14
Iopened the main office doors and stepped inside just as sunset was filtering through the windows. I loved the way it made the VIP Lit Club main room look. For all the multiple colors spread throughout the room, and as eclectic as all the furniture was, there was a brief moment where it all came together with that same golden hue under the power of the setting sun. It never lasted long, but it was a sight to see when I was lucky enough to catch it.
The lights were all off, except for one filtering out of Luka’s office through the open door. They all came. They must have. I let the doors close behind me, heading straight for the office. I was relieved to have my thoughts confirmed. All three of the men looked up when I walked in.
Jaeson sat in one of the plush chairs in front of Luka’s desk, legs crossed at the ankles, arms open wide on the armrests. He was in his characteristic button-down, wearing a light gray vest over it, with his sleeves rolled up to showcase his strong arms. His tie was loosened and his shirt was unbuttoned to expose his throat and top of his chest. Aside from that he wore a simple pair of jeans with a strong, thick belt, but I was sure those jeans must have cost three times as much as I’d ever spent on a pair.
Riot was hunched over in his seat, leaning over with his forearms on his knees, fists clenched, though they loosened the moment he saw me enter. He looked like he was ready for a fight, in his leather jacket as always, ready to destroy anyone who even looked at me sideways.
Luka was, surprisingly, not behind his desk. He sat in a chair next to the others. His posture was straight-backed, and it was a delight to see him in a black suit vest, with a blue pinstripe shirt behind it. The Windsor knot at his throat was, of course, perfectly tied. His coat was draped over his lap, neatly folded.
“Hey,” I said, trying to suppress a sappy smile as I looked between all three of them. I was just so glad to see them, even if I felt underdressed for the occasion in my sundress-and-tights combination.
“You said it was an emergency,” Jaeson said. “Did someone do something to you?”
“What happened, Aubrey?” Riot asked.
“We are all at your service,” Luka added. “Please tell us how we can help.”
I reached into my bookbag, pulling out printed copies of the texts with timestamps and numbers.
“I don’t know if this will help,” I said, “but I didn’t want to have them just in my phone, in case I somehow lost it or broke it.”
I handed them over. The boys looked through the papers. I could see the fury building in their faces.
“I’ll kill them,” Jaeson said. “I’m going to rip this person to shreds with my bare hands and not feel a single thing besides satisfaction.”
“How does one build themselves up by tearing another person down?” Luka stared at the words in disbelief. “This person is a monster. I’ll have none of it in my school.”
Riot just kept reading the words, over and over again.
“Riot,” I asked gently. “Are you okay?”
He looked up from the papers. His eyes burned with rage.
“This won’t happen again,” he said bluntly. “No one gets to talk to you like this.”
“I’ll call in some favors,” Jaeson said. “Maybe someone can trace the number down.”
“If they’re smart, they used a burner,” Riot countered. “It might not get us anything.”
“There has to be a way to find the culprit,” Luka said, barely holding back his anger with his clipped words. “I don’t know how yet, but I will figure it out.”
“We all will,” Riot said. “But we need to look at what resources we have, and we need to talk about this. We won’t get anything done on a Sunday evening.”
The other two nodded, but didn’t look happy about it.
“How about you?” Jaeson asked me, his glare softening into concern and affection. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said. It might have been a bit of a lie, but being around these three already made me feel better. Besides, I didn’t want them to worry even more than they already did. “I just knew I couldn’t deal with it alone anymore.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of this, Aubrey,” Luka said.
“All of us will,” Jaeson said.
“We promise,” Riot finished.
I looked between the three of them. They were all so different, special to me in such different ways. Hearing their words soothed a broken, jagged part inside of me.
