Truly Yours

Jessica'S POV

Sitting on the roof of my old run down house, looking at the endless sea of stars in the black sky, thinking of my life, what my purpose is in life. I have no family, no friends, hell even pets. I have no one, nothing, nothing to lose, nothing to hope for. I'm simply surviving not living, I'm breathing but I feel dead.

If only feelings had an off-switch. If only I can block out the hurtful words, the thoughts, the feelings. I try to tell myself that its not true, all the words,all the pain, that its a chapter and it will pass. But I guess that's a lie, I have been lying to myself. This chapter is not passing, all my life I have been in the same chapter, over and over again, my life is a repeating record, everyday is the same.

But, I learned to block it out, to numb the pain away. Now, now numbness is all I ever feel. It helps with the words, thoughts, feelings and everything. I learned something when I was 9 years old. I would always cry when my parents would start hitting me, but I realized something, that if I cry or mope around nothing would change, nothing. The kicking, punching, slapping, whipping and degrading wouldn't stop nor will it ever stop.

They love when I cry, when I beg, but nothing ever works it comes in an ear and out the other, I haven't cried since I was 10 years old . Crying won't solve my problems, it wont do anything. So I just stopped, I bottle everything up.

I don't burden anyone with my problems or what goes on at home. I know they wont do anything, they will pity me, and if their is one thing I hate most in life that its pity. I don't want people to pity me, I don't need anything from anyone. There is God, God gives me faith, hope, love, everything. I know he will help me. He kept me going till now for a reason.

I always wanted one thing as a little little girl . I wanted them to love me. I wanted them protect me and care for me. I wanted her help me with my hair, clothes or simply advice me in life. I wanted him to call me his little princess, to chase away boys, to protect me from bullies. But we don't get everything we want. Because it turned out they became my biggest bullies, I needed protection from them. They became the monsters from under the bed that you need protection from. They ruined me. He ruined me, she ruined me. Both of them broke me, shatterd me, broke me into a million pieces that can't be put together.

I always wondered what I did wrong, what I did for them to hate me, to harm me, to despise me that much. But I always came up with nothing. I was a kid who could barely stand, so I never came up with an answer.

Its currently 4:00 in the morning and I need to go make my stepfather breakfast and clean the house or else I will get my daily dosage of love (note the sarcasm). With that thought in mind I got up and streched my sore muscles, Obviously that was a mistake as I bent over in pain. Yesterday I came 10mins late from work and he whipped my back and dislocated my knee. I don't even know how I'm walking right now but I guess you could say I'm used to it, the pain.

I walked to my room which is basiclly the attic. My room consists of a really thin mattress, a thin blanket, no pillow, and a chair in the corner of the room where I keep my stuff. I went to the broken mirror in the bathroom and lifted my shirt just over my ribs. My stomach has burn marks, open flesh, and bruises. My stomach is a mixture of black, blue, purple, yellow, and green. One thing I hate when looking at my stomach is the word my mom (if you can even call her that) carved there. The word "whore" is carved in the middle of my stomach. She carved it with a small pocket knife when I came late from school for doing a project with a boy.

I don't even know how she found out. I don't dwell on the thought anymore and start dressing my wounds and sanitizing the cuts with rubbing alcohol and white, big antiseptic bandages. After that I put on my clothes.

I make sure to cover the bruises on my face and hands with foundation186

I make sure to cover the bruises on my face and hands with foundation. Don't want anybody knowing.

After I finished stood and looked at myself in the mirror. My green-blue eyes hold no life, they are dull, lifeless, no shine in them whatsoever. They used to be so bright, full of life and happiness but now they are dead, nothing in them, they look so empty . My face is too thin and pale from the little food and dehydration, My clothes are too big and baggy because i'm too thin. Overall I'm not the most appealing to look at.

When I finish I make my way downstairs to start on breakfast. I make my way to the kitchen and open the fridge and take the ingredients out. I make four pieces of toasted toast, two with fried eggs and the other two with strawberry jam with half an avocado on the side. I put the plate on the table and open the fridge to take out a beer. The second I put the bottle down I hear loud booming footsteps alerting me he's coming.

I stand in the corner in the kitchen and keep my head down . Its one of rules I have to follow or else I get punished.

He makes his way inside and sits on the stool and starts eating. Next thing I know a fist is being thrown in my face. He punches me in the face and I feel the familiar taste of metal in my mouth. He busted my lip when it just healed. Another punch is thrown and he says "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT YOU FUCKING WHORE???"

"T-toast s-sir." I stutter looking at the floor,

another rule is that I call him sir and never make eye contact, he considers it disrespectful.

It looks like he didn't like that answer as he threw me on the floor and started kicking my stomach.

This went one for 1hour and when he finally had finished I could barely keep my eyes open.

"That's what you get you filthy bitch." He spat,

I saw him through blurry vision pick up his car keys and leave slamming the door on his way.

Slowly I stand up with the support of the wall and make my way to my room. I open the door and go inside, I reapply my foundation to cover the new bruises. I then eat small granola bar from the kitchen and take two painkillers for my ribs because he broke three I think.

I then make my way outside to leave for work. I close the door and lock it behind me. I work as a waitress in this really cute popular cafe that's 30 mins away. I have been working there for 2years and the owners are really sweet and treat me as their own.

Once I reach the cafe I open the door and the smell of freshly baked goods and coffee fills my nose. I bid Martha and Jerry the owners good morning and move to put my stuff away. I hear the bell above the door jingle indicating someone came. I put my apron and take my small notebook and pen and head outside to start working. Let the day begin.

Jessica'S POV

It's now been a couple of hours and I'm so tired. My legs feel like they're about to give out any second. I finish the last table and go lean on the counter. I sigh and close my eyes for a minute. Then Martha comes up to me,

"Darling, you look tired, why don't you get your stuff and go home and rest?" She suggested with a soft smile.

"But Martha there is still a couple of people left. " I said, trying to convince her to let me stay, but she wasn't having it.

"It's okay hun I'll take care of it and anyways your shift ended hours ago, you always stay overtime, you need rest, my sweet girl." She said.

"Are you sure? You know I don't mind staying I love working here." I asked to make sure.

"Yes honey it's okay Now go get your stuff, it's getting late I don't you walking late at night." She replied. I nodded my head and went to get my bag and put my work stuff away. I said goodnight to Martha and Jerry and started my way to hell.

As I was walking, I had a feeling like something happened. I don't know what it is but I had a feeling like something big was going to happen soon. Too lost in my thoughts I didn't notice the bright blue and red lights and the police cars outside my home. I felt my heart start beating faster with each second.

Why is the police here? Oh god, what if John did something and they are going to take me instead? With all those thoughts I didn't notice a police officer walking towards me.

"Excuse me, Are you Jessica Thompson?" Asked the officer.

"Yes sir, is everything okay?" I asked, concern clear in my voice.

"I'm sorry, honey but your stepfather had an overdose and sadly he didn't make it." He said, pity in his eyes and voice.

I felt my heart stop. John is dead. He's finally dead. He can't hurt me anymore. I'm free from his claws. I never thought that he would die before me, I always thought that maybe he would go too far someday and kill me for good. My dream has come true.

But then suddenly, a thought came to mind. Where will I go? I don't have a father, my mother always told me that when he found out she was pregnant he told her that he didn't want me and left. I have no aunts, uncles, or grandparents that I know about.

I have heard about the foster system and I don't wanna go from one bad house to another.

"But where will I go? I don't have anyone that can take me in." I said, fear gripping my heart and chest.

"We will take you to the station to get a blood sample and see if you have any relatives that would like to take you in. If not then you will be placed in an orphanage or the foster system. For now, why don't you go pack your stuff, and then we will go?" He suggested, sympathy clear in his voice.

I nodded and went to the house to get my stuff. I didn't have a lot of stuff so it didn't take me long to pack them up. I had two shirts, two sweatshirts, one pair of sweatpants, one pair of leggings a pair of underwear, and a bra. I put them in my backpack and took out the money I had been saving all my life. I counted them and they turned out to be 1,500 dollars.

I put them in my bag and looked at the room one last time. The thought of leaving sounds so surreal, It feels too good to be true.

I looked at the room one last time and went downstairs. When I reached down I went to the officer that I talked with before and told him I was ready. We got inside the car and started driving towards the station. Once we reached we parked and went inside. He told me to sit down and wait for him to come back.

Once he came back he took my blood and told me the results would be back in an hour. It was 8:30 by now and I was exhausted. So I closed my eyes and I felt myself drift off.

ONE HOUR LATER

I felt someone shaking me from my shoulder and I immediately shot up thinking it was John. But once I saw the officer I relaxed. But he had a wide grin on his face which confused me. But what he said next confused me even more.

"Well I have some good news for you, we found someone that would love to take you in." He said with a wide smile.

" Who?" I asked curiously.

"Your father and older brothers." He replied.

I stood there frozen. I couldn't hear anything else he was saying. 'Father', that word kept repeating in my head over and over again. Why would he want me now? Why? He could have saved me years of pain and anguish and now he wants me? I couldn't believe this. My ears kept ringing, my heart kept beating out of my chest.

I didn't notice the officer calling my name until he started shaking my shoulder. I flinched and stepped away from him with wide eyes and mouth hanging open.

"F-father?" I whispered, still in shock about what I had just said.

"Yes father, isn't that great? Well how about you rest for a while, it'll be a couple hours till he arrives since he's coming from New York." He explained.

I nodded, I couldn't form any words, nothing could come out of my mouth. Its like my tongue was tied,

'Father' I have a father and he said I have brothers.

How many brothers do I have? Will they like me? What if they hate me? What if they never wanted a sister? Oh god, what if they hurt me? I could barely keep up with John and now a father and brothers. I couldn't think anymore as I could feel a headache starting. I rubbed my temples and took two painkillers.

My body hurts so much and with this new information. I rested my head against the wall and thought about something, will this be my new start with my new family or will it be my new hell? With that, I drifted off.

Raul's POV

I'm sitting in my office signing papers for the company and looking at a few designs for my next opening club. Sighing and taking a small sip of the rich alcoholic flavor I lean my head back on my leather brown chair trying to ease the headache that's forming.

I suddenly get a call from an unknown number. I usually never answer but my gut was telling me to and my gut is always right. So I picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello," I said coldly.

"I-is t-this Mr A-Raul Rodriguez?" The person on the other line stuttered. Since I'm in the mafia I'm always cold and rude except with my family.

"Yes, now who are you and what do you want?" He's wasting my time I need to finish work so I can be on time for dinner with my sons.

"Sir this is Texas Police Station we have your daughter here, her DNA matched with yours and she doesn't have a guardian, her stepfather just died. Would you like to take her in? If not she will be placed in an orphanage." The officer said making my hand freeze in midair from where I was signing.

What the fuck is he talking about? I don't have a daughter, I mean, I have always wanted a daughter but me and my ex-wife didn't have one. And I never slept with another woman.

"Listen you have the wrong number I don't have a daughter," I answered rudely.

I was starting to get annoyed they can't even dial a number correctly.

"Sir your ex- wife's name was Vicky Simpson right?" Asked the officer.

What does that bitch have to do with anything? She could be dead for I care. "Yes, why ?" I asked getting really confused. "And she left you and your sons and ran away right?" By now I was really starting to get mad. What the fuck does he think this is? A guessing game?

"Yes now spit it out I'm fucking busy "

"Sir your wife changed her name and she was pregnant when she ran away." He replied.

I sat there frozen. No this can't be possible, she wouldn't just take my child away from me, this is impossible. Fuck I can't even think clearly. I must have been quiet for too long because the officer spoke again.

"Sir, are you still there ?"I cleared my throat and replied, "Yes I am can you send a photo of her and what's her name?" I spoke calmly after taking a few deep breaths."Yes, sir I will send a photo and her name is Jessica Alexandra Thompson." Said the officer.

"So would you like to take her in? " Asked the officer.

"Yes, I will take her in I will be there in a few hours since I'm coming from New York. " I replied, feeling my throat clog up.

"Ok, sir I will get the papers ready for when you come." I hung up and put my phone on the table.

I couldn't believe this, a daughter, my daughter, I have a daughter. FUCK, that bitch, how could she? How could she keep my daughter away from me, my Principessa, my baby girl? I missed 17 years of her life from that bitch. I could never forgive myself. I felt something wet on my cheek. I raised my hand and wiped my cheek, I didn't even realize I was crying. I haven't cried in 30 years. I threw my phone across the room in frustration and watched it as it smashed into a thousand pieces. But that wasn't enough

I called my pilot from my other phone after hanging up with the officer.

" Get the jet ready we're going to Texas," I said as soon as he answered. "Yes sir." After that, I couldn't control my anger anymore.

I sent a message to my 2nd oldest "Get a duffle bag ready we're going to Texas." There was an instant reply "Yes Dad." good.

I still need to take my anger out on something. I threw my glass coffee table across the room and watched as it broke into a million pieces. I kept throwing everything in my office. I didn't keep a single thing. In the end, my office was trashed with glass everywhere and papers on the floor.

I took a deep breath and thought of how I was going to tell my sons. I know one thing and that they're going to be happy. All of my sons wanted a baby sister ever since they were young. And now that they have a baby sister they're going to be over the moon.

I took a long deep breath and pressed the speaker that is connected in the whole house so no matter where they are they can still hear "FAMILY MEETING NOW DON'T BE FUCKING LATE."

Let's see how it goes.

While I was walking down the stairs, I felt my phone vibrate in my black trousers. I paused my steps unlocked my phone and opened the e-mail sent from the officer. Once I opened it and saw the picture I stood there frozen in my spot. There was a beautiful girl that looked to be in her teenage years. She had blue-greenish eyes that looked fetching. Her light brunette hair looked so soft and silky and they were a little past her shoulders. Her face had had nothing on it, not even an acne scar. Her eyebrows were arched and she had a cute button nose.

At that moment all my doubts vanished. I now know that this girl is absolutely my daughter. She looks just like Camron. Heck, they could be twins if not for the obvious age difference. However, as I looked at the picture more closely I noticed that she looked a bit too skinny and pale.

I immediately started thinking about the worst. Was she not fed properly? Didn't they have enough money to buy food? Is she sick? Does she have a small appetite? Was she being starved? I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart and continued walking down the stairs and passed the kitchen until I reached the living room where I could hear my sons bickering and yelling.