FAN IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY------------------------------>

"Mi niña bonita" he whispered tenderly, crushing me into his arms. I couldn't stop myself from crying. It felt like long ago since I had last hugged my father. "Gabriela, como has cambiado. Te pareses tanto a tu madre, iguales de hermosas." (My pretty little girl. Gabriela, you've changed so much. You look like your mother, both equally beautiful.)

He took a step back to take a good look at me, I saw a few tears rolling down eyes, which made me feel even worse. Looking up at him from up close I could see he looked tired, all the stress made him look a bit older than he was. This realization was enough to keep me from being angry. I don't want to make him feel any worse.

"Son tantos años sin verlo Pa'. Como a estado ?" I glanced up at him with a smile on my tear stained face. (It's been a lot of years without seeing you Pa'. How you been?)

The look of surprise on his face was obvious, he had expected me to lash out on him, to refuse to talk to him after all these years.

"I'm fine mi princessa. I was worried after hearing you were in the middle of this attack, but we can talk about that later. We have to get you kids somewhere safe first."

I looked back to see the whole group staring at me and my father, I had completely forgotten their presence. Ness and Sofi were standing awkwardly next to Alex, I waved my hand at them so they could join us, when they were by my side I introduced them to my father.

"Pa' these are my best friends Vanessa and Sofia." I pointed at the red-head and brunette standing on either side of me. "Girls, this is my father Salvador Romano"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Romano" Sofi smiled politely.

"The pleasure is all mine young ladies" he responded smiling warmly at both of my friends. He glanced back at the rest of the guys who were standing behind us, waiting for us to be done with our little introduction moment.

He smiled widely when his eyes landed on Santiago. "Well, if it isn't young Santiago Bustamante! Como has estado hijo?" ( How you been, son?)

I was shocked to see Santiago bound over to my father to embrace him with a big smile on his face. "I've been good Salvador, very busy with work."

Wow. He's on first name basis with my dad!

Dad nodded understandingly, he pulled me over to his side, beaming down at me proudly. " I see you've met my daughter Gabriela. This is the little Princess I've talked to you so much about."

"Ah, yes" Santi smiled tightly. "Who would have thought that I would meet your daughter on our business trip to Acapulco."

My Father looked between the two of us suspiciously, before saying. "Yes, who would have thought. You two will have to tell me how everything happened, I want to know what my daughter was doing out with the El Cartel de Sinaloa."

I cleared my throat nervously. "Ummm, shouldn't we get going already? We've been here for a while and I'm sure everyone is exhausted."

"Let's go then. You'll be riding with me ladies, the rest of the guys are going in the other trucks." Dad put his arm around me and turned around. Leading my friends and I over to one of the three black SUV'S. The guard opened the door for us, Vanessa and Sofi got in the back seats leaving me to sit next to my father in the middle compartment.

"You know where to go Luis, the Bustamante Mansion" he ordered our driver.

*~*~*~*~

Our truck pulled up into the driveway of a large white big mansion. I could hear Nessa and Sofi talking excitedly in the back seat, the mansion was in a very secluded place. There was no neighbors or civilization for miles and miles away. The Mansion had a black gate, there were two men standing in front of it with large AK-47. Probably guards hired to take care of the place.

"Nice house isn't it?" my father asked, gesturing at the mansion outside.

"It's beautiful."

The two other trucks pulled up right behind us, a guard walked over to our door and opened it.

My father walked over to the group of guys, leaving my friends and I to look at our surrounding..

"This place is...Wow! It's huge. I can't believe we never figured out by ourselves that they were part of the Mafia. The cars...the fancy outfits." Nessa blabbered, her eyes scanning every corner.

Sofi glared at her sister and scooted closer to me. "It's scary though, did you see the guys standing in the front gate with the huge guns?!"

I nodded, placing my arms around her protectively. "I know girls. I'll try to get us out of here as soon as possible, I promise."

The group of men started walking towards the house, my father stayed back and turned towards us. "C'mon girls! We're going inside."

We walked after them, and when we were inside the guards had scattered away and the only guys left were the main ones; Santi, Joel, Leo, Daniel, Martin, Alex and my father.

I took a look around, the interior of the mansion was even more stunning than the outside. The ceilings were high, there was a glass table in the middle of the entrance and just a few steps away a large staircase that led to the second floor. Everything in the room was so fancy.

"My father would like to have a word with us." Santiago spoke to the group. "He requested only the main bosses and Gabriela to be present in his office."

"What about my friends?"

"They're free to help themselves to anything they want. I'm sure either Leo, Daniel, Joel or Alex can show them around, they're the only ones that are not attending this meeting."

Leaving my friends alone was something I was reluctant to do, but my brother stepped forward and patted my back. "Go ahead Gabby, I'll help Nessa and Sofi around. You have nothing to worry about."

"We'll be fine, Gabbs" Sofi added after my brother.

I agreed and started walking after Santiago, my father and Martin were following right behind us. My heart beat loudly inside my chest.

I was requested to be in a meeting where only the MAIN BOSSES were allowed? Anyone else would be running away fearing for their lives.

I was family to these guys...Well two of them, actually.

We soon came to a large brown door and I gulped nervously. Santiago knocked on the door two times before helping himself in and motioning for us to step inside.

The room was an office, there was a large desk in the back of the room with a few scattered paper in front of the computer screen. The big chair behind the desk was turned away from us, facing a large window that showed a view of a large and beautiful green garden. I could tell there was someone sitting on the chair but I wasn't sure who it was since he hadn't even acknowledged our entrance. My guess was that the person sitting on the big chair could only be one person, Joel and Santiago's father. The richest man in Mexico, the number one wanted criminal in the world.

The boss of the Sinaloa Cartel.

"I heard the Princess of The Gulf Cartel was here" a deep rough voice spoke out of nowhere making me jump up slightly in surprise. "And I want to meet her."

My father grinned. "You finally get to meet her, Ernesto."

"It's about damn time" he huffed and spun his chair around to face us. My eyes widened as the landed on the man sitting behind the desk. He had grey-white hair and the same dark-brown eyes as Joel, which only meant Santiago got the blue eyes from his mother. The man looked to be a few years older than my dad.

He looked me over before giving me a creepy, but warm half-smile. Standing up from his chair with a hint of authority and grace, he certainly had that 'I'm-the-big-bad-boss-here-and-everything-I -say-goes' vibe coming from him.

" Gabriela Romano" he walked away from his chair and came to stand in front of me, taking my hand and giving it a small kiss. "You're a very beautiful young woman, my dear."

"T-Thank you" I murmured feeling a bit scared all of a sudden.

"Just like her mother, isn't she?" Dad commented.

"Yes, just as beautiful as her mother, Victoria."

He knew my mother? Of course he did. My Mom always joined my Dad when he was invited to big Mafia events. They were bound to come across each other sometime.

"I'm Ernesto Bustamante" he told me. "Santiago and Joel's father."

"And the Boss of El Cartel de Sinaloa" I whispered in awe.

I'm standing in front of the Father of all Cartels, the man who made the drug dealing business big in Mexico.

He chuckled softly. "Not anymore, sweetheart. I've passed down the business to Santiago."

I gasped and turned to look at Santi who didn't even glance at me. He kept his gaze on his father.

Santiago is the boss now?! Oh my God that's just my luck. I was starting to get close to the new powerful guy in the drug world.

Don Ernesto walked back to sit on his chair and motioned for us to grab one of the many chairs that I assumed had been placed in the room for all of us to sit on. "Please take a seat, we have a lot to discuss."

"Santiago" the Don turned to his son. "I want you to tell me what happened when you were attacked. Did you find out what they want?"

Santi grunted in response, crossing his arms over his chest angrily. "They sent Hector to do the job. They're angry at us for siding with The Gulf Cartel, they know they have no chance at beating them with us at their side."

My chest tightened as I remembered how close they had been to killing all of us. And it was all due to the fight over a stupid territory. A territory that my father can't afford to loose.

"I knew they would plan something like this" Don Ernesto frowned, furrowing his eyebrows together. "They want to kill us one by one. They know if a war breaks out between the two of us we will most definitely have the upper hand."

"Thank you for putting your Cartel on my side, Ernesto" My father spoke with gratitude to the man. "With you being on our side they don't stand a chance against us."

"Don't thank me, Salvador" the Don interjected, waving his hand dismissively. "We've been friends for a long time and I know you would do the same for me if I ever needed it."

"So does this mean we'll have to stay here to be protected?" I questioned, looking between my dad and Mr. Bustamante.

"I'm afraid so, Gabriela" my dad spoke, sadness apparent in his eyes. He knew I wouldn't like that idea.

"It'll only be for a few weeks" Santiago said, glancing at me for the first time. "We just need to make sure they won't go after you girls."

"As long as you don't keep us here for a long time..." I muttered.

"Which brings me to my next question" Don Ernesto folded his hands on his desk, leaning forward and staring right at me. "How did you girls manage to get yourself into this mess?"

Oh boy, I was hoping they wouldn't ask me that question. From the corner of my eye I noticed my father looking at me curiously, also waiting to hear my answer.

"My friends and I came to Mexico on a vacation for Spring Break" I started saying, explaining everything from the beginning. "When we got to Acapulco we met the boys and then Daniel and Leo started asking my friends out on dates. Having no other option then to go along with them, they invited us out to a lot of places and we formed a very good...friendship with them. We had no idea they were part of a Cartel, because trust me when I say this; if we would have known we wouldn't have gotten close to them."

My father grabbed my hand. "I believe that, Gabriela. I know you would have never gotten involved with this kind of business."

Ernesto sighed. "The fact is that you did, and now you have to wait till' we know it's safe for you to go back home."

"I understand, and my friends and I will follow anything you say."

"Wait" Martin piped up, speaking for the first time. "If Sofia and Nessa spent most of their time with Daniel and Leo who did you hang out with, little sis?"

I stared up at him. "Huh?"

He smirked back at me smugly. "You heard me."

"I-um...I was"

I turned to look at Santiago and noticed him staring at me with an amused expression on his face. What are my dad and Don Ernesto going to think if I say I spent most of my time with Santiago, they'll probably think there's something going on between us!

Don Ernesto glanced between his Son and I, looking at us through calculating narrowed eyes before letting out a loud and amused laugh. "Oh, I see what's going on here!"

We all stared at the man quizzically, waiting for him to keep talking.

"Santiago and Gabby like each other!"

I blushed when my father turned to look at me with a raised eyebrow. "I don't like him, I mean I do but not like that! We're just friends."

"How about that, Salvador?" he smiled and looked at my dad. "We'll be one big family if these two end up getting married!"

"Papa!" Santiago snapped at him.

Don Ernesto and my Dad chuckled, while Martin glared at Santiago being the usual over protective brother.

My phone started ringing loudly which made all of them quiet down and saved me from any further embarrassment. I pulled it out and looked down at the screen to see who was calling me.

Mom

"Can I be excused to take this call" I asked looking at both Bosses.

Don Ernesto shook his head. "If you want to answer you'll have to put it in speaker phone. We can't risk you giving out information about us."

My mouth dropped. "I would never do that."

He shrugged. "That's your only option."

I looked down to my vibrating phone, my mom is probably wondering why I haven't called her letting her know about our flight back home. She'll have to find out about our situation sooner or later.

I pressed the speaker button and placed the phone down on the desk. "Hello?"

"Gabriela?! Gabriela! Are you okay? WHERE ARE YOU! I heard about what happened. Please tell me that you're fine mija" she spoke hurriedly through the phone.

I looked at my Dad who was staring at the phone with a new sparkle in his eyes. It had probably been a long time since he heard my mother's voice, they haven't spoken to each other since they separated and judging from his reaction he still has feeling for her, very strong feelings.

"Ma' calm down. I'm okay, the girls are okay we're all fine." I told her, hoping to calm her down to keep her from crying. I don't like to hear her cry, it breaks my heard every time. "How do you know what happened?"

"Alejandro called me telling me what happened but I didn't give him a chance to explain everything. Where are you right now? "

Stupid Alex.

I looked up at my father to see if I could tell her where I was and he nodded.

"I'm in Sinaloa. The guys who attacked us are part of an enemy Cartel and right now we have to be protected by El Cartel de Sinaloa and El Cartel del Golfo."

She gasped out loud. "Does your father know about this. Have your brothers told him what's going on?"

"Yeah Ma' he knows. He's with me right now and so is Don Ernesto"

There was a long silence.

"He's there w-with y-you?"

"Yes Mama" I responded. "And he's listening to you right now."

"O-Oh dear God!" she choked out shakily. "Why didn't you tell me he was listening. Oh no he's hearing what I'm saying right now...I'm so stupid...Argg."

My father chuckled and my mother obviously heard him.

"ARE YOU LAUGHING AT ME SALVADOR?!" she yelled through the speaker. "THIS IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER! YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED ME AS SOON AS YOU FOUND OUT OUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE WAS IN DANGER!

"Vicky calmate, nuestra hija esta bien. No hay nada de que preocuparse, mujer." (Vicky calm down, our daughter is perfectly fine. There's nothing to worry about, woman.)

We heard her take a deep breath to try and calm herself down. "I can't believe this, are those men going to come after the girls?"

"We're not sure yet." he spoke calmly. "But we're going to keep them under our protection for a few weeks, Ernesto is helping me out. Don't worry."

I heard a male voice on the other side of the line speaking to my mother and I noticed my dad's eyes grow hard as he glared down at the phone.

"Victoria let me speak to her." the voice I immediately recognized as Vince spoke through the other line. "You know she's like a daughter to me."

"Gabby, are you okay?" he asked me.

"Hey Vince, yes I'm fine. Please tell my mom to stay calm I don't want her to get sick from all the worrying."

"I will, don't worry. You know I care about her a lot, I'll look after her while you're over there" he assured me.

"Thanks Pops" I said, calling him by the name I usually called him when he was being protective of me. He's always been like a father to me but just because I call him that doesn't mean I'm neglecting my real father.

"No problem kiddo" I heard shuffling in the background as he handed the phone back over to my mom.

"Salvador?" my mother called out as soon as she was back.

Dad looked very pissed as he answered my mother through gritted teeth. " Yes?"

"I want you to send someone to get me. I want to go to Sinaloa to be with my daughter."

"Mom you don't hav--" I began to protest but she interrupted me.

"Shut up Gabriela, I'm your mother and I know what I'm doing." she grumbled using her motherly tone.

Silence filled the room as everyone waited for my dad's answer. His eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips as he thought it over. "You can come, I'll send someone to get you but only you. I don't want you bringing this Vince guy with you."

"Yes, of course only me." she stated, sounding a bit confused. "Why would I bring Vincent?"

My father's face went blank and he struggled to get out his response. "W-Well isn't he your b-boyfriend?"

I knew it!

Mom laughed out loud. "B-Boyfriend? Vincent is Gabby's boss. He's the owner of the club Gabby works at"

I couldn't help but join in my mom's laughter as I watched him look away from me in embarrassment.

"It's settled then, Victoria" Don Ernesto spoke up for my father, who had no idea what to say after his little jealous rant. "We'll be sending someone to get you."

"Ernesto, is that you?"

"Yes, Vicky." he laughed. "It's me"

"Thank you so much for helping Salvador take care of Gabriela. I really appreciate it."

He leaned back against his big chair, smiling slightly. "I've been friends with you and Salvador for years now. There's no need to thank me."

"It's still very nice of you" she said gratefully. "I'll be flying in soon . See you in a few days, Gabriela take care. Bye Salvador! Ernesto!"

I clicked the end call button and put my phone back into my back pocket. Dad had managed to get over his embarrassment and was now sitting with his back straight on the chair, a hint of excitement on his face.

Probably from the fact that he'll be seeing my mom very soon.

"So, mom is coming to Sinaloa" Martin breathed out, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"She'll be happy to see you!"

"So will I, Gabbs." he surprised me by saying with a genuine smile.

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LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TELLING ME WHAT YOU THINK! DO YOU LIKE THE PARENTS? WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Next Chapter will have some stuff with the friends and.....SANTIAGO!