Chapter 77: Chapter 77

The kiss ended and Avril smiled up at Dakar.

“Who knew you could be good with words this much, Prince Dakar,” she teased and he gave her a lopsided smile.

“You’ve had your Spanish dinner and even a bit of Telenovela romance, can we head back to the hotel now?” he asked and she nodded.

“Yes, my night is made,” she replied with satisfaction and a nod. Dakar exhaled, held her hand and walked her to the counter.

“The bill,” he demanded and brought out his phone. They gave him the paper and he handed them his card.

“There is something I would be needing,” Avril whispered into his ears. He glanced sideways at her with a raised brow.

“It’s not jewelry, or clothes,” she whispered again.

“Let me guess. A phone so you can call your Mafia Family back in Mexico and tell them you and the girls are all right,” Dakar said surly as he turned from the counter and began to walk towards the exit and pulling her behind. Avril gulped down and bit her lower lip. They walked out of the building before she paced up to walk right beside him.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“You are not much of a secret keeper,” he answered and beeped the car. He opened the door for her and she stared at him, exhaled through the nose and sat in.

He started the car and drove from the premises before Avril looked at him.

“Are you getting me the phone or should I go about it myself?”

“Do you have money?”

He turned his head to stare back at her and she was frowning. He chuckled lightly and turned back his head to focus on the road.

“This ring…” she began and pulled out the golden ring from her ring finger. It was Alejandro’s ring, and she did not know why she had worn it while they were going out. Maybe it was because Tijuana had been on her mind. It was because she wore it on the ring finger that that mind probably thought she was married to Dakar.

“This ring is one hundred percent gold. How much do you think it would worth if sold?” she asked Dakar with a mischievous smirk plastered on her face.

“And the fact that it belonged to the late Alejandro Mateo…Leader of The Lucien Brothers who controlled the underworld of Mexico. This ring was one of the five signature rings he wore on his right finger. And I wonder how much The Italian Mafia is willing to pay to have Alejandro’s ring.” Avril rubbed the ring between her index finger and her thumb. Dakar took a glance at the ring and he felt his jaw clench.

“If that ring is so important, then why are you wearing it now?” he asked.

“He gave it to me,” was her reply.

“He gave it to you,” he repeated and took a turn down a street. Avril saw his cheek muscles all tensed up and flicking with rage.

“Yes. So are you getting me the phone or should I sell the ring?”

“Sell the ring.”

Avril laughed and slipped it into her pinkie finger.

“I have another pure gold property though. A gold bracelet. I’ll sell them both since you won’t get me the phone.”

Dakar exhaled and parked the car in front of a building with glass walls and a bright interior with a lot of electronics inside.

“Let’s go get your phone,” he said and stepped out of the car. Avril smiled mischievously and also stepped out of the car. They entered inside together and she went to the smart phone section to view their phones while Dakar just leaned over on the glass wall and stared at her. He knew she still had his bracelet and he was so glad she kept it safe all these while. But…that ring. Why did he have a feeling that she saw them both equally? She must have placed a huge importance on his bracelet because it belonged to him, and he gave it to her to symbolize that he was her island wolf. Hers. She had worn it during the tournament secretly but he could feel it hidden behind her sock. But then, Avril wore the ring too. What was this ring to her? Why did that Alejandro give it to her? It better not be what he was thinking. He would go mad if his worry was true. He looked at her as she flipped her long wavy brown hair and went through the phones. He smiled at how much she had changed. She was such an alluring, independent and elegant woman now. If only he wasn’t hiding so much. His greatest fear now was how to break it to her that he never lost any memories.

He walked up to her and slipped his arm around her waist.

“What’s taking you so long?” he asked.

“Can’t decide which one I want,” she answered with a pout.

He picked a box and handed it to her.

“Take this one. It is the same model with mine.”

She looked it through and nodded.

“I like it,” she said and he nodded at her then led her to pay for it before haven it registered with a network.

They went back to the hotel afterwards and Avril took out Verona’s phone to make the call. She didn’t want them to trace her back with the number she now had.

“I’m going to take a shower. Cut the call immediately I’m out,” Dakar gave his order and Avril rolled her eyes.

“I don’t plan to spend eternity talking to them, Prince. Stop making it look like I’m missing them so much I’m gonna cry,” she whined and Dakar smirked.

“We’ll see about that,” he muttered and entered the bathroom. Avril huffed at him and sat down on the bed to make the call. She could only hope that their go-to phone line had not been changed already. Slowly, the phone rang and it was not picked up. Her heart was beating so fast she was getting agitated. She got on her feet and paced around the room as she called them the second time. This line was always picked up almost immediately when she was in the mansion because it was used when one of them had to pass an important message urgently but was in a tight corner. Avril picked it up mostly, or Manny and Bernardo.

“Pick up…pick up. I’m dying of nervousness here!” she yelled and tapped her fingers on the dining table in the room. No answer came and she decided to call for the last time then shut the phone and zip it in the bag. She called again and this time, it was picked up on the very first ring.

“Which arsehole is responsible for the phone but could not bring his butt downstairs to just pick it!” she scolded immediately and a gasp was what she heard.

“Avril? Avril is that you?” she heard Feliz’s voice. She exhaled and rubbed her forehead.

“Yes, Feliz. It’s me,” she said with relief.

“Holy…damn! Guys, it’s Avril! It’s Avril!” he announced at the top of his voice, piercing through to Avril’s ear that she had to jerk the phone from her ear. She heard running feet and rolled her eyes.

“Where are you girl? You don’t know how worried to death we all have been. We’ve searched all of Italy but can’t find you. Who took you? How are the others? Don’t worry, we would come get you right now no matter where you are,” Feliz blurted out.

“Calm down, Feliz. We all are fine. We were kidnapped by Miguel Vincaso who was responsible for the shootout that day. He was working for Luca Aguero and wanted to take me to him. But we escaped and…well, we went to a place where we are very safe. I’m so sorry but…we won’t be returning to Tijuana.” She sighed and gulped down.

“I only called because I don’t want you all to worry anymore. I’m very fine and doing well. Take care of yourself, Feliz. And everyone else too. My regards to Manny and Bernardo. Also, none of you over there should come looking for us because you won’t find us.”

“Avril, come on…you are just going to leave us?”

“I can’t live that life anymore. We can’t live that life anymore. We are fine here. And don’t call this number. I borrowed a phone to call you.”

“Avril—wait! Don’t you want to know how things have been? A lot has happened here,” Manny’s voice cut in.

“There is big news about…” Manny trailed then sighed. All the noise behind the phone from the excited men earlier died down. Avril gulped down because she knew what he was going to say. Probably all the things The Lucien Brothers did to take their revenge. She didn’t want to hear any of it. None of it would bring back Alejandro.

“Don’t worry about telling me anything. Just be fine, okay? I have to go now, bye.” She said and hung up the phone. She felt a dry lump growing in her throat and desperately tried to push it down but couldn’t. a glass of water showed up in front of her and she looked up to see Dakar standing there with a white bathrobe around his body and his hair in a wet bun over his head. She collected the glass and chugged down the water.

“Easy there, feisty cat,” he said and held her to take it more slowly. But she had already even finished it by then.

“Thanks,” she appreciated and handed the glass back to him.

“Now go take a long shower and come down for some popcorn.”

“And where is the popcorn coming from?”

“I would get it before you come out.”

Avril nodded and dropped the phone on the dining table. She walked into the bathroom and as soon as Dakar heard the shower running, he walked away with the glass. A few minutes later and he was dressed in a loose white t-shirt and black trousers. His damp hair was in a ponytail and he strolled out of the hotel room. At the lobby, there was a popcorn stand and he would have just ordered for it and a few drinks to be brought to their room but he needed to take his next dose of cigar. He went to the roof and gladly, it was empty, safe for some pigeons making noise and flapping their wings. He spent just ten minutes there before heading back to the lobby. As he got the popcorn and soda cans, he took the elevator back up. All of a sudden, his eyes turned gold and he felt a jerk from his wolf. His stomach churned and his knees wobbled that he had to grab onto the wall in order to not fall.

“What the heck is wrong with you, Derek?” Dakar scolded his wolf and groaned. He shut his eyes until he felt them returning to normal.

“I don’t feel so good. Something is wrong. You need to stop taking that cigar now,” Derek warned faintly. His voice was so weak that Dakar felt like he was going to disappear again.

“I can’t…Avril. I can’t let him hurt Avril,” Dakar replied back. The elevator doors opened and he staggered out. He took a deep breath and located their room door.

“Something’s not right, Dakar,” Derek muttered and faded in his head.

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