Sapphire - Dona Of Lorenzo Giordano

I snapped my eyes open as the early morning sun hit my face. I quickly checked my phone and I grinned when I saw the date - 27th March 2015. It's my thirteenth birthday! It's finally my day! I rushed to the bathroom and took my bath. I was wearing my clothes when I heard my uncle scream my name. "Ivy!" "Coming, uncle!" I replied, quickly wearing my sneakers. I took my phone and ran out of my room down the hall. My aunt and my cousins had to stay despite my cousins' protest. My uncle wanted to take me somewhere today. He said it was a surprise since I haven't celebrated any birthday since I started to live with him. My aunt, on the other hand, had no problem with me leaving. "You're finally grown up and you'd be useful to the family." She said and that meant so much to me. I wasn't their daughter so I had always felt as if I was a burden. Now, I was a teenager and would be able to prove my worth. My phone buzzed in my hand and I checked the message. It was from my best friend, Vivian. Even though I was the daughter of Franco Dominick, the multimillionaire in Mazadora town, and the niece of Salvador Dominick, the owner of the biggest pub in town, she treated me like no one did. Like an ordinary human being. Vivian : hey, bestie! Happy birthday, my love. I can't wait to see you. Ready for today? We are having a picnic party to celebrate her birthday. Her mum planned it for us herself and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Me : I was born ready. If I miss this party, I'm surely dead lol. Vivian : Hahaha "Ivy, I don't have all day!" My uncle's shout shocked me out of my relaxed state and I rushed down the main staircase of the mansion, my ginger curls swaying and my smooth mocha brown skin glowing under the chandelier lights. Me : bye, girl, I gotta go. Vivian : Okay, love ya. See you. Me : love you too. I tucked my phone away, a smile on my face as I walked to my uncle, who helped me into a limo. If only I knew I would never see my home again. Never see my cousins, Aunt Rosa...Vivian, I would have never entered that car.   *** "Uncle where are we going?" I dared to ask my uncle, excitement in my tone. "It's a surprise, Ivy." He replied, not sparing me a glance. "Just give me a hint. Please, uncle?" I begged. I wanted to know where we were going. I hated suspense and being out of the loop. My uncle looked at me for a second. I thought I saw anger and loath in his eyes, directed at me but it disappeared so I shrugged it off. I must be seeing things.  He didn't hate me. I was his brother's daughter. We're blood. You can't hate blood. "Fine, Ivy. We're going to a place where uncle would exchange something worthless and small for some money more than it's worth. Then uncle is going to have some relief." I didn't fail to notice the coldness in his voice but I brushed it off. "So...you're going to work and I'm going to help?" "Yes." "What is the worthless small thing that you're exchanging?" "Something that was a big mistake. Don't worry, Ivy, you'll find out soon." I wanted to know now but he didn't seem like he wanted to tell me so I just rested back and wished we arrived there quickly. We drove through the city and out of town. Once we were a few good miles in the middle of nowhere, my uncle turned to me and held out his hand. "Give me your phone, Ivy." He commanded. I reached for my phone in my pocket and handed it to him without question. He was my uncle. He was superior and I was expected to obey. He rolled down the window and threw my phone out. My jaw dropped. I tensed. I wanted to yell and ask him if he was crazy for throwing out my phone but I was powerless. I was a child, obedient and respectful. It is how I was raised. Parent word is law or suffer the consequences. And besides, I couldn't pretest even though I wanted to. Uncle Romano is doing me a great favor. He took me in after my parents died and provided for my every need. I should just be a good girl and not offend him. So I sat stiffly as I sinfully cursed him in my head. He better be getting me a new phone. Minutes later, we came across a warehouse. The limo drove us in and parked. Goosebumps spread over my mocha skin as fear slowly made its way up my spine. The car door opened and my uncle got out, urging me to follow. He grabbed my upper arm and led me into the warehouse. It was old and the air smelled of chemicals. I sneezed more than twice but my uncle wasn't phased. Then I wondered if he knew I had- I tripped and fell, my knees digging into the cold hard ground. "Ouch!" I winced. "Get up now, Ivy!" My uncle harshly ordered and I quickly rose to my feet. The pain in my knees, combined with the fear and sadness I got from being snapped at formed a lump in my throat but I swallowed it down. I was older now, meaning I was stronger. I shouldn't cry. No. I wouldn't cry. I followed behind my uncle who was walking so fast. It was hard to keep up with him with my little legs. I had to jog at some point to keep up. I wanted to ask where we were going but the fear of being snapped at again kept me silent. We entered a room and there were three men inside. One was smoking a cigar. He had black greying hair and dark brown eyes. His beard was the replica of his hair and the ring around his fingers shone dimly under the yellow light illuminating the dark room. The dangerous air surrounding him did not go unnoticed. He had a tattoo on the side of his neck but I couldn't make it out. The other two men stayed behind him, completely stoic and facing forward. The older man stopped smoking and then glanced at my father and me. I moved closer to my uncle, trying to hide behind him. I was so scared now and I just wanted to leave. "Is this her?" The old man asked. "Yes," my father replied. What was going on? "Not good enough but don't worry. We'll shape her." The old man said, his Italian accent thick and rough. "My money?" My uncle asked and the old man flicked his finger at one of the bodyguards who brought a briefcase forward. Opening it, there was a lot of money. Bundles and bundles of 100-dollar bills. My uncle slowly moved forward, inspecting the money then sealing the case shut and taking it. "She's all yours." My uncle said as he backed away from...me? One of the two men stepped forward and grabbed my arm. My head snapped to my uncle. "Uncle? Uncle! Where are you going? Let go of me! Uncle!" I screamed. Tears started to pool down my eyes and I wiggled, trying to get free. I bit, hit, scratched, and kicked but no matter what I did, no matter how much I screamed and struggled, the man never let me go. "UNCLE! COME BACK, PLEASE I'M SORRY! UNCLE! LET GO OF ME, YOU FILTHY FUCKERS! HELP ME! SOMEBODY HELPED ME!" My head snapped to the side, my cheek stinging. It took me a while to register that the old man had slapped me and his ring had cut into my cheek. "You, my little poison, have that flame inside you that I don't like. Not to worry, Santo will reduce that flame to nothing." The old man said. "Take her away!" I was dragged, physically drained to a black SUV. I was bounded, gagged and a black bag was thrown over my head. I was thrown into the van, rolling and hitting my back on something that felt like a pole. My tears had long dried. I couldn't cry anymore. I was hollow, without a soul. Nothing mattered next at that moment except my survival. For at that moment, I made a promise. The old man, my uncle, my aunt, my cousins, they would all pay. Even if it was the last thing I did. I know you said you can't hate blood but that turned out to be a lie. Hate runs deeper when betrayed by blood. And I'll make sure they know it.