Two Weeks

Friday morning, Reyna and Rica’s apartment. As Rica got dressed for school Reyna let her know that she would be in Texas for two weeks.

Rica: Two weeks? Why?

Reyna: Part of my deal with Tara. Honey, that incident at the lumberyard with Caleb and you, it shifted the order of things. It made the people who usually hire us very nervous with all these upstart crews wanting to come in and make names for themselves. Tara is leading from the front to put things back in order. And even though I don’t owe that bitch a damn thing, it’s best I handle this Texas job for her.

Rica: Why so long?

Reyna: All I know is the mark is in Texas, most likely Dallas. With just that info I have to start from scratch. I need to track him, find him and deal with him.

Rica looked sad and Reyna assured her.

Reyna: You know me pumpkin, I’ll get him before then. I’ll be back before you know it. In the meantime you have a job with Tara and Kitty!

Rica: I know.

Reyna: Then stop giving me a sad face. You’re a professional, and I need you to act like one.

Rica: Yes, ma'am!

Reyna: Baby, don’t disappoint me on your mission. You make it so I can brag about you and rub it in Tara and Kitty’s face that you're my precious baby! You know how much I love that!

Rica: Heh heh, I know! Don’t worry, I’ll show em how it’s done!

Reyna: I expect nothing less from you young lady!

Rica: Mmm :(

Reyna wanted to be strict with Rica, but couldn’t. Rica is her little baby, and they’ve been together since Rica was six years old. In that time, Rica’s life has been combat training, tracking, and killing, all for her Reyna. None of this was lost on her.

No more strict talk, Rica had to go to school and Reyna had to catch a private jet. Reyna hugged Rica and rubbed her hair.

Reyna: Baby there’s food in the fridge and you need to cook. I don’t want you eating out everyday, that stuff’s bad for you.

Rica: It’s ok, Caleb cooks for me, heh!

Reyna: What? Rica, are you trying to stress me before I leave? Hmm? I know why?

Rica: Heh heh, it’s not because I don’t love you!

Reyna: Just admit that you don’t and break my heart, because that's what you want!

Rica: Heh, heh! Mom, why you so jealous?!

Reyna hugs Rica tight.

Reyna: Because Mommy loves you so much! And remember, you’re a Gun Girl. And what’s the most important rule?

Rica knew the rules better than anyone and got real motivated when she cited Rule #4 of the Gun Girls:

Rica: Rule number 4, the most important rule: Gun Girls don’t lose, not to you, not for you, or to anyone. We-Don’t-Lose. Period!

Reyna pulled back from Rica with arrogant pride.

Reyna: That’s right baby, now you take your butt to school, you have to meet Tara and Kitty afterwards.

Rica: Yes, ma'am!

Rica had to leave or she would be late. Rica kissed Reyna goodbye then walked past Reyna’s suitcase and a tall black rifle bag in the hallway. Rica stopped and peeked in the rifle bag. Inside was Reyna’s rifle, Jezriel. Rica pet him and spoke to him.

Rica: Jezriel, make sure you fire true, and don’t jam! And take care of Mom!

Rica yelled a last goodbye to Reyna, and took off to school. Reyna had a mission and so did Rica.

Ballin!

2:30 pm, St. George’s Middle School, The Bronx. The last bell rang and Rica, Alexa and Tiara stepped out of the building into the crowd of students leaving school for the day. The girls made plans.

Tiara: Rica, you coming to Alexa’s house?

Alexa: Yeah, girl, come to my house, or are you gonna wait for stupid Caleb?!

Rica: Heh, heh! I can’t do either really, I have to go downtown and handle something for my mom.

Alexa: Ok, we’ll be there for a minute if you...Who the hell is blasting music like that?

Tiara: That Escalade!

The three students looked down the block and could hear and see a beautiful, brand new Black Cadillac Escalade with a bumping sound system rolling toward them in front of the school. Rica and every student exiting St. George’s watched the loud attention seeking truck roll toward the three latina girls.

Caleb and Norman appeared and walked up on Rica and the girls. When the truck reached ten feet in front of all of them, the passenger window opened and a super pretty Chinese girl stuck her head out, smiled and yelled, “Rica-chaaaaaan!”

Rica: Eh?! Kitty-ne-chan?

When Rica looked again she saw the driver was Marshall Bling. Then the rear window lowered, Ian and Bad Tara in the back. Tara yelled, “Yo, Mongoose!”

Rica was surprised as hell to see them and also thought, "how noisy and troublesome," as the Cadillac came to a stop. Bling only slightly turned down the Hip Hop/R&B track blasting from the speakers as Kitty hopped out with all smiles.

Kitty: Rica-chan, come on, we gotta go shopping!

Rica: We do?

From the back seat Tara yelled.

Tara: I don’t want to go shopping!

Kitty: Yeah? Too bad! It’s not a want, it’s a need.

Tara: What need? Your need to dress me like a doll?

Kitty sought Rica’s approval.

Kitty: Do you hear her, she’s always like this when she has to wear a dress. You want to help me pick one out for her? We have to pick a white one, cause she’s the White Rabbit!

Rica: Uh..The White Rabbit?

Kitty: Nya! And shoes too!

Rica didn’t introduce any of her friends, who all stood gaping in awe at the beautiful Kitty. Caleb manned up and asked Rica.

Caleb: So, are these..friends of yours?

Everyone stared at Rica. The entire school exiting the building stared at Rica. She was on the hot seat.

Rica: Um..she~

Kitty: Friends nothing, were sisters!

Kitty grabbed Rica and hugged her and kissed her head. Mua!

Rica: Eeep!

Kitty: Rica, is he your boyfriend? He’s cute! Hi, I’m Kitty!

Caleb: Hello!

Tara: Kitty, stop hitting on little kids you chester-molesting cougar! Ha ha ha!

Tara, Bling and Ian all laughed at Kitty from inside the Cadillac. Kitty fought back!

Kitty: You shut the hell up! I want to meet Rica’s boyfriend, see if he’s a good guy and stuff!

Tara: So take him out for a drink! Waa ha ha ha! He is cute though!

Rica’s face turned apple red with embarrassment as her classmates witnessed the behavior of these strange girls who were obviously here for Rica.

Alexa: Rica, that girl said she’s your sister, and I met your mom and she looks really Asian. Are you mixed?

Rica: Huh? Yes, I’m Mexican and Puerto Rican.

Alexa: Oh because..what?

Rica realized she couldn’t explain who Tara and Kitty were and decided to make them leave, then she wouldn’t have to explain anything. Rica grabbed Kitty’s hand and pulled her into the front seat of the truck with her. There Rica took charge as she could see that the Outlaw Sisters were troublemaking hoodlums!

Rica: Bling-san, please turn the music down and drive away from here!

Bling: Why, what’s the rush, we chillin!

Rica: The longer you stay here the longer I have to explain who you are!

Ian: You sayin were embarassin you?

Rica: Yes!

The Cadillac laughed again! No one felt sorry for red faced Rica.

Rica: You guys are terrible!

Tara: Yeah we are! Bling, get us out of here. Let’s go to White Plains mall. We’ll take Rica shopping!

Rica: Eh?

Rica waved goodbye to her classmates and Tara and Kitty waved goodbye to Rica's classmates too. As the truck rolled along the jokes and the laughing continued and Rica finally lightened up and joined the fun in the Cadillac.

Rica could see that the Outlaw Sisters and their crew did not hide who they were, at least their personalities. This made sense to Rica as Tara was a boss, and the perception she gave off to people was important. The same with her crew. They were all loud and fun loving, and extremely violent.

The Mall and The Mission

Tara and her crew were not kidding about shopping for Rica. For the first two hours at the mall Rica endured the life of a princess. Tara, Kitty, Ian and Bling combined to spend three thousand dollars on just Rica alone!

Tara randomly bought for Rica anything Rica looked at in any store.

Kitty was the worst. Every dress and pair of shoes Kitty bought for herself she also bought for Rica. Even though some of the dresses were too revealing for a twelve year old, but they were pretty (and expensive).

Bling bought Rica five pairs of sneakers at foot locker, every color she wanted, and five pairs of skinny jeans and tops to match. All flavors and cuts.

Ian bought Rica a $500 dollar Mongoose bicycle only because Rica commented on the bike being pretty and, of course, having the name Mongoose.

Ian: Do you ride?

Rica: I do, but Mom and me get the rental bikes..

Ian: Rental bikes? Fuck outta here! Come on, you gettin this bike here~

Rica: Eh?

Rica now owns a $500 dollar Mongoose bicycle. Ian also bought Rica a wicked titanium boot knife and an old school Alpha industries black army coat with the liner in Rica’s size!

In fact, more than half the shopping bags in the Cadillac were for Rica, and lord were there a lot of bags. And Rica tried repeatedly to protest, “No, it’s ok, (Tara, Kitty, Ian, or Bling) you don’t have to buy this for me!” But none of the four listened to her, they were having too much fun ballin and blowing cash.

Rica did love every item everyone bought for her. But she felt guilty as she had not earned any of it.

After two hours Bling and Ian got bored with the girls and headed to the mall’s sports bar to drink beer and watch the Yankee game. The Outlaw Sisters, including Rica who was now an official Outlaw Sister, continued to shop at Nordstrom. Kitty was determined to find a sexy white dress for Tara tonight, as the mission involved going to a club.

Rica and Tara waited by the changing room as Kitty took off in search of the dress. This gave Rica a moment to speak to Tara.

Rica: Tara-senpai, umm..thank you for buying me all of this but..umm.

Tara: Heh, heh, I can see you keep worrying about all of this, but it’s ok. Let me tell you something, Kitty, Bling, Ian..they don’t always get a chance to show off and show that ..I don’t know..that deep down, they're good people. Even though what we do is wrong. But ..you know..they see you and it feels good to buy you stuff cause you keep smiling, even though you keep saying no. Ya know? Heh, heh.

Rica: (blush) I understand..and I appreciate it..but Senpai, you bought me more stuff than anyone..do you feel this way too?

Tara: Me? Not at all, I only bought you all that stuff to piss your bitchy Mother off, ha ha ha ha!

Rica smiled and felt warm, it was obvious Tara was lying, she was just as bad the other three. But Rica was having a lot of fun with her and her troublesome crew.

Tara: Mongoose, let’s talk about your mission~

Rica: Eh? Here?

Tara: Yo~

Rica looked to make sure no one was around before allowing Tara to continue.

Tara: Kitty’s crazy! She wants me to wear this damn dress so we can throw off this guy Gustavo who wants to kill me, what an asshole! That’s why we're surprising him at his club tonight, I want to have a conversation with him, look him in his eyes, see what he knows. Ya know?

Rica: ...Hunh?

Tara: That’s exactly what he’s gonna say when he sees me in my dress, that fucktard!

Rica: Umm..do you want me to kill this Gustavo guy?

Tara: Nah, he’s too easy, not worth your time, I’ll deal with him. But here’s what’s gonna happen. When we get to that club, Gustavo will be surprised as hell to see me. And he won’t be able to do anything about it once me and the boys walk in. But I know that piece-a-shit is scheming to move his slave business up to my areas. And I don’t take kindly to that type of business, and he knows it!

Rica: I see..so..

Tara: Here’s the deal, Gustavo won’t make a move while we’re in the club, but I’m gonna piss him off so much that he’ll call on someone, and that someone is a shooter. A shooter with your skill sets, and he's the one I want taken out.

Rica: I understand. When you get inside the club, this shooter will show up outside, and I guess wait for you. Is he a sniper or?

Tara: Long range for sure, he won’t pull no ghetto ass driveby. More importantly, I think that shooter will be in that club when I get there, so keep an eye on the rear entrance.

Rica: Got it, is it just one?

Tara: Actually its three guys that have it coming. The shooter and his fucked up child trafficking crew. But don’t worry about the other two guys, I don’t even think they’ll be there. But take out that shooter, he's Gustavo's main muscle. I'm just the bait to lure him out, the White Rabbit! Ya got me?

Rica: The White Rabbit? Oooh, I understand now. Don't worry Senpai! I'll take him out, he'll never touch you!

Tara: I know he won't, you Reyna’s daughter, so I know you villainous!

Rica: I'm a god damn Death Dealer!

Tara: Oh yeah? Then it’s gonna be a wild night!

Rica: For sure!

....