Chapter 4

I couldn't sleep that night. Every creak of the old apartment building sent a jolt of fear through me. I called my boyfriend, Dr. Ethan Lester. He was an ER doctor at the hospital and the only person who knew the full extent of my family's toxicity.

"They tried to marry you off to Rufus?" he said, his voice tight with anger. "Jocelyn, this has gone too far. You need to get a restraining order."

"On what grounds?" I said, pacing my small living room. "They haven't technically done anything illegal yet. It's their word against mine."

"I'm coming over," he said. "I don't like you being there alone. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

The relief was so immense it almost brought me to tears. "Okay. Please hurry."

I was standing by the window, watching for his car, when I heard a sound at my front door. A key sliding into the lock.

My blood ran cold. I backed away from the door, grabbing the heaviest thing I could find-a cast-iron skillet from the kitchen.

The door swung open, and Rufus stepped inside, silhouetted by the dim hallway light. He was holding my spare key.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, my voice shaking. "How did you get that key?"

He smirked, dangling it from his finger. "Aunty Maria gave it to me. She said you were just playing hard to get." He took a step towards me, his eyes dark with a predatory gleam. "Your parents gave you to me, Jocelyn. It's time to be an obedient wife."

He lunged.

I screamed and swung the skillet with all my might, catching him on the side of the head. He staggered back, roaring in pain and fury, but it only seemed to enrage him more. He grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron, and twisted. The skillet clattered to the floor.

"You're going to pay for that," he snarled, forcing me backwards towards the couch.

Just then, the door burst open again. It was Ethan. He took in the scene in a split second-me struggling, Rufus's hand on me, the fury on his face.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He launched himself at Rufus, tackling him to the ground. They rolled across the floor, a flurry of punches and grunts. Ethan was strong, but Rufus was bigger and fueled by rage. He got on top of Ethan and started throwing wild punches.

I scrambled for my phone and dialed 911, my voice a panicked sob as I explained what was happening.

The sound of approaching sirens was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. Two police officers burst in, weapons drawn, and pulled a bleeding Rufus off of Ethan.

They cuffed him and sat him on the floor while Ethan, gasping for breath with a split lip, came over to me, wrapping his arms around me.

"Are you okay?" he murmured into my hair. "Did he hurt you?"

"I'm okay," I trembled. "You got here just in time."

The nightmare, I thought, was finally over. But I was wrong. It was just beginning.