Caught Between Multiple Mates

Chapter 7: Henry POV

When Anna is at school I like to lay on her bed and work from my laptop. Her pillows and blankets smell of her sweet scent. I have the only computer in the house. I told my niece she could use it if she would be kinder to me and stop locking her door at night. She walked away with her head down. I don't know why she is being so difficult. I have always been good to her.

My older brother, Nick, says he plans to kick her out the moment she graduates high school. He would have done it when she turned 18 if the police chief wasn't always stopping by asking about her welfare. Sometimes the chief drags his kid along with him and he glares at me like he knows something.

I know I'm twisted in the head, but I can't help it. I have had this bad habit of wanting things and people I shouldn't and it started at an early age. When I was 5 I stole my classmate’s pudding cups. At 10 I wanted my best friend's skateboard. When I was 14 I wanted Nick's girlfriend, Anna’s mother Lydia.

From the moment Anna hit puberty I wanted her. She was beautiful with long brown hair, pale porcelain skin, and captivating emerald eyes. Even now with her scars I think she is more beautiful than any other woman I have set eyes on. Now that she is over 18 I don't feel as dirty for looking at her or for wanting her. She is an adult not a kid.

Some would shame me for wanting my brother’s daughter but she wasn’t my daughter so in my mind it was not as twisted as it could be.

The door bell rang one afternoon when I was the only one home with Anna. She was locked up in her room as usual. I answered to find a balding man wearing a Donley High School sweatshirt.

“Hello, I'm Garrett Smith from Donley High School. Is Annalise home?"

I narrowed my eyes at the strange man. "Are you a teacher or something?"

He nodded, though awkwardly. He probably wasn't used to being interrogated.

“Her application for educational technology was approved and I'm here to deliver her devices. She is over 18 so she needs to sign the receipt."

I eyed him again and called out to her to join us. “Anna come to the door!"

A few moments later she stuck her head out the door as if hesitant to leave her room. Her green eyes widened with surprise when she saw the balding teacher. She exited her doorjamb and joined us. I stood by, refusing to leave her alone with him. I didn't trust strangers with her, especially men.

The teacher presented a pink flip phone and grey laptop, saying she won a scholarship. "If you graduate this year with As and Bs we will grant full ownership of the devices to you. If you don't pass you'll have to turn them in and reapply next year." Her eyes lit up like he had just given her the best gift she had ever seen.

After he left she tried to run back to her room but I grabbed her arm. "That was sneaky applying for free stuff. You think you're clever huh?" She looked at me with frightened eyes. "Go to your room before your parents get home." The mention of my brother and his wife apparently scared her more because she ran from my grip with tears in her eyes.

Nick came home later and hit her back with his belt. I had casually texted him about the incident with the teacher. I hadn't intended for her to get punished. Nick and Lydia didn't like Anna to have contact with the outside world. They didn't seem to want her to have anything or anyone.

I considered taking her out of their house. They didn't want her, while I did. She was over 18 so custody was no longer a battle needed to be fought. I just needed to figure out how to convince her to leave of her own free will.

My plan became a reality the day I got a disturbing call from the high school. My Anna had been attacked by a boy, possibly assaulted. I went to the school acting as her guardian.

“Nice to meet you..Mister..?” The principal looked at me confused.

“I’m Henry Pierce, Anna’s uncle. Her father Nick is my brother. I live with them and act as her guardian when my brother and sister-in-law are not available.”

Bruce looked me up and down and nodded. “I know Annalise is technically a legal adult but I didn’t feel comfortable sending her home on a public bus alone after what she just went through.”

“What exactly happened? You were alarmed but vague on the phone earlier.”

This man was very muscular for an educator but very bad with his words. He stammered before finally telling me the story or what he knew of it.

“A male student forced Annalise into the boys bathroom. We are aware he grabbed her and kissed her but not much else. Annalise, the poor dear, will only communicate with Haddon and Maggie. They were able to get that much out of her. I’m concerned because she has bruises on her and the boy’s pants were unbuckled as if he expected something s****l in nature to take place.”

My blood boiled. Who dare touch my Anna?! I demanded the boy’s name from the principal who stammered out some bullshit about protecting student privacy. I demanded my niece be released to me and that an incident report be written up for any lawsuits that may come of this. I knew my being a lawyer would come in handy one day.

Annalise was released to my custody. She looked broken but not for the reason I expected. She didn’t want to let go of her friend Maggie. I’d seen the red head’s picture in Anna’s room before. And then there was some young male teacher whose eyes never left my niece. She eyed him as well which angered me further.

Maggie helped Anna gather her things and told her to keep her phone near her as she would contact her later. I rolled my eyes. Teenagers.

“Annalise, please text me when you get home so I know you’re safe,” said the male teacher.

Anna looked up at that man with love in her eyes. I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the school building.

“This place isn’t safe for you anymore. Too many suspicious people.”

She squeezed my hand but I kept walking to the car and then put her in the passenger seat.

“Be a good girl for once!”

Her beautiful eyes looked up at me with a sadness I’d seen a thousand times. I sounded like my abusive brother and it bothered me.

I buckled her in and then myself. I didn’t cut the engine on yet. “Anna, I’m sorry for my anger earlier. I just don’t like seeing you hurt. I don’t want bad things for you. I only want good things for you. You know that right?”

Anna’s eyes dropped but then went up to mine and she nodded. I knew she could be a good girl. I grinned to myself.

“I haven’t told your parents this but I have my own place in town. I’ve been going there when I need to get away from the bullshit. How about I take you there? I think you’d be much happier living with me. I treat you well don’t I?”

She looked at me confused but then pulled her phone out of her pocket.

“I want to go home and get my stuff. Maggie said I can sleep over at her house. I want to be with Maggie,” she had texted to my phone.

I sighed. So close. “I will take you to Maggie’s house after you see my place. She won’t be home for another hour,” I said, finally cutting the engine on.

I didn’t care what it took. I’d get her alone one way or another. She was mine. My Anna.