A/N: Hi, friends. Look, I know for the last few weeks, these chapters have gotten kind of heavy. But I promise this is the last heavy one. And uh…You want to hear something neat? The original title for this chapter? It was in French. But I opted against it. Don't worry. I've shed my fair share of tears over these chapters, too. But I promise we'll be ok. Alright? Look at me. We'll be alright. I love you x.

Fuck jet lag. Fuck jet lag so hard. Transcontinental flights kicked my ass on any normal day. But this? This was way worse. No. I couldn't afford to think like that. When I get there, Daddy's going to be ok. He'll be out of the hospital and at the kitchen table with a copy of the Wall Street Journal like every other time I come home. Or better yet, I'll get off my flight and he'll be waiting at the gate for me with open arms. Yeah. That's exactly how this is going to go down.

However, I Couldn't get that lucky. Instead, I ran into Uncle César's arms with no shame. I knew why he was there and I knew where Daddy was. No one would be able to blame me. And Uncle César held me tight, "He'll be ok, Rei. You know he will."

"He has to be," I wept, "I can't handle him being gone, Uncle César. I just…I can't…"

"Shhh…" he ran his hand down my back, "I know."

"He can't…" My voice was so shot. And my shaking only got worse.

"I know, baby," Uncle César was always the best to have in a crisis. If anyone could convince me everything was going to be ok other than Daddy, it'd be him, "Hey, are you ok to go to the hospital or do you want to…?"

"Yeah," I shook it off, "Let's go. Right now."

"Are you sure?" he worried, "I understand if you don't."

"No," I insisted, "I need to see him."

"He might still be in surgery, kid," Uncle César and I started heading out to the parking lot, "You may not be able to see him right away."

"I don't fucking care," I snapped.

"Alright," he got the door for me. This ride to the hospital would take a fucking eternity. He's going to be ok, though. He has to be.

"Rei-Rei," Uncle Tony greeted us at the door. He pulled me into his chest, "I love when you're home, but I hate the circumstances."

"You and me both," I agreed, "Have you heard anything?"

"They got the bullet out," Uncle Tony reported, "The bleeding has stopped. The impact of the gunshot broke a couple of his ribs. Right now, we're just waiting for him to wake up."

"Can I see him?" I hoped.

"I don't know," Uncle Tony winced, "I think that's something you have to clear with his doctor."

"Swear to God," I rolled my eyes and made my way to reception.

"Hi," one of the nurses greeted me with a disgustingly sweet smile, "Can I help you?"

"Can you tell me which room Francisco Mendoza is in please?" I asked, doing my best to not take this shit out on her. She didn't deserve that.

"He is in…" she checked her computer, "Room 3343. Are you family?"

"I'm his daughter," my voice broke.

"Alright," she unlocked the door, "Come with me."

"Thank you." He's ok. He'll be fine. It's like Uncle Tony said. They got the bullet out. That's half the battle right there. And the bleeding stopped, so we'll call that one a win, too.

The nurse stuck her head in the door, "Hold on. He's still asleep."

"I don't care," I stood my ground, "I just got off a fourteen hour direct flight from Japan for this very reason."

She backed away. I could see it in her eyes. She knew what the Mendoza name meant in this town. She knew I could have her disappear without a trace with no problem. I walked into the room and sat next to him. Daddy was hooked to two different IVs and a monitor. That beeping…That beeping would be burned into my brain for at least the next forty years. I knew I'd be hearing it in my nightmares tonight. I slid my hand into his, holding onto it gently, but with everything I got. You have to be ok, Daddy…You have to be ok. I don't have it in me to take on the family. Not without you. Not in the state I'm in. It's bad enough I had to bury Mama. There is no fucking way I'm burying you now.

But then…Before I could have a total fucking breakdown, I felt a little squeeze in my fingers. And my heart stopped, "Daddy…?"

Daddy's eyes opened up. And a little smile graced his face, "Hi, princess."

"Daddy!" I squeaked, hugging him tight, doing my damnedest to not start bawling right then and there. More importantly, I could fucking breathe again.

"Ow…" he winced, "Rei…Not that I'm not happy to see you, but I'm still a little banged up."

"Sorry," I let him go, "What the fuck happened to you?"

"I got shot," Daddy chuckled a bit. Music to my fucking ears, "This is what happens when you try to smooth over a thirty year score in the Bronx. We were making headway, kid. And…Well…On a positive note, we're free to move around in the Bronx all we want now. But someone was still holding onto that petty ass grudge. And…Here I am. Got me right in the fucking ribs. Any higher and he would've got me in the heart."

"Thank God for his shitty aim," I joked darkly.

"Like a fucking Stormtrooper," he agreed, "What are you doing here, Rei? You should be in school."

"No," I shook my head, "I should be here. School can wait."

"I'll be alright," Daddy promised, "Go back to Tokyo. I'll make it. It'll take a lot more than one bullet to take me out."

"Daddy," I groaned, "How much higher would he have had to aim for it to hit your heart?"

"We're not going to talk about it…"

"Exactly." This man's lucky to be alive…It got me thinking how many times this has happened before. If at all. I knew Daddy had scars he never told me about, but still…

But then, a knock at the door was enough to get Daddy's attention. Along with the nurse in the doorway, "Frankie? I thought I heard you awake."

"Hi, Clara," Daddy's face lit up like a fucking Christmas tree.

"It's good to see you," she smiled sweetly, "I was just about to head home. You need anything before I go?"

"No," he shook his head, "I'm good. Thank you. I'll see you later."

"It better be under better circumstances next time."

I watched as Daddy watched her walk out the door, "She's sweet, Daddy."

"Yeah, she is," Daddy gushed, "She was on call when I came in. She's…Something special, Rei. Kind of a ball buster, but I like her."

"I can see that." He never was the subtle type. And now I know where I get it from, "At this rate, you might as well ask her for her number."

"Bold of you to assume I haven't," he smirked, showing off a piece of paper next to his bed, "Even nursing a bullet wound and high as a fucking kite on pain meds, kid, I still got it."

"We should have them check your head, too," I teased, "Might be a screw or two loose."

"Ha, ha," Daddy couldn't wipe the smile off his face if he wanted to, "You know…I might actually give her a shot."

"What do you mean?" I knew exactly what he meant. He just needed to hear himself say it.

"Do you know how long it's been since I've been on a date, Reila?" Daddy thought it over, "Probably…Fuck, it's been years."

"Nobody since Mama that I know," I told him.

"Dare I do it?" he wondered, "If I ask her out, do I have your blessing?"

"You have to ask me?" I gasped. I knew what he was getting at. And honestly, I was kind of flattered. It's sweet that Daddy asked me, but he should know better. I know he had his soulmate. And I knew he had that in Mama, but he also deserves to be happy. And a second chance. And by the looks of things, it might be with the pretty nurse. I'm not calling her my stepmom anytime soon, but at the same time, it's sweet that Daddy asked, "I'll think about it."

"Alright," Daddy didn't push me. God fucking bless him, "It's weird to see you by yourself, princess. What? I'm guessing Ritsu's back at the house?"

Oh…Daddy…I'll let you have that one. You didn't know. You just got shot. I can let that slide, "No. He's back in Japan."

"Really?" he looked at me strange, "I kind of thought you two were inseparable."

"Yeah…" my voice broke, "So did I. But now, that piece of shit can go die in a fucking hole."

"Whoa there," Daddy settled me, "That's awfully strong, Rei. What did I miss?"

"No," I stopped him, "I'm not going to put you through that, Daddy. I'll let you get some rest instead. You don't need to hear about my love life."

"Reila…"

"No," I put my foot down, "Daddy, I just got off a long ass flight. I'm so fucking jet lagged. I think I'm going to head home. Now that I know you're going to make it."

"Damn right, I am," Daddy pulled me into his shoulder, "Alright…We'll talk later, ok?"

"Ok…" I'm not going to cry. Not here. Not now. Daddy didn't need that.

"I love you, Reila," Daddy kissed the top of my head.

"I love you, too." Cry in the cab, Rei. Cry in the cab. It wouldn't be the first time you've cried in the back of a cab. Likely not the last.

When I got back to our building, I took that elevator to the top floor. Well…The beginning of the top floor. The first floor of our penthouse. I found Uncle Tony and Uncle César sitting in the living room, bullshitting back and forth like they always did. And over a metric shit ton of good Mexican food. At least it looked good. But I didn't have shit for an appetite. As soon as I walked in the door, though, they were both on their feet, staring a hole through me.

"He's awake," I told them, "But I'm going to go to bed."

"Ok, Rei," Uncle César let me go, "Good night, sweetheart."

"Good night…" I went straight to my room and buried myself in my blankets. Before I shut my eyes, I did one last check of my phone. Wow. To no surprise, I had four missed calls. And they were all from the same person. The same asshole that I just told my dad could go die in a hole. Dare I even listen to the voicemails? No. I had too much shit on my plate right now to deal with him, too. I just plugged in my charger and rolled over.

Bzz…

No, Reila. Don't do it.

Bzz…

Nope. Not happening.

Bzz…

I grabbed my phone off my nightstand and looked down at the screen. That one picture I didn't need to see. The picture Abuelita took of us when we were still in Spain. That pretty sunset over the water…He told me how much he loved me that night. And I loved him then, too. But now…That sunset was like a fucking forest fire. And I needed to be the one to put it out. I held the power button on my phone and threw it back on the nightstand. No. I'm not dealing with that.

I don't want to hear the empty apologies. I don't want to hear how much he wants me back. I don't want to hear his bullshit excuses. Right now, I just wanted him to leave me alone. I wanted to be left alone. Just for a little while. At least until Daddy comes home. Even after that, I don't know if I'll go back to Japan. Maybe I could transfer back here. Finish up high school, then take over the family. That's always been the plan anyway.

Until he had to come in and fuck everything up. He had to come in and make me fall in love. And then, he takes that love and throws it out the goddamn window. And to make matters worse, I was about to take down a major fucking syndicate because of that asshole. No. If that's the way he's going to be, then so be it. Let him turn into his asshole dad for all I care. I got better shit to worry about than him.