Page 57 of The Sniper

His voice was a growl, his lips inches from hers. “You will follow my lead, Reyna.”

She swallowed, trying not to react to the heat radiating off him. “Or what?”

Daniels’ fingers brushed against her hip, a teasing stroke that contradicted the hard edge of his tone. “Or I put you over my knee and remind you exactly who’s in charge.”

She was drowning in him, in his dominance, in the way he commanded the air between them. Her entire body was on high alert, every nerve ending attuned to him.

“You like pushing me,” he murmured, his voice dark silk. “But there are rules and consequences for breaking those rules. If you make me, Iwillenforce them.”

Her breath came in shallow bursts, and for the space of a heartbeat she considered leaning in, closing the final inches between them.

But she wasn’t ready to surrender. Not yet.

She forced a smile and tilted her head. “We both know you need me in this fight.”

Daniels let out a weighted breath, stepping back, giving her space she didn’t want. “Fine.” His voice was steel. “You follow my orders. No heroics.”

Reyna nodded, though her body was still buzzing with the ghost of his touch.

The airstrip was eerily quiet, the darkness swallowing the runway whole. They moved in teams—Daniels, Reyna, and Mitch taking the main hangar, while Fitz and Anton covered the perimeter.

Reyna’s grip on her rifle was steady as they advanced, the sound of their boots barely a whisper against the concrete.

Something felt off.

Daniels stopped suddenly, lifting a fist to halt them. “Hold.”

Mitch scanned the area. “What is it?”

Daniels took a deep breath, his gaze sharp. “Too easy. It feels like a trap.”

And then the explosion hit.

A detonation ripped through the side of the hangar, sending a shockwave through the air. Anton’s voice came over comms, strained. “We’ve got a man down...”

Reyna’s stomach lurched. “Who?”

“Fitz,” Anton bit out. “The trap was wired. He’s hit, but breathing.”

Daniels swore under his breath, his eyes darting between the smoldering wreckage and the hangar where Hartley was being held.

Artemis had played them. Again.

They had two choices—go after her or save Hartley.

Daniels made the call.

“Mitch, you and Anton get Fitz out of here and to the emergency room. Reyna, we’re getting Hartley.”

They stormed the hangar, sweeping in fast. The metal building was empty save for a single chair in the center of the room. Hartley sat tied to it, beaten and bloodied, but alive.

Daniels cut through the restraints while Reyna covered them. “How bad are you?”

Hartley coughed. “I’ve had better days, but then I’ve had worse.”

The moment they pulled him up, the back doors of the hangar burst open.

Reyna swung her rifle up, but it was too late.

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