How am I supposed to seduce Santi? I am the worst at trying to be sexy, and he's probably had loads of experiences with other women. He's a God damn leader of a cartel!

Why don't I wait for him to make the first move?

Who knows how long that will take!

Ugh. Maybe all the near death experiences in the last few months are finally messing up my head.

I was on the way back to my room when I spotted Joel standing outside the elevator, the same elevator I would be using to get up to my suite with Santi.

"Are the others back?" I asked while standing awkwardly next to him waiting for the elevator.

"We got back a few minutes ago. The guys are with your friends." He rolled his eyes. "I didn't feel like being third wheel so I ditched them."

The doors to the elevator opened up and he motioned with his hand for me to go in ahead of him. He stepped in after me and I tried to keep as much distance from him as possible once the doors closed behind us.

Joel has a bad habit of doing things without thinking.

There was a small smirk on his face when he turned to look at me. "I don't bite Gabby, you look like you're standing in front of the devil himself..."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Can you blame me? You're not exactly my favorite person in the world, Joel."

The doors closed with no other passengers in the elevator. I was stuck with him.

"What floor are you in?"

"Sixth" I muttered.

He pressed the button for me and I didn't attempt to make any conversation.

From the very first day I met him I didn't like him. He is the complete opposite of Santiago. Joel is arrogant, cocky and thinks the world revolves around him while Santi is very quiet and reserved, he calculates his every move before doing anything. Joel likes to be loud and show off...he doesn't think about the consequences of his actions.

"How come Santi didn't come along with us this morning?"

"He didn't get any sleep because he was on the phone all night, I convinced him to get some rest. He's probably still sleeping in our room."

"Such a perfectionist" Joel shook his head ruefully. "Ever since we were little he always fought to be in charge."

"I think that's how all older sibling are." I laughed remembering how Martin was very bossy when we were younger. It annoyed the hell out of me and Alex, we always talked shit behind his back.

This was the first time we've had a conversation without me wanting to chop his head off.

The elevator came to a sudden stop and we both looked up to see on the tiny screen that we had reached the sixth floor but the doors wouldn't open.

"What's going on?"

Joel clicked the button again. "The doors won't open."

"Are you serious?" I stepped forward and banged my fist against the door. "Hello! Is anybody out there? THE DOORS WON'T OPEN UP!"

I turned around to look at him frantically. "You have your phone with you?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell but the screen was black. "It's dead. It won't turn on..."

There's no way out.

My breathing became heavier and the walls around me looked like they were closing in on me. I wiped my sweaty hands on my shirt and banged on the door again, this time with urgency.

"I HAVE TO GET OUT"

"Woah, Gabby calm down."

l leaned against the door with a hand around my throat. I felt like I was going to pass out any second now.

"Listen to me Gabby" he reached out and ordered me to sit down on the floor, he crouched down next to me and looked at me closely. "You're having a panic attack. You need to slow your breathing."

"I-I can't. I can't do it."

My heart was pounding against my chest and I felt like I was sweating through my clothes, everything around me felt like it was moving. My vision became a little foggy and the ringing in my ears made it hard to understand what Joel was saying.

"Look at me" he grabbed my face in a tight grip and made me focus on him. "Breathe with me. Listen to my breathing."

He breathed in and out slowly, encouraging me to follow his lead. I tried my best to calm down and I felt my heart rate go down to a normal rate. I kept breathing in and out.

"It's okay. I'm here with you"

"Sr. & M'am our elevator is having some difficulties but we already have one of our technicians working on it. Please remain calm while we take care of this problem." A female voice spoke through the intercom of the elevator.

"See? They're already trying to get us out." Joel sat down next to me and held my hand. Not in a romantic way but more of a comforting gesture. He didn't try anything else and for that I was grateful.

What if I was stuck in this elevator all alone? I was glad to have Joel with me. I wouldn't know what to do.

"How did you know I was having a panic attack?" I turned to look at him.

" I used to get them a lot the first two years when I became more involved with the cartel. Santi was always there to help me through them and we kept it a secret from everyone else." there was a small smile on his face as he told me all of this. "I didn't want dad to think I was weak. I wanted to be worthy of my position in the cartel."

"Why can't you go back to acting like brothers? You guys are family..."

His smile fell. "People change and we make mistakes. I don't see us going back to normal."

We heard a random noise and the elevator started moving again.

Thank God.

"Please click the button to the floor you want. Thank you for being so patient." the lady from before said through the speaker again.

We had to wait a little longer since the elevator went back down to the lobby once again, Joel helped me up and clicked the button.

Without thinking too much about it I got closer to him and in a quick motion I wrapped my arms around his waist in a friendly hug. "Thank you for being so patient with me and helping me out." I said sincerely.

His arm went around my shoulder I felt him chuckle. "It's no big deal"

The elevator doors slid open signaling we were on my floor. As I pulled away from our embrace he sneaked in a quick kiss on my cheek.

When I moved to walk out of the elevator I froze in place. Standing outside the elevator staring right at us was Santiago.

And he looked ready to kill his brother.

*~*~*~*~*~*

It was already 8:00 at night and Santiago still hadn't returned.

I could only imagine the awful things he was thinking about me, he saw me with his brother but it was a total misunderstanding. The weirdest thing of all was his reaction when we were standing outside the elevator, it was something both Joel and I didn't see coming at all.

*Flashback*

"Santi"

"I woke up and you weren't in the room" he clenched his jaw while staring at me. "I was on my way down to look for you." He grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me to stand by his side.

"Let me explain-"

"We should go back to our room" he interrupted like he hadn't heard me and started walking us down the hallway.

Joel stepped in front of us blocking our way looking at his brother annoyed. "Santiago" he poked his brother on the chest. "Gabby is trying to tell you something. Listen!"

Santi didin't even look at Joel, he kept his eyes on me and replied to his brother. "This is none of your business. Leave."

Joel turned to look at me and mouthed 'what the fuck?'. I shook my head at him. I had to take care of this on my own.

"It's okay Joel. I'm going with Santi. Thanks for your help."

He raised his hands up in surrender. "Whatever" the younger brother muttered and walked back to the elevator. Once he was out of sight I turned to look at my boyfriend.

"Why are you acting like this?"

He grabbed my hand without saying a word and took me to our room. We walked inside and he closed the door behind us, he let go of my hand and went over to the closet and grabbed his black leather jacket putting it over his white button up shirt.

"Santi what are you doing?" I stepped in front of him when I saw him reach for the keys on the nightstand.

He ignored me.

"Where are you going?" I cried out, my emotions getting the best of me. "Talk to me!" Tears rolled down my eyes but I couldn't help myself Santi was being extremely annoying.

"I need to get away from you." He said through gritted teeth."I need to think."

I looked into his blue eyes and they held so many mixed emotions.

Anger, betrayal...

I tried to grab his hand put he pulled away and pushed his way past me and out the door.

He left me.

*End of flashback*

He was gone all afternoon and it was already late. I called his phone a million times but it went straight to voicemail, I left countless of messages asking him to come back but he wouldn't reply.

I had already let the others know that he left without saying anything and that we needed or go out and look for him. All the guys except for Joel went out to look for him, I'd asked him to stay behind because if Santi saw him it would only make things worse. We were the last two people he wanted to see right now. The guys promised to keep him updated if they found his brother.

The phone in my room rang and I rushed to the nightstand hoping it was Santiago calling me back.

"Santi?"

"They found him" Sofia's voice spoke instead. "Daniel sent a guard to pick us up. We're waiting for you down in the lobby."

I grabbed my purse and rushed out the door, once I reached the lobby I walked out the front entrance of the hotel to see a black SUV waiting for us. Nessa, Sofia and Claire got in behind me and we rode in silence.

Everyone knew Santi and I had an argument but they didn't know what it was about. I could feel their curiosity to know what had happened but they kept from asking any questions. They knew I would talk to them about it when I was ready.

The truck stopped in front of a bar. There was loud music coming from the inside and a few drunk men were standing by the door. I could hear them complaining to a buff guy about being kicked out.

We made our way to the entrance and we had two guards with us in case anyone tried anything funny.

Once inside the bar I noticed groups of men having fun with their friends, drinking all kinds of alcohol.

Mexican men and alcohol go together like peanut butter and jelly. When it comes to having a good time with a group of compas a good tequila or beer is never missing.

As always ,Santiago Bustamante had the best seats in the house. His table was front and center in front of a small stage where a live band was performing. There were different bottles of tequilas in the center of the table with a bucket of ice.

Santi was beyond drunk, he was in deep conversation with Mike sitting to his right. There was a bottle of Mezcal and he was drinking straight from the bottle.

Why does he always go to such extremes?

Leo was the first one to spot us and he made his way over to us and grabbed Nessa's hand. He thanked the guards for bringing us and ordered them away. We followed him back to the table and each girl went straight to their boyfriend/husband.

This whole situation was so emberassing for me. No one knew what to do or say while I stood there on my own.

"Porque chingados la trajieron?" Santi slurred angrily at his cousins. (Why the fuck did you bring her?)

It was like I wasn't even there!

Before he could say anything stupid I walked over to stand in front of him and tried to pull him up. "Let's go back to the hotel. We need to talk, Santi."

He stumbled up on his feet and glared at me. "I told you I wanted to be alone."

"Vamonos" (Let's go)

"NO!" He yelled getting up in my face. "Largate! Vete con el. He's the one you want, no?"

I looked around to see the shocked faces of our friends. It wasn't hard to guess who 'he' was.

"You haven't even given me a chance to explain myself, pendejo." (dumbass) Now I was angry. He was causing a scene in front of our friends and a bunch of strangers over something that could be cleaned up if he only listened. "We got stuck in the elevator for a few minutes and I was having a panic attack, I hugged him because I was thanking him for helping me out and keeping me from fainting in the damn elevator."

"He k-kkissed you"

"Nothing else happened!" I yelled at him. "I hugged him, he kissed me...ON THE CHEEK! And that was it!"

He was speechless.

"You're so dramatic Santi!" Claire shook her head at her friend.

"I'm leaving, you can stay" I ended the argument. I grabbed my purse from the table but a strong pair of arms wrapped around my waist almost knocking me down.

"Perdoname. Perdoname, amor" He kissed my cheek "I'm an idiot." (Forgive me. Forgive me, love)

We were quite a sight to see.

I was standing there with a six-foot man grabbing on to me for dear life. The only thing keeping him from falling flat on his face was the fact that I hadn't pushed him away.

He was that drunk.

"Let go of that bottle" I snatched the Mezcal away from him and gave it to Claire.

"You forgive me?"

I ignored him and took a seat on his chair, leaving him standing on his own. A waitress came by and I asked her to bring me a cup of black coffee.

That'll sober him up.

"You guys are worse than a novela" Nessa's joked. "Damn" (Soap opera)

We all laughed .

"You were just like him when we ran away. Got drunk off your butt because of Leo." I reminded her of the time we ran away which lead to my kidnapping by the Italians.

Leo threw his head back in laugher and Nessa's blushed red. "That was totally different."

"Y AHORA VAMOS A TOCAR UNA CANCION QUE NOS PIDIO EL SEÑOR SANTIAGO BUSTAMANTE!" the lead singer of the band spoke up.

Oh no.

"He asked for a song?" Sofia laughed.

"Just before you girls came in here, yeah." Daniel looked at me apologetically.

"Not surprised" I hit my boyfriend on the shoulder.

"Que seria de mi vida si tu me dejaras. Que seria de mi vida si tu te marcharas." The man sang along to the beat.

I shook my head embarrassed.

"Que seria de mi vida amorcito de mi alma" he pulled me up from his chair and took a seat, pulling me down on his lap as he sang along. "Yo te juro que todo para mi terminava" He whispered in my ear.

"Y CANTELE BONITO MI SANTI!" Leo yelled out loud encouraging him on. (SING TO HER SANTI)

"SI NACISTE MI VIDA PARA QUE YO TE AMARA, TE AMARE HASTA LA MUERTE AUNQUE ME CONDENARA." (You were born for me to love you. I will love you till the day I die, even if it kills me.)

Daniel and Mike roared with laughter .

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We left the bar at midnight and by then Santi had already drank two cups of black coffee. He was able to walk out on his own but still looked a little tipsy.

Once at the hotel everyone went off to their own room for the night and I dragged Santi with me to our suite.

"What a night!" He fell on the bed with a sigh.

"You're such an idiot."

"I know!" He groaned sitting up on the bed to look at me. "How many more times do I need to apologize for you to forgive me?"

All throughout the night he kept saying he was sorry, promising that it wouldn't happen again, that he would trust me...repeating over and over again that he loves me.

Men.

"I just have one question" I sat down next to him on our bed. "Why did you react the way you did? Why didn't you punch your brother?" I pointed an accusing finger at him. "Cause' I know you wanted too. I saw you..."

He looked down at the floor, embarrassed that I had caught that little detail.

"Part of me thought I deserved it." He said softly before looking up at me. "I betrayed Joel when I slept with Jessica so it was only fair of him to return the pain I caused him."

"Santi"

"But it killed me inside" he creased my lips. " I love you so damn much and I can't stand the thought of loosing you."

"I love you too."

"It scares me...my love for you scares the hell out of me." He continued. "I've never felt like this before. I feel like I'm the only one falling, falling hard for you Gabriela. You have no idea."

"You're not the only one falling, Santi. Trust me."

He smiled and kissed me gently. "I wish I could read your mind, to see if you love me as much as I love you."

This is it. This is the moment I've been waiting for! There's no need to seduce the person you love when you both are dying to be with each other.

"I can't let you read my mind because that's impossible." I laughed nervously. I kissed him on the lips and slowly made my way down to his neck, leaving trails of kisses all over him till' I reached his sculpted chest.

I began to unbotton his shirt, my lips went back to his neck.

"We don't have to do this, Gabby. I can wait." He gulped.

His mouth said one thing but he couldn't hide the lust in his eyes.

"Let me show you how much I love you , Santiago."

***PICTURE OF SANTI AND GABBY ADDED TO THIS CHAPTER ALONG WITH THE SONG FEATURED. You're welcome ;)

Thank you for reading! Next chapter will be...interesting for you and very difficult for me to write. I'll be posting a lot this month because I'm planning on finishing this story by October 31st/ Nov 1st. Yes this story is very soon coming to an end. Finally. A lot of stuff will go down and I'll also be preparing the first 10 chapters of the sequel. Any suggestions on what the name should be? Leave a comment below. After I finish the last chapter I'll be taking in questions from you guys and answering them ALL. So think about it real good: questions you might have about the characters, the story, the sequel, my writing. I'll answer them

What is it with Santi and singing his heart out? Lol

What about Joel and his little moment with Gabby?

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