Eros (Athens series #1)

Chapter 1: Eighteenth.

Eighteen years later

It was a hot morning in California as usual. As usual, the streets were busy and the beaches were packed from around 6am. Every morning for the past three years i've ran to the beach watching families enjoy the weather together, Children interacting with their parents- something I envy. I always am sitting in the same spot at the beach. Right near the edge of the rocks where I have a perfect view and am far away enough to think. But today I had a completely different reason for ebbing here. Today wasn't an ordinary day for me, It was my 18th birthday and I was waiting for a specific person to come and give me the information I need.

My eyes scanned the pavements, the beach and the pier hoping to catch a glimpse of the man I was looking for, my uncle Victor. I jumped up straight away from where I was sitting and immediately ran to him once I spotted him looking at me from across the beach. It had been way too long since I had saw him. My grandparents has refused to let me see him as he was 'vanquished' from our family. But now that I'm eighteen nothing and no-one can or will stop me.

You see, three years ago I learnt the truth about my so called family. My whole life until I had turned sixteen had been a constant lie. I was told my mother died through giving birth to me and that my father was a man who walked out of my mothers and the life I hadn't even began to live yet, as soon as he found out that my mother was pregnant. All these years I had resented my father until the day after my sixteenth birthday when I overheard my grandparents talking about me. I will never forget that moment. Ever.

Flashback: Three years ago.

I had woken up at exactly 2am to go and get a glass of water from downstairs when I heard distinctive shouting from both my grandparents and my Uncle Victor as I was walking passed Papa's office. I remember stopping dead in my tracks to listen as to what or who they were arguing about.

'She's almost of age! You can't keep her hidden forever. You have to tell her the truth or I will.' Uncle Victor shouted.

'We can do whatever we want Victor! If you don't approve of our ways leave with your life and don't return.' Grandfathers cold tone echoed throughout the room.

'As you wish.' Victor replied solemnly. But as soon as he did he made his way to the door and I hid on the side, not wanting to get noticed by my grandparents. When he exited and slammed the door shut he saw me. Shock and worry was written all over his face. He placed a finger to his mouth telling me to keep quiet and then grabbed my hand so I would be able to follow him.

And thats when I discovered the truth. My mother had been kidnapped while pregnant with me, forced to leave after my birth or they would kill me. My own grandparents were going to kill me if she didn't. They were part of the mafia. My father never walked out on me. We were both kidnapped. That day so many pieces of the puzzle came together and Uncle Victor helped me make a plan to escape and nothing and no-one would be able to stop me once I am eighteen. For three years I had pretended to not know a single thing about what really happened. I played by the rules  and acted like the good granddaughter. But it has now all payed off.

My uncle Victor is the most loving and caring person I have ever met and the only one that has been completely honest with me. He loved me like I was his own child and was always there for when I needed someone to talk or turn to even though I wasn't allowed to be in contact with him I still made my way around it. The thing is he did leave that night of the my discovery of  horrible lie I had been living. He hated how I was treated, so he had no choice to leave if he wanted to keep himself safe and get me out of there. See the thing is with my grandparents and their hatred towards my mother was that she was the reminder of a failure. They would tell me stories all the time about how she was a good girl until she met my father. They would tell me how much of a horrible man he was and how he walked out on her as soon as he discovered that she was pregnant with me. In spite of everything I still wanted to find my father and meet him. I had some hope left, even after all the horrible things they put into my head before I found out the truth and I guess I was right.

'Happy birthday Charlotte! How are you?'

'Thank-you uncle and I'm good. How are you?'

'I'm doing great. I got here as soon as I could. Here.' He handed me a blue gift box with purple ribbon. I opened the box, pulling at the ribbon and when I opened it I could not believe my eyes.

'Is this for real?' I ask in disbelief at what I was looking at. I had a plane ticket and passport with a credit card sitting in the box accompanied by a white piece of paper that had the title 'address' written across the top in cursive hand writing.

'Yeah it's for real kiddo. Now you know what you need to do. I'll drive you to the airport right now because your flight to Italy leaves in about 30 minutes.' Tears were falling down my cheeks as I tightly hugged uncle Victor. 'No need to cry anymore Lottie, you'll be rejoicing with your family soon. There is still so much you don't know and I'm sorry for not telling you. But your parents are the only ones who should explain this to you. Now lets go.' We let go of each other and got up and headed towards his matte black Audi R7, driving towards the airport.

Last night was the eighteenth time I dreamed about this moment this month and it was finally coming true.