Ivanna "La Reina" Martinez sits at the head of a long, polished mahogany table, her eyes scanning the room with a mix of authority and maternal concern. The conference room is filled with her most trusted lieutenants, each one knowing better than to meet her gaze for too long. She's dressed in a tailored, black pantsuit that hugs her curves, her dark hair pulled back into a severe bun, and her makeup is minimal, emphasizing her natural beauty and the stern set of her features.

She pulls a puff of smoke from her cigarette, before dialing a number to her right-hand man, Mijo.

"Mijo, I need you to come over to the hacienda right away. There's some work that needs to be done, and I trust only you to handle it. Don't make me wait, you know I don't have the patience for that. And Chuy? Don't even think about looking at any other woman while you're here. You know how I get. Just come straight to the house, comprende?"

"Ah, Noah... You always were a charmer." Ivanna's lips curve into a smile as she exhales another plume of smoke. "But no, there isn't anything you can do right now that I need help with. Just stay focused on your duties, and don't stray too far from the house today. There are... influential people coming to visit soon."

She takes another drag on her cigarette before flicking it into an ornate ashtray at the center of the table, her gaze fixing on each lieutenant in turn. "Alright, I've called you all here for a reason. We have new competition on our hands. They think they can just move into our territory and take what's ours? Pah!" She snorts derisively. "We're going to show them exactly why we are the untouchables."

Ivanna watches Noah leave with a satisfied smile before turning back to the table. "Now then, who has news? Who's been doing their jobs right?" She fixes her gaze on each of them in turn, knowing that one wrong word or slip-up could cost them dearly. There is a tense silence as they wait for someone to speak up first, everyone eager to impress their queen and keep themselves out of harm's way.

"Well," Mijo finally says, clearing his throat uncomfortably, "we received word that the new competitors have been seen moving around in an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. They're still setting up shop, but they should be operational within a few days."

*Ivanna Martinez snorts softly at Mijo's news before looking around the table. "Well, this will be our chance to send a message. Tonight we strike!" She stands abruptly, her heels clicking against the tile floor as she paces around the table. "We'll take out their leadership first. If they can't lead, then what good are they?" Her eyes flicker briefly in Noah's direction before looking away again, almost unnoticeably. "I want this done cleanly and efficiently."

The room fills with a nervous energy as the lieutenants exchange glances. They know what she expects of them; they always do. But this time is different, more dangerous. The stakes have been raised, and one wrong move could mean the end of everything they've worked so hard for. Each man takes a deep breath, steeling themselves for battle as they prepare to follow their queen into war.

Her heart swells with pride at Noah's words, but she can't afford to show it. She doesn't want him getting any ideas above his station. "Thank you, Noah," Ivanna says coldly. "You rest up tonight. Tomorrow will be a big day for all of us." With that, she turns her attention back to the task at hand, knowing that soon enough the time for talk would end and the time for bloodshed would begin.

*Ivanna's lips quirk in what might almost pass as amusement before she turns back to the business at hand. "Get some rest," she growls under her breath. "We have work to do tomorrow." The tension is palpable as the room fills with nervous energy once more, each man preparing for battle and wondering if they'll survive the night ahead.

"Ah, Noah." Her expression hardens as she turns to face him, her voice cold and distant. "I told you to rest. Tomorrow will be a busy day for all of us, and I don't want you tired or sloppy when it comes time to fight." She pauses, taking another drag from her cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke in his direction. "You understand?"

Her eyes narrow at his words but she can't quite hide the relief that washes over her features. With a sigh, she finally agrees. "Fine," she mutters, stubbing out her cigarette on the edge of a table. "But only for a few minutes." She walks over to her bed and climbs in, pulling the covers up to her chin before glaring at Noah over the top of the blanket. "Don't even think about trying anything funny," she warns him, her voice low and dangerous.

Ivanna rolls onto her side, facing away from him now. For a moment, it almost looks like she might close her eyes... but somehow, Noah knows better than to expect that anytime soon.

A low growl escapes her throat as she feels him nearing the bed, but she keeps her eyes shut and feigns sleep. The truth is, she's not quite sure why she's letting him get away with this. Maybe it's because deep down, she knows he means well. Or maybe it's just that she needs someone to lighten the mood before they all get caught up in the madness of tonight's mission. Either way, she forces herself to relax a little and enjoy his presence... for now.

As she pretends to sleep, images flicker through her mind like shadows on a wall. The memories of the past few weeks replay themselves over and over again, each one more devastating than the last. She tries not to dwell on them, focusing instead on breathing slowly and steadily until her heart rate returns to normal. It's all part of training herself for tonight's mission; learning how to control her emotions and remain calm under pressure.

Finally, exhaustion gets the better of her and she drifts off into an uneasy sleep. Her dreams are filled with visions of bloodshed and chaos, but through it all she remains cool and steady, guiding her lieutenants with silent commands and reassuring whispers in their ears. They are her army, and she will lead them to victory... or die trying.

Her eyes snap open as she senses movement in the room. She sits up quickly, her heart racing with fear and anger before she sees what's on her bedside table. With a groan, relief floods through her, and she can't help but feel a tiny spark of amusement. "Well," she says, her voice rough from sleep, "that was quite the dramatic entrance." She smiles tiredly at Noah as he comes into view. "Thank you for the breakfast. It smells delicious."

She gets out of bed, carefully avoiding making any sudden movements that might startle him further. As she approaches the table, she takes a seat cross-legged on her bed and begins to eat her meal with gusto, pausing only occasionally to offer Noah a word of thanks or praise for his cooking skills. In truth, she's grateful for his presence this morning; it helps ground her and keeps her from becoming completely overwhelmed by the weight of what lies ahead.

Ivanna glances down at Noah, arching an eyebrow as she chews her food thoughtfully. "And what makes you think that?" she asks innocently, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "You don't see me getting soft on anyone else." She pauses, taking another bite before continuing, "Besides, it's not as if I have much choice. If I wanted to keep my position at the top..." She trails off meaningfully.

Finishing her breakfast, she leans forward and takes the empty dishes from the tray, careful not to touch Noah as he lies on the floor beside her bed. "Now," she says, looking back up at him, "are you ready for today?" There's a new edge in her voice now; determination and focus mixing with the fear that always comes before battle.

"Oh?" She arches an eyebrow curiously. "What did you say exactly?" Her tone is light, almost teasing as she pretends to not remember their first meeting. Of course, she remembers every detail; it was the moment she knew he would be a valuable asset to her cartel.

As Noah stands before her, his expression clearly indicating that he has no intentions of forgetting any part of their past conversations or interactions, Ivanna can't help but feel a mix of affection and protectiveness rising within her. He may not realize it yet, but she sees him as more than just another loyal follower; he's become family to her in a way that she never expected, and she would do anything to keep him safe... even if that means using violence when necessary.

"Come on," she says softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let's get moving." With that, they leave the room together, ready to face whatever challenges await them outside the safety of their home.

"Mijo," she murmurs as they walk side by side towards the entrance. "You've proven yourself time and again since we first met. Today will be no different." She reaches up to adjust his tie, smoothing it out with a gentle touch before stepping back, gazing at him intently. "Stay close, but don't be afraid to act on your own initiative when the time comes."

The sun is just beginning to rise over the horizon as they leave the house, the sky painting a beautiful pink and orange gradient behind them. Their guards fall into formation around them, weapons at the ready. Today, war has come to their doorstep, and there's no turning back now.

Her gaze locked on his, she nods once before looking away. "Good," she says simply, though the approval in her tone is clear as day. "Let's make sure they remember who they're dealing with." With that, the driver starts the engine and pulls out into traffic, leading their small convoy through the quiet streets towards their destination.

As they near their goal, she studies the surrounding area, searching for any signs of enemy presence or surveillance devices. The tension in the air thickens with every passing second, but Ivanna refuses to let it break her focus. Her gaze flickers back to Noah briefly before returning to the road ahead; he looks almost as calm and composed as ever, but she knows better than to mistake that outward appearance for a lack of nerves or determination.

"Almost there," she murmurs more to herself than to him. "Just hold your ground and trust your instincts." With those final words, they arrive at the warehouse where their new rivals have set up shop; time is up for waiting and preparing. It's time to strike.

Noah's words and yawn draw a brief smile from Ivanna as she leans towards him slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe it's just your body's way of saying you're not fully rested yet," she offers with a knowing glint in her eye. "But don't worry about that now. We need you alert and focused on the task at hand."

She tenses slightly as they near the warehouse, adrenaline surging through her veins as the moment of truth draws ever closer. The guards surrounding them grow more cautious, eyes darting back and forth between their leader and the target ahead. Ivanna can feel the weight of every pair of eyes on her, and she knows that this is it; the moment when everything will be decided.

She takes a deep breath, steeling herself for what lies ahead, before nodding once to the driver. With a squeal of tires, they pull up in front of the warehouse, guns drawn and ready for battle.