Page 1 of Reign

One

Libby/Daniella/Isabel

I WOKE UP ON CLOUD NINE, feeling like my head had broken the surface of a stormy sea and I couldfinallypull in a deep breath. My lungs could expand without being crushed by the weight of my circumstances.

I was getting my life back and getting the hell out of Venezuela, all the horror and pain of the last three weeks behind us. Dominic and I were alive and after watching him almost die and then seeing him broken at his… well,my… sister’s grave, I felt I’d begun to heal from the wound of his betrayal.

But the spell of euphoria was quickly broken over coffee when he filled me in on last night’s conversation with Mateo before we left for the airport. Now, I can’t help but feel betrayed all over again. Only this time it wasn’t Dominic who betrayed me, but my own father. Since we’ve only been reunited for three days, he’s hardly my father in any of the ways that matter, but I guess biology counts for something.

Mateo is blackmailing us. Our “freedom” comes with one massive condition.

A member of the Russian mafia. Nikita Orlov, to be exact.

That’s the price of finally having control over our own lives. Proof of death on the fucking Bratva king’s cousin.

As if that weren’t bad enough,impossibleenough,terrifyingenough to wrap my head around…I also have to figure out how to continue to live under the same roof as Camila. The wicked bitch of the west.

I thought I had forgiven Dominic for breaking my trust and my heart by succumbing to his past with her. I understand no one’s perfect…but seeing them interact, seeing his kindness toward her, and knowing their history… it’s unbearable. Not to mention the role she played during my own captivity. She wore her jealousy on her sleeve and took every chance she got to rub inmystatus as a captive andherstatus as Dominic’s former-turned-current lover.

Even now she’s looking at him from across the first-class aisle with obvious fuck-me eyes. Thankfully in this cabin, our seats are larger, offering more space, allowing me to curl into the wall of the airplane. It’s a desperate attempt to escape Dominic’s heat but still, I feel his warmth radiate across the worn, cracked leather and into my bones.

And it fucking pisses me off.

I get it, she couldn’t stay behind. It was too dangerous and there was nothing left for her there. But couldn’t we have sent her literallyanywhereelse?

The hard set of Dominic’s jaw told me the answer before he even opened his mouth when I asked him that exact question. His savior complex may very well be the death of me. She’d have no place to stay, no bank account like Mateo set up for Dom and I, and no allies in America. So, she’s staying with us until this is over.

“Why the change of heart, Princess?” Dominic purrs as he leans in and crowds my space, filling it with the familiar mix of gun oil and coconut. “You seemed to like me just fine last night when my tongue was buried in your pu—”

I whip around to face him as our plane continues its descent into Miami International Airport. “If you value your life, you won’t finish that sentence.” I glare at him, meaning every word.

Sensing my ferocity, he clenches his teeth and turns away to start messing with the buttons on the video screen embedded in the headrest of the seat in front of him. The slight discoloration under his eyes tells me how tired he is and rightfully so, but him trying to lighten my mood isn’t actually helping my mood at all.

The last few days have been exhausting. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically.

Hell, I shot Dominic’s brother, Luis, in cold blood to save Dominic’s life. I don’t regret it but I’m not exactly comfortable with it either and it weighs on me every second I’m awake. That’s just thementalexhaustion.

Emotionally? I’mallfucked up.

I’m still in love with Dominic. But in the harsh light of day, as we get closer to assuming the lives my father has forced us into - with Camila in tow - I’m not feeling quite so friendly anymore.

Every time I look at her, my stomach clenches. It could just be my jealous side but mostly I think it’s because she’s a cold, conniving bitch who wants the man I love and neither of them cared enough about me to keep his dick out of her mouth only a week ago. Given our dangerous circumstances, maybe I’m being too harsh, but for now, it’s all I’ve got and I hold on to my anger like a lover so I don’t feel so alone.

“Flight attendants, please prepare the cabin for landing,” the pilot’s voice sounds overhead drawing me back to the present. The overly friendly flight attendant stops at our row and asks Dom for the umpteenth time if she can get him anything or if he has any trash. He’s polite and shakes his head, not engaging in her flirtatious behavior, but my fury is stoked anyway when she doesn’t ask me the same questions. It seems the hugeFUCK OFFsign on my forehead is still firmly in place, but she should ask me anyway.

Turning to look out my window as the sun beats down on the coastline below, I have mixed feelings about returning to the states. Even though we’re still in a shit load of danger, I’m glad to be back on U.S. soil. I keep my back to Dominic but only a few minutes later, I feel his hand on my thigh. His massive palm covers the entire top half and I’m grateful I have jeans on so we aren’t skin to skin.

His touch still has the burn of his disloyalty, so I brush it off lightly, not wanting to create a scene. You have to be careful on planes these days. So many people lose their damn minds over the dumbest shit.

I can feel the hurt in his gaze on the back of my head and it only takes a second before he leans in to my ear again, his breath warm as it floats acrossthat spoton my neck. “Lib, you said you forgave me. Tell me what else I can do?”

I can hear the desire in his voice, as well as his sincerity, but I just can’t do this with him right now, so instead, I turn an icy stare at him, trying to choke my words out through the lump in my throat. Iwill notcry right now. “I thought I did forgive you. I also thought we were about to die,” I whisper, looking around to make sure no one can hear us. Over Dominic’s shoulder, I see Camila eyeing us which only fuels my anger more. She and I haven’t uttered a single word to each other since Dominic returned from Castillo de Hielo with her as his shadow. “It’s not like I’ve had a normal amount of time or head space to process this shit, Dom. And on top of everything, you practically begged her to come with us.”

He winces but I can see in his eyes that he’s growing tired of being on the receiving end of my anger.

Sucks for him.

“I couldn’t leave her behind,” he growls, breaking eye contact. “I’d never be able to live with myself. Her best friend is dead, her employers, and Luis – whatever he was to her – all gone as well. Not to mention Iusedher looking for a way to saveyou. She knows I choose you.”

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