Page 26 of The Sniper

The air between them crackled, the gravity of his words pulling her in despite herself. She hated how easily he could dismantle her defenses, how one look from him could make her feel seen in a way that both terrified and exhilarated her.

“I do trust you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just...”

Whatever she was going to say was cut off as his lips crashed against hers, his hand sliding to the back of her neck as he pulled her closer. The kiss was fierce, demanding, a clash of everything they’d been holding back. This was the first time he’d ever kissed her—oh, he’d asked, and she’d always refused. Kissing felt too intimate. But this time he didn’t ask, and Reyna’s hands gripped his lapels, her body pressing into his as her heart hammered in her chest.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard, their foreheads resting together as they tried to steady themselves.

“We can’t keep doing this,” she murmured, though there was no conviction in her voice.

Daniels’ lips curved into a faint smile, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “Probably not. But right now, it’s the only thing keeping me sane.”

She wanted to argue, to tell him this was dangerous and reckless, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she leaned into him, letting herself have this moment, just this once.

“We need to go,” she said finally, her voice steadier now. “Before we draw too much attention. I hate leaving and letting the auction proceed.”

“We’re not set up to stop them this time. We’ve got the intel we came for and we need to get out of here.”

Daniels nodded, his hand slipping from her neck but not before his fingers lingered for a moment longer than necessary. Together, they made their way out of the auction, the night air cool against her flushed skin.

As they reached the car, Reyna pulled out her phone, glancing at the screen. “The lead from earlier,” she said, her voice grim. “It’s pointing us to someone connected to the Obsidian Cartel.”

His stomach tightened. “And let me guess—they’re not the kind of people who like visitors.”

Her eyes swept over them. “No, they’re not. We almost lost Hope and Seth to them. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

Daniels nodded, his jaw set as they climbed into the car. Reyna didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t backing down.

CHAPTER TEN

DANIELS

Two days later, the dark silhouette of the warehouse loomed ahead, its broken windows gleaming faintly under the pale moonlight. Orion had been spotted entering the warehouse. With no time to put a team in place, Reyna had made the decision to follow up on the lead. Daniels felt he had no choice but to back her up.

He parked the SUV a block away, cutting the engine to preserve their cover. The muffled hum of the city faded behind them as the pair slipped into the shadows, weapons holstered but ready. He didn’t like this. The location, the silence, the too-convenient lead—all of it screamed setup.

But they had no choice.

Daniels glanced at Reyna as they crouched behind a stack of rusted barrels, her lean figure coiled with energy. She’d swapped her usual leather jacket for a matte-black tactical vest, her blonde hair covered by a dark cap. Even in the dim light, her sharp blue eyes darted over the scene with lethal precision.

“South entrance is clear,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Too clear,” Daniels muttered, scanning the warehouse exterior. “I don’t like it.”

“You’re not supposed to,” she said, checking her Glock with practiced efficiency. “But we’re here now. Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

Despite his instincts screaming at him to turn back, Daniels nodded. They moved in tandem, their steps nearly silent on the gravel. The closer they got to the warehouse, the more his unease grew. There were no guards, no movement, no sound but the faint creak of metal in the breeze. It was too quiet.

Daniels reached the south door first, his gloved hand brushing against the rough steel. He gestured for Reyna to cover him as he tested the handle. Unlocked. That, too, was suspicious. He glanced back at her, his dark eyes meeting hers in silent agreement. Something was wrong.

They stepped inside, the faint scent of oil and decay hitting him instantly. The space was massive, the ceiling disappearing into darkness above. Crates and machinery were scattered across the floor, casting jagged shadows in the faint light filtering through the broken and dirty windows. Daniels’ hand tightened around his sidearm, his ears straining for any sound beyond their footsteps.

“Cover left,” he whispered, his voice low.

Reyna nodded, slipping into the shadows. Daniels moved toward the center of the room, his movements slow and deliberate. Every instinct he had was on high alert, the air charged with something unspoken. He would have liked to have been able to put Reyna up in the rafters with her beloved sniper rifle. He told himself she would have been safer, but truth to tell, since Reyna was one of the best snipers he’d ever known, he would have been safer as well. He scanned the space, his gaze catching on a large wooden crate near the far wall. A faint flicker of light spilled from behind it, drawing his focus.

“Reyna,” he called softly, tilting his head toward the light. She joined him seconds later, her steps so silent he barely registered her presence until she was beside him.

“I’ll take point,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

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