I don't think we're supposed to be in your life Mila, we will be eliminated. Chad's last words hung heavy in the air, filling the room with an uneasy silence. Mila could feel the weight of his statement pressing down on her. There was something ominous in his words, a dark secret lurking beneath the surface.
Tristan, always the rational one, broke the silence, his voice laced with skepticism. "That is a heavy assumption, Chad. How did you come to that conclusion?"
Chad shook his head wearily, the flickering candlelight reflecting in his eyes. "Forget it," he muttered, his voice tinged with resignation. He took one final sip from his glass, draining it completely, before reaching out to Mila for a refill. "So, tell me then, how does Phoenix fits into all of this?"
"He's father is the head of the Yakuza's and he's the only child, so he's next in line, Tristan once again spoke.
"What? You must have totally lost your marbles Tristan, and I don't know who your source of information is but that's not true. Phoenix is a born Singaporean, and he is a photographer he knows how to handle a camera and that's it, I don't even think he knows what a gun was until Anna was shot, he knows nothing about running a criminal empire. You've got to be kidding me." Chad's disbelief and annoyance echoed in the room.
"Listen Chad I know this is allot to take in but it's the truth we can't look past that, and we have to figure it out because I so desperately want a normal life. We will need all the help we can get," Mila desperately pleaded.
Tristan's serious expression intensified as he posed a grave question. "Are you in or are you out, Chad? Because if you're not with us, you'll become a liability. And you know what happens to liabilities in our line of business."
A flicker of defiance sparked in Chad's eyes. "You can try to eliminate me, Tristan, but I don't think you will succeed," his gaze locked firmly on Tristan. With a lingering glance towards Mila, he added, " Mila it's been a wild ride since I met you. From dancing to underwear modelling, and now entangled in a dangerous web of mafia intrigue. I must be crazy to stay, but something draws me towards this chaos. Count me in. I mean I'm the only one they don't want to kill after all."
Tristan's tired yawn broke the tension, his voice suddenly clam. "We've had enough for today. Let's rest. Tomorrow, with the rise of the sun, new challenges await us. We need to be prepared."
Feeling the weight of exhaustion, Mila nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm tired too," she said, making her way towards her room. "Goodnight, boys."
"You go, I still have to process everything,' Chad said sipping on his wine.
"Alright bro, but get some sleep, okay"
"Goodnight Tristan."
"Yeah, goodnight, Chad."
The next morning, the sun began to peek over the horizon, casting its gentle rays through the kitchen window where Mila was busy whipping up breakfast, her hips swaying to the rhythm of the music playing on the tiny radio sitting on the table. Wearing one of Tristan's oversized t-shirts that teasingly revealed just enough.
Meanwhile, a shirtless Chad leaned nonchalantly against the doorway, his jeans hanging low on his hips, showcasing his sculped muscles as he folded his arms and admired the captivating sight of Mila dancing across the kitchen floor.
"Like what you see?" Tristan quipped, mirroring Chads shirtless demeanor from the other side of the doorway, his waist, exuding an air of arrogance and dominance of a Greek god.
Chad brushed off Tristan's comment, keeping his gaze locked on Mila. "That smells amazing. Mind if we partake in this breakfast feast?"
Startled by the unexpected voices behind her, Mila's feet faltered, and for a moment, it seemed as if she would stumble and fall face flat right in front of Tristan and Chad. With her incredible reflexes and body strength, she managed to swiftly regain her balance, averting what could have been a comical face-plant in front of two shirtless men. "Whoa, do you have any idea what perfect cover page photo this would have made, where's my camera when I need it," Mila said.
"Funny, but no. There's no way on earth that I share a photo with this dude," pointing a finger at Tristan, besides, he's not front-page quality.
Unfazed by Chad's jests, Tristan strolled towards the table and plucked a chair, taking a seat opposite Chad. "Mmff... you'd be surprised by what I can do. I'd be on more billboards and magazine covers than you and women would throw themselves at me too, not just you.
Chad shot a glance at Mila, curious to discern her reaction. "Oh, please, stop exaggerating, Tristan."
"Oh, yes sorry let me rephrase that.... men and women literally throw themselves at you."
"Shut up, Tristan, do you even have a life?"
"Do you have a soul?" Tristan retorted sharply.
The atmosphere was charged with tension as Mila tried to bring some order the chaos that was unfolding right before her eyes.
"Guys! Come on, focus!" Mila pleaded, trying to reign in the bickering duo. "We're supposed to be a team, teammates...friends, remember? We need to have each other's backs. How are we going to do that if your constantly at each other's throats?"
Tristan scoffed, raising his voice, "You and I are lovers, Mila! we're not just teammates. And as for this wanker," he pointed an accusing finger at Chad, "I'm definitely not friends with him and will never be."
"Lovers my ass, Tristan, you cannot just claim her she's mine," and with that Chad stood up and bang his fist on the table.
Mila rolled her eyes, feeling the frustration bubble up within her. "Okay, I just had enough of both of you," Mila screamed. "Both of you need to get your priorities straight. You can't just claim me. I'm not some possession up for grabs!" she shot back. "And none of you have the authority to stake a claim on me, I make my own decisions, thank you very much. And let me tell you, neither of you is an option in any of my decisions because you act like children dammit! Your grown ass men for heaven's sake!"
Caught off guard by Mila's fierce outburst, both Chad and Tristan watched in stunned silence.
"Well...okay then," Mila huffed, crossing her arms defiantly. "I'm going to get dressed and visit my sister at the hospital. And let me make this crystal clear, neither of you is invited. But be warned, if I come back and you two are not friends, I swear I'll ditch you both and do this mission alone. Understand?"
Tristan and Chad exchanged a quick glance, their jaws hanging slightly open. They nodded meekly, unable to find the words to respond.
Mila stood up from the table and walk towards her room when she suddenly froze and spun around to face the boys with a determined look on her face. "I'm going to get dressed, and when I come out of my room, I expect this kitchen to be clean. And I mean dishes, counters, everything!" she declared, her voice filled with authority.
Both the boys, Chad and Tristan, were caught off guard. They stared at Mila in stunned silence, completely taken aback by her sudden burst of authority. Without uttering a single word, they both nodded vigorously in agreement.
Mila turned back and triumphantly marched towards her room, leaving the boys slightly perplex but highly motivated to clean up. They exchanged confused glances, their minds racing to make sense of what had just happen.
"What did just happen?" Chad whispered to Tristan, who was still grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"I don't know, but that was sexy as hell!" Tristan replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Chad rolled his eyes. "Wipe that smile off your facade, Tristan, and help me clean up before she really ground us."
Tristan chuckled, fully aware of the effect Mila's sudden assertiveness had on Chad. "Alright, alright let's get to work and impress her with our cleaning skills."
"So, that was the last plate," Chad announced proudly as he hung the towel up on the hook on the wall. "I'm going to take a shower. See you later."
Tristan smirked mischievously. "You sure you don't want me to join?"
"Seriously bro, get a life."
"What, we need to become friends, Chad, and what better way than in the shower?"
"Fuck off Tristan, Chad retorted, walking away as Tristan laughed loudly.
Mila was still busy in her room, she took a long hot shower and after that she just sat on her bed with the towel wrap around her deep in thought about everything and after half an hour she decided to get dressed.
Chad and Tristan were standing in the living room discussing their latest plan when Mila walked into the room, she looked up to them and saw that they were dressed, and that the kitchen was clean. "Good job boys, and if you behave you can come with me to the hospital."
"There's some new information that received a few minutes ago, and we need to discuss it before we can go to the hospital, Mila, it's important," Tristan said standing with papers in his hands.
"Alright, what is it," Mila sigh, walking towards them. Just when she took the papers from Tristan there was a loud thud reverberated through the house. They all turned their attention to the sound, only to see a helicopter landing on the beach outside.
"Who the heck is that?" Chad asks when he saw a guy climbed out of the chopper and walked with his head low towards the house.
"Mila froze when she saw the man and whisper to Tristan in disbelieve without taking her eyes of the walking figure..."What the hell is he doing here?"
The figure walked up the stairs onto the porch and inside the living room like he owns the place, he looked directly at Mila and said...."missed me?"
"Alfonso...what the hell are you doing here?"