#1 | The Aftermath - Phantom Rider Series

#17 | Daddy Issues

One might think that after sharing a brief moment of intimacy, two people might find comfort in each other. Not these two. It was the complete opposite. Trying to avoid ( collide ) each other at every cost, the tension between them grew stronger every day.

They pushed and pulled each other in every direction they could. Bill participated in races, and Mila showed up, but always pretended not to know him. He took on all missions, pretending that it was very important for him to be involved in every conflict, but secretly he wanted to see her. She did the same, and when they met eye to eye, he chased her through abandoned buildings, threatening to kill her, only to let her go at the very last moment.

One night, she blew up his warehouse, just to meet him at the burning building in hopes it would ignite something within him. He was furious - not just for the financial loss, but for losing her to a fire in his heart he himself had lit in them.

They didn't touch each other unless it was in combat. He never hit her again, but he did push and pull her and threw her around like a fly. She seemed to enjoy it.

Everyone was proud of Mila. They thought her dedication to her work was unmatched, and her efforts were successful. Bill wasn't able to hold any deal long enough for her not to overtake it. What she didn't know was that he let her.

"How's life going?" A sharp, cold voice at the other end of her phone scared her to death.

"It's fine," she replied equally sharply.

"Sergei told me that you've been doing a great job lately. I'm proud of you." He never said words like that unless a request followed.

"Thank you!" she replied, still sharply.

"Since you've established a good standing in Tokyo, I was thinking it's time to eliminate some of our enemies." Here was the request part, she knew it.

"Who?" she asked.

"I was thinking, how about that remaining twin—Bill, was his name?" he asked, but it wasn't a question, it was a command.

She chuckled. Somehow he heard that through the phone.

"Is there a problem?" he cautiously continued as if listening for another chuckle.

"No, there isn't a problem, Dad," she remained calm.

"Great! Do you think you'll be able to handle it yourself, or should I send help?" Help meant people who would watch over her shoulder to make sure she did the job.

"Also, Matt called me. He hasn't been satisfied with your behavior lately. Try to separate your job from family." Victor stabbed the knife a bit deeper into her soul.

"He is not my family!" she snapped.

"Mila, you know the deal. You know it's important. It's for a greater cause." His words cut deeper.

"What greater cause? Your greediness?" she retorted.

He had forced her to marry Matt the very second she turned 18. No one asked her what she wanted. She was sold off like a business deal, like she wasn't even human. Matt pretended to be a caring, amazing husband, and in her young and naive mind, she allowed them all to gaslight her into thinking this was all she could get. She had no idea that when the home door closed, there would be a different person - ruthless instead of caring.

"If you ever speak to me like that again, I will visit Tokyo myself." His voice was even colder, if that was possible. "I give you one month. That is more than enough."

"If I don't do it?" she was still in fighting mode.

"Then someone else will, and you will come home." He disconnected the phone.

Mila inhaled deeply. This was something she expected, but not so soon. Now, she had one month to scare Bill away from Tokyo, so he could stay alive. She couldn't kill him. She had an idea, but this idea meant bringing someone else back into the game - the Phantom Rider.