Blood and Vows

Held in his aim

Ryker's POV:

My eye stays locked to the scope, centered on her, tracking every small shift in her body, every breath she takes.

Time drags longer than it should. A minute passes. Then another. Nothing moves. No cars. No dust. No sign of anyone coming in.

Something’s off.

I shift the scope, scanning left. Nothing. Right. Nothing. Back to her. She hasn’t moved.

“She’s staying put,” Jace says.

“I know.”

I widen the scope slightly, pulling back just enough to read more of the terrain.

Dry ground. Low ridges. Scattered rock.

Normal.

Then I see a small flicker that dissapers just as quick as it appears.

I still completely.

Then I drag the scope back, and zoom back in to see clearer.

Nothing.

I wait.

Because if it was real, it’ll show again.

There.

A faint flash.

Too clean to be random.

“Jace. Far right. Past the second ridge.”

There’s a brief shift beside me as he adjusts.

“Where exactly?”

I narrow it in, tracking the spot again, waiting for it—

“There. That slight dip in the ground? Just above it.”

Jace breathes out slowly. “Yeah. I see it.”

Because now it’s clear.

It's a glint. A sniper glint, blended into the terrain but I see it.

My grip tightens slightly on the rifle.

“He’s lined up,” I say.

“On what?” Jace asks, even though he already knows.

My scope settles just enough to confirm it.

The angle.

The hold.

The way he’s tracking—

“On her.”

Jace swears under his breath.

Voices hit the comms immediately.

“What do you mean someone’s got eyes on her?” Max’s voice cuts in.

“Where is he?” Francesco snaps.

“Ryker,” Alex says, controlled but deadly, “Talk to me.”

I don’t take my eye off the scope.

“Far right ridge. Distance is long. He’s shifting. I don’t have a clean shot yet.”

“He doesn’t get that chance,” Enzo growls.

“He won’t,” I answer.

That part isn’t negotiable.

Jace shifts beside me, adjusting his own scope. “I’ve got him from this side,” he mutters. “If he moves left, I can take it.”

“Stay on him,” I say.

My focus stays locked.

The other sniper is good. I can tell. He’s not holding long enough to give me an easy shot. Small adjustments. Careful shifts.

But he’s still there.

Still watching her.

Still lined up.

My finger settles closer to the trigger.

Ready.

The second he commits, the second he holds...

I take him out.

He doesn’t get that shot.

Not while I’m on him.

“Cass.”

She doesn’t react. Not visibly. But I know she hears me.

I track the ridge again, adjusting the scope just slightly, trying to catch him properly.

“Listen to me,” I say quietly. “Shift your weight to the left. Just a little.”

She does it subtly.

Good.

“Don’t lock your knees,” I add. “Keep it natural.”

Jace shifts beside me. “Yeah… I see him now,” he mutters. “He’s careful.”

“I know.”

My finger hovers closer to the trigger.

Not yet.

Not until I have it.

I watch her again for half a second.

My voice drops just slightly when I speak again.

Softer.

More for her than anything else.

“You trust me?” I ask.

A breath passes.

“You do,” I say quietly. “Don’t you?”

My grip tightens slightly on the rifle.

“So you’re gonna be a good girl and listen to me.”

Out there, she shifts again. Just enough. Just how I want her.

Good girl.

“Don’t stay still too long,” I continue, voice steady again. “Small movements. Keep your breathing even.”

Jace exhales beside me. “He’s adjusting.”

“I see him.”

I track the ridge again.

He moves slightly.

Changing his angle.

Getting ready.

My body stills.

Everything narrows.

“Turn your shoulder a little,” I tell her quietly. “Don’t square up.”

She listens.

Every time.

The trust she has in me..

And f**k that does something to me.

Focus. I remind myself.

I drag the scope back to the ridge.

He’s settling just for a second longer than before.

That’s all I need.

My finger settles fully on the trigger now.

“Ryker,” Jace says quietly. “You’ve got him.”

“I know.”

“He’s staying with her,” Jace mutters. “Not backing off.”

“I know.”

I can see it clearly now. No cars. No movement. No sign of anyone coming in. Just Cassidy standing out there and a rifle trained straight at her. My jaw tightens as it clicks into place. This was never a trade. They brought her out here to kill her—and take Matteo back after.

“Cass,” I say quietly. “Listen carefully. On my mark, you’re moving to the car. Fast.”

Jace shifts beside me. “Ryker—”

“I’m taking him,” I cut in.

No hesitation. I’m not giving that sniper another second to line her up.

Jace exhales sharply and taps into the comms. “Everyone listen—this is a setup. They’re taking her out and grabbing Matteo. Be ready.”

The line crackles instantly.

“What?” Max snaps.

“Ryker’s taking the shot.” Jace replies.

“Do it,” Enzo growls.

“He doesn’t touch her,” Francesco adds.

My focus narrows until everything else drops away.

“Cass,” I murmur, quieter now. “Get ready.”

My finger settles on the trigger as I track the sniper one last time. He’s settling now, locking in, waiting for her to stop moving.

“Now.”

She moves instantly, breaking position and darting toward the car. The sniper reacts, shifting to follow—

Too slow.

I’m already there. My breath leaves steady, controlled. One line. One shot.

I pull the trigger.

The crack splits through the air. Clean. Precise. The sniper drops dead.

I keep my eye on the scope just long enough to confirm—nothing. He’s out.

“He’s down,” I say.

Jace exhales beside me. “Nice.”

But I’m already back on her. She’s behind the car now, in cover, exactly where I needed her. Safe—for now.

My jaw tightens as I scan the horizon again.

Because if this was the plan—kill her, take Matteo—then that wasn’t their only move.

And we’re not done yet.

Cassidy's POV:

The gunshot still rings in my head.

Too loud.

I’m crouched behind the car, breath uneven, hands shaking so badly I press them into my thighs just to feel something steady.

That wasn’t part of the plan.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Cass.”

Ryker’s voice cuts through it.

“They’re moving in.”

I lift my head just enough—

And my stomach drops.

Multiple cars across the arid terrain, dust kicking up behind them as they close in fast.

“Cass, get in the car. Now,” Ryker says.

“Move,” Jace adds.

My body reacts instantly. I push up and rush for the door, fingers slipping slightly on the handle before I yank it open and climb in.

The door slams shut.

The world shrinks.

My hands hit the wheel and they’re shaking badly.

Shit.

I can’t—

“Cassidy,” Jace snaps. “Focus.”

“I’m trying,” I breathe.

“Breathe,” Ryker says, lower now. “You’re good. Start the car.”

The engine roars to life.

“They’re closing,” Jace says. “We’re taking shots.”

A crack splits through the air.

Then another.

“They’re covering you,” Enzo’s voice cuts in. “Just drive.”

“Eyes forward,” Alex adds, calm and controlled. “Follow the road.”

Max’s voice comes through right after. “Straight to us, baby. Don’t stop.”

My chest tightens.

“Okay,” I whisper.

“Say it properly,” Francesco mutters.

I inhale sharply.

“Okay,” I repeat, louder.

“Good girl,” Max murmurs.

I press down on the accelerator.

The car jerks forward, tyres spinning before catching, and then I’m moving—fast—cutting across the terrain exactly how we mapped it out.

Gunshots crack again.

Closer.

“They’re pushing,” Jace says. “Two vehicles trying to close the gap.”

“Dropping one,” Ryker adds.

Another shot.

“One’s hit,” Jace mutters. “Still moving.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Enzo says. “We’re moving in.”

Ahead through the dust, I see them.

One SUV.

Black.

Fast.

Coming straight toward me.

“That’s us,” Max says. “Don’t slow down. Drive straight through.”

My grip tightens on the wheel.

Behind me, engines roar louder.

“They’re right on her,” Cassian says, his voice loud.

“Keep driving straight,” Alex tells me. “We’re setting it.”

And then another SUV cuts in.

From the side.

Fast.

Cassian and Marco.

They swerve in beside Max and Alex at the last second—opening a narrow gap between them.

“Window’s open,” Marco says.

“Take it,” Cassian adds.

My breath catches.

They’re creating space for me.

“Go, Cass,” Max says.

“Now,” Alex follows.

I don’t think.

I don’t hesitate.

I drive straight toward them.

Fast.

The gap closes in front of me tight...

Dangerously tight—but I trust them.

I push the speed higher—and shoot straight through the space between the two SUVs.

My heart slams in my chest as I pass them, and the second I’m through—they move.

Max and Alex swing behind me instantly.

Cassian and Marco drop back too, closing the opening like it never existed.

“They’re boxed,” Jace mutters.

“They’re ours,” Francesco says, his voice dark.

From behind—

Enzo and Francesco slam in from the rear.

Aggressively.

Cutting off escape.

My breath shakes as I glance in the mirror.

The cars that were chasing me are now trapped.

Surrounded on all sides.

“They walked into it,” Enzo says.

My hands are still shaking on the wheel.

My chest still tight.

But something shifts.

Because I made it through.

Because they caught me.

Because they didn’t let me fall.

“Keep driving,” Ryker says, steady. “You’re doing good.”

I swallow hard, nodding slightly as I push forward leaving the chaos behind me.