Eleven Thirty pm- The Safe Apartment 
  
The three teens made it back to the safe apartment. Donna lay on the living room couch with her face buried in Rica’s stomach. Meanwhile Rica spoke on the phone to Donna’s mother, assuring her safety at this time of night. And from the smile on Rica’s face it appeared she was well liked by Donna’s family. 
  
“It’s all my fault Mrs. Park, I called Donna at the last minute. So yeah, don’t worry she’s spending the night with me. Ok, good night Mrs. Park.” Rica hung up and caressed Donna’s face, “Honey, tomorrow morning we’ll meet a lady doctor my mother trusts, and she’ll make sure you’re ok.” 
  
Donna raised a tearful face, “Rica, I’m sorry. I should have listened to-” 
  
“Ssssh!” Rica hugged her, “This is not your fault. Now come on, I want you to take a little rest.” The teen girls stood and walked in the back to Kayla’s room. Once inside Rica lay Donna down before returning with the bedroom door closed behind her. 
  
When Rica stepped back in the living room she eyed Ko with a scowl. “So I understand we need to talk?” 
  
“I’d say we do,” Ko said glancing at her as he stood. “Rica, I would be a hypocrite to ever call you a liar. However, it seems you and your bosses have set out to intentionally deceive me.” 
  
“Deceive you?” She looked at him like he was crazy, “I’m sorry hunting dog, I didn’t know Tara was in the business of telling everyone her plans.” 
  
“Alright.” Ko nodded, “In that case, when were you going to tell me about your brunch date with Jun-Seo and the deal you made with him?” 
  
“Excuse me?” Rica barked, shifting all cute to one leg. “First of all who I eat brunch with for the benefit of my boss is none of your business! And secondly I didn’t make any deal with that rapist, so if you have a beef with Tara’s decision you take it up with her.” 
  
Ko shook his head in disbelief. “So you’re gonna push this off on your boss when you know damn well Jun-Seo wants Kayla!” 
  
“I know that, and Kayla’s in no danger!” 
  
“Oh really? How do you know, Rica?” He glared at her, “Are you telling me right now that Tara won’t ever bargain Kayla to Jun-Seo, because that’s what he wants!” 
  
Rica balled her fist, “Tara wouldn’t do that!” 
  
“So that’s your argument?” He shook his head. “Dammit Rica, if Tara is even talking with Jun-Seo Kim that means a lot of money’s on the table. And you and I both know Tara isn’t the queen of New York for her charitable deeds!” 
  
Rica squinted, “What I know is that for a hunting dog you’re really unappreciative of what Tara’s done for you!” she snapped. 
  
“Yeah, under your guidance, I’m sure!” he fired back. “But I’m far from unappreciative, Rica. If I wasn’t  than you and me wouldn’t be having this conversation right now!” 
  
“What did you say?” Rica stared dead in face, “Are you threatening me?” 
  
But Ko had none of it, “Stop deflecting and answer me this, Rica. Did you really think, after what happened tonight, that I wouldn’t figure out that you killed Sam Yoon?” 
  
Rica squinted, but said nothing. Ko nodded and continued. “That’s what I thought. You don’t give a fuck who you double cross or deal with as long as it's part of your plan.” 
  
“What plan?” she barked. 
  
“Your obvious one. Execute Sam Yoon and have Tara put me in cha-” 
  
“Oh stop flattering yourself, Ko!” Rica shouted cutting him off, “Sam Yoon was a weak boss who allowed this war to escalate and he was always on Tara’s chopping block! Jun Seo just gave her an excuse to kill him. As for you, Ko, you were just the next logical choice to lead the Han’s under Tara’s wing!” she growled. 
  
“Right.” Ko nodded with a grin “You know, I think I’ve heard what I needed to hear. Let’s end this conversation,” he said. 
  
“I agree!” she pouted.  
  
“Good.” Ko reached in his pocket and removed his phone and Jeep keys. He then placed them on the living room table. “The truck is parked in front of the building, make sure you move it before it gets a ticket,” he said while putting his coat on. “And there’s no need for you to contact me, I’ll contact you.” 
  
“What are you talking about?” Rica squeaked eyeing the keys and the phone, “Where are you going without your phone?” 
  
“To do what you hired me to do!” he said stepping out the front door. 
  
“Eh?” Rica ran toward him, “Wait, Ko, no, no!” She grabbed his arm forcing him to stop, “Ko!” 
  
“What?” Their eyes met. 
  
“Wait!” She held his arm. “If you run out of here all pissed off and go after Jun-Seo Kim than you’ll be going against Tara and Kitty and if you go against the Outlaw Sisters, they’ll...” 
  
Ko lifted her chin, “They’ll what?” 
  
She shook her head, "They’ll kill you!”

“Hmm,” he muttered while staring in her glass brown eyes. “So my death matters to you, Rica?” 
  
“Eh?” She backed off with a blank expression, followed by a scowl, “No, I won’t care or miss you, you idiot!” she yelped and girly punched him in his chest. “Now stop being a drama queen and come back in the apartment!” 
  
Ko smirked at her efforts but he didn’t budge. “Rica?” 
  
“Yes?”   
  
“Someone told me that you were a villainous girl.” 
  
“What?” Her eyes widened, “Who-” 
  
“-But!” Ko shushed her with his finger, “That person also told me to have faith in you. So I will. But understand I’m going to handle this my way,” said Ko. And as cool as a summer breeze, he caressed Rica’s face before stepping out into the hallway. Rica, seemingly unsure of what was happening, gave chase. 
  
“Ko? Ko, wait!” she ordered. 
  
But he didn’t wait. And he didn’t look back as he exited the building stairway. By the time Rica opened the staircase door he’d already raced down one flight. 
  
“Ko? Where are you going? Damn you!” She shouted his name. But the new boss of the Han clan vanished before her eyes.  
  

Tuesday Morning, Nine AM. 
  
Rica, Reyna, and Kayla sat in the waiting room of a private clinic downtown while Donna met with a lady doctor in the back. Kayla colored a picture book with crayons while Rica and Reyna talked. 
  
“So, how did Ko know Donna was in trouble, hmm? Were they sleeping together behind your back?” Reyna asked with a sly smile. 
  
“Maybe they were. I don’t know and I don’t care, hmph!” Rica pouted. 
  
“Heh heh, sure you don’t!” Reyna chuckled, but Rica continued. 
  
“Tsk! Ko put a tracking app on Donna’s phone the same night she kissed him! Since he knew she’d be too stubborn to quit the job he gave her a way of contacting her if she felt overwhelmed.” 
  
Reyna nodded, “I guess she felt overwhelmed and contacted him.” 
  
“Yeah, I guess,” Rica deadpanned in jealousy. But In her heart she blamed Donna for not listening and she also blamed herself for not being able to flat out tell Donna about her own involvement with Jun-Seo Kim. 
  
But Reyna showed no mercy to Rica. “So let me get this right. Your puppy dog kept a secret from you about another woman and then ran off when he found out about your other Korean boyfriend? Hahaha!” 
  
“Maaaa!” Rica cried, “That’s not what happened!” 
  
“Eh?” Kayla raised her head from her coloring book, “Rica has a new boyfriend?” 
  
“Hee hee! No sweety!” Reyna answered. “Rica just went out with another boy to make Ko jealous!” 
  
“Oh, ok!” said Kayla. 
  
“Maa!” Rica cried. 
  
“Oh hush child, and stop acting innocent! I mean seriously it’s not like you gave Ko a reason to trust you. You walk around all high and mighty like a princess surrounded by worshiping goons and you expect Ko to just fall in line no matter what you do?” 
  
“Nya!” Rica was aghast. “So this is my fault?” 
  
Reyna frowned, “Rica, I’m just saying you can’t have your cake and eat it too, young lady. I mean what did you think he would do when he found out you were running around behind his back-” 
  
“I wasn’t doing anything, I was just handling business for Tara-” 
  
“Hey look!” Reyna cut her off. “You can say whatever you want to help you sleep at night but the bottom line is you're not innocent in all of this. And more importantly.” Reyna glanced at Kayla, “I don’t care what comes out of Tara’s mouth, but Kayla is mine, and she’s staying with me!” 
  
“Ah!” Rica shrank back. She’d defended Tara without actually knowing if Tara would allow Kayla to be used in negotiations with Jun-Seo Kim. “Mom?” 
  
“Baby~” 
  
“Would Tara do that?” 
  
“Hmm…” Reyna sat back. “Personally I don’t think so. However, don’t you ever forget who Tara and her bitch little sister Kitty are,” said Reyna. 
  
“Eh?” Rica gaped at Reyna, “But you’ve known them since you were a teenager, right?” 
  
“Yes, and I dare say on most days I call Tara a friend,” said Reyna staring at Rica. “But those girls are Alston-clan just like their father before them, and that means-” 
  
“I know,” said Rica, stopping her mother from mentioning the truth that the Outlaw Sisters, Bad Tara and Kitty, were adopted and raised by a family of no-nonsense racketeers. And in that clan business came first. 
  
“Mommy look!” said Kayla to Reyna, displaying her skills with crayons in a coloring book. 
  
“Wow! That’s all neat and inside the lines, how pretty!” said Reyna squeezing Kayla’s cheek. 
  
But Rica observed the scene with the pang of guilt for not asking Tara about Kayla’s situation. 
  
“Mom? I thi-” Suddenly her phone buzzed. She checked the display. “Eh? It’s Tara? Hello, big sis.” 
  
“Yo Rica, I heard about your hunting dog last night roughing up the Kims. So what’s he up to?” Tara asked, catching Rica off guard. 
  
“Ko? Um...He’s behaving himself,” Rica answered. “It was a personal matter with a girl.” 
  
“Hm, hm,” Tara answered, sounding disinterested. “Anyway, about that license plate he memorized.” 
  
Rica sat up, “Did you find the guy, big sis?” 
  
“Yeah we did, Ko hit pay dirt. Turns out the guy attached to the license plates is a Turk money-man who handles transactions like car leases and stuff for them. So after we slapped Ahmed around a bit he told us where we could find him,” Tara said with glee. 
  
“That’s great, how do you want to handle it?” Rica asked. 
  
“The guy is uptown in the Bronx of all places. You and your brutes go heavy tonight and snatch him out of his house, but go quiet. Nuff said, right?” Tara asked. 
  
“Yes, big sis. I understand.” 
  
“Good. I’ll talk to you la-” 
  
“Wait, Tara, um,” Rica whispered. 
  
“Hmm?” Tara asked with a concerned tone. 
  
“It’s about Kayla. I just wanted to ask you..Um, you wouldn’t bargain her to the Kims would you, big sis?” 
  
“Ho?” said Tara, followed by a long pause. Too long for Rica, until, “Hmm, it’s not good to speak in absolutes about everything, Rica. You should know that, you’re a Capo. Anyway, Kitty will call you later about that thing tonight. And tell your mom I said, hi.” Click! 
  
When Tara hung up a mass of butterflies filled Rica’s stomach as she sat back, quietly. Tara never denied nor confirmed her question. And not speaking in absolutes meant everything was on the negotiating table.

Reyna turned to Rica, “Hey, so what’d Tara say?” 
  
“Tara?” Rica didn’t look at Reyna, “Uh, she said to tell you, hi.” 
  
“Really?” Reyna gave a confused look. “Well that’s not like her. Oh well, tell her I said hello back.” 
  
“Right.” Rica looked at Kayla. “When I see her again I’ll tell her."

..