Blackmail was in general a bad thing. But blackmail in this school...That was disastrous.

The whole school was filled with rich kids, children of conglomerates and diplomats, princes and princesses, and other children of influential or famous people. When there was blackmail with the rich, the consequences were usually much bigger.

Nevertheless, who could want to harm Nikita? Tai just couldn't understand it. He was kind, sweet, and friendly. He was an example of a well-liked popular guy with the girls and boys. Who would possibly want to blackmail him? And for what?

"What's the blackmail?" Tai asked.

Nikita was fretting. "I don't know if I should say that here, maybe we should go somewhere private.." He glanced at the girls.

"It's okay. You can trust us." Hada said."We'll help."

Tai squeezed his hand in support. "We can go somewhere private but even if you tell them, they will understand whatever it is."

"Are you sure?" He asked nervously. "It's because it's about.." He gave her a glance only Tai could understand.

"Oh!" Tai understood that look immediately. "Well, you can tell them. They're all trustworthy when it comes to that. I've had that talk with them already. And they're not the type to gossip."She glanced at Hada with a bit of regret. "Plus some need to know."

Nikita took a breath of relief. He knew he could trust Tai with his life. They have been childhood friends and Tai has proven herself to be a reliable friend over and over.

"My tablet went missing a few days ago." He cleared his throat and continued explaining. "I thought I had just lost it and then someone was going to report it to the administrative office. But then I got a note with the threat and I knew it. Someone got their hands on my tablet and the contents."

"Was it locked?" Tai asked.

"Yes, password and everything. But based on the contents, old pictures..Ah." He paused nervously.

"Oh just tell us..." Hada said anxiously.

"They found out that I'm gay." Nikita blurted out and the moment of relief was followed by lots of anxiety.

Hada had the most shocked face. "And I took that personally.."

"What?" He glanced nervously at her.

She gave him a sad smile. "Ignore me. I need a reality check. You're fine."

Nikita didn't feel like it was fine at all, now that he had put the problem in words. He turned towards Tai. "You know how important this is. No one from my roommates knows. Not even my parents at home. I can't.."

"Okay okay. Calm down." Tai stopped him before he went into a panic attack."We will figure this out."

"I'm scared everyone will find out. Not everyone is open-minded here. My roommates are more conservative and.."

"Wait just wait for a second." Tai tried to calm him down.

Diana got involved. "What's the payment like? The hush money? How much are they asking for? Can you afford it?".

"We won't pay up." Tai turned towards her firmly. "It never ends well."

"It doesn't matter, Tai. I can't afford it even if I want to."Nikita said. " My parents are strict with my allowance. You know that they believe in the power of budgeting so they give me a monthly allowance. Not that it hasn't helped but damn it. I'd have to ask my parents for more money and of course, they will see the amount and ask why I need it."

Mei who was quiet for some time finally spoke. "Maybe you should think about telling everyone then. The truth. I know it's not fair and you're being forced like this but... It's better than waiting for the blackmailer to ruin your chances."

"I agree," Diana said.

"I don't." Hada finally joined in slamming her foot down. "Why should he do that? It should be his choice. I say we catch this bastard and make him sorry for doing this in the first place."

"Yes. I agree." Tai rose determent, next to Hada. She wasn't going to let someone ruin her friend's life like this. He should be able to come out when he wants to.

Nikita was someone she knew her whole life. He was there for her through every hardship. He made her laugh and was there to give her advice when she needed it. He was the only one who could keep up with her and have a fun conversation without turning it into something serious.

"There is something we can do." Hada looked around for any open windows and then gathered everyone closer. She whispered the next words. "The sinners."

"Nooo!" Diana was instantly against the idea.

"Absolutely not." Mei shook her head. "Are you insane?"

Tai's little heart started beating anxiously in her chest. She only knew of the stories, but the school was big enough for her to be lucky and never find out who they were and what they did. They were known as the dangerous rich kids in school and asking them for anything was a risk. Even if they made contact with them which was already hard enough since barely anyone knew who they were, the risks were enormous.

The sinners were the school's most dangerous problem solvers. They were like loan sharks. Only worse. Like the yakuza. Only worse. Like the Italian mafia in the streets of New York in the sixties.

Only-worse.

As far as she's heard.

"Just listen to me." Hada tried to get their attention again. "They do this for money. If you have enough money they will do any job. That's what they're good at. That's why their business is still ongoing. ' Your boyfriend cheats on you- you can hire them to beat him up. You get into trouble and don't want your parents to find out-they make it go away. You're at risk of getting expulsion-they fix it. They deal with everything and everyone, no matter which family you come from. The only problem is if they want to take on the job. They are known for being choosy, but I think this is something they will agree to do."

Tai liked this idea but there was one problem. "Isn't it dangerous though? What if they reveal his secret?"

"True. There is always that risk, but what if they can help? Don't you want to keep this secret and get revenge?" Hada asked both Tai and Nikita.

Nikita glanced at Tai. "I mean if I can get unscathed out of this it is worth the shot."

"I'm sure their price will be a lot more reasonable than the blackmail," Hada said.

Tai had heard enough. If this helped her friend then, it was worth it. "I will pitch in, in case you need more money." She took Nikita's hand. "If you want to do this, I will help you out."

Nikita squeezed her hand and looked up at Tai with a determined look on his face. "Okay. Let's do this."

"This is a terrible idea." Diana was shaking her head.

"I'm calling some people to find their contact." Hada took off somewhere with her phone.

"Tai.." Nikita said uncertainly.

"Mm?" She turned towards him.

"Will you come with me to meet them?"

Diana and Mei looked at Tai with worry. Would she really do something risky like this?

But Tai had a flame burning in her heart. For friendship, she was able to do anything even if others didn't believe she could do it.

"You can count on me." She said.

***

After securing a meeting through Hada's contact, later that night Tai and Nikita broke their curfew and snuck onto the main campus grounds. They were told which entry they needed to take to enter the school and meet them in the classroom of the sinners' choosing. The main campus was empty this time of night and even the slightest sound could be heard across the two school buildings. Everything was completely dark except the moon that shone some light over the windows of the school.

They entered through the dark school hallways shaking with anxiety. Tai was doing her best to breathe normally and stay calm and collected. Her hands were a bit cold due to nervousness, but she was keeping a straight face. It was fine. She was going to get away with this. It was her first time doing stuff like this. For sure, beginner's luck would serve her.

"I don't know if I can do this." Nikita whispered and suddenly stopped, the phone with the flashlight shaking in his hand.

Tai knew why he worried. Nikita was getting along with everyone and never caused trouble for those around him. He was a person who despised confrontation. Avoided it like the plague.

Tai preferred living stress-free, but she was more of a risk-taker than Nikita. An adventure thrilled her.

Tai knew going away from home, her family, and friends to join this boarding school was going to make her cry, but yet she did it. She knew making friends would be hard, but she still took the risk and tried to get along with everyone she met. Maybe it was something in her blood that made her prone to seek out mysteries, get interested in the unknown, and indulge in a bit of recklessness. She had courage when it mattered.

"What if this all blows up and everyone finds out?" He asked stopping mid-way.

"We will try to stop that from happening." Tai turned back and walked over to him. "But even if it does. You will get through it. I know your parents, your mom wouldn't even bat an eyelash, and your dad might only mourn the grandchildren he'd never get since you're an only child. But he'll accept it."

Nikita paused thinking about it and then panicked again."But my classmates.."

"Everyone likes you. They spent four years with you in this school. Learning that you're gay at the end of the school year won't make them hate you. The girls might be disappointed though since all of them fall for your face."

"I am too good-looking. It's caused me so much trouble." Nikita sighed.

Seeing how he relaxed Tai smiled and she grabbed Nikita's hand taking the flashlight from him. "We can do this."

She led the way down the hallways, with fearsome determination.

***

"We have work tonight. Get it together." Zakhar ordered Aleksei and Lev who had no interest in working whatsoever tonight.

They had secured a classroom of their choosing and the presentation room seemed like the perfect place for a bit of a dramatic mood.

Lev was hunched over his laptop watching funny dog videos, and drinking an energy drink while Aleksei was on his phone looking at a picture of his crush.

It was his favorite picture of her yet. Bit blurry but it was better than nothing at all. He didn't dare to add her on any social media so this was all he could find of her that was tagged. So he screenshotted that without a second of a doubt.

Tai looked particularly good that day.

"What are you doing?" Zakhar grabbed Aleksei's phone before he had time to react.

"Wait." He jumped up, but Zakhar was faster. He stared at the picture.

Aleksei turned on his brain, coming up with million excuses in his head.

1. That was his nemesis that he had sworn revenge upon...scratch that. She might get in trouble like that.

2. That was a girl he considered for his next science class partner.-..fuck no..there was no way they were going to buy that story.

3. He had started a new hobby of taking random strangers' pictures.

-Yes, that was a possible excuse.

Zakhar raised his brow and pointed the phone at Lev so he could see the picture as well...

"It's a hobby." Aleksei managed to utter.

"You stalker." Zakhar handed him the phone back.

"Like I said. It's a hobby. I like taking pictures of people." Aleksei explained.

"And stare at it for hours. I know what you probably do with that picture when you're alone." Zakhar smirked.

"You're blowing this out of proportion." Aleksei laughed and waved a hand over his face. "Why is it so hot in here? Can we get some air?" He pointed at the window. "Lev, go open that window."

"So excuses aside, why haven't you asked her out?" Lev got up to open the window as if that was going to help him.

"I'm curious too." Zakhar crossed his arms.

"We're the notorious sinners. We frighten people for fun. I can't just go and date whoever I want to."

"Excuses," Lev muttered.

"I mean it." Aleksei said louder.

"Is she someone bad who could rat us out?" Zakhar asked.

"Hell no." He was too quick to defend her.

"I can get Arya to check on her," Zakhar said.

Aleksei almost got a heart attack upon hearing that. "You keep Arya away from her."

Arya was Zakhar's girlfriend and Aleksei and her just couldn't get along. They were too similar in personalities to like each other.

He'd rather die than tell someone like Arya about his love life.

"You're not a shy person in general." Zakhar spoke."You're a smart individual that can get under anyone's skin. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get her if you just tried. How long have you liked her?"

"Just drop it." Aleksei thumped his fist over the table.

"Oh, so it's serious. Is it because of your past that you won't.."

"I said drop it!" Aleksei's rage was pent up and it came out uncontrolled. He glanced at Zakhar with instant regret. "I'm sorry Zakhar.."

Lev closed the window and went to turn on the backlights for a more dramatic feel. "Our clients are coming, we have no time to talk. Get ready."

Their new potential clients were here and now was not the time to focus on his love life. They had a job to do. They had to appear mean and scary and intimidating to the clients.

They sat down on their designated chairs with Zakhar in the middle and waited until the door opened.