Drug Lord

× Chapter 6 ×

I looked at my watch, staring at it as the dial turned one notch over and hit seven. Chang and I were at his place he was pacing around his room. He told me that the guy in my car wasn't just anybody, he was branched off in a rival gang. One of the bigger ones. They weren't too happy about what happened yesterday.

"I never seen this dude in person and I been around for a long time." I could tell he was nervous the moment I walked in. His smile completely gone and he couldn't sit still longer than a minute. I've been watching him move around incessantly since I got here.

"Who is he?" I looked at the coffee table, pretending to be interested in his magazines.

"Zayn.. He's a lieutenant."

We made eye contact. I didn't know what that meant, but judging soley by his facial expression I should be scared shitless.

I opened my mouth to say something, but had gotten cutoff by a knock at the door.

Chang slicked his hair back and made his way over.

I watched him silently take a deep breath then open it. There stood a man, older with slick gray hair wearing reflective glasses and a suit with two bulkier guys behind him. They walked in unison.

"Hello gentlemen." The older man pulled off his glasses, tucking them into his coat pocket. Chang shook his hand and the man turned to me. I was glued to the couch, I knew he was expecting me to get up and greet him and shake hands.

"You must be the one everyone's talking about." He was aggravated, it was evident in his tone of voice.

He gave a devious smile, one that wasn't friendly in the slightest. His smile curled in a way that made me sick in the stomach.

"Ya I suppose so."

His smile was gone in a second. He began pulling his jacket off before one of his men did it for him. "Well you're a cocky bastard if I ever met one. I hope you keep the same attitude when you get shot on the streets."

He grabbed a seat and dragged it across the wood floors causing a loud scrapping sound. He slammed it in front of me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Chang wince; I remained unphased. I had to keep a brave face, I couldn't look weak. They'd break me otherwise.

"Do you know what you've done exactly? Or are you another oblivious little piece of shit who needs me to spell it out." I didn't reply.

He observed me for awhile. Looking for any sign of response. He eventually gave up and rolled his eyes. "Someone please get me a drink." He breathily laughed. Chang moved to his kitchen.

He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He blew the smoke in my face. Chang came back with the liquor. "Who are you? Whats your name?"

I looked at Chang who widened his eyes, a clear sign for me to respond. "Arcane."

"That's your real name?"

"No sir."

He looked back at twiddle dee and twiddle dum and gestured at me, "This fucking kid." He said while chuckling again, taking swigs from his drink.

"Listen hardball, you can sit here and bullshit all you want, but trust me you do not want to waste my time."

I blinked.

"Search him." His men rushed me, but I didn't protest. They took my shoes my jacket and my wallet.

"Now you know what I have to ask you right?" He looked me dead in the eyes.

 I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. He nodded his head at me and his men picked me up and threw me at the kitchen table where they held me face down, the air was knocked right out of my lungs, my arms stretched out in front of me. I felt panic reach every tip of my body as I ineffectively tried to fight them off of me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him pick up my boot and walk over. He grabbed my wrist and brought down the boot hard and fast, slamming it onto my arm. I screamed, I could have sworn I heard my arm crack.

"Are you a fucking cop?!" He yelled.

"No!" I yelled back. Tears were welling up in my eyes, my arm was in excruciating pain.

He hit me again, the heel colliding with my bone. That was definetly a crack.

I cried out in pain, I started babbling, begging him to stop. "Are you going to attack people without my permission?"

"No!" I sobbed.

"Alright then." He dropped my shoe in an instant. He breathed out as if he exerted himself then slicked his messed up hair back and pulled out his wallet to throw some money at me. "This should cover.. that."

I was gasping for air and cradling my arm. I thought to myself 'how am I going to explain this to pop?' I looked up at him as if he were crazy, he shrugged and started to smoke what was left of his cigarrette.

"You pissed off our neighbor pretty bad. Now I have to take care of the situation. And I don't do this for just anybody."

I kept looking at him questioningly, my face hot with pain and anger.

"I could just leave you here and wait for you to show up in the morgue papers. But Chang and Ren put in a good word for you. So here's what's going to happen: I talk to a couple of friends, cash in a few favors and you keep your head out of your ass. Got it?" It wasn't a question, rather a statement. 

I nodded. "Good. Now go take care of yourself. I'll be checking up on you. Make sure your debt doesn't go unpaid."

And just like that he grabbed his things and left. My arm was left swollen to hell.

"He's gonna kill them for you." Chang stared at a wall, avoiding my eye contact.

"What?"

"He's gonna take 'em out. Kill or be killed. He'll frame someone else to take the heat off you."

Chang grabbed my shoes and helped me put them on. I was heaving from the intense throbbing of my arm.

"I didn't know- my instincts just kicked in." I told him.

"I know. You didn't have much of a choice." He helped me up carefully.

He called me a cab and gave me a few puffs off the joint he had rolled. He told me to tell the doctor I fell down a flight of stairs. Then he helped me to the cab and told them to take me to the hospital. On the way there I figured out an excuse for Pop, I'd say I slipped at work and landed wrong. I didn't show up to work today or called in, but that was the least of my worries at this point.

I didn't even get the man's name. I hope I never get the opportunity to be in same confines as him. I don't think I'd be able to control myself.

 Or maybe I'd thank him for leaving me with a broken arm instead of a bullet to the head. 

I was conflicted about it all, but one thing I knew for sure was I dug myself deep now. I owed them a favor for the rest of my life.