"Be the first who ever did."



20

The room buzzed with hushed conversations, the sharp scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air. Black Armani suits, tailored perfectly, surrounded the room in strategic clusters—eyes flicking between each other, the atmosphere tense with a mix of business and unspoken power. I stood on the balcony, dressed in the black Saint Laurent dress that had been left on my bed for me, a gift from Reign, no doubt, though I didn't feel like being part of this display tonight.

My eyes drifted below, where Reign was crouched beside an older man, his back straight despite the cane he leaned on. The man was handsome, silver streaking through his gelled hair, with tattoos inked across his fingers. He had a presence, calm and commanding in a way that made even the well-dressed crowd seem secondary.

This must be the Gusev family, I realized, remembering Amaya's mention from yesterday. I couldn't bring myself to care. I didn't want to meet them—not tonight, not when I felt like I was drowning in my own emotions, trapped between worlds I didn't belong in. I felt the load of my thoughts pressing on me, my energy drained as if each breath was getting harder to take.

Last night, Reign had wrapped his arms around me when he came to bed late. It felt comforting at the time, but now, it seemed like just another fleeting moment in the chaos of our lives. He'd slipped out before I woke, as usual.

I'd learned to read him over the months, to sense the difference between the moments when he was teasing me, when his eyes sparkled with amusement as he touched me, and when the heat of his anger simmered beneath the surface. It was like walking on a razor's edge, never knowing which version of him I'd face in any given moment. And tonight, I could feel the distance between us, the heavy tension that hung in the air, as I stood here alone, watching his every move from afar.

I was taking pills to execute my fetus behind his back, can you even begin to imagine the monster I've created?

A light touch on my back made me jump, "sorry, sorry!" Stassie whispered with worry.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress a small grin. "I still can't believe your staying in this country with me."

She shrugged, her smile wicked. "Why not? Life's too short to be stuck in the same place. And, besides," she glanced down at the crowd below, her eyes scanning for Reign, "sometimes the riskier the move, the more fun it gets."

I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and disbelief. Stassie lived in a world of constant reinvention, where every decision seemed like a game. She made it look easy.

"So, you're telling me you literally followed me here for no reason other than to make sure I don't crash and burn?" I raised an eyebrow, half mocking, half curious.

Her smile softened just a bit. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Amina. I see something in you—besides just being another pretty face. I'm here to make sure you don't lose yourself in all of this." She gestured vaguely at the room, at Reign, at the world around us.

I felt a warmth at her words, but something deep inside me questioned whether she truly understood what I was going through, or if she was just playing another one of her games. Either way, I had no choice but to play along.

"You sure about that?" I murmured, my gaze now following her as she scanned the room again. I caught a flicker of something in her eyes, a trace of doubt, before she masked it with another perfect smile.

"Of course I am," she replied breezily, though her tone was a little more guarded now.

I shook my head, "What did you do?"

"Blackmail. You don't become a billion-dollar family by doing the right thing. It comes with a price—being shut out, disconnected. But honestly, who cares? I've been shut out long enough, I create my own motion now."

She paused, glancing around before asking, "Anyway, why are you standing up here alone?"

"I'm not in the mood to meet his family. I don't think I ever will be, but here I am, as usual," I responded with a sigh.

She shrugged, casting her gaze across the room. "Look, there's Amaya. She doesn't look too thrilled to be here either."

We watched her interacted awkwardly with some people at the table.

Before I could respond, a voice broke in from behind us—feminine, Russian, smooth. "Ladies," it greeted us, followed by, "Amina, nice to see you again." I didn't turn to acknowledge her.

"I'm going to grab a mimosa," Stassie said, stepping away and leaving me alone with the woman.

I didn't even glance up at her.

"I understand why you hate me," she started, her tone surprisingly soft but heavy with meaning. "My family is... not easy to love. And I know Reign hasn't been gentle with you. I don't mean to scare you, but those men down there? They were instructed that if they even look you in the eye, or touch you, they will die for it. That's how much you mean to Reign. His command is law—you respect and obey. It's bigger than the mafia; he's part of something much larger, global even."

My breath hitched, a tremor passing through my fingers.

"Why—why are you telling me this?" I asked, finally meeting her eyes.

She held my gaze, her expression unreadable. "You were chosen by the leader, Amina. And down there is our dedushka—the founder of everything our last name stands for. You didn't think you wouldn't meet him, no?"

I turned my gaze back to the older man with the grey hair across the room, my chest tightening. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I swallowed them down. It was all too much, too soon.

"Once you go downstairs to shake his hand, you officially become part of this family," she murmured, stepping closer to me, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "And every new addition meets Dedushka Gusev."

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Now more than ever, you did almost birth the next mafia heir."

I took a slow, steady breath, trying to calm the tremor in my fingers. The weight of her words crushed down on me. I felt like a puppet, strung along by invisible strings—no real choices, no freedom, just an endless march forward. Each day was a struggle. The constant migraines, the physical pain that followed, the exhaustion of living a life that was no longer truly mine—it was unbearable.

But worse, I knew nothing of Reign's plans. He moved in silence, always one step ahead. And seeing his family here now? That meant something—something I wasn't ready to fully grasp.

I clutched the rail with shaky fingers, my heels clicking against the wooden steps as I made my way down. My body felt like lead, every step heavier than the last.

Then, I felt him before I saw him. Reign, moving through the crowd like a force of nature, his presence commanding every eye in the room. His dark energy seemed to ripple outward, as if his very being bent the room to his will. Everyone's gaze followed him, every move calculated, every second under his control.

When he reached me, he held his hand out with that same calm authority. As I took it, he pulled me into his embrace, the familiar warmth of his body enveloping me. I looked up at him, taking in the sharp lines of his face, his perfectly sculpted features, the undeniable allure of him.

"Stunning as always," he whispered, his voice low and husky. He pressed a soft kiss to my lips, and I, almost instinctively, kissed him back, my heart racing as I felt the weight of all those eyes on us.

He pulled away just enough to speak again, his lips brushing my forehead. "Come meet my grandfather," he said, before placing another kiss on my forehead, then my nose.

I swallowed hard, the fear and the thrill mixing in my chest. There was no turning back now.

I nodded letting him lead me over to the couch, the room fell silent everyone was watching. My arm in his we stood before him, another Gusev radiating intense power.

"Dayte nam komnatu." Immediately the house was empty with just us three.

"Sit Amina." His grandfathers hard stare looked me over, the authority within just one word refuses any hesitance.

I sat beside him he fixed to turn to me, "Aren't you prettier than a picture? Very very gorgeous girl hm."

"T-thank you s-sir." I stuttered fidgeting with my fingers on my lap.

"I'm Rafa Gusev his grandfather. I heard about your miscarriage, it saddens me that happened. I look forward to more new editions to my family soon, da?" He smiled with a nod, I sent an unsure one back.

"Tell me about yourself Amina."

"W-well I'd—,"

"Father? You seem to have forgotten me again." A unfamiliar voice cut through with heels clicking from the hall. Both Reign and Rafa unfazed as they looked at each other.

"Rolan, you interrupted me." Rafa responded pronouncing those words carefully. This Rolan sat on the couch opposite us throwing a leg over his knee. Reign stood at my side as I'm still seated next to his grandfather. The world is in trouble, this resemblance the Gusev's have is truly remarkable.

"Son what a beautiful creature you have there." Rolan acknowledges Reign shifting his eyes on me. "Such beauty torments others, a face like this causes trouble and chaos. How you pretty girl got Reign involved with a sex trafficking ring?"

His Russian accent is the strongest one yet, more terrifying. Is that what this gathering is about, I'm going to die today. Reign still silent observing.

Rafa spoke, "Tread lightly Rolan, my empire was snatched from you the minute you almost ran it into the fucking ground. You do anything to mess with this and the Gusev last name the lord is my witness I will have the women you love by her head." I looked over at Reign his stare still on his father.

Rolan chuckled but nodded anyway no longer speaking, Rafa turned back to me.

"Apologies, Amina. My son is a nuisance, and he knows why," the older man said, a slight chuckle in his voice. He smiled kindly at me. "Now, where were we, sweetheart? Ah, yes... tell me about yourself."

I could feel the chill run through my body, my heart racing far too quickly. I struggled to breathe. "Sorry... w-will you excuse me?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I pushed myself up from the table. My legs felt weak as I quickly walked toward the nearest bathroom, desperately needing to escape. I shut the door behind me, the sound of the lock clicking making me feel even more trapped.

Once inside, I sank against the mirror, my body shaking as I broke down. I stared at my reflection, feeling the emptiness in my eyes, the desperate plea for help that no one could hear. My heart thudded painfully in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I tasted the sharp sting of my own heartache—too raw, too real. I couldn't stop the flood of thoughts that spiraled around me, my life veering in directions I never thought possible. But I knew if I let myself linger too long in this space, I'd spiral deeper.

I forced myself to halt the thoughts before they pulled me under.

The door opened, and Reign stepped inside. He closed it quietly behind him, his movements deliberate. His presence filled the small room like a weight I couldn't shake. I didn't look at him, though I could feel his eyes on me, his gaze unwavering.

"Why are you crying, Ami?" he asked softly, the words almost... concerned.

For a moment, I said nothing. His words caught me off guard, a genuine hint of care hidden beneath the usually cold exterior. I swallowed hard, unsure of how to answer, but the vulnerability I usually kept locked inside slowly started to slip out.

I took a shaky breath and glanced down at my trembling hands. "A lot of emotions... I lost my baby," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Reign didn't move at first. The silence between us stretched thin, heavy. Then his voice broke through. "Why must you provoke me, Amina?"

I didn't know where the courage came from, but suddenly I found myself wiping my tears away with the back of my hand, standing up straight in front of him. He was still towering over me, his posture commanding, his presence overwhelming. But this time, something shifted inside me. I refused to shrink back.

I looked him directly in the eyes, my heart pounding in my chest, and spoke in a voice that, for once, didn't waver. "I've been through so much—before you and with you. The first time you spoke to me, you told me you'd do anything to keep a smile on my face, that you'd break a man's neck for touching me. I thought... I thought that meant you'd do anything for me."

I could feel the heat of my tears still lingering on my cheeks, and my eyes shone with unshed emotion, but there was fire there, too. The sting of the truth, the weight of it all. And I wasn't afraid to face him anymore.

"You think I don't know when you're happy or when something upsets you? When you smile it reaches those brown eyes I adore, when you laugh your nose creases a little. And yes, I will kill any man who touches you or fucks with you because you're my woman, and you will have my name. "

He continues, "You betrayed me, I thought about all the ways I can take the life out those beautiful eyes, but I have no desire to kill you any more. Don't say I never had mercy on you."

"Do you even love me, Reign?" The question left my lips before I could stop it, and I regretted it the moment it was out there. My voice trembled, but I couldn't take it back.

He didn't answer with words at first. His hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me up to meet his lips. "Love is just a word with no true meaning," he murmured, his voice low and hypnotic. "What I feel for you is much greater than any word."

The sensation of his breath against my lips was electric, and I couldn't breathe, couldn't speak. I was paralyzed in his gaze, locked in the pull of his power.

His lips trailed down to my jaw before he pulled back, just enough to look me in the eyes. "This girl you bought is on her way here. You have any plans for her?"

His grip on my waist tightened as he spoke, and I couldn't stop the nervous flutter in my chest. I shook my head. "No," I managed to whisper, the truth slipping out of me before I could think. That night at the auction, something inside me had snapped. It had felt like fate when I saw her again—and this time, I did something about it.

Reign chuckled darkly, his lips brushing my skin again, this time at my collarbone, and a wave of heat spread through me. "You, my beautiful, are as naive as they come."

I closed my eyes, leaning my head to the side, my skin tingling from his touch. I didn't even realize I was inviting him closer until his kisses deepened.

"I... I was hoping you had a job for her," I rasped, my voice betraying my hesitation. Reign pulled away, his lips leaving a lingering trace on my skin before he faced me, his eyes intense as ever.

"A nice one, please," I added, a small quiver in my voice as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me even closer, closing the distance between us in one smooth motion, his body a wall of heat and strength.

"Whatever my queen wants," he said, his tone thick with promise. "Da, I'll arrange something." His lips met mine for a brief, electrifying kiss, sealing the unspoken agreement.

When he pulled back, he took my hand in his, pressing a kiss to my palm. I looked up at him, and the fire in his eyes made my heart race. His pupils were dilated, and there was no mistaking the raw desire in his gaze. It was as if he was seeing straight through me, into the deepest parts of my soul—and I couldn't look away.

It was like a wind was knocked out of me, my lower stomach pushed against the marble counter. My hand pressed against the mirror I let out a shaky breath. He pushed my legs apart, raising my expensive dress to my hips.

I glanced back at him taking my bottom lip in my mouth. My panties were moist, he ran a finger over my covered slit locking his gaze with mine. Words were mentally spoken, nothing else needed to be said.

Slipping my panties to the side, Reign gathered my juices with two fingers making me whimper. He sucked them clean off, before bring the same hand to slap my ass causing me to flinch forward at the sting shutting my eyes.

A thrust of a tongue made contact with my lower lips. I moaned out throwing my head back. The masculine grip he hand on my ass cheeks, spreading showcasing both my entrances. The cold air making contact was soon warm once his tongue flat against my inner core. His wet flicking so addicting, my soft moans bouncing off the mirror.

I was panting at the heavy sucking he had on my clit the wet sounds made me squirt a little water. Seeing as he made this happen, he quickly inserted two fingers in my cunt. Stroking at my g-spot making me cry out, a smile of pleasure on his face when I came retracing his fingers.

His thumb in me fucking me, collecting juices taking it to my forbidden place nobody has been. Circling the entrance while his fingers rubs me up and down slowly, I panicked when he licked it.

A thought popped up, "Reign your family." I whispered. He ignored me raising to his full height, looking at me through the mirror unbuckling his belt, putting a hand over my lips. He bent over me kissing me on the side of my face, I shut my eyes at the gentle gesture.

His engorged tip poking at my taboo entrance, "One day I will stretch you out back here." Reign whispered in my ear.

His hand still on my mouth, he ran his cock up and down my slit before shoving only the tip in my wet cunt. Slow thrusts forcing juices down my inner leg, I know he wanted me to feel all of him bit by bit. Moving his hand to the back of my neck, he squeezed.

My moans got a little louder Reign made no attempt to quiet me, I'm sure he wanted everyone in the house to hear. There is no faking it with Reign Gusev, you will cum when he says so.

His thrusts got sloppier so he pulled me back by my hips driving me to arch my back deeper. The side of my face against the cold counter, I got a glimpse of him.

The sight of it all has me giddy and weak, his perfectly designed tattoos, the people on the other side of the door, him fucking me like his personal whore.

His dark hair falling down his forehead, he looked concentrated. We shared eye contact again, my eyes rolled back once I felt my release creeping up, my walls clenched but he pulled out, snatching it away from me.

We both were breathing heavy still unsatisfied, "I'm just getting started." He groans out, and I couldn't agree more.

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