Page 32 of The Sniper

“Reyna,” Daniels said, his voice calm but firm. “Let him finish.”

Julius’s lips curved into a small smile, one that made Reyna want to punch him. “Smart man. Anyway, your mole cannot be just a random operative. It has to be someone close. Someone who’s been feeding information to the killer for months.”

“And you know this how?” Reyna demanded.

“Because I used to work with them,” Julius said, his tone laced with regret. “Before I left. Before I realized just how far they were willing to go.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Julius’s words settling over them like a storm cloud. Reyna stared at him, her mind racing.

“If you’re lying...”

“I’m not,” Julius interrupted, his voice firm. “You know me, Reyna. I don’t play games like this.”

She wanted to argue, wanted to tear him apart for everything he’d put her team through, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He wasn’t lying.

“Who is it?” she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Julius hesitated, then leaned closer. “I’m not exactly sure, but I do know it’s someone connected with either Cerberus or the club.”

The words hit her like a physical blow, stealing the breath from her lungs. “No. That’s not possible.”

“It is,” Julius said quietly. “And if you don’t stop him or her soon, more people are going to die.”

Reyna staggered and Daniels stepped forward, his hand brushing her shoulder. “Reyna.”

She turned to him, her eyes wide with a vulnerability she couldn’t hide. “I just don’t want to believe it.”

“You don’t have to believe it,” Daniels said, his voice steady. “But we’re going to find out the truth.”

Reyna stared at him, her chest tight. She wanted to believe him, wanted to believe they could fix this, but the betrayal cut too deep.

For a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of them. The anger, the betrayal, the chaos—all of it faded into the background as she met his gaze.

“Okay,” she said finally, her voice shaking but resolute. “We have to stop this. We need to stop whoever it is.”

Daniels nodded, his expression hardening. “Then let’s get to work.”

As they left the room, the shadows of doubt still clinging, Reyna was certain that the worst was yet to come.

CHAPTER TWELVE

DANIELS

Daniels sat in his car across from the Club Southside staff entrance, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel as he watched the comings and goings of the people inside. This wasn’t just a club anymore—it was a place where a crime was being conceived, a breeding ground for deception. Someone within these walls was feeding a killer information. Someone was working against those who worked and played here.

He’d spent years hunting down people like this, ghosts who thrived in the cracks between law and chaos. But this time, it was personal. Too damn personal. And with every second that passed, Reyna was in more danger.

The thought of her being next sent something primal through him, something dark and possessive that had him gripping the wheel tighter.

He forced himself to focus.

Through his contacts in the Bureau he’d been able to obtain a list of Velvet Glove employees and affiliates who had access to sensitive information. He didn’t have a name yet, but he was damn close. Whoever the mole was, they knew enough about Cerberus, Club Southside, and the BDSM community toprovide the killer with intel. And that meant they were someone entrenched in this world.

Daniels let out a sharp breath, checking the time. He had a meeting with Anton Greene, the Cerberus head of security—a former Marine with a reputation for keeping his mouth shut unless something threatened his business. If anyone knew who didn’t belong here, it would be him.

He stepped out of the car, adjusting the cuffs of his dark button-down as he moved toward the entrance. The bouncer at the door gave him a once-over before nodding, pushing the door open without a word. Daniels had been here enough times to not need an introduction.

He nodded to the receptionist and was buzzed through the entrance that led from the very public foyer to the very private dungeon beyond the door. Inside, the club was still in its pre-opening lull, the air thick with leather and the faintest trace of candle wax. The main floor was empty, the lights dim and the usual thrum of music absent.

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