Phantom Rider - The Aftermath | Book 1

Betrayal

Another week went by.

Bill rolled his fingers around the glass, staring into his drink. Loneliness took his soul. He was ready to give up. He finished his drink and ordered another one. His head was already spinning. The bartender, scared of him, didn't ask for payment, just brought drink after drink. He sat alone in the closed-off VIP section of the bar, hidden from people's eyes, yet one person managed to find him.

Alice slid onto the stool beside him. "Mind if I join?"

He did mind, but she was the only thread left that connected him with Mila, so he said nothing, letting her sit by his side.

She ordered a drink, looking at Bill with curiosity and concern. "You look sad. Are you ok?" She put her hand on his shoulder, looking into him deeply.

"I am ok!" Bill pulled his shoulder away from her.

"Has she called you?" Alice asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

Bill shook his head. "No. I haven't heard from her."

Alice tilted her head. "That's weird. I talked to her yesterday," she lied to him.

Bill's heart skipped a beat, anger and hope simultaneously overtaking him. "What? Why didn't you tell me this?"

Alice shrugged, playing with the rim of his glass. "I just assumed that since she talks to me, she might be talking to you too. But I guess it makes sense that she doesn't."

Bill frowned, feeling sudden jealousy towards her. "Matt probably has her in a tight grip. I don't think she can call even if she wants to."

Alice hesitated, her eyes drifting away for a moment. "I wouldn't call it that..."

Bill's patience snapped. "What are you trying to say? Because I'm not in the mood to guess your thoughts."

Alice sighed, looking almost apologetic. "You haven't been checking the news, have you?"

Bill scoffed, his frustration growing. "What news? Like on TV? Of course not!"

"I mean Russian gossip magazines..."

Bill glared at her. "Alice, you're really getting on my nerves right now. I'm not here to talk about gossip. I have more important things to do."

"Like what? Drinking yourself to death the third day in a row?" Alice leaned closer, her voice turning to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Why would you even care? It's not your business," he snapped at her.

"For some reason, I do care," Alice said sadly, her eyes locking onto his. "I sort of rooted for both of you since day one."

"You didn't even know about us!" Bill cut conversation short.

"Listen, she's my best friend. She told me more than you can imagine."

Bill's suspicion grew. He knew there hadn't been anything between him and Mila for a long time that someone else might see or know of. All their feelings were kept internal and secret on both sides, until that race day. So why was Alice acting like she had insider knowledge?

Alice sighed, pulling out her phone. "So, this gossip magazine just published pictures... of Mila."

Bill's attention snapped back to Alice. "What pictures?"

"She's at this gala event. She's there with Matt..." Alice's voice trailed off, her eyes searching his face in the dark.

"It means nothing," Bill said, but his voice cracked.

Alice hesitated, then pulled up a page on her phone, showing him the screen. "Even if they are kissing there?"

Bill's heart sank as he saw the image: Mila and Matt, locked in a deep, passionate kiss. His world seemed to tilt on its axis.

"Show me!" he demanded, grabbing the phone from her. The picture was clear, undeniable.

Alice placed a hand on his arm, gently but firmly. "Bill, she's been playing you. All this time. She and Matt... it was all a plan to take you down from the start. You have no idea how many secrets she has and how many masks she wears."

Bill stared at the image, feeling like the ground had been ripped out from under him. "I can't believe this..."

But somehow things fell into place. Mila falling for him so quickly and suddenly without any logical reason, giving him the apartment chip just to make sure he got there in time to "save" her from Matt, who evidently was never there. Demanding to have sex with him in the club for no apparent reason. Her super-rich father appearing out of thin air, having ties with Tom's last mission. And most importantly, the guards at their house in Germany letting her drive off and come back without any problems, while they tried to kill Bill, as if it was all part of a plan. Her being a "Phantom Rider"... how couldn't he see all that sooner?

Alice leaned closer, breathing against his neck, sending shivers down his flesh. "You deserve better, Bill. You deserve someone who actually cares about you."

Bill turned to look at her, his eyes filled with confusion and hurt. "Why are you telling me things like that?"

"Because I care about you," Alice whispered, still too close to his neck. "And I hate seeing you hurt."

Bill's defenses crumbled as her hand slid up his thigh. He felt lost, raw from the sudden betrayal. Alice's body leaned warm against him, almost nurturing.

She leaned in closer, her lips touching his neck, her breath was intoxicating. "Let me take care of you tonight."

Bill's head swam with alcohol and confusion. He couldn't think straight, couldn't distinguish between right and wrong. Alice's hand slid higher up his thigh, her fingers massaging his crotch. His body reacted immediately. He closed his eyes, his head spinning, trying to push away the image of Mila and Matt, but it was no use.

Alice's touch was insistent, her hand slipping under his shirt, caressing his skin. She whispered soothing words, her voice like a drug to his wounded soul. "You deserve to be loved, Bill. Let me show you how much I care."

Before he knew it, her lips were on his. His mind blurred the lines between Alice and Mila, the alcohol making everything hazy. He kissed her back, desperate for any form of comfort, even if it was temporary.

Alice's hands moved over his body, unbuttoning his shirt, her lips trailing down his chest. She knelt before him, her eyes locking onto his as she unbuckled his belt. Bill's breath hitched, his mind torn between the physical pleasure and the emotional agony.

She took him in her mouth, deep and needy. Pleasure overwhelmed his senses. He couldn't think, couldn't focus. He grasped at the table.

Alice's touch was different from Mila's. Her curves, her large breasts moving as she moved her head sucking his dick, her sultry look - made her feel soft and warm. His body responded to her every movement, betraying his heart and his mind.

When he finally pulled her up, he turned her around, pressing her against the wall, his mind unable to process the reality of what he was doing. He took her roughly, unable to look at her face, unable to kiss her. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing someone other than Mila.

The act was fast, driven by agony, anger and a need to escape his pain. Alice's squeaky moans filled the small room, her body yielding to his. But Bill's mind was elsewhere, as if he was separated from his own body, drifting far away from his own actions.

As he finished, he pulled away, leaving her half-naked. He took off the condom and threw it under the table. The world fell on him as his soul was pulled back into his body, crushing against his insides, tearing every cell apart.

He stumbled back, his head spinning. Alice reached out to him, but he pulled away, unable to bear her touch. "Bill..."

He shook his head. "Don't come close to me or I will kill you."

He ran outside the bar, leaving Alice behind. He knew that he had destroyed everything and there was nothing to come back to. He was alone, having ruined everything in his life. Miserable. Unworthy. Pathetic.