Chapter One

"I shouldn't be here."

That was the only thought bouncing back and forth in Adeline's mind as she came out of the bus, stepping on snow right in front of the ruthless Orlov clan which sat poignantly in Fili District, Moscow.

It's a silent January night, but the silence is damn foreboding here.

Snowflakes made a whimsical show as they poured from the dark sky.

She adjusted the duffel bag sling on her shoulder, swallowing hard as she checked herself out.

She wore black jean pants, a button-down shirt, and boots.

There's no swell of breasts on her chest. Her hair is moderately short in a wolf cut, face fierce.

She's gonna live as a boy in here—in this devilish clan.

Her name is Adeline Wilson, but the moment she steps into the gate, she'll be Micheal Alonso.

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 snake swallowing a rat stood in front of the gate, it's eyes glowing in the dark.

She's not sure of what to expect inside, and she doesn't care.

She has witnessed so much goriness and horror in her life that she's ready for whatever is coming.

She took six firm steps to the smaller gate, getting her phone which has the QR code she received yesterday.

She scanned it on the gate screen, and the small gate opened.

She stepped in, meeting herself in the middle of several other guys who're obviously here to become a part of the clan establishment like her.

They're all huge and tattooed. 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're thinking immediately.

Probably wondering what a girly boy is doing in a mafia compound.

Well... well... I'm a girl.

She didn't say that out loud though, so she continued looking around since none of the guys are ready to start a conversation with her.

"Form a straight line!" An order came from a gigantic building.

Though, no one saw who made the order, they all started struggling to get in line.

During the rush, one of the guys pushed Adeline.

She lurched and fell on the ground with a sickening thud, but she spranged up and pulled him back.

"You pushed me dumbass!" She glared blazingly.

The rude-looking guy scoffed, holding back his laughter.

"So what? Little man." he said.

The rest of the guys began laughing in mockery.

Adeline's short temper boiled till it brimmed. She sent her right fist to his face, crushing his nose.

Her knuckle ring left a cut on his lips, and the laughter from others stopped as the guy's eyes widened.

He obviously 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 Adeline with a malicious snarl, dabbing his bloody face before going to join the line.

"Sick fucker," Adeline replied with a piercing glare, her blue eyes sharp.

She joined the line too as the last in line and just moved with their flow.

The clan is vast, and she could already see mobsters everywhere, 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.

There are girls in the clan too, but they stopped initiating girls two years ago, and that's why she had to disguise as a boy.

There are several buildings, suites, annexes and wings, spreading to the end where there's a forest.

The other guys who're in line with her are busy chatting about what life in here would look like already, and some are already eyeing the females.

Adeline was silent, expecting when they'll get to their destination as she walked the snowy ground.

The weather is so cold, and she's starting to freeze, so she hugged herself, sniffling.

A Chevrolet suddenly drove roughly past their line, stopping in a park not far from them.

The backdoor opened, and a guy came out of it.

No... a robot fits better cos he looks inhumane and so fucking statuesque.

She felt his halo even from her spot.

Ranging from his arctic eyes, dark sprawled hair, bulgy body which is definitely friendly to the gym, straight legs, stiff shoulders, unfeeling essence.

He's as cold as winter, and there's a small scar on his chin, but that only added to his greek-godlike handsomeness.

Not that she cares.

There's a cross necklace dangling from his neck, his face is eerily calm.

He looks almost...dead.

Two other girls came down from the car, and is it possible to like girls like yourself at first sight? Cos Adeline liked them immediately.

They're wearing the same thing.

Leather trousers, leather crop tops showing off their bellybuttons, cowboy hats, and black shoes.

Their faces and hands are stained with blood, and Adeline knew immediately that they're just coming from a mission.

They bowed to the guy before leaving, and when the guy made to leave too, his eyes met Adeline's.

Any normal person would look away from those eyes, but not her.

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 means, his hand flew forward. He threw a blade!

Her eyes widened, and he moved backwards quickly, but not quick 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. Blood stained her fingers.

She looked back at his direction, but he's already gone.

She wiped the blood with her shirt and gritted her teeth.

Is it possible to hate someone till 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. The line scattered immediately as some sat on the ground to rest.

The guy from before came back—the one punched by Adeline.

He grabbed her by the collar, making her duffel bag fall.

"You're dead! Bastard!" He seethed.

"Same to you!" Adeline grabbed his collar too.

The others gathered around, ready to watch the impending fight.

--

[House Of Orlovs]

House of Orlovs is easily the biggest mansion in the clan, and every rule guiding it comes from here.

Every meeting about the Bratva or the family happens here too.

Right now, one of those meetings is starting in three minutes.

Inside the house, Klara and Erik are already seated, waiting for the children's arrival. It's a family meeting this time.

Klara wore a black flowing dress, appreciating her aura, and her hands are gloved to the elbows.

Her hair is permed. She has the look of a leading woman on her stoic face.

Erik is beside her, his tailored suit matching his fit body.

He looks just as stoic as his wife, but it's more in his case.

They're both in their early and mid sixties respectively.

Three minutes later, Maya came in, the first child.

Usually... she's always the first to arrive.

There's a knife with her which she's checking out with a smile. She has a crazy obsession with knives.

She settled in front of the parents, no words spoken as she rested back.

Almost immediately, Igor came in. The second child.

"Why the fuck is Madden not here yet? He came back from the mission," He said with a glare, his face closed-off as he settled beside Maya.

"Are you disappointed that he's not here to pick a fight with?" Maya replied without looking at him.

"Shut up, Maya." Igor snarled, and Maya's knife found it's way to the middle of his legs, sinking.

"The fuck!" He grabbed her hand, but she kept it down there tightly.

"Shut it instead, else... I'll cut it and make it into skewers" she smiled.

The parents just looked on, not adding a word.

Trixie came in next, the last child.

She wore a bikini, wet from the pool water, and she held a arrow and a bow.

"Was at the pool when I remembered the meeting," she said casually, taking her seat too.

"Pretty sure someone with a worse appearance is on his way." Igor replied.

As if to confirm his words, Sin came in with a grin.

The fourth child.

He's naked except for the thin pants covering his midsection.

"Was on top of a bitch when I remembered this meeting. It was too late to wear anything else." he chuckled, sitting beside Trixie.

No one replied.

It's not his first time walking around near-naked.

They waited five more minutes, but Madden never came.

"As usual, he'll keep us waiting for one hour?" Sin grinned.

Angrily, Igor spranged up, bolting out of the house.