Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Avril squealed and jumped to her feet from the sofa in her new room in Dakar's castle.

“A little air under my wings,” she squealed again and shoved her arms in the air.

“Hey! Stop, you're not strong yet!” he scolded but she giggled and took a walk around the room.

“You know, we should definitely go to a Spanish restaurant when we enter the city,” she stated and he raised a brow at her.

“You enter Milan and you go to a Spanish restaurant?” he asked with a tone of disbelief.

“Yeah, why not? I've missed Spanish food,” she answered while standing still and staring back at him.

“You do realize Milan is Italy and Italy has the best food there is to find on the planet,” he pronounced and Avril gave a short laugh.

“You Italians just love to praise your food, don't you?” she teased and Dakar frowned.

“Hey, we are not the only ones who do. There is a reason a flock of tourists flood the country everyday and they all have to say our food is so great.”

Avril shrugged.

“I do agree though. Italians are the best cook there is. But, I still want to have something Spanish. Is that too much to ask for a girl who spent two years in a Spanish speaking country?”

“Fine. Have it your way,” he relented and sat back on the sofa.

“Let's make it a date, Dakar,” he heard her say as she walked to the window and looked out of it. He glanced at her, chuckled and got on his feet.

“We are leaving by six. I'll tell Camper and the girls to accompany us and keep you company while I'm talking with Luca.”

Avril tore him a smirk then nodded. He knew something about that smirk meant she might do otherwise. He knew his Avril was hotheaded and it was obvious she never let go of that trait. However, he was not going to let her be stubborn this time.

“So where would I be hanging out then? You tell me,” she questioned and crossed her arms. He heaved a sigh, palmed his forehead then stood to his feet from the sofa.

“I can't argue with you. You would win if I do,” he replied and walked past her to the door.

“Where are you going?”

“Someplace I wouldn't keep up with you,” he answered and went through the door. Avril stared at it with her mouth open. Someplace he wouldn't keep up with her? What did that mean? Didn't he love her company?

She stood still for a few seconds, chewing her lips and staring at the door.

“I don't care. He doesn't matter to me,” she said to herself and turned to go towards the bed. But as she took one step, her legs hot heavy.

“Someplace I won't keep up with you,” his answer echoed in her mind.

“Where is that? Could it be... could he be going somewhere suspicious?”

With a swift motion, she turned and raced out of the room.

“Prince Dakar! Wait right there!” she shouted as she ran through the hallway and towards the stairs. She saw him almost reaching the bottom of it.

“Dakar, wait!” he yelled and raced down the stairs. He groaned in frustration and halted, only for her to come crashing into him. He grabbed her arms and steadied the both of them as they had almost fallen off the staircase they were standing on. Avril was breathing deeply from that run and Dakar was frowning terribly at her.

“What was that?” he questioned in a stern voice.

“I wanted to know where you were going,” she answered then bit her lips. Dakar's eyes got fixated on that little action and he suddenly released her. He sighed and walked past her from the stair and into his living room. Avril stood there watching as he totally ignored her and left the building through the front door. She stamped her feet on the floor angrily and waged towards the kitchen area to find something to calm her down. She couldn't stop thinking of where he was escaping to. And what was it about her that he didn't want to keep up with? She wasn't that annoying.

“God, I hate this Dakar,” she muttered and found her way to the kitchen. Just as she was about to enter, Verona walked behind her and leaned against the wall.

“Hey,” she called and Avril looked back at her. She seemed to calm down after seeing her.

“Hey,” she replied and heaved a sigh.

“What did he say?”

“Said we could all go. But insists I do nothing at all.”

Verona smirked and walked to Avril by the door.

“I told you he wouldn't let you do anything. I'm even surprised he's letting you go with him.”

“Verona, why is he so stubborn? He thinks I'm a kid. I can take care of myself.”

“Says someone who just left the world of the dead only because he took action to bring you here and get you treated urgently and appropriately. If you could take care of yourself, you'd be dead now. Also, you're the stubborn one here. Why don't you just let him take care of this?”

Avril scoffed at the little nagging Verona had just given her.

“Because Luca Aguero wants me. I would not sit back and act like a coward when all this is happening because of me. Those humans lives are in trouble because of one girl. Why should I sit back?”

“When I overheard that conversation and told you, it wasn't so you would run along with him.”

“And why did you tell me?”

“So you could make a plan with him. How this could work out. Not running off to see Luca.”

“Verona, you really think I don't have a plan? Look,” Avril muttered and drew closer to Verona.

“I'm thinking Luca Aguero wants to know something about The Lucien Brothers. He never wanted Alejandro to die for a reason. I don't think this Luca would harm me. At least, not until he gets his information from me. So when we meet him, I'll listen to whatever he has to say and tell him whatever I can. Of course it won't be the real information. But after we leave there, I'd send news to Tijuana about him and they would take it from there.”

Verona stared at her friend with expressionless eyes.

“Really? What makes you think you would even escape from there?”

“Dakar would be there. And I'd stick with him. You and I know he can never get Dakar. That wolf would deal with him terribly.”

“If you could send a message to Tijuana, why haven't you done that since his threat began?”

“Because I couldn't. Remus doesn't send signals outside her territory and you know that. The last time and first time I even got outside of Remus, it ended badly. And Prince Dakar was so dark and scary back then.”

Verona exhaled and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“So you plan to use this medium to send them a message? What exactly would be in this message?”

“Just the threat about Luca. I won't be...I won't be telling them my location or who I'm with,” Avril answered and bit her lower lip. If she told them, they would definitely run to get her despite her master being gone. It had been months already, and she was sure her men would be worried about her and the girls. It was only fair that they knew they were okay.

“I'll stick with you. I don't buy the idea of the girls coming with us though. It's dangerous.”

“Me too. But, I think I want them to come with us. So they could have some fresh air too. It's all right if they don't follow us to see Luca.”

“Okay, if you say so. I'm going to my house to get something done. You take care.”

“We are leaving by six. Could you please let the girls know?”

“Sure.”

Avril watched Verona leave before entering the kitchen. She trailed carefully to the sink, ran water and washed her hands with soap before going to the fridge. She opened it gently, careful not to shake anything. Looking through it, she saw a Greek yogurt container, a lot of fruits and vegetables. She salivated and went to grab a bowl. Gently and noiselessly, she scooped yoghurt into her bowl and poured in berries, apple slices, avocado and banana which she had all prepared in the space of five minutes. She replaced everything else into the fridge, closed it gently and took her bowl with a spoon. She left the kitchen with a triumphant smile, closed the door and took two steps forward only to see Dakar standing there and staring at her. Her smile faded immediately.

“Nice try,” he said with a lopsided smile that didn't reach his eyes.