Chapter 1
My name is 'Luminița (loo-mee-NEE-tsa) Albu'. I am Nineteen years old. I am from Romania. I have long brown straight hair that reaches my hip and light green eyes. I have always been abused by my 'father' since my mom died. I have to do what I'm told because if I don't there will be consequences.
I always think of leaving this house and my 'father', but I can't because I can't afford an apartment. I have to work as a barista and a waitress to buy food for my father and pay the bills. I eat only once a week because we have a limited amount of food.
I live in a town called Arlandia. But Arlandia is a peaceful place in the daytime but when the sun sets stay in your house because it's really dangerous. 'why? you ask' because the most feared gang is out patrolling. If one of the gang members sees you out of your house at sunset they will kill you in an instant.
The leader of that gang is called 'Lorenzo Axton'. nobody has ever seen his face except for his best friends. 'how I know that they are his best friends? because they live in his gang house'. His best friend names are 'Cole Taylor', 'Blake Johnson', 'James Conner', 'Cameron Keller'. They always hang out at the coffee that I work at. I never served them before because I mostly work at the barista.
Right now I am in the attic. It's basically my room. I have a pillow and a dirty mattress and a small blanket.I have no wardrobe or many clothes because my dad says " Dirty whores like you don't need clothes." there is a broken window next to my folded clothes, and no heater so it get really cold at night.
I'm getting changed into an over-sized hoodie and Hammer pants. I never wear makeup because my long hair covers the bruises on my neck. then I went and brushed my hair and left it down. Once I have done everything that I need I quietly climb down the ladder from the attic making sure I don't make any noise. But god pointed me in another way. I tripped on an empty beer bottle and made a lot of noise. My father came running down and slapped me. I covered my cheek with and stammered "I'm m m so o o s or ry I really didn't mean...." I didn't get to finish what I said because he held me by the neck and said "WHAT THE f**k IS WRONG WITH YOU, YOU CANT EVEN WALK WITHOUT FALLING." he let me go and I fell on the floor. Then he repeatedly kicked me in my stomach and I protectively put my hands on my stomach, there are tears falling down my face like a waterfall. I shouted at him to stop, but that only made it worse. my 'Father' suddenly stopped and said "Serves you right b***h!" and went back to sleep.
I finally looked at the time and it read '7:25', crap I'm late for work. The cafe I work at opens at '7:30', I have five minutes to get to the cafe. I got up immediately and sat back down because it feels like I went and came back from hell.
I carefully got up trying my best to ignore the pain in my neck and stomach and I staggered across the living room to get to the front door, trying my best not make any noise when I close the door. I quietly closed the door and leave for work.
Moments later I arrived at the cafe. I wnt to the door and got attack by a hug, I seethed in pain and Alisa let go and saw the bruises all over my face and neck.
Alisa is the owner of the cafe. she treats me like her daughter. Alisa does know about the daily beatings that I have.
"I'm so sorry honey, I wish we could make it stop." The reason we can't do anything about it is that he is a police officer. if I called the police officer then no one will believe me. I grasped her hand a lead us to the kitchen, once we reached there, she had tears running down her face. I then hugged her and said "Alisa don't cry.....I don't like it when you cry...I will be fine." Jumping up and down overlooking the pain in my stomach. she just chuckled.
After that, I started working. Alisa ordered out "Luminița can you go take the order on table 2 please."
"Sure no problem" I said
I looked over to table 2 and it was the table for gang leaders best friends. They usually only have 4 people there, but now there's 5. He's really hot, I wonder who the person is!
I cleared my throat to get their attention with my face down and they looked at me with curiosity, 'I wonder why'. "Hello my name is Luminița and I will be your waiter today what would you like to eat?" I ask while stuttered and forced a tight-lipped smile at the end still with my head down.
They were still staring at me, so I became very uncomfortable. Then I heard a deep husky and masculine voice, "look at me" he said. I did what I was told because I don't know who this man is. I looked up gently and all of them gasped, I was really confused at what they gasped at. I looked over at the man that I don't know and saw he has a pissed off look. I was scared so I took a step back. He looks so handsome, he has gelled black hair and his light blue eyes. I recognised that I was staring dropped my gaze to the ground. Alisa came out and whispered in my ear "darling you tied your hair up, so they can see your bruises!" I gulped and ran to the kitchen to let my hair down and stayed there and wait till they go. I felt arms around my waist and I turned around to meet with a very muscular chest.