Page 23 of The Sniper

Reyna leaned back in her chair, her arms crossing over her chest. “And how exactly do you plan to blend in at a high-stakes auction for human lives?”

Daniels stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them. “We use what we’ve got. My connections in the community. Your ability to stay cool under pressure. And the fact that neither of us is afraid to get our hands dirty.”

Reyna held his gaze, the challenge in her eyes unmistakable. “You do realize how dangerous this is, right? It’s not like I can go in there with a sniper rifle.”

“I know,” Daniels said, his voice low. “But it’s our best shot at stopping this.”

She studied him for a moment longer before nodding. “Fine. But if you start acting like a hero, I’m out.”

“Noted,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

As they began hashing out the details of their plan, Daniels couldn’t help but feel that they were stepping into something far bigger than either of them anticipated. The auction was just the beginning—a thread leading to a web of corruption and violence that ran deeper than he cared to imagine.

Two days later, Daniels adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit as they stepped out of the sleek black car and onto the smooth pavement leading to the auction’s private venue. The sprawling estate loomed ahead, its grand façade a stark contrast to the darkness that surely lay within.

Reyna stood beside him, her short, spiky hair hidden beneath a dark wig, her dress a slinky, sequined number that clung to her curves in all the right places. She looked every bit the part of a wealthy buyer’s companion, but Daniels knew better than to let her appearance fool him. Beneath the glamour was a lethal operative, one who wouldn’t hesitate to take down anyone who crossed her.

“You ready for this?” he asked, his voice low as they approached the entrance.

“Always,” she replied, her tone steady.

The doorman eyed them as they handed over their forged invitations, but after a brief moment, he stepped aside, allowing them entry. The main hall was a sea of opulence—crystal chandeliers, polished marble floors, and an air of decadence that felt suffocating.

Daniels kept his hand lightly on Reyna’s back, a protective gesture disguised as part of the act. As they moved throughthe crowd, his eyes scanned for anything out of place—familiar faces, potential threats, anything that might give them a lead.

“We’ve got eyes on us,” Reyna murmured, her lips barely moving.

“Good,” Daniels said. “Let’s give them something to see.”

He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Stay close. This is where it gets dangerous.”

Reyna tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with something that might have been amusement. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

As they melted deeper into the crowd, Daniels sense of foreboding seemed to hang over them. The auction was a gateway—a door to the truth they’d been searching for. But he couldn’t ignore the voice in the back of his mind, the one that whispered they were walking into a trap.

And this time, there might not be a way out.

CHAPTER NINE

REYNA

The mansion buzzed with muted conversation and an air of dark opulence that sent a shiver down Reyna’s spine. The auction was a theater of shadows, cloaked in expensive suits, glittering gowns, and the kind of excess that masked the rot beneath. Reyna adjusted her posture, forcing herself to move with grace rather than stealth. Her role tonight wasn’t just important—it was life or death.

“Relax,” Daniels murmured near her ear as his hand came to rest at the small of her back. “You’re doing fine.”

Reyna swallowed back the sharp retort bubbling on her tongue. She was here to play the part of a submissive, and snapping at her supposed Dom would raise all kinds of alarms. Instead, she tilted her head just slightly, her voice dropping to a low murmur. “Don’t tell me to relax. You’re not the one trying to walk in these heels. Why do you bastards like to see us wear these things?”

“Makes it harder for you to get away,” he quipped, making her grin.

Daniels’ lips twitched, but he said nothing more, simply guiding her further into the crowd. His control of the situation was unnervingly absolute, as if this world belonged to him andhe had every right to be at the center of it. His tailored suit clung to his frame, exuding authority while the dark intensity in his eyes dared anyone to challenge him.

Reyna, on the other hand, felt like a glass figurine in a room full of jackhammers. Her dress, chosen for its strategic balance of allure and practicality, hugged her figure with precision, leaving her arms bare but hiding the slim dagger strapped to her thigh. The collar around her neck—a thin strip of braided black leather adorned with a sterling silver pendant and fastened with a silver clasp—felt heavier than it should. She touched it briefly, a nervous habit she cursed herself for as soon as her fingers brushed against it.

“Stop fidgeting,” Daniels said under his breath, his tone carrying the same quiet dominance she’d come to expect from him. “If you keep touching it, you’ll draw attention.”

“I don’t like it,” Reyna whispered back, her eyes scanning the room as they moved. “Feels like a noose.”

Daniels leaned down slightly, his breath grazing her ear as he replied. “It’s not a noose, and you’re not trapped. You’re in control, Reyna. Don’t forget that.”

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