It wasn't like I hadn't taken my son ice skating before.
Well, I'd gone.
And watched.
I knew my kid would never let me live it down if I fell on my ass on the ice, so I went ahead and let him and his mom have the fun while I took the pictures like I'd been instructed.
Alessa had dragged her feet. I imagine for the same reasons I had. She didn't want to make a fool of herself on the ice. But in the end, Avi had been persuasive. Well, no, he'd been annoying as hell, and Alessa had given in just to make him shut up about it.
But I wanted to be there.
I wanted to see Avi be cocky about his skills, skating circles around Alessa. And I wanted to see Alessa struggle to keep herself upright. I wanted to see Avi try to help her learn. I wanted to see the two of them laughing and smiling together.
But instead I was walking into the dank back room of some fucking pawnshop with its smarmy owner who'd been looking down the shirt of one of his customers who was trying to hock her engagement ring when we'd walked in.
"This looks short," Brio said, taking the folded stack of money from the man.
"What can I say? Business hasn't been so great, man. You know I'm good for it."
"I know you fuck me over every month, expecting special treatment when everyone else gets their shit squared up without an issue," Brio said, walking around the wire rack lined walls, picking up random items he found, then putting them back.
"Look," the owner said, voice getting tight, likely knowing Brio was the kind of man who went from cordial to homicidal in a blink. "Just take something out there," he offered, waving toward the front of the shop.
There'd been some decent shit out there, depending on how much he owed.
"Nah, man, see, that ain't how it works. You know that. You're not stupid. So, the only rational explanation for you making that offer is that you think that I'm stupid," Brio said, picking up what looked like a hand-carved miniature totem pole.
"No no! No!" the owner insisted, hands going up. "No, I don't think you're stupid. I figured you had, you know, a good heart."
"See, now, that's where you're wrong," Brio said, flipping the figurine in his hand to hold the top, then slamming the wide circular base into the side of the shop owner's head.
The crack sent adrenaline shooting through my system.
"Ow! Fuck. I'll get the money!" he insisted, grabbing the side of his head. "No!" he yelped as Brio faked him out with another swing.
"Now, man," Brio said, voice as calm as if they were having a casual conversation. "I need that money now."
"I need another day, two tops," the owner said, rubbing his head.
"Naw, man, that ain't good enough," Brio said. This time, when he swung, he made contact with the man's jaw.
"Okay, okay!" the owner cried after he recovered. "I'll get the money."
"When?" Brio asked, flipping the totem pole again, inspecting the faces carved into it.
"Now! I'll get it now!" the owner said, voice desperate.
"Really?" Brio asked, pressing the totem to his chest. "I wasn't expecting such prompt payment," he said, sounding shocked even though he'd been the one to beat the agreement out of the man. "Go on and get it then. We'll wait," he said, tucking the totem pole into his back pocket without comment.
"Yeah, I'm going. I'm getting it," the owner said, wiping tears off his cheeks as he rushed past me into the front of the store.
We followed behind, watching as he went into his cash drawer to get the rest of the money.
"Hey, good man," Brio said, tucking the money away. "Enjoy the week of ramen," he added. "Hot sauce really makes it tolerable," he added, giving me a nod toward the door.
We were just making our way out of the door when my phone started to ring.
Alessa.
Probably keeping me updated on their comings and goings.
"Take it," Brio said, shrugging when I hesitated.
"What's up, Ale—"
"Two men. Six-two, five-nine. Jeans. Black puff jackets. Facial hair—tall one, goatee, short one, chin strap. Fuck. I..."
"Alessa?" I called, hearing an edge of panic in my voice. I didn't like her words, or the tight tone she was using to say them. "What happened? Alessa!" I called when all I heard was a couple of sharp hisses. "Alessa, answer me," I demanded, yelling, and I didn't care who looked sideways at me.
"Dad?" Avi's voice said, sounding choked.
"Avi, thank God. What's going on? What happened? Are you okay?"
"Dad? Someone needs to help Less," he cried.
"What happened to Less? Is she okay?"
"She's bleeding," Avi said, sniffling hard.
"Where is she bleeding?" I asked, feeling Brio clap me on the shoulder, then wave toward his car.