Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia — 7 PM
"I shouldn't be here."
That was the only thought bouncing back and forth in Tessa's mind as she came out of the bus, stepping on snow right in front of the ruthless Ivanov clan.
It's a silent January night, but the silence is damn foreboding in this part of the city, and snowflakes are making a whimsical show as they pour from the dark sky.
She adjusted the duffel bag sling on her shoulder, swallowing hard as she checked herself out.
She's wearing blue jeans and a button-down shirt, and her chest does not bulge with breasts. Her hair is short and trimmed, and she's also wearing male boots.
Anyone will think she's a boy right now, and that's her main goal.
She's gonna live as a boy in here, in this devilish clan.
Her name is Tessa Moretti, but the moment she steps into the gate, she'll be Micah Alvarez.
She took another look at the gate and gulped again.
The gate is imposing, 12-foot high, crafted from clad iron and adorned with the clan's insignia.
The statue of a large viper snake swallowing a rabbit stood in front of the gate, looking sinister.
She's unsure what to expect inside, but the fact that it's already giving her chills without entering is scary.
Any normal human being will return, but she's far from normal.
She has witnessed so much gore and horror that she's ready for whatever is coming.
She took six firm steps to the smaller gate, and she brought out her phone which had the QR code she received yesterday.
She scanned it on the gate screen, and the small gate opened almost immediately.
She stepped in, meeting herself in the middle of several guys who were here to become a part of the clan like her.
They're all huge and tattooed, but some have small builds like hers too.
That didn't change the fact that she looks the most fragile of all of them, and she hates it.
Some of the guys gave her strange looks, and she knew what they were thinking immediately.
Probably wondering what a feminine boy is doing in a mafia compound.
'Well... well... I'm a girl'
She didn't say that out loud though.
She continued looking around since none of the guys were ready to start a conversation with her.
"Form a straight line!" An order came from a wired loud megaphone.
Though no one saw who made the order, they all complied and started struggling to get in line.
During the rush, one of the guys pushed Tessa, and she wasn't warned before she fell on the ground.
She sprang up and pulled the guy back, her eyes flashing anger.
"You pushed me, dumbass!" She glared, and the rude-looking guy scoffed, brushing her off.
"So what? Little man" he said.
The rest of the guys began laughing in mockery.
Tessa's short temper took over immediately, and she sent her right fist to his face, punching him hard.
Her knuckle ring left a cut on the bastard's face, and the laughter from others stopped as his eyes widened.
He wasn't expecting it.
"You little...
He was about to come closer when another order came from the megaphone.
"Move!"
The others started moving, maintaining the straight line.
"I hope we both get accepted, I'll kill you," the guy told her with a malicious snarl before going to join the line.
"Sick fucker" She replied with a piercing glare from her blue eyes as she joined the line too.
She's the last in line, so she just moved with their flow as the line moved.
The clan is vast, and the compound is like a heated volcano.
Orange-coloured lights cast a mystical glow on the walls, weaving the shadows of the thugs and mobsters across the property.
Hefty guards are patrolling the perimeter too, their figures threatening.
Tessa could already see mobsters strolling everywhere, all looking wild and different from the guys she encountered in the outside world.
Almost every guy is huge with bulging muscles and tattoos... Even the girls are tattooed and tall.
Yeah...there are girls in the clan too, but they stopped initiating girls two years ago for unknown reasons, and that's why she had to disguise herself as a boy.
There are several buildings, suites, annexes, and residential wings in the compound, spreading to the end where there's a forest.
The other newbies who are in line with her are busy chatting about what life in here would look like, and some are already eyeing the girls.
Tessa just clamped her mouth shut, expecting they get to their destination as she walked on the snowy ground.
The weather is so cold, and she's starting to freeze, so she hugged herself, sniffling.
A Chevrolet suddenly drove past their line like a thunderclap, leaving scorching tyre tracks on the snow.
The car screeched to a halt in a park not far from them, and the back door opened.
A guy stepped out of it.
No... a robot will fit him better cos he looks inhumane and so fuçking statuesque. His face is a mask of stone, eyes empty of emotion.
Tessa felt his halo even from her spot.
Ranging from his arctic eyes, dark sprawled hair, buff tattooed body which is friendly with the gym, straight legs, stiff shoulders, and unfeeling essence.
He's as cold as winter, and there's a small scar on his chin, but that only adds to his handsomeness.
He's devilishly attractive, not that she cares.
There's a cross necklace dangling from his neck, and his face is eerily calm.
He looks almost...dead.
Two girls came down from the car too, and is it possible to like girls like you at first sight? Cos Tessa liked them immediately.
They're wearing the same thing completely.
Leather trousers, leather crop tops showing off their belly buttons, leather hats, and black shoes.
They look like twin warriors, but it's obvious they're not twins, maybe besties.
Their faces and hands are stained with blood, and Tessa knew immediately that they were just coming from a mission.
They bowed to the guy before leaving, and when the guy made to leave too, his eyes met Tessa's.
Any normal person would look away from those eyes, but once again, Tessa is far from normal.
She kept up with the stare, and she clearly saw a smirk lift the corner of his lips, but before she could figure out what it meant, his hand flew forward, and he threw a blade towards her.
Her eyes widened, and he moved backwards quickly, but not quickly enough cos the blade gave her a slight cut on the right cheek before flying to the wall, getting stuck there.
She gasped, touching her cheek as a small blood trickled out, staining her fingers.
She looked back in his direction, but he was already gone.
She wiped the blood with her shirt and gritted her teeth.
Is it possible to hate someone to death at first sight? It's happening to her right now.
Who does he think he is?
"Stop!" The voice came from the megaphone again, and they all came to a stop in front of a small building.
"I think we have to wait for more instructions here," one of the guys said, and the line scattered as some sat on the ground to rest.
The guy from before came back immediately...the one punched by Tessa.
He grabbed her by the collar, making her duffel bag slip from her shoulder to the pavement with a thud.
"You're dead! Bastard!" He seethed venomously.
"Same to you!" She grabbed his collar too.
The others gathered around, ready to watch the impending fight.