12 Chapter 12

Ring!

"Your pizza's here!"

Anne-Marie announced, following the ring sound from the door as it opened the moment she walked into the automobile repair shop. She could see how the men who were somehow busy fixing about two cars before she walked in, left their jobs and hurried to her. They had better, the pile of large pizzas in her hands were killing her. She needed some kind of relief that came with getting rid of all of them and also the relief that came with catching her breath.

She had never really had the chance to relax all day, not even for a second. Running pizza deliveries was all she did all morning and somehow, she wasn't close to being exhausted. How could she when she had so much to do with the money she was going to earn? She needed to run as much deliveries as she could even if it meant she had to do them the entire day, heck, she was ready to do it the entire week.

What was with everyone and ordering pizza that day anyway?

"You have no idea how many lives you just saved Anne-Marie."

Anne-Marie let her smile stretch on her face as she watched the five men in khaki jumpsuits with the words "Canaan Mechanics" embroidered on each of their breast pockets surround the long wooden table with the pizzas on them. They were already starting to dig in.

"We've been craving this the entire morning." Another one said.

"Gosh I'm so starved."

It felt so good watching them eat with huge smiles on their faces. The automobile shop was the one place Anne-Marie loved making deliveries to. The men there were so friendly and always nice to her coupled with the fact that the place was run and owned by her father's childhood friend, more like best friend, Canaan. It felt so good to be around faces she was familiar with.

"It's a really great day today as people from all over the world come together to celebrate the annual coronation anniversary and royal engagement of Prince Aiden-Cree, the prince of the kingdom of Breton."

Anne-Marie followed the voice of the woman and it led her to the flat screen TV hanging on the wall.

"The entire country of Breton is filled with a lot of celebration as you can see as citizens surround the royal palace to celebrate with the royal family. This event could bring a lot of blessings to the kingdom of Breton, don't you think so Mark?"

"Of course Elizabeth. The royal family of Breton not only happens to be the most famous, powerful and respected family and symbol of authority for the people of Breton, but are known all around the world for their amazing diplomacy and affiliation with all the powerful countries of the world. In a span of ten years, the entire country has experienced major recognition and increase under the administration of the current king. It is safe to say that his administration has brought a lot of great advantage and recognition to the people of Breton and has managed to gain the respect of a lot of other prominent leaders like the president of the United States, queen of England, president of Russia, France, China, Germany, not to mention South Africa, Nigeria and even the two Koreas. Prince Aiden is also quite a catch and happens to be an image of attraction for the women in Breton, men also, since he's popular for his charming looks and attitude. Over the years, he has even managed to gain global popularity than a lot of celebrities we have today. He's quite a catch and has a lot of fans all around the world with an increasing fan base of twenty seven million followers. Words coming to me right now is that the streets and two palace gates are filled with a lot of fans as we speak who have come from all over the world to share this wonderful day with the prince, and his wife to be of course. A lot of people express their regrets of too especially since they feel the prince is still so young and shouldn't have to be engaged to anyone yet but all in all, we can say today's event is going to be beneficial to the people of Breton since the country is going to gain a lot from it's tourism."

"Pfft."

Anne-Marie heard one of the men say from beside her, his mouth stuffed with pizza. "The royal engagement is today?"

"It looks like it, seeing that the entire country is in an uproar. I could barely get my wife to cook me breakfast this morning without hearing her talk about how she couldn't wait to be at the palace gate in time before it got packed."

"Have you seen his fiancé?"

"Not exactly, but I heard she's the daughter of the prime minister. She's not quite popular in this part of Breton but her father is. I googled her yesterday and found out she's really beautiful," he frowned

"But there was something odd about her though, she looked a lot like-"

"She's a Vurton? Oh my goodness. This has to be the most powerful combination in the whole history of Breton. The Vurtons and the Ellingtons!"

"I can only imagine how crazy it must be over there. It must be really difficult containing all that crowd from all those countries. No wonder we barely have any customers today."

It was no wonder Anne-Marie had a lot of people calling in to order pizzas. Today was such a big day and not everyone was in the mood to cook and miss out on the big event showing live on their TV.

"It's not even the royal wedding and the whole world is losing her mind right now, I wonder what's going to happen when it's time for the wedding."

"Who cares? As far as I'm concerned, the royal family and every other family in the high ups can kiss my butt hole. All they do is throw parties every day with our money and ride expensive cars, go on vacations and spoil themselves with our money while we barely can even afford a three square meal."

"Don't let someone hear you blaspheme against the royal family Damian, you could get punished."

"Like I give a shit! I'm not scared of no royal family, and imma say what I have to say even to their faces when I see them. They are thieves, all of them, all those ministers and lords, every single one of them ruling this country."

"Well I like the royal family."

"Of course you do, all your children benefit from their early hearts foundation. Can't say the same for all of us."

"I agree with Torik. The royal family isn't that bad Damien. I feel Breton would have had it worse if it ran a presidential system of government. Look at how much Breton has managed to achieve ever since King Albert became king. Our currency is one of the most powerful in the world and the poverty rate in Breton has fallen so much to eleven percent, that's two times less than it was when his father was king and I'm even sure prince Aiden is going to do even better. He looks so promising and has a weak spot for the masses."

"And the kids."

"And the kids."

"Yeah, tell that to the eleven percent poor people that can't afford to have a roof over their heads, as a matter of fact, why don't you tell that to Anne-Marie who has to run thousands of deliveries, and work multiple jobs to be able to live, whose brother is fighting for his life and is being refused treatment because she can't afford to settle his bills." One of the men pushed him gently on his arm to stop him from saying anything else.

Anne-Marie slowly turned to face him as silence filled the room for a short second. Why did she have to be the example?

The men stopped eating for a while as they slowly raised their heads to Anne-Marie while she just stood there, staring at them. One of them cleared their throats.

"You must be waiting for your money aren't you?" He asked her.

Anne-Marie let herself smile a tiny bit, pushing everything she had heard behind her. They didn't exactly lie anyway. Abel was at the brink of losing his life and she was doing all she could to save him.

"Oh it looks like the prince's fiancée is about to play a really popular song on the piano. Word getting to me now is that she and the prince loved to play that song a lot when they were kids. It brought them together. How long exactly have these love birds been fated for one another. It's pretty amazing isn't it?"

"You should meet Caleb, he's in his office."

Anne-Marie nodded.

"Thank you Micheal." She let out a weak breath and started to find her way to the tiny brown door at the end of the huge room.

"Why did you talk about her brother like that?" She could hear one of the men whisper to another as he pushed him slightly.

Anne-Marie knocked twice when she got to the door and then turned the knob slowly without waiting for the voice at the other end to ask her to.

The tiny office was so warm and a bit stuffy too. Anne-Marie threw her gaze away from the old two- seater cushion at one of the sides of the room to the table filled with a lot of files, a small computer and a few tools.

"You're here?"

She threw her gaze at the really tall but yet slightly chubby man that walked hurriedly to the table with a booklet in his hands and his phone in the booklet. He looked older than her, a lot and had the roundest face you had ever seen, his blonde spiked hair looking like it would have been better if he had at least managed to shave his beards a little bit.

Canaan Grey.

Anne-Marie's godfather and of course, her father's best friend who also happened to be the owner of the store she was in. Unlike every other girl that maintained some sort of relationship with her god father or a close friend of the family, Anne wasn't sure she could brag about a relationship with Canaan ever since her parents died. It was like he had cut himself off completely from their lives, showing up only when he felt like it or when Anne-Marie had a pizza order to deliver at the shop.

Yes, they weren't exactly close and that was fine. A lot of people had walked out of her and Abel's life ever since her parents died so Canaan wasn't the first or the most surprising even though he was able to own the very shop he was so proud of after her father had lent him a majority of his savings back in the years.

"How much is it again?" He asked her, placing a pen behind his left ear.

"A hundred and twenty two Brents."

She watched him reach for his wallet and count a few notes from inside. He folded the notes and handed it to her, closed his wallet and dropped it back on the table. He turned back to the book in his hands after that.

Anne-Marie pursed her lips as she placed the money into the pocket of her jeans, taking deep breaths and rubbing her fingers hard against each other. She was nervous, really nervous and he could sense it. He slowly raised his head to her again.

"Anything else?"

Why was she still standing there when she had so much deliveries to run? She had spent a lot of time at the shop already.

"Uh," Anne-Marie started. Now that he was looking at her like that, like he was waiting for her eagerly to say what she wanted, it made her even more nervous. "I was thinking if you had some spare time to talk perhaps?"

"You want to talk?" He asked her.

Anne-Marie nodded.

He closed his booklet immediately and dropped it on the table.

"About what?" His brows narrowed to one another. He took a deep breath. "I heard Abel got transferred to another hospital again." He said. "How is he feeling?"

Anne-Marie let out a very faint chuckle.

"Not too good." She told him. "He's getting worse by the day. The doctors suggest he starts his chemo treatment immediately but they are refusing to do anything about it since he doesn't have an insurance or an upfront payment. That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."

He exhaled like he knew what she was about to say and then raised his hand to his brow to scratch it just a little bit. She hadn't even said it yet and he looked like he was tired of hearing it.

"All I'm asking for is a loan uncle Canaan," Anne-Marie hurried to say immediately before he stopped her. "Just an upfront payment I could give the hospital to work with while I find the girl that took my money. Once I do, I promise to pay back immediately."

"And how much loan are we talking about here?"

"About three thousand,"

"Three thou- Anne-Marie," he scoffed. "Where on earth am I supposed to get that kind of money from?"

Like he didn't have it.

"Uncle Canaan please." Anne-Marie took a step towards him. "It's Abel we are talking about here, my brother. You know I'd never ask if I had options but at this point, I've run out of options. I just got kicked out of our house because we were late on rent and now I'm about to lose Abel if I don't get the money the hospital is asking for. All I need is two months, two months and I promise, I'd pay it back."

He shook his head.

"I'd pay it back with interest if you want me to."

"Three thousand is a lot of money Anne-Marie." He told her. "How much do you think we earn here in a month? I've got mouths to feed, I can't just throw three thousand away even if it's for a couple of months."

"Uncle Canaan please!"

"I wish I could help you Anne-Marie but I've got my own problems. I've got a lot on my plate right now, the boys are going to need their money soon, and there's the rent for the shop and Timmy and Sophia's tuition, my hands are tied. I really hope you'd understand."

So that was it?

He was just going to not help her? To let Abel die even when he could help? Anne-Marie let out a shaky breath. She didn't know what to say. She wasn't even sure she could say anything at that point. She was just...too weak to but she understood. She understood perfectly and knew she wasn't entitled to anything at all.

That was enough time wasted. She knew she had to return to the only thing she knew could pay her, her job. She sniffed and then nodded her head.

"Thank you." She told him. "I totally understand." She pursed her lips. "See you around?"

He exhaled as he watched her turn and take a few steps to the door.

"How about I cut you a deal?"

Anne-Marie froze the moment she heard his voice as she reached for the knob. She refrained from taking another step. Was that hope? Did she just hear him talk about a deal? About a condition?

She turned around to face him immediately.

"What if I tell you I can help you," he continued. "But on a condition you do something for me,"

"Really?" Anne-Marie took two steps forward. "Of course," she said. "I'd do anything."

"Don't be so fast Anne-Marie."

"Are you serious? It's Abel's life we are talking about here. Of course I'd do anything you ask me to-"

"Have sex with me."

Anne-Marie felt a cold breeze sweep it's way through her spine as she left her really confused gaze on him, wondering if he had heard him correctly, hoping her ears had failed her. The look on his face didn't change. It didn't look like he was playing around either, if anything, it got even more serious.

"W-what?"

She was giving him a a chance to say it again just in case she didn't hear him clearly the first time.

"You don't know what sex means?" He stood still and slid his hands into his pockets. "I thought it was a really simple word?"

"Of course I know what sex means, I just don't know why you'd say those words to me or ask that word from me."

He took a step to her and then another.

"What do you mean?"

Anne-Marie cringed. Now that she had heard him say those words, she wasn't sure she wanted him getting anywhere close to her anymore. She was starting to get really terrified, super terrified of him.

"You're not a child anymore Anne-Marie. You're old enough." He flickered his tongue round his lower lip. "And you've grown so well too, and beautiful, too beautiful, more beautiful than I thought you would."

"I'm seventeen, and your god daughter."

He froze.

"You used to be my father's best friend. I've basically known you all my life. You've known me all my life-"

"Even more reason why I'm like this." He looked her in her eyes. "I was there the day you were born Anne-Marie," he went on. "And jumped at the privilege of being your godfather, all these years, I watched you grow with only one thought in my head, with only one wish,"

"What?"

"To be close to you, to be with you, to be inside of you."

It had to be a joke, he had to be kidding.

"I've waited for this moment all my life, for a moment where I showed you what you did to me, what you do to me every single time,"

Anne-Marie looked away.

"Look at me Anne-Marie." He told her.

Anne-Marie returned her gaze to him and for some reason, it lowered to his pants, with the direction of his fingers. She let her eyes widen when she saw it. He had an erection.

"Every damn time I took at you, this is how I get ever since that day I carried you on my legs in the park, on your seventh birthday and then it happened again when I held you in my arms while you cried on the day your father was laid to rest. At first I thought I was sick, a horrible person that was starting to develop these really strange feelings for his god daughter. The man that could only think about banging her every time she hugged him even when it was on days like her father's funeral. I kept on asking myself why? Why did it have to be you? I tried to stay away, I thought If I did, those feelings would

somehow go away but they never did. I keep thinking about you, everyday and every second, thinking about all the things I could do to you. I would help you with the upfront payment for Abel's treatment and all of it if you ask me to, just-"

He let out a shaky breath.

"Just help me."

"Help you do what?" Anne-Marie's voice broke as the tears in her eyes became even more visible.

"You know what I'm talking about Marie. Help me please." She could sense the desperation in his voice. How it trembled every time he called her name. "You're not a child."

"You're sick."

"I know." He told her. "I know that but still, I can't help myself." He took a step to her, Anne-Marie cringed again. "I can't help myself especially when I'm with you,"

"No," she told him, "What you need is help."

"Anne-Marie,"

"How on earth did I not see this before?"

"Anne-Marie please-"

"You're such a sick bastard. An evil person and you don't even know it. You're just going to let Abel die?"

"He doesn't have to die, he's not going to die if only you do what I ask?"

"What if I report you to the police instead huh?!" At this point she was sick, totally sick of hearing him speak and listening to him. "What if I run to them and tell them all you just told me,"

"Tell them what Anne-Marie?"

"That you're a pedophile, that you're trying to sexually abuse me, a minor?"

"And who the hell is going to believe you Anne-Marie?" He rolled his eyes. "Come on, are you really that stupid? No one is ever going to believe that bull and you know it. I have made a few favorable friends in the force."

"What?"

"I'm only trying to help you here Anne-Marie. If there's anyone that has anything to lose here, it's you and not me. Take my offer. It's going to be over before you know it."

"You know what?" She cut in immediately. It was still so hard wrapping her head around everything she had just heard. "I was wrong to ask for your help. I don't think I want it anymore. I'm going to save my brother's life with or without it and I hope your soul rots in hell Canaan, and I mean it."

She turned to leave.

"Anne-Marie," he grabbed her by her arm and whirled her around to face him, she slapped him. What part of what she said did he not understand? She turned to leave again when he grabbed her again and started to force himself on her. He was trying so hard to kiss her and Anne-Marie kept fighting with him. Fighting to be free from him.

How did no one notice what was happening inside? The door was probably soundproof. Anne-Marie was fighting him so hard but he was just too strong, he was too strong for her. She managed to push him off and was about to run to the door when he caught her by her ponytail and pulled her back to him with it. It looked like he was going to have his way whether she let him or not and he was being extremely violent with it. He slapped Anne-Marie so hard that she felt herself fall on the table immediately.

And that was it, that was when she tasted it. Blood.

Anne-Marie's hands trembled as she lowered it from her lips and saw the blood on it. Her face was hurting badly.

"I told you," she could hear the rattling sound his belt made as he spoke to her like he was trying to get it undone. "You can't beat me. Resisting is only going to make everything worse."

Anne-Marie felt a drop of tear fall from her face and then another one. She was slowly feeling all her energy leave her especially as she heard his footsteps draw closer to her. She had to do something, anything at all to stop him. She couldn't let him have his way. At least not like that. She tried to keep her eyes open but her left eye where he had hit her hurt her so much.

There it was, the tiny golden trophy on the table. One from his few collections.

"Stop resisting and we can both get this done with and get on with our lives."

Anne-Marie tried to reach for it but her hands were not long enough. Her tears were blurring her vision and she was scared. So scared.

"Come here."

He grabbed her arm immediately and whirled her around to face him. He grabbed her by her jaw and held on to it tightly so she kept her eyes on him even when her tears were falling on his fingers.

"Good girl." He told her. "That's my girl."

She spat on him.

She was having a panic attack. It was like she couldn't breathe. It was how her panic attacks always were, she felt so suffocated like there was no air passing through her lungs.

"You-" she took a deep breath as Canaan slowly wiped her blood mixed saliva off his left eye slowly. "Y-you're a monster."

He raised his head to look at her. He didn't look angry in the slightest. He was too caught in the moment to. He pushed himself to kiss her again when Anne-Marie reached for the trophy one more time, grabbed it and hit him on his eye as hard as she could with it.

Canaan yelled, taking many steps back as he pulled his hands over his eyes in pain, giving Anne-Marie a chance to catch her breath. She took a second or two.

"I can't see!" Canaan kept yelling. "I freaking can't see!"

Anne-Marie dropped the trophy on the ground immediately and hurried to the door as fast as she could, gathering all the strength that she could. She opened the door and rushed out immediately, not bothering to close it behind her.

All the men turned towards the direction of the door as Canaan's loud yells were beginning to be noticeable. Anne-Marie kept running as fast as her legs could take her as two of the men rushed to the room.

"What happened?"

Anne-Marie didn't have the patience to explain. She couldn't.

Ring!

The door opened immediately and she rushed out.

It closed again.