Chapter 4 Marry me, Rowan!

Nolan's POV

After Sia's arrest, I was restless, drinking lots of water as I felt the sun scorching me as punishment for setting her up. I hated why I did it, but in my defense, I had no choice. It is as if I am always going to be caught in Sienna's web. And as crazy and terrifying as a spider she is, I wish I had killed her. Even when the opportunity came, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Due to the guilt that haunted me, I went to a bar an hour's drive away from Chandler's Hotel, where Sia was arrested. I walked in, not caring about anything. I reached the bar table and took a seat.

"Rough day?" the bar lady asked.

"You could say that," I replied.

"So, what would you like to order?" she asked.

"Any strong liquor will do me fine," I replied.

"Okay, I'll mix two or three and be right back," the bar lady said while I scratched my unkempt hair, watching how the strippers provided entertainment and top gang lords conducted business deals. This took me back to high school when I joined the Ulo gang just to pay for my mother's hospital treatment until her bill got crazy, and I robbed the gang. That was the last day I saw the Ulo gang, especially Callu, who bred us until I betrayed him.

I was brought out of my thoughts when the bar lady returned, pouring me a drink.

"Wow, it is strong indeed. What is it?" I asked.

"Sorry, a magician never reveals her secrets," the bar lady replied.

I had another shot and felt how strong the liquor was. "Wow, this is the real deal."

"Well, that costs you $12.80," the bar lady said.

"How about I make it 10 grand if you tell me your name?" I replied.

"How about I show you my ring?" The bar lady showed her middle finger with a ring on it. "Oh! Wait, I'm engaged."

"Ease up, cowboy. I just thought we could both blow off some steam. I'll walk away," I replied.

"How about you pay up and go to hell?" the bar lady said, passing a little paper to me containing a reserved room for us to meet. But it was taken from me by a ghost I never expected to see. It turned out that I had also killed someone when I was a teenager, and that person was Callu, the ghost who is alive and well.

"Wow, what do we have here?" Callu read through the note and placed his hands on his lips. "Oh my, the little Crane is no longer a virgin," Callu laughed, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Little Crane" was my gang name, and I couldn't believe my nightmare was not over.

"How in damn sake are you alive?" I asked him, pretending to be surprised to see him alive.

"You meant to say the five bullets you shot into my chest after stealing 50 grand from me," Callu whispered. Looking at the bar lady, we both chuckled, pretending.

"Callu, I can explain. Please, I didn't have a choice back then," I replied, holding Callu's left fist that kept punching me silently.

"You mean walking into my bar and wanting to screw with the bar girl? Man, you got a lot of nerve," Callu said.

"Callu, come on, it was a very long time ago. I mean, you are alive and well. How about I order a drink for you for old times' sake? What is your favorite drink?" I replied.

Callu stood up, leaned towards me, and whispered, "Is this a joke to you?" He pulled a pen knife and stroked it against my throat, using his jacket to cover what he was doing. "You call being in a coma for eight years a joke, and being crippled for six years before finally being able to walk again-even to the point of using a prosthetic arm? I should be burying your body in the ocean where no one can ever find you."

"Callu, I know you are pissed. I just want to say that if I were in your shoes, I would be pissed as well and maybe even shoot the person at first sight, damning the consequences. But man, you are better than this. Trust me, man, hell has caught up to me. I'm living a screwed life, just on the bridge of collapse at any moment. If you kill me, you'll be doing me a huge favor, helping me forget my damned life," I replied.

Upon hearing this, Callu removed his pen knife and kept it in his pocket.

"Man, you are screwed. I'm so glad you are in hell. As much as I want to know what shit you got yourself into, I don't want to know. But I do know how we can both be even with no more emotional baggage."

"Really?" I exclaimed.

"Yep," Callu replied.

"Wait, is this a trick or some kind of kill-you-later stuff?" I asked.

"Nah, just a simple favor asked from an old friend and nothing more. Or is that too much to ask?" Callu replied.

In fear, I said, "Not at all. So, what kind of favor are you calling in?"

"I want you to introduce me to La Fea," Callu replied.

"Who the hell is that?" I asked.

"Oh, idiot. I mean introduce me to the King Woman," Callu replied.

"What in the world are you asking? How the hell would I have a connection to the Queen of Arizona? I don't even have the mayor's number, not to speak of my boss's private line," I said.

"Do you love being stupid, or do you just love playing around with my words?" Callu asked.

"Dude, believe me, I can grant you any other favor, but I have no connection to royalty," I said.

Callu received a text on his phone saying, "Found you."

"Damn it," Callu screamed, hitting the table.

"What?"

"I gotta go. Just set a meet with me and La Fea, because if you don't, you're dead meat," Callu said to me, then faced the bar lady. "Angel, be a dear and place his drink on the house."

"Thanks," I said.

"Don't thank me, since you're still breathing," Callu replied.

"Angel, darling, I gotta jet. Be a man of the house," Callu said, giving her a kiss on the lips before exiting.

"Oh, damn. As if Sienna's hell wasn't enough, I was also having sex with my ex-boss's fiancée. A call to becoming dead meat."