Two years. It had been two years since I last saw mi Abuelita and it's a damn shame. There weren't too many more people I loved in this world more than Abuelita. All for good reasons, too. This was the same woman who heard about Victoria and hopped the next flight from Spain to be a character witness for Daddy. She may be the reason why we got to stay together. At the same time, she's also hopped a flight for less, too. One time, I got the flu really bad and she came all the way from Spain to help take care of me. I love her. I love her so much.

"I missed you, Abuelita," I fell into her arms, wanting to be nowhere else.

"I missed you, too, mi amor," Abuelita hugged me tight. She always did give the best ones, "Como estas? What have I missed?"

"I moved to Japan for school," I began, glancing over her shoulder at my favorite thing about Japan, "Actually, Abuelita, there's someone I want you to meet."

"Oh?" she cocked her head, a few dark curls falling into her face, "And who's that?"

"He's standing behind you," I pointed out, "Ritsu, this is Abuelita. Abuelita, this is Ritsu. I brought a little something, something back with me from Tokyo."

"Oh," Abuelita turned around and got a good look at my boyfriend. He's so cute when he's awkward, "Dios mio. Reila…Está enojado?"

"No," I giggled. Oh, Ritsu. How your chronic case of RBF betrays you, "Está bien, Abuelita. Esa es solo la cara de Ritsu."

"Vale, entiendo," she nodded, "Reila…Es tu corazon?"

"Si," I melted inside, wrapping my arms around Ritsu's waist, "Es mi corazon."

"What?" Aww…Mi pobre bebe…He's so lost.

"Es mi amor," I kissed his cheek, "Que bonito, Ritsu. Que bonito."

"Hey, Rei," Daddy pulled me off to the side away from Ritsu, "Abuelita is going to take a bit of a siesta before we do dinner. Until then, how would you like to come with me?"

"Is everything ok?" I hoped.

"You, too, Ritsu," Daddy grabbed his jacket and gave Abuelita a kiss on her cheek, "Duerme bien, Mama."

"Gracias, mijo," Abuelita smiled, "No trabaje los ninos demasiado, Francisco."

"No te preocupes, Mama," Daddy promised, "No te haré."

Abuelita went off to clock out for a while and Daddy brought Ritsu and me down to the garage. Although, this elevator ride didn't bring out the same feelings in us like they usually did. I love Daddy with all my heart, but he can be a real mood killer when it came to Ritsu and me. But I couldn't help but worry. Just a little bit, "Daddy?"

"Yeah, princess?"

"What's going on?" I wondered.

"Nothing too serious," Daddy assured, getting the car door for us, "How would you feel about going to one of your most favorite places in all of New York?"

"I've already been to two of them," I pointed out, "Where would we go?"

"Your territory," he grinned a bit, "How would you feel about taking a trip to the narrows?"

"We're going to the narrows?" I squeaked, about to come out of my skin.

"That's right, Rei," Daddy threw an arm around me.

"What's so special about the narrows?" Ritsu asked.

"It's cute and cozy," I explained, "Couple good restaurants. A nice bar with some of the best live music in the city. A bakery with the greatest chocolate croissants I've ever had. And to top it all off, it's my territory. I take care of the narrows. We have a few warehouses down there. And in our line of work, we get to act as judge, jury, and executioner. If someone did us dirty, they're brought to the narrows for their punishment."

"And we got a guy there already," Daddy filled me in, "Think you can handle it…Your Majesty?"

"Absolutely." It's been a while since I got to go all out on a piece of shit. If they earned themselves a spot at the narrows, then they likely don't deserve my mercy, "What'd this guy do?"

"He was a straggler for Victoria," he told me, "I figured since you didn't get to beat the shit out of any of her guys in Japan, maybe you could take care of them on home turf. Sound like a plan, baby girl?"

"Damn right, it does!" I couldn't wait. I could hardly sit still on the way there. Not only did I get to come home to the narrows, but I'd even get to play around a little. First, I get to see Mama. Then, Abuelita shows up. And now, the narrows. My god. If I didn't know any better, I'd think it's fucking Christmas. Well…It's not quite yet, but that's here nor there.

"Does this mean," Ritsu figured, "I get to see you work up close and personal?"

"Hopefully," I took his hand, "You never get to see me work up close and personal. I love you, Ritsu, but you don't deserve being on the business end of my bat. It will not end up pretty for you."

"I've heard the stories," he remembered, "I know what you've been doing over here."

"What do you mean?" I played innocent, "I have done nothing wrong. Simple retaliation. All of them just make assumptions about me."

"By the way, Reila," Daddy grabbed my attention, "I got a little surprise for you."

"More than just Abuelita?" I wondered as we pulled up to one of our warehouses.

"It's in the trunk."

I got out of the car and unlocked the trunk. Sure enough, with a big ass bow on it, a beautiful wooden bat laid carefully in a soft box. She was a grayish gold bat and shined like a new penny. And to top it all off, it had the Queen of Diamonds carved in the handle, "Daddy…You didn't have to get me a new bat…"

"You needed a new one anyway," Daddy brushed me off, "That's Burmese blackwood, baby. One of the hardest woods in the world."

"It's incredible," I gave it a couple practice swings. It was nice and lightweight, but I'm sure it could knock a motherfucker out. Without another thought, I threw my arms around Daddy's neck, "I love it. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he kissed the top of my head, "Now, go on, princess. Go make me proud."

"My pleasure," I had the best sadistic feeling in my heart right now.

"Ritsu," Daddy ordered, "Go with her. Watch her back."

"When don't I?" Ritsu gladly followed me into the warehouse. It feels like an eternity since I was last in the narrows. And now, I could get some aggressions out. Not only the pain in the ass things the host club has done since I've been living in Japan, but Victoria, too. Someone's going to bleed today. And it sure as hell isn't going to be me.

When we got down the hall and to the entrance of the main room in the warehouse, I stopped Ritsu and took a quick look around. Just to make sure this guy didn't have anyone coming to his rescue. Then again, if they were working for Victoria, I don't doubt they weren't all expendable. By the looks of it, we're clear.

"Hey, Ritsu," I kept my voice down, "You ready to see why they call me the Queen of Diamonds?"

"Definitely," Ritsu nodded, "So, what are we going to do?"

"You're going to hold my bat for me," I settled him, "I'm sure you wouldn't mind kicking ass here, too, but this isn't your fight. You're just covering me in case shit goes down. But all the stories you've heard about me are true. Every single one of them. And if you don't mind, before I sink my teeth into this guy, I think I'm going to play with my food."

"What do you mean?" he gave me a look, taking my bat.

"Stay here until I ask for you," I ordered, a glint in my eye, "Watch and learn, baby. This is why we're the ones on top."

"Go get him, tiger." I got a quick kiss from Ritsu and walked right into the main room, leaving Ritsu to freak a little, "Rei, what are you doing?"

"Just…Trust me," I continued on.

"Hey…" the guy thrashed around a little, "Hey! Who's there?"

"It's ok!" I settled him, keeping a gentle tone with him as I pulled off his blindfold. Jesus Christ…And I thought I was the sadist. Someone was working out a kink or two with this guy. Between the blindfold and the knots in his rope, there's no way it wasn't a kinky thing, "It's alright. Are you ok?"

"Who are you?" he freaked some more.

"I'm Rei," I smiled sweetly, starting on his knots, "Are you ok?"

"Some mafia guys jumped me this morning," he explained, "I didn't do anything! I just did what I was told to, ok? That's not my fault!"

"And what were you told to do?" I wondered. As if I didn't already know.

"I just had to keep their boss busy," he sang like a fucking canary. It's no wonder why we got him. I'm sure wherever he came from, this would be a mercy killing compared to the shit he'd get anywhere else, "Stir up a little trouble amongst the families. Spread some rumors, fuck with a few of them. But that's it!"

"Why?" I finished up with the first knot. One more to go.

"Some old bitch told me to," he went on, "She said something about getting her granddaughter."

"Wait," I stopped, "Was she after Francisco's daughter?"

"Yeah!" he nodded, damn near giving himself whiplash, "That one!"

"Oh," I chimed, "I get it now!"

"Are you here to let me go?" he asked.

"I wouldn't say that," I shrugged, "It's no fun if there's no chase."

"What do you mean…?" the guy started to sweat.

"I like to play with my food once in a while," I told him, "And it has been a while since I've had a decent meal. Ritsu!"

"Yeah, Rei?" Ritsu perked up, "What is it?"

"Could you bring me the Burmese blackwood, please?" I asked nicely.

"Of course," he tossed me my bat.

"Thank you, baby," I smiled, turning my attention to the asshole that was about to meet the business end of my new toy, "I suggest running…"

SWING!

And he dropped to the floor almost instantly. Oh, I have been away from home too long. That felt good. Probably better than it should, but oh, well. The guy tried squirming away from me, but I wasn't going to let him do that. I'd bring great shame to the family name if I did something so silly, "Who are you, you crazy bitch?"

"The fuck did you just say to her?" Ritsu jumped on the defensive, ready to stomp this dick into the ground.

"No, no, no…" I calmed him down before anything could start, "Ritsu…Go sit this one out. You let me handle it."

"But…!"

"Ritsu…" I demanded, putting my hand on his cheek, "I got this. Pinky promise. It's nothing I've never heard before. And I'll have him eating his words in a sec. Possibly a couple teeth."

"He got up, Rei," Ritsu pointed out, our new friend on his feet again. Resilient little shit, aren't you?

"You know," I turned around, resting my bat on my shoulder, "You really should know better than to fuck with the Mendoza family. Weren't you ever taught better?"

"The Mendoza family's nothing but talk," the guy spat out at me, "They only got to where they are because of the old man Francisco took over for. The Mendoza family's built on nothing but his reputation."

"Oh, no, no, no, my dude," I chuckled a bit, "The Mendoza family got to where they are because they can fight for themselves."

"They're in the back pocket of the cops. That's where their power comes from."

"What did I just say?" I leaned over on my bat, "They can fight for themselves, too. Local 5-O's got nothing to do with it. Can I ask you something?"

"Why the fuck should I answer your questions?" This guy was growing a pair. Good for him. Too bad he's going to lose them in a second.

"Just curious," I held back a little smirk, "Have you ever heard of the Queen of Diamonds?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "She's a myth. Nothing but a ghost story that floats among the new recruits to scare them. It keeps them from fucking up too bad. Why?"

"I wouldn't say she's a myth," I assured him, "You know, you really should kneel before the queen when you meet her."

"I'm not getting on my knees for some bitch with an anger problem."

SWING!

I knocked the prick down to his knees, "Then, she'll fucking make you…"

"You…" he quivered, "You're…"

"Now," I picked his chin up with the end of my bat, "What did we learn?"

"Leave the Mendoza family alone?" This guy looked like he was about to piss himself. God, I missed being home!

"Specifically who?" I wondered.

"You?" I swear, a tear rolled out of his eye.

"Good boy," I gave him a little pat on the head, "Now, if you'll excuse me, that took longer than I wanted it to. I have dinner with mi Abuelita to get to. You're going to go back to your boss and tell him it's over. This was your mercy."

"Thank you…" he groveled at my feet. Ugh…I hated fucking whiners, "Thank you so much…"

"Hold on," I stopped him, giving him a good right hook to his jaw.

"What the fuck?!" he freaked, blood gushing from his mouth, "You chipped my tooth."

"I've done a hell of a lot worse on better," I looked my right hand over, "Aw, dammit…You chipped my nail, you dick…Oh, well. I needed to get them redone anyway. Now, get the fuck out of my sight before your tooth is the least of your worries."

As predicted, the piece of shit went limping out of the warehouse and I did a good, long stretch. That was tedious, but damn, it was fun. Ritsu caught me before I could trip over myself, "You ok, Rei?"

"Yeah," I nodded, still buzzing from the adrenaline rush, "That's how that's done."

"You were pretty brutal, baby," he threw me on his back. I love this boy.

"I know," I winced a bit, "Sorry you had to see that."

"No, no," Ritsu admitted, "To be honest…And I don't know what this says about me, but I'm a little turned on."

"Seriously?" I giggled.

"Absolutely," he cranked his neck back, getting a little kiss, "My girl handling business like it was nothing in her own territory…That shit was hot, Rei."

"That was an easy job," I nuzzled my face in his neck, "But now, I'm tired. I want some coffee. You think Daddy will tell the driver to stop at the café on the way home?"

"You sure as hell earned it," Ritsu pointed out, "You sure you don't want to take a quick nap before we go to dinner?"

"I want to sleep tonight," I told him, "I can power through with a little caffeine."

"Alright," he put me back down on the ground as we walked out of the warehouse. Daddy had been waiting by the car for us. Bless him, "Hey, Frankie…"

"Everything work out ok?" Daddy hoped.

"Yeah," I nodded, "We're good. I broke my nail, though. Pissed me off."

"I'm sorry, princess," he got the door for me, "We got dinner with Abuelita to get to. You ready to go?"

"Can we stop at a café first?" Ritsu asked, "She needs a flat white."

"Fine by me," Daddy allowed, giving Ritsu a little nod. I'm assuming that was his way of saying thank you.