Teresa's heart thumped with celerity in her throat which was as dry as the Atacama Desert. She continued to look confidently into his eyes even though she was practically melting inside. She didn't speak. She had no answer to his question.

When you can't answer, use sarcasm.

Caleb's wise words ran in her head, and she almost laughed in relief.

"Of course," she croaked.

Teresa cleared her throat quickly as a redness crept up on her cheeks. The guy whom she had tripped, snickered in the background. However, the asshole in front of her didn't even so much as blink at her.

"Of course," she began once more. "You weren't so discreet about your identity either"

Saying so, she powerfully grabbed the lanky guy who had laughed behind her by his neck and shoved it towards the ground. She then tugged his t-shirt down, revealing the dagger tattoo etched at the back of his neck to everyone.

"Super secretive," she mocked, having found some confidence.

Jordan, still grim-faced, nodded at her. Soon, the bulkiest human of the group took hold of her wrist and dragged her into a van parked a little way off. For a moment, she almost shouted for help but instead decided to keep her mouth shut.

"What are you doing?" the unamusing asshole asked, his eyebrows raised dubiously at Teresa.

"Taking her with us. She's clever and strong for a woman. We can use her," Jordan told him with a shrug.

Bingo, Teresa mentally did a small celebratory dance.

The regular asshole scrutinized her once more, and again she couldn't help but glamour how beautiful his eyes were. Its colour reminded her of the soft sand at the beaches. It was aesthetically pleasing to stare at him.

He quietly bit his lower lip and sat down at the back of the van. Jordan and the bull-man sat in the front. Looked like the bull-man was driving. She was stuck between the asshole and the other lean man. It wasn't uncomfortable, but she couldn't get rid of the itch on her fists that wanted to punch both of them badly.

Sit tight please, she silently prayed.

As she fidgeted with her fists, she could feel the asshole shamelessly staring down at her out of the corner of her eyes. She didn't look at him. Or at least she tried not to. Nevertheless, whenever she sneaked quick glances towards his side, she was met with hostile light brown eyes focused on her.

He isn't just an asshole. His part-time job is being a creep too.

*

Seth was nervous. He didn't exactly know why, but he still was. It wasn't anxiety. It was something else, but he couldn't quite point out what.

He looked quietly at the woman beside him, trying to figure out why she was making him feel any different than he should feel. There were small skips his heart made every time she caught him looking at her. He was annoyed by it.

Why was Jordan even letting her in so easily? It wasn't the regular protocol. It took Ben and Karen six to seven months itself to earn their trust. They were basically family at this point. The only one he had left.

She wasn't.

Seth wasn't sure how Jordan was going to just allow her to waltz randomly amidst them. They didn't know anything about her.

(We didn't about Karen and Ben either)

But that was different, he argued with himself.

He respected the big man, yet he didn't trust the guy's instinct this time. She could be a rival gang's member. There was danger everywhere.

Set on his thoughts about the woman so much, he didn't notice that they were now before their place. It was a huge contemporary mansion which came in a dark coloured glass blocky modern shape. Any outsider would simply believe it to be a rich man's getaway house. Not the home of the biggest mafia in the area.

Seth had always thought the place was very elysian. It was just a quiet street in Blossom Valley. Just a little farther from the Almaden Valley. The place gave them the look of an idyllic lifestyle. So that they could enjoy the unpolluted air after they finished killing people. Or robbing them. Whichever came first. No one would bother them here. The area was clean and clear of any house. Except for that other one obviously. No one ever actually came here for a walk. Oh, ordering fast food and grocery shopping was a pain in the ass, but they always bought their stuff anyways.

He got off, and so did the queer woman.

"Uh Seth?" Jordan suddenly called. "Do you want to take the test to see if she's genuine or not?"

Announce it to the world, he groaned.

He turned around to come in contact with a pair of steely and determined grey eyes. He saw, that at the right angle, a tint of deep blue, mixed in the grey of her eyes was beautifully portrayed. They were firm now, but he had seen the flash of fear and uncertainty in them earlier when he had asked her how she knew about them.

"So if you want to work with us you must have had some experience with the likes of us?" he questioned carefully.

The woman nodded her head curtly.

"So, you should definitely know this. Who's the underboss among us? Name."

"Jordan Grey," she said without blinking.

"What is an assassin's special?"

"Er... An automatic .22-caliber handgun equipped with a silencer"

Pretty good.

"Whom would you kill gladly?"

She scoffed, and a fire lit up in her eyes as she answered.

"Anyone trying to cut my path"

There was an eerie silence between them as no one looked away. Seth found Ben dozing off in the van behind the woman.

That pile of bones-

"Woah!" Jordan guffawed. "Welcome to the gang!"

He put an arm around her shoulders happily and turned her towards the headquarters. Seth was still against it. She had answered all the questions just accurately. There was no mistake.

Too perfect.

"One last question!" Seth shouted in desperation. "Why should we give you a place among us?"

He saw the girl cock her head to the side in thought. The light from the sun fell on her face, and he saw a small light scar just above her eyebrow.

She is a warrior alright, he decided.

After a few seconds, she finally spoke.

"Because I make amazing coffee. The rest you'll find out soon enough"

There was a dark smirk playing on her lips. Bring it on, it said.

"I like her!" Jordan laughed, clearly impressed.

Seth's heart knotted in a painful twist as he realized something.

We never told anyone Jordan's last name.

It was too late anyways now. He could see Jordan turn her away from him again, giving the indication. He would just have to trust him now.

I'll have to watch out for that one, he thought as he put a blindfold around her eyes.

*****

Okay then! She's in, or is she?????

I AM SORRY FOR NOT UPLOADING ON WEDNESDAY BY THE WAY. Honestly I forgot. I was really happy that day and this completely skipped my mind. 

How did you like this chapter? What are your thoughts about Seth???????

Thank you for reading once again! I might or might not upload the last chapter of Reticent tomorrow hehe. Now I am tired and sleepy. Night!

Today's chapter was dedicated to the ever beautiful and talented @JariaMirza14  who inspired me to upload this story here!!!!