Chapter 4

I tiptoed into the house and closed the door gently behind me. 

If my father was home, it was best not to wake him up. 

“Where the hell have you been?” My father's intimidating voice hit me as I turned and I froze in place. 

He got up but I didn't notice, my eyes fixated on Me Lopez and a few of his men from before. 

Why was he here? Wasn't he afraid of Damien Holt any longer? 

“Mr Lopez I thought…” j started to say but my father slapped me across the face, stopping the rest of my words. 

“You're such a cheap slut just like your mother. How much did that man pay you, huh?” He barked as he grabbed a fistful of my hair. 

“Ah!” I yelled as I tried to break free from his hold but he only tugged on it harder. 

“Stay still you dumb bitch! You're going with Mr Lopez today and that's final. It's already been decided and there's nothing you can do to change that.” 

“Dad,” I tried again hoping he'd understand that I had struck a better deal for us. “I found someone else and he's going to clear our debts, believe me.” 

“I said shut up,” he yelled as hit me again. 

My cheeks burned from the force of the strikes and tears stung the back of my eyes. 

“Be a good little girl and behave so Mr Lopez won't have to complain about you.” 

I nodded weakly and closed my eyes. So much for Damien Holt, I guess there was no way out of me. 

“If Mr Lopez complains about you even for a second after you leave here then I'll sell you off myself, for free too.” 

A shiver ran down my spine at his words but I managed a small nod. 

“Sweetheart you forgot your…” the door slammed against the wall as someone walked in. “What is going on here?” 

Damien! 

My heart soared with hope on seeing him and I almost laughed at the irony of my situation. 

Just a few hours ago, I had hoped there was a way, and alternative so I didn't end up stuck with him. 

And now, I craved him to rescue me out of the situation my father was about to put me in. 

“Who are you? Do you know how much that door costs?” My father grumbled and walked towards Damien. 

I let out a sigh of relief and massaged my arms. Damien would save me and after that I'd end up with him for six months. 

At least I'd be away from this terrible man I called my father. 

“Get out of my sight,” Damien said, looking disgusted by my father's mere appearance. 

Father scoffed and eyed Mr Lopez who was standing frozen in place staring at Damien. 

I smirked at this. He probably never expected to see Damien again after earlier and had hoped he'd be able to get away with this. 

Well, too bad for him. 

“Let's go Naomi.” Damien called as he stretched out his hand to me. 

“Naomi, if you take one step here, I'll punch the lights out of you.” My father warned but I ignored him, Damien's presence giving me the strength I needed to defy him for the first time in my life. 

“I'm warning you Naomi, if you…” my father was sent flying backwards as Damien pushed him away with just one hand. 

Quickly, I seized the opportunity and ran towards Damien. 

He caught me in his arms and I buried my face in his neck. “It's okay mi amor, I've got you.” 

He pointed at Mr Lopez who had wet himself and scoffed. “Get him and break all his fingers. One for each time he touched my wife.” 

“How dare you?” my father growled as he tried to rise to his feet. 

The left side of his face was swollen and I could see a gap in his tooth that hadn't been there before. 

I smirked unable to stop myself and pointed at Damien while staring at my father. “I had been trying to tell you something before he walked in dad. This is the man I'm going to marry.” 

“Are you insane?” He queried and then spat out some blood. “Mr Lopez has already paid for everything we owe and all you have to do is go with him.” 

I scoffed and pointed at Mr Lopez who was quivering in fear as Damien s bodyguards flexed their muscles, getting ready to give him a beating. 

“I don't think he would have any objections, right Mr Lopez?” 

Mr Lopez mumbled something incoherent and then screamed as one his left hand was grabbed by one of the men. 

“I thought so.” 

“Who are you?” My father asked again but this time there was a hint of fear in his eyes and uncertainty. 

“His name is Damien Holt.” I whispered and shivers ran down my spine as I acknowledged what that meant even for me. 

All the blood drained from my father's face and I shrugged. “I tried to warn you but you didn't listen. Anyway, have a nice life and don't you dare try to come after me or my mother or you might just get hit by a truck.” 

I turned on my heels and walked out the door not waiting for Damien. 

A few seconds later, he joined me and let out a laugh, breaking the silence of the night. “Well, you're feistier than I thought.” He laughed again and this one lasted for longer than the previous one. 

I didn't join him, still shaken up by what had just happened. 

A piercing scream rang out inside the house and I tried not to shiver. “Please don't hurt my father.” 

Yes he was a scumbag and the worst father in the world but he was still my dad. 

Damien eyed me for a while and then turned back towards the house. 

I waited for a sign, something to tell me he had heard me and when he walked out with all his men from before, I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. 

“Let's go, wife.” He said and led the way to his car. 

I didn't think twice before going with him after all there was nothing else here for me.

Two weeks later

I stared down at the marriage certificate and inhaled sharply. 

This was really happening. 

“I have asked my personal shopper to bring your new wardrobe to the house. You can pick from everything and the one you don't want, let her know so she'd change them.” 

I nodded, unable to form the words. 

“I'll see you in two weeks,” he said, then turned and strode away. 

I stared at his back wondering if this was what the rest of my life would be. 

“Just six months,” I corrected myself as a guard walked towards me. 

“Goodsay Mrs Holt, my name is Elijah and I'll be your personal bodyguard.” 

Mrs Holt. I shivered at the weight that name carried. 

“Mr. Holt asked me to take you to the house where your personal shopper is waiting for you.” 

I nodded and followed him towards a matte black SUV waiting there. 

I reached for the door but Elijah beat me to it and held it open for me. I stopped in my tracks and then sighed and got in. 

It's just six months, I whispered to myself as the car pulled out of the parking lot. 

Six months…

As the car pulled out of the parking lot, my phone dinged with a new message. 

Looking down at it, I blinked in shock as I read what was on the screen. 

It was a credit alert from Damien and the amount had me spluttering. 

“Is everything okay, Mrs. Holt?” Elijah asked from the driver's seat. 

I nodded. “It will be now.” 

With this money Damien had just sent me, my mother's treatment could be settled completely. 

My life was about to change and I didn't even know it. 

Chapter 5