chapter one: Recall of the past.

Sofia's POV

"Shhhhh!, if you make a sound, I promise to pass this knife through your stomach and take it out from your back and nobody will know about it". I flushed my eyes open to the sight of a man touching my cheeks and sliding his hand underneath the silky nightdress I was putting on. He was all dressed up in black, a mask covering his face, with just his eyes and mouth visible. I so much wanted to scream, but the knife he held right at my face, made me do otherwise. 

Oh yes, this has been my life since I was seven years old, and now I'm seventeen and still being taken advantage of because I could not talk to anyone. 

Well, let me introduce myself. I'm Sofia Jones, an only daughter to Lorenzo and Giovani Jones. You might be thinking about what my parents have done about my predicament. But the truth is, they have no idea about what is going on with me. I never told them because I was threatened by these men and I was young and naive back then to know about all that. When I became mature enough, I tried bringing it up on several occasions. They never really cared to listen to me. When I tried talking to my mother about it, believing she might be the one to reason with me but whenever we get into the middle of the conversation, she changes the topic to something else. My father is just a case I don't want to talk about.

You might also want to know how we ended up where we are now. What caused this painful story.

 My father was a wealthy man and a leader of one of the biggest mafia groups in Italy known as the LIONS. No one dares stand in his path unless that person has a death wish. This group was transferred to him by my grandfather before he passed on. My father has been dealing with it successfully over the past years, not until calamity struck us one night when we were having a good family bonding in our home, in the living room, when unknown gunmen barged into our house. 

Everywhere became instantly dark with men in black clothing, who were heavily armed with fire weapons and masks on their faces.

"Lorenzo!Lorenzo!". One of the men whom I guess was the leader of the group, stepped forward with a wicked smirk on his face. 

"You thought you could hide forever! but sorry, today is the chosen day".

I was only seven years old then and I didn't understand what was going on. My father stood in front of the man with shaking hands and sweat running down his body profusely. I could detect the fear in his eyes, something I have never seen before. I mean, the mafia was fearless, but that was not the case with my father at that moment.

"Let's keep it short because I don't have time for long drama. Either you give me access to your possessions or I killed you, your wife, and daughter ". The man said flatly with no emotions on his face.

"W who are you? How the hell did you get into my house? Do you know who I am? I owe you nothing. You better get the fuck out of my house this minute". My father yelled back at the man who looked at him in a daze.

"If I were you, I would do as he says".

One of the armed men spoke from behind. 

"Let him talk, Allessio because this might be his last chance. Lorenzo! Lorenzo Jones, owner of the LION empire. Forget about how I got to know you. I have had my eyes on you. I have my sources. I own this city and no one challenges me." he chuckled and my father froze in his position. My mother has been shedding tears all along, pleading for them to let go and I stood behind her, trying to hide from the wicked people.

 He grabbed the collar of my father's shirt and pulled him outside of the house. One of the men motioned for me and my mother to follow and we did. 

I couldn't believe the scene in front of my eyes. My father gasped in shock.

My father's men were all down lifeless in a pull of blood, some with their brains out, some with no arms, terrified at the sight before me, I let out a scream. 

My mother picked me up from the floor and covered my face in her chest

"So back to business, don't worry about how this happened. It's simple, and the same will happen to you and your family if you don't comply with me". He pointed his gun in front of my father who looked scared. 

"Lorenzo, do something, give them what they want if that will guarantee our survival ".

My mother lamented, still holding me in her hands. My father shook his head in denial. Well, you do not expect him to give out an empire he has worked so hard for just like that.

The next thing I heard was a heavy scream from my mother and my back hitting hard on the marble floor. I looked at her, to see blood oozing out from her right leg. He just shot my mother!. Being so young and naive and with tears in my eyes. I ran towards him and took his finger into my mouth, biting so hard on it. He tossed me to the floor when the pain struck him. I felt the taste of his bitter blood in my mouth. I must have bitten so hard. "If you don't comply this minute, I might as well pull the trigger at your daughter ".

The gun was now on my chest. My mother struggled to grab me, with my father holding her from behind. 

"You can have everything, but do not hurt my family anymore ". I have never seen my father shed tears as he did that day. He cried like a baby and I felt so bad that I couldn't do anything to help my parents. 

"Good, I thought LIONS never give up".

The man said mockingly. " you left me with no choice. I promise to get back at you. You will pay for all this".

I don't know how to put up the story, but that's how we ended up here. My father gave the man access to everything we had and we were left with nothing. News about my father's downfall spread over the entire city and we couldn't stand it. We had to move to the United States like beggars, feeding hand to mouth and that's where my nightmares began.

We moved into a neighborhood, filled with tugs and drug addicts. Our house was not the best. Fill constantly with cockroaches, rats, and bed bugs. Every part of the house was just exposed. 

Out of frustration, my father became a drug addict. A year later he was put behind bars as a result of a murder case in our vicinity. Leaving just me and my mother. I became a sex toy. They took advantage of me, and I couldn't voice it out to anyone. I was threatened with my life and that of my mother. I had to stay silent, but for how long?

*****

PRESENT-DAY

"Any noise, I will kill you, understood?".

I nodded in fear. I have lived all my life in fear and misery and I was slowly getting used to it all. The deed was done. And it was not reversible. I have to live with it. 

When he was done, I watched him take up his pants and smiled at me. " keep our little secret, beautiful". He then disappeared, leaving me feeling hopeless and useless and I so much wanted to end my life.

I cleaned up my eyes and climbed down from the bed. I couldn't walk normally as a result of the pain in my legs, but I had to do this.

I managed to pull myself to the kitchen. Searching through the dirty dishes that were scattered all over the nasty kitchen, I picked up a knife, I looked at it with tears running down my cheeks. " I'm sorry mother, but I just have to do this. If this will end all the pain" I muttered to myself, lifting the knife to my throat, and immediately I was about to strike, I heard my mother scream in her room. With no hesitation, I threw the knife down and ran straight to her room, ignoring the pain in between my legs.

She was looking pale, laying on her bed, breathing profusely and her eyes searching the room as though someone broke in and tried to harm her. I pushed forward to her bed and took her hands in mine. "What happened, mother?". I asked and she looked at me with heavy eyes. "Don't ever leave me Sofia".Did she sense that? I looked at it in confusion 

She traced my jawline with her fingers. I think she had a terrible nightmare, a nightmare that was about to come true if she hadn't screamed, making me run to her in panic. "I won't leave you, mother ".

I smiled sadly and snuggled into her arms. 

I release myself from the hug and check at the small alarm clock, standing on an old stool beside her bed. It was still 2 AM the morning. With the fear of being molested for the second time in one night, I climbed on the bed and wrapped my hands around her.

"I need justice ".

I whisper and then close my eyes.