Phantom Rider: The Aftermath | Book 1

Red Dress

Bill's POV

The club looked exactly the same - it really was a place stuck in time, where nothing ever changed. I sat at the bar, much more sober than before, this time drinking water, focused on my hunting mission - there she was.

I watched her walk past me, her short, tight red dress perfectly hugging her curves. She was slender but clearly toned, every muscle defined.

"Gosh, who am I kidding now? That ass! For God's sake..."

That woman knew exactly what she was doing to everyone in the room. No one simply walks into a club full of drunk killers who know no limits and no mercy, dressed in a tight red dress.

I kept staring. I knew she saw me, but frankly, everyone did. Her noticing me didn't bother me at all; I expected her to see me.

Her arms were long, and it was clear she was in good physical condition. She was probably well-trained in combat. Her boobs didn't look big, but her round ass and tiny waist complemented her proportions perfectly. Everything on her body made absolute sense.

"Come on, look at me," I thought to myself, confident I was the only reasonable match for her in this place. We might be close in age. She could be slightly older, maybe a year or two, but that could just as well be her makeup.

She suddenly turned sharply, as if she had heard my thoughts, and to my surprise, walked straight toward me, her expression completely empty.

I raised my glass toward her in a mock toast and smiled - not a friendly smile, but one that stated, "I know I'll dominate you."

She looked me dead in the eyes, not impressed at all. She wasn't here to flirt or seduce anyone. She looked like she was also on a mission, and my curiosity grew with every step she took closer to me.

"Hello, you must be Bill," she said, her voice surprisingly deep and melodious.

"And you must be?" I had no clue who she was.

"Hi, I'm Mila. Nice to meet you," she replied coldly.

"So, Mila, what do you want?" I matched her tone.

"Don't assume I want something from you," she leaned over the table, pushing her butt out and leaned in slightly, revealing to me more than necessary. I focused on her face, she was trying too hard to distract me.

"I came here to warn you. The city is not like it was before. You are not in charge anymore." Her crystal blue eyes, cold as ice, tried to dominate me.

I stayed silent. Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words. Instead, I brushed her hand lightly, noticing the wedding ring. Her expression remained composed.

"You might think you rule this town now, but I see someone else is ruling over you." I gestured toward her ring.

Before she could respond, a loud slap echoed through the room. Clearly, I wasn't the only one fixated on her ass. Instantly, she turned, twisted the man's arm with a bone-cracking sound, then slammed his head onto the table. Blood trickled from his nose. It might be broken.

As if nothing had happened, ignoring the man's moans of pain, she turned back to me, flashing the same flirty smile I'd offered her earlier, and walked away.

She's good. Damn, this is going to be fun. I was thrilled to inject some adrenaline into my life finally.

Mila's POV

I entered the place and the smell of booze and testosterone hit my nostrils. A room full of filthy humans - killers, rapists, robbers, and whores. Perfect.

I wasn't here for them. He stood out immediately. Tall, lean, defined, with a slicked-back mohawk and intense eye makeup. Dangerous aura, magnetic energy. I understood why people were obsessed with him. I kept my eyes on him all evening, planning to attach a tracker discreetly to figure their location. Yet, just as I approached, his friend whisked him away too quickly.

Normally, I'd have someone else handle this, but I wanted to confront this infamous gangster face-to-face. Disappointed by my missed chance, I went back to the bar for a cocktail. Or two. Maybe three... I might have a slight problem there.

I hadn't expected to see him return, barely recognizable in a completely different outfit. Was this a fashion show? I'd never seen a man pay such attention to his appearance. Must be a narcissist, for sure.

While the others practically drooled over me, he looked at me differently. His dark eyes were calculating, analyzing.

I completed my purposeful little catwalk and turned sharply, heading straight to him. I knew he would not look away. He mockingly raised his glass, smiling dominantly.

I didn't give him the satisfaction of flirting back.

"Hello, you must be Bill," I said, my voice cold.

"And you must be?" he asked, curious.

"Hi, I'm Mila, nice to meet you," I said, keeping my voice cold.

"So, Mila, what do you want?" he asked, his voice matching my tone.

I leaned over the table, pushing my body forward just enough to reveal my cleavage. He didn't take the bait; his eyes stayed on mine with well-trained discipline. "Don't assume I want something from you," I said, lowering my voice. I did that every time I spoke to men. They respect you more if your tone is deeper.

"I came here to warn you. The city is not like it was before. You are not in charge anymore." I tried to overpower him.

He didn't reply. I thought I knew what he was doing, but the moment he touched my palm, I almost lost control. He was testing my physical boundaries. He was not dumb at all.

"Shit, I should have removed my wedding ring," I thought to myself as he noticed it right away. He might use it as my weakness in the future.

"You might think you rule this town now, but I see someone else is ruling over you," he said, his gaze intense. Gosh, how can a complete stranger hit my weak spot so precisely?

This was definitely not my day, so many mistakes in such a short amount of time. The good thing about me was that my inner world never matched my outer appearance. I controlled every cell, every muscle on my face to never reveal my actual thoughts.

Before I could respond, I felt a sharp slap on my ass. That's it, this party is over. I dealt with the stupid man, gave Bill the same mocking smile he had offered me before, and rushed to leave this place. I had other plans for this night, and I was already late...