Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Prince Dakar was taken back to his Chambers the next morning after his return. His father, the Alpha and king, was more than happy to see his son again. He had lost hope of ever setting his eyes on him. However, all effort to make him talk proved abortive. At first, they all thought he needed to rest.But after a few days, rumours began to run around that Prince Dakar returned without his ability to speak. Camper visited him everyday and tries his very best to even get a stare from his best friend, but Dakar wouldn'tbudge. He only stared at one thing; his closed hand. That also, he refused to open. Camper came to see him the fifth day and decided to try his luck.

“Dakar, are you hungry? I ordered the maidens to make some food for you,” he said to Dakar who was sitting on his bed and staring down at his hand.He gave Camper no answer.

“Man, when will you return to yourself. I know you went through a lot, I can feel your messed up emotions. But please, let it go. Try and be strong for us. We need you, Dakar,” Camper said, frustratingly. He stared at his best friendfor minutes and couldn't bring himself to look at a pathetic Dakar anymore. That was not what he knew him as. He got on his feet and turned back to the door. He walked towards it and immediately he touch the doorknob, Dakar spoke.

“I miss her,” he said in a low and groany voice. Camper turned back immediately with wide eyes.

“What did you say?” he asked and began to walk closer to Dakar.

“I miss her so much. The air is terrible without her scent. And I want her to order me to go and cook because she is hungry,” Dakar stated.

“Oh my God! Of course, your mother. You miss your mother. That's why you couldn't speak. Dakar, what happened was not your fault. Please, get on with your life. Your father still needs you,” Camper said excitedly. Dakar looked up at his face and smiled.

“You are still a moron,” he mumbled and Camper jumped up.

“Yes, yes! I'm a moron. I'm still a moron. Oh my, Alpha needs to hear about this!” he screamed and ran out of the room. Dakar got on his feet and walked to the open window. He looked down at the stone pathway beside his personal building. He opened his palm and took out the wrinkled paper, read it all over again then sighed. He turned back inside and folded the paper. He placed it in a little box and hid it. Then he tied his hair back, leaving few strands over his face. He looked himself in the mirror and smiled. He was back home.

***

Avril bade Betty goodbye as she separated from her and the other men on the ship. She was taken into a chopper alongside Paolo and flew to Mexico City. Their entry was very illegal, but they had corrupt officers in the business with them. The chopper landed on a tall building when it was already nighttime. Paolo pulled Avril behind him roughly, like she was going to run away by jumping off the tall building. He took her through a trapdoor on the roof and down through many steps in the dark.

“Why do we have to pass through here? What happened to the entrance of the building?” she asked after she almost slipped.

“Because Freddie doesn't want you to be seen with him before tomorrow,” Paolo answered roughly. She huffed and continued to walk. Finally, they arrived in a fairly lit up room. It looked like the Janitor's room. Paolo opened the door and they entered into a very bright and neat hallway. The floor, walls and ceiling were sparkling white. Paolo walked to the first door on the wall and opened it. He pushed Avril inside and closed it back, without entering.

“Hey, Paolo!” Avril called and banged on the door.

“Take it easy, girl. You're with me now,” said that chill American accent she so remembered. She turned around and sawFreddie standing there, in his shorts and shirtless.

“Missed me?” he asked with a smirk. She stood still, not knowing how to react. He was kind to her, but he was going to sell her too.

Freddie walked to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Wow, you've changed. So beautiful and elegant. Your face is firmer,” he stated while looking all over her body.

“Freddie, why are you trying to sell me off? I don't deserve that kind of life,” she said.

“Ssh,” he shooed and placed a finger on his lips. Avril had earlier hid her bracelet in her pocket, because she thought Paolo would sell it. She was even more scared Freddie would find out about it too.

“Such clear skin,” Freddie whispered and ran his hands over her arms. He began to push her slowly towards the door.

“Freddie, what are you doing?” she asked with wide eyes. He rammed her unto the door and kissed her abruptly. She screamed and pushed him but he didn't even move. She tried kicking his groin but he grabbed that leg and held it tight.

“Don't fight it, baby girl. Because as from tomorrow, you will wish your master was as easy on you as I will be tonight,” he whispered into her ear.

Chapter 37

“I rather fight than let you treat me like a piece of trash!” Avril yelled and punched his tummy, then hit her forehead on his nose and kicked him. He staggered back and she began to pull the doorknob, trying to open the door.

“Don't bother. It won't open until tomorrow morning,” Freddie stated calmly. He moved to the mirror and looked at his nose. He wasn't having a nosebleed but he had a small cut. Avril turned around and glared at him.

He smirked at her through the mirror and began to clean off the little blood on his cut.

“I liked you, Freddie. Ithought you were not going to hurt me,” she said and he chuckled.

“You liked me? Why is that in the past tense?” he asked and looked back at her by turning his neck only.

“Don't make me spill a thousand and one reasons why I want to put an arrow through you,” she threatened and Freddie's mouth fell open. He turned fully to face her and cross his arms.

“What happened to you on that island? Are you some sort of Oliver Queen now?” he asked. She looked over at a white sofa close to where she was standing. She needed to sit down because her waist was hurting.

“Come, lie down a bit. I'll order something for you to eat. You look tired,” Freddie said and tried to walk to her and hold her hand. But she jerked back and glared at him.

“Don't you dare come one step closer to me!” she gritted at him.

He raised his hands in surrender.

“I promise you, I will not force you to sleep with me. I will never do that to you, Avril. Except if you really want me to.”

“And why will I want something as nasty and disgusting like that?”

He chuckled.

“You might rephrase that in a few months or years. It's just about time. Now, do you want some food or not?” he asked and she exhaled.

“I need food. Just don't dope it,” she said.

“I could dope anyone else. Not just you, baby girl,” he cooed and brought down his hand.

“I need to use the bathroom,” she said.

He pointed at a door and she moved towards it. Freddie walked to the bedside table and sat on the bed, then he dialed some numbers on a telephone on the table and began toplace an order for food from the hotel. After that, he grabbed a black shirt and pulled it on. Avril came out of the bathroom just then, with her face wet.

“Just ordered KFC's. That okay with you for tonight?” he asked, without looking back at her.

“Yeah,” she answered and walked to the sofa. She sat down and rubbed her left palm. Freddie stared at her for a few minutes then said, “You must be thinking that I hate you.”

“You do,” she mumbled.

“I love you. I really do. From the very first minute you spent in my presence, I knew I felt something for you. You must have heard from your friends that I was ruthless. Yeah, I was and I am still. But you might not believe because you haven't seen that part of me,” Freddie stated. Avril looked up at him.

“What type of ruthlessness are you talking about?” she asked.

“I will leave you to imagine. But just know, I care about you. And this new phase of your life is important. It'll keep you strong,” he added.

“If it doesn't kill me first,” Avril chipped in.

“I won't let it kill you. All I need first is money from Alejandro Mateo, then I'll get you back after a few years.”

“So you want me to stay in a whole different world for 'a few years', Freddie?”

He got on his feet and walked to her, then squatted and stared her in the face.

“You are strong. You can go through this and be strong. I'm sure, Avril,” Freddie said. Right then, a knock came on the door and hestood straight. He went and opened the door. It was the delivery.

In an hour time, Avril had already eaten and laid on the sofa. Freddie went out to smoke on the roof, so she was left alone for sometime. She brought out her charm bracelet, rubbed her fingers on it for long minutes while staring into the ceiling. Then she kissed it and pocketed it again. She closed her eyes and slept off. The next morning, she was surprised to see herself lying on the bed. Freddie had laid her there when he returned and found her asleep. He sat on the sofa all night, without dimming an eye. He just watched her and made quiet calls. But when Avril woke up, he was not in the room anymore. She wondered why he had changed her position. But somehow, she believed him when he said he wouldn't touch her without her consent.

Avril climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom door. As she tried to open it, she saw a paper neatly folded on the sofa. She took it and read it out.

“I will be there by eight. We'll be parting ways by thirty minutes past eight,” she read aloud.

She dumped the paper on the floor and entered the bathroom. First, she stared at her refection in the mirror, wondering if she could cope with that life Betty always described. Freddie was so sure she would be strong, but she doubted herself. She wished she could escape but to where? She had never been to Mexico and knew no one at all.

She exhaled deeply looked into her eyes through the mirror. Maybe she could do it. She could be strong.

***

Tijuana, the deadliest and most dangerous city in all of Mexico. This place was bad than bad itself.Everyday, at least five souls were terminated under gruesome circumstances. Drugs and other atrocities were not alien to this city. Tijuana was home to some of the richest drug lords too, and also the home to a deadly Mafia brotherhood. Unfortunately, Avril's destination was this city. She arrived on a very dusty evening, alongside Freddie. He took her to a club and pulled her through the crowd of people dancing. The looksAvril received were frightening, she couldn't even concentrate on walking. So many times, people intentionally brushed against her. They were trying to steal from her, fortunately, she hid her bracelet deep in her bra.

Finally, they got through the loud music and dancing, and entered a room. It was dimly litwith blue light.

“Freddie, where are you taking me?” Avril asked tiredly.

“Somewhere over there. Don't worry, you'll be fine,” he said and smiled at her. They walked through a hallway and began to hear voices. Freddie stopped walking and squeezed Avril's palm.

“Anyone try to pin you down, I mean, throw shit your way. Don't let them get away with it. Give 'em back their shit,” he said. He wasn't smiling this time, he was frowning deeply. Avril just nodded. She was scared to death and wished she could just disappear from the surface of the earth.

Freddie continued to walk and pull her along. Finally, they got to a door with two men at the entrance. Freddie showed them an ID card and they let them enter immediately. Four men were seated around a table, playing cards, with bottles of vodka spread across the same table. They all looked above fifty years of age. The first man wore a red shirt, unbuttoned and showing hairy chest. His hair was jet black and permed. He wore a gold chain too. The three other menwore black leather jackets and black jeans. They're looking far from good guys.

“Look who is here!” El Cando,one of the men on black announced. Freddie grinned and pulled Avril to stand beside him.

“And he finally brought her,” the man on red mumbled. He only took a glance at them and continued playing cards.

“She is a beauty. I can see that. Why don't you give her to me instead?” another man on black said.

“José, you already have the sexy black girl. Leave the new one to me. Freddie, I give you six million dollars for her. Aye?” El Cando, thefirst man that spoke said.

“Seven million dollars,” José said.

“Ten million dollars and let me take her home. She turned me on already,” the man who had not spoken stated. He was known as Arturo.

“Gentlemen, we seem to forget Alejandro already booked her for twelve million dollars,” Freddie said with a sardonic grin.

All eyes turned to the man on red, who was still looking at his cards.

“Alejandro, when did you do the booking?” José asked.

“Six months ago,” Freddie answered on his behalf. Avril just stood there like a sheep getting ready for slaughter.

“I pay fifteen million dollars for her. Freddie, my boy, give me the girl. Fifteen million,” Arturo stated. Freddie looked at Alejandro.

“Fifteen million is going...” he trailed, still looking at him. Finally, he dropped the cards and looked at Avril. Her eyes met his and she shivered. They were so cold, she felt all heat escaping from her body. His eyes scanned her and he looked at Freddie. Avril began to pray that he would let her go. She didn't want to go to either of the men, but she knew they would be better than him.

“Twenty million dollars,” Alejandro pronounced and Avril's heart fell. How could someone throw such amount away?

“Any one going to compete against that?” Freddie asked, with a satisfactory grin on his lips. He had expected twelve million dollars, but was about to head out with twenty instead.

“I leave it for Alejandro. I am not ready yet. But Freddie, you must bring me one of her kind. Someone just like her. Or, another black one. African precisely. José will not disturb me with what the African girl does in bed anymore,” Arturo chimed. Avril wished she didn't hear that. Was he talking about Chidi or Nana?

“She goes to Alejandro, then?” Freddie asked. They didn't answer but stare at her lustfully, like they wanted to rip her away from Freddie.

“What is your name, beautiful one?” Alejandro asked Avril. She looked to Freddie who had refused to even glance at her.

“Avril,” she muttered.

“Don't be scared. I'm not as bad as I look,” he stated.

“The innocent ones are the best. Not that Nana of a girl,” José said and Arturo laughed..“Give her to me. I want the experienced ones sometimes,” he said.

Alejandro got on his feet and walked to Freddie.

“Meet me tonight for your payment. At my house,” he said to him. Then he turned to Avril.

“Come,” he said and began to walk away. Freddie squeezed Avril's palm and released it slowly. He walked away from her and sat on the chair Alejandro had just vacated. He did not look at Avril anymore. With her eyes stained with tears, she followed Alejandro out of the room.