Page 1 of Reign

Chapter 1

Elena

8 Years Old

“Look at me,” Mamma says as she kneels in front of me, the skirt of her dress spilling around her.

She smiles, but her eyes look…scared.

Something prickles along the back of my neck. “Mamma—”

She sets her phone on the desk. “Call your Papa. Tell him to hurry, and whatever you do, do not leave this house. Do you understand? No matter what you hear, you do not come outside.”

“Where are you going?”

Mamma takes a shaky breath. Her eyes flick to my open journal. She rips out a page and snatches the pencil from my hand.

“Hey—”

She writes fast and sharp.

I read over her shoulder.

Partial plate: HXY

Black SUV

Armenians

“Mamma, what are you doing?”

She folds the paper and presses it into my palm. “You give this to Papa. You tell him Mamma will be okay. Can you do that?”

Her eyes fill with tears.

My breath shakes. Tears rush hot and fast down my face. “I don’t want to.”

She shushes me softly, her fingers brushing my cheek. “Please, Elena. Quiet, please. Please,” she whispers.

Her arms wrap around me so tight the air leaves my lungs.

So tight it hurts.

“I will always, always be with you, do you understand? You’re my favorite thing in the whole wide world.”

She pulls back and grips my shoulders. Tears slide down her cheeks. “Tell me you understand.”

My bottom lip trembles. “Mamma, I don’t understand. Please don’t leave me here.”

She sucks in a breath, then lets it out slow through her mouth. She wipes her tears with the back of her hand and forces a small smile. Her eyes are still sad.

“Elena.” She cups my face. Her hands are soft but ice-cold and shaking. Her perfume wraps around me, sweet and familiar. “Ti amo così tanto.”

“I love you too, Mamma.”

She brushes my hair back with trembling fingers. “Stay here until Papa gets you.”

“Ma—”