Page 25 of The Sniper

The velvet-draped auction room was humming with conversation and the clinking of champagne flutes, every corner cloaked in opulence and shadows. Reyna lingered by the far wall, her fingers brushing the edge of a table adorned with an extravagant floral centerpiece. The scent of lilies was overwhelming, but not enough to mask the bitterness clawing at her chest.

Across the room, Daniels stood by the bar, a glass of scotch in one hand, his body angled toward a woman who seemed all too happy to bask in his undivided attention. She was stunning, of course—tall, with dark hair cascading over one bare shoulder and a dress that clung to her curves like it had been paintedon. Reyna couldn’t hear their conversation, but the woman’s laughter cut through the room like shards of glass. It was light, flirtatious, the kind of sound designed to make a man lean in closer. And Daniels was leaning.

Reyna’s jaw tightened. She knew it was part of the plan—charm the suspects, gather information, get closer to uncovering the truth. Daniels was playing a role, nothing more. But knowing didn’t stop the sting that crawled under her skin, making her feel small and ridiculous.

“Elle,” a voice drawled beside her, pulling her attention away from the bar. Conrad Hale had appeared at her side, his dark eyes gleaming with something she didn’t like. “You look distracted. Not bored, I hope?”

She forced a polite smile, dipping her chin. “Not at all, Mr. Hale. This event is fascinating.”

“Fascinating is one way to describe it.” He studied her with a predator’s intensity, his gaze lingering on the collar around her neck. “You’re new to these circles, aren’t you?”

Reyna tilted her head, letting the light catch her earrings as she feigned a coy smile. “My Dom thought it was time I expanded my horizons.”

Hale chuckled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Well, I must say, he has excellent taste.”

Her stomach turned at the implied compliment, but she kept her expression neutral. “Thank you. He’s very thorough in his choices.”

Hale’s eyes flicked back to Daniels, who was now laughing at something the brunette said, his hand resting lightly on the back of her chair. “Thorough, indeed,” Hale murmured. “Though I’d imagine it must be difficult, sharing his attention with others.”

Reyna froze for half a second, the barb landing exactly where it was intended. She recovered quickly, offering a soft laugh. “Jealousy is such a waste of energy, don’t you think?”

Hale smirked. “Perhaps. But in my experience, it’s often unavoidable. Especially when the stakes are high.”

Reyna’s smile didn’t waver, but inside, she was seething. “Excuse me,” she said, dipping her head slightly as she stepped away from him. Her steps were quick and purposeful, her path leading her directly toward Daniels and the woman still draped in his orbit.

As she approached, she caught the tail end of their conversation. The woman was leaning forward slightly, her hand brushing Daniels’ arm as she said something in a low, conspiratorial tone. Daniels nodded, his expression serious, but there was a flicker of charm in his posture that made Reyna’s chest tighten.

“Thomas,” Reyna said softly, her voice cutting through the space between them. She placed her hand lightly on his arm, her fingers brushing the fabric of his suit. “Forgive me for interrupting, but I believe Mr. Hale is looking for you.”

Daniels turned to her, his dark eyes flicking to hers with an intensity that made her pulse race. For a moment, she thought she saw something unreadable pass through his gaze—surprise, maybe. Or annoyance. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

“Of course,” he said smoothly, his voice steady. He turned back to the woman, offering her a small nod. “Thank you for your insight. It’s been a pleasure.”

The woman smiled, her eyes briefly narrowing as they flicked to Reyna. “The pleasure’s been mine. Do take care.”

Reyna forced herself to hold her ground, her hand slipping into Daniels’ arm as he guided her away from the bar and toward the nearest exit. The moment they were out of earshot, she pulled her arm free, spinning to face him.

“What the hell was that?” she demanded, her voice low but sharp.

Daniels’ expression was unreadable, his dark eyes scanning hers with that maddening calm he always carried. “It’s called gathering information, Reyna. Or would you rather I go in guns blazing?”

She bristled, crossing her arms over her chest. “There’s gathering information, and then there’s practically seducing someone.”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping as he leaned in. “That’s what it takes to get people to talk in places like this. It’s not personal.”

“It looked personal,” she shot back, her voice trembling with something she didn’t want to name.

Daniels’s hand brushed through his hair as he looked away for a moment. When he turned back, his gaze was hard, unyielding. “You don’t get to be jealous. Especially, not here and not now. You’ve made it abundantly clear on more than one occasion that you have no interest in exclusivity or wearing anyone’s collar.”

It felt as though he had knocked the air out of her lungs, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words. The anger that had been bubbling beneath her skin was suddenly replaced by something else—hurt, vulnerability, the cracks she tried so hard to keep hidden.

“I’m not jealous,” she said, though the words felt hollow. “I’m just tired of you acting like I don’t know what I’m doing.”

His gaze softened, but only slightly. “This isn’t about you not knowing what you’re doing. It’s about staying alive long enough to figure this out. You think I enjoy this? Playing nice with people who would stab us in the back the moment it suited them? You think I liked Hale cuddling up to you? I wanted to rip his throat out.”

Reyna opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat as he stepped even closer, his presence envelopingher. His hand brushed against her jaw, tilting her face up so her eyes met his.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he said, his voice low and firm. “But you have to trust me.”

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