THE ISLAND WOLF - EPISODE 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. I thought 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 to place 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 he stood 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 looks Avril 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 lit with 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 men wore 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, the first 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.