluctantly stepping back. “But we need to move. If he left anything behind, it won’t stay there long.”

Daniels nodded, his mind already racing as he led her toward the end of the alley. As they passed where Reyna had been fighting the men a piece of paper caught his eye,

The writing was faint, scrawled in what looked like pencil, but the message was clear enough:

This isn’t over. We’re always watching.

Daniels’ jaw tightened as he stared at the note, his mind racing. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to confirm what he’d suspected. Whoever was behind this wasn’t just targeting Reynaor Cerberus—they were playing a much bigger game, one that was far from finished.

Reyna leaned over his shoulder, her breath warm against his ear as she read the note. “Always watching,” she murmured. “That’s comforting.”

“Comforting isn’t the word I’d use,” Daniels muttered, tucking the note into his pocket as he stood. His eyes scanned the alley again, but the sniper was long gone. They’d lost their lead, and the frustration gnawed at him like a dull ache.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, his tone curt. “We’ll regroup at Cerberus.”

Reyna hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the rooftops. “We can’t just let him go.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Daniels said, his voice firm. “Not now. Let’s take my vehicle.”

“Why? I can drive myself.”

“Well for one thing, whoever sent the sniper might have planted an explosive device or some kind of tracking device on your SUV. I would feel better if we had it checked out before you get inside it again.”

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she followed him out of the alley, her footsteps quick and quiet beside his. The friction between them crackled like static, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air as they made their way to his vehicle.

As soon as they were inside, with the doors locked and the engine running, Daniels turned to face her. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Reyna’s eyes flashed, her posture stiffening. “I was thinking I could handle myself.”

“This isn’t about handling yourself,” Daniels said, his voice rising despite his effort to keep it steady. “You walked into adangerous situation alone, without backup, without intel. You could’ve been killed.”

“I didn’t ask you to save me,” she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut.

“You called me, remember? But that’s not the point!” Daniels slammed his hand against the steering wheel, his frustration boiling over. “The point is you keep acting like you don’t need anyone, like you’re invincible, and it’s going to get you killed.”

Reyna’s gaze locked onto his, her expression hard. “You think I don’t know the risks? You think I haven’t been doing this long enough to understand what’s at stake?”

“I think you’re reckless,” Daniels shot back. “And I think you’re using that recklessness to avoid dealing with whatever the hell is eating at you.”

Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he thought she was going to punch him. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “You don’t know me, Daniels.”

“I know enough,” he said, his voice low but steady. “I know you push people away because it’s easier than letting them in. And I know you’re lying to yourself if you think you don’t need help.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t respond. The silence stretched between them, heavy and charged, until Daniels released the tension from his body, breathing out slowly and allowing his shoulders to sag ever so slightly.

“I’m not trying to control you, Reyna,” he said, his tone softening. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”

Her gaze flicked to him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them said anything, the only sound the low hum of the engine as they idled in the empty street.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” she said finally, her voice quieter now.

Daniels shook his head. “I’m not sure I agree, but I do know you need someone watching your six. Whether you like it or not, that’s going to be me.”

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