The man was too relaxed for someone who had just knocked on a stranger's door like they were old friends.
Elias blinked at them, the three men standing in the narrow hall outside his apartment. The biggest one had a neck like a tree trunk and tattoos that disappeared beneath the collar of his black shirt. The other two flanked him like mismatched accessories; one tall and thin with gold rings flashing on every finger, the other short and wiry. One thing was certain, they were bigger than him and they were not here for a good reason.
"Uh… yeah?" Elias said slowly. "I'm Elias. Do I… know you?"
The big one grinned in such a way it was Elias uncomfortable. "Nah," the man said. "But we know your mom."
That made Elias frown. "My mom?"
"Yeah." The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a creased photo. His fingers were thick, veins standing out like cords. He turned the photo around. Elias's chest went cold.
It was his mother. Messy curls, bright lipstick, but her smile was more of a sneer.
Elias felt his mouth go dry. "Where did you get that?"
The man tapped the edge of the photo with one calloused finger. "She borrowed money. 'Lotta money. Told us she had an investment plan. Then she disappeared."
Elias swallowed hard. "Well, I—I don't know where she is. We haven't really talked in—"
"Yeah," the ringed man cut in, grinning. "She said you might say that. Funny thing is, debts don't vanish just because people do. Someone's gotta pay, pretty boy."
Elias laughed before he could stop himself. "Okay, this is ridiculous. This is some kind of prank, right?"
None of them laughed.
The shorter man tilted his head, eyes glittering. "Do we look like we're joking?"
Elias did the only logical thing. He tried to shut the door. A boot jammed into the frame before it could close. The impact rattled his teeth.
The tall one smiled wider, showing a chipped canine. "Now, that's just rude."
Elias took a shaky step back. His hand tightened around the door handle. "You can't just—just barge in!"
"Sure we can," said the big one, and then they were inside.
They moved through his apartment like they'd done it a hundred times. Graves, that's what the others called the tattooed one, walked straight to the bed and sat down. The wiry one started inspecting his bookshelf, picking up things, putting them back wrong. The ringed one leaned against the wardrobe, all smiles. Elias remained frozen by the door.
"Nice place," the ringed one said. "Bit small. Guess café work doesn't pay much, huh?"
"I—I don't know what you want, but I don't have any money," Elias said quickly. "And my mom—she's not here, she's—"
"Gone," Graves interrupted, lighting a cigarette. The smoke curled lazily toward the ceiling. "Yeah, we got that part. Which means you're next in line."
Elias blinked. "What does that even mean?"
"It means," the wiry one said with a grin that was all teeth, "you're family. And family takes care of each other's messes."
"That's not how debts work!"
The ringed one shrugged. "Depends on the family."
Elias pressed his back against the wall, heart pounding. His voice came out hoarse. "Listen, okay? Whatever she told you, it's probably bullshit. I didn't even know she was borrowing."
Graves leaned back, eyes narrowing through a haze of smoke. "Not our business, kid. You've got to pay up."
Elias bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't reply.
"Thought so," Graves murmured. Then he flicked ash onto Elias's rug.
Elias stared at it numbly. "You're burning my carpet."
"Add it to your tab."
Then the wiry one, Dax, smiled. "We're not monsters, kid. You can work it off."
Elias froze. "…Work it off?"
"Yeah," Dax said cheerfully. "You got a decent face. Soft hands. Good skin. Someone like you could make a lot of money if you just stopped pretending to be so damn innocent."
Elias's stomach twisted. "Excuse me?"
Graves chuckled, low and amused. "Don't scare him off yet. Maybe he's got other talents."
Timo, the ringed one, whistled. "You any good with your hands, Elias? Or maybe your mouth?"
Elias's brain short-circuited. "What the fuck—" Elias backed away until he hit the wall, breath coming fast. "Get out. Get the fuck out of my house."
Graves looked up at him with that same calm, unreadable stare. "We will," he said, rising slowly. "But not before you give us something."
"I don't have anything!" Elias shouted.
Graves moved before he could finish the sentence. One moment he was across the room; the next, he was right there, one massive hand closing around Elias's wrist.
Elias gasped. His pulse fluttered against the man's grip. "Let go of me—"
Graves tightened his hold. "That's not how this works, pretty boy. You think your mom's the only one who runs? Nah. People like her always leave someone behind. That's you."
He yanked Elias closer until their faces were inches apart. Elias could smell the smoke on his breath, see the scar that cut through his eyebrow.
"Let. Me. Go."
"Or what?"
Steel glinted from the floor, grabbing his attention. He shoved Graves as hard as he could. The man barely stumbled, but it was enough for Elias to twist free.
"Hey!"
He bent, keeping an eye on the men. Elias's fingers scrabbled for the metal. His hand closed around a fork.
"Back off!" he yelled, brandishing it like a weapon.
The three men stared at him. Then Dax snorted.
"Cute."
Elias threw it. It hit the wire one and fell to the floor.
"Okay," Elias breathed.
Graves sighed like he was tired. "Grab him."
Dax lunged first. Elias ducked, nearly slipping on the tiled floor. Hands grabbed at his shirt; he twisted, kicked, hit someone and bolted for the door.
"Get him!"
He reached the door, and then something slammed into his side. He hit the wall hard enough to see stars.
"Fucking hell," he gasped.
Graves loomed over him, chest heaving, face shadowed. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"I'm not going anywhere with you!"
Graves grinned, teeth flashing. "Oh, you are."
He grabbed Elias by the arm and yanked him upright. Elias kicked, thrashed, but the man was too strong. They dragged him down the hall like a sack of flour, ignoring his protests.
"Let me go! Help! Somebody,.help me!"
A door opened down the corridor. An elderly woman peeked out. Her eyes met his and then she closed the door again.
The men began to drag him down the hallway. "Boss'll want to see him," Dax said, adjusting his grip. "He's cute enough. Might get us a bonus."
Elias jerked free enough to elbow him in the ribs. Dax cursed.
Elias ran.
He bolted down the stairs, taking them two at a time, nearly slipping on the second landing. His breath tore out of his lungs.
He heard Graves shouting behind him. "Fuck, don't let him get away!"