Nikita entered the classroom first. In the poorly lit classroom, there were the three guys sitting around the teacher's desk like royalty. He felt his heart drop to his knees. His palms started sweating and his shirt seemed too tight around the neck. He tried to calm down and breathe but their intimidating silhouettes didn't help.

Tai walked in after him, slightly scared - slightly curious. Her eyes fell upon the three guys. They were truly a menacing sight, but it caused slight respect at the same time.

One had his facial features lit from his laptop's screen. He flicked open the zippo and lit up a cigarette. His thick brown hair was up in a messy bun and some loose strands were tucked behind his pierced ears. He had a muscular frame but not overwhelming and despite his serious gaze and bigger body, he didn't look nearly as frightening as the second guy.

The one in the middle had bleached white hair with his dark roots slightly showing. His furrowed brows and mean stare were followed by a small septum nose ring and sunglasses that covered his eyes even though it was dark outside. Very Bono of him, she thought. He had a sharp jawline, unlike the first guy. He looked the most frightening of all. Somehow she wondered, how she never noticed him in school before.

The last guy had black hair that fell a bit over his eyes. There was a smirk on his face almost sinister like and his head was leaned over his hands. Despite the low light, she caught a glimpse of the snake tattoo that was done up from somewhere under his sleeve to the top of his hand and finished in between his thumb and index finger. Like that dangerous tattoo wasn't striking enough, there were piercings on his left ear peeking from under the hair. The leather jacket he wore sealed the deal. It was kind of cool-looking if she forgot the fact he was someone very dangerous.

Looking down at her plain clothes she realized that maybe she should have worn something edgier to at least look more confident in front of these guys instead of her typical posh look. She snapped out of thought and realized no one was saying anything.

Aleksei was now officially brain dead. He could hear his heart line go beeeeeeep the moment she walked through the door. The smirk he had prepared for his clients was frozen on his face. This was not the meeting he had carefully planned out and imagined in his mind if he ever dared to go and talk to her.

No -this was a total catastrophe.

His whole body went into panic mode. Nothing could have prepared him for this. He glanced at Zakhar and Lev who were now looking at him. It seemed like they recognized his girl from the picture.

"Excuse me.." The frightened guy broke the silence. "I'm here for um..for the request."

Upon realizing they were all too stunned to say something, Zakhar decided to take the reins on this one dealing with this meeting first. "Tell me the story, why you came to us, what you want us to do, and we'll decide if we're going to take on this request."

Aleksei was having a hard time focusing. He only hoped she didn't have a good look at his face in the dark.

"My tablet was stolen a few days ago. I'm being blackmailed for what's on it. I need to get that tablet back and find out who is blackmailing me." The guy spoke a bit louder, gaining courage in himself.

"And what's the content you want to protect?" Zakhar asked in his demanded tone.

"I don't want to say." The guy glanced down.

"I have to know what the content is to decide if I want to take this job or not," Zakhar replied calmly.

There was a long silence in the room. Did the guy change his mind, Aleksei wondered.

Wait.

...

There was a guy next to his Tai?

His chest filled with anger.

"I'm gay." The boy spoke, squeezing his fists and looking at the ground.

Never mind. Aleksei deflated...

The guy tried to look confident. "I'll pay you extra if you have discretion fees. It's really important for me no one to find out what's on that tablet."

"There will be no extra fees for keeping a secret. Whatever a client says here, stays here." Zakhar answered calmly. "Please wait outside so we can vote if we'll take on this job or not."

Tai and the guy left the classroom, closing the door behind them.

"That guy with the tattoo." Tai was thinking about it. "He seemed sort of familiar."

"I doubt you've met him personally, but you've probably seen him in school. Don't tell anyone who they are though. Those were the rules for meeting them." Nikita answered, trying to get himself together after that meeting. Now they wait for his life sentence.

"This was an unexpected turn of events," Lev spoke, realizing his cigarette had completely burned out while he was holding it. He couldn't even take one hit after the initial shock.

"Aleksei what do you think.." Zakhar turned towards him only to see him still out of it. He was frozen on the spot.

He kicked his chair to nudge him. "Are you alive?"

"It's so cold." Aleksei rubbed his arms. "The last hope I had just died and it's suddenly so cold."

Lev scoffed. Someone was over-dramatic.

"I've never hated my life until now."

Zakhar was particularly worried now. He had known Aleksei for a long time. He was called the snake in the group for a reason. He wasn't particularly worried about hurting people's feelings, manipulating situations and poking people where it hurts. He's been a victim of Alexei's teasing multiple times and knew firsthand the sadist he was at heart. This behavior was a first.

He liked this girl so much to the point of being unable to react. Zakhar could only guess Aleksei was holding back because of his own insecurities. He knew little of his past, only bits and pieces Aleksei was willing to share, but he seemed to have come to terms with it and lived a normal life. But if he was unable to make a move forward because of his own fears then as his friend and as a leader Zakhar decided to deal with it.

"I vote to take on this job." Zakhar said.

"Me too." Lev was quick to agree. "I think it's cruel to reveal this sort of thing and blackmail someone for it. It should be punished."

"Agreed" Zakhar turned towards the last member.

Aleksei's head turned towards them in a robotic move. "Do you hear yourself? I can't meet her again."

Zakhar smiled. "Of course, you will. Even better if you help out her friend. Don't you think that will bring you points in her eyes?"

"I'm still voting no."

"We're taking this job. Two against one." Zakhar made his final decision, hammering the last nail in Aleksei's coffin.

"This is the best entertainment I've had all year," Lev said, pulling out another cigarette.

Zakhar walked to the door inviting them back in.

Aleksei leaned back into his chair covering his face, hiding, trying to look as natural as he could while doing so.

"We've decided to take on this request," Zakhar told them. "In the meantime, you'll have to give us everything you have from the blackmailer and tell us all you know. As well as any new information that might arise."

"Of course." Nikita was brimming with happiness. Maybe he was spared after all.

Tai was as excited next to him as well.

"Now there is a condition." Zakhar said getting the attention of both Lev and Aleksei who were not aware of this new decision.

"What?" Nikita asked.

"Because it's a specific matter considering blackmail.." Zakhar explained. "It's best if you don't have contact with us. You have to seem like you're considering the blackmailer's threat in case they're watching. Any contact will be done through her." He pointed at Tai.

Shit. Aleksei heard his lifeline for the second time tonight. This time the life support was unplugged by his own friend.

"I understand." Tai stepped forward. "I will do what I need to do."

"Perfect." Zakhar smirked. "Let's do business."

The really good parts start from the next chapter. I might be posting it tomorrow :D