This is actually one of my favourite chapters of this book 😍

~ Madison's POV ~

"Why so thirsty Madison? Is your throat hurting or something?" I narrowed my eyes at Arturo as I put down the bottle of water I'd just took a drink from.

Not even a minute ago, Santiago and I sat down at our original seats on the plane and almost straight away Arturo was smirking at us. He was still sitting in the same spot with his laptop out in front of him while Lucia was lying down with her eye mask on.

She must have been asleep, thankfully. The last thing I needed was for a stranger to hear me having sex on a plane.

"Be quiet." His smirk only increased when he saw the annoyed expression on my face.

"What were you two doing? You were in there for quite a while."

"Nothing Arturo." I knew he knew, so I tried to keep my responses short hoping he would just go back to his work instead of annoying me.

"Oh? It sounded like you two really had some fun doing nothing. The way you were moaning so loud... maybe I should try it sometime."

He wiggled his eyebrows at me causing a blush to rise up on my cheeks while Santiago just laughed.

"Sorry, I did try my best to keep her quiet."

"Stop it! You're supposed to be on my side Santi." Of course his laughter just increased as I covered my face while they both enjoyed my embarrassment.

"Leave her alone. At least she's getting some. I applaud you for your confidence Madison." My eyes widened when Lucia spoke from her place lying across the seat, still with her eye mask over her face.

"Wait...you're awake? Does that mean you heard everything too?"

"Don't worry Maddie it was kind of hot. I definitely don't think I sound like that when I have sex, that's for sure."

As soon as she said that both Arturo and Santiago burst out laughing while I just sat there dumbfounded.

"Oh my God." Resting my elbows on the table in front of me, I buried my face in my hands trying to block out the sounds of their laughter.

Soon Santiago was sitting next to me and he pulled me into his arms while he struggled to contain his laughter.

"It's okay baby."

"This is all your fault. You're the one who suggested we go in there in the first place." He ran a hand through my hair as I buried my face in his chest, and although I could tell he was trying to comfort me, I knew he was enjoying this.

After a few moments, their laughter began to die down before Arturo spoke again.

"Maddie it's okay, it's nothing I haven't heard before. Actually, I have to say, Santiago's pretty lucky. Some of the women I've had just scream like there's no tomorrow. I remember one time I just left this girl's house half way through because I was scared people would think I was murdering her or something."

When Arturo said this I couldn't help but laugh along with everyone else. When I lifted my head, he gave me a subtle wink causing me to smile.

I had no clue when or how, but he really did become such a good friend to me. He knew just how far he could push me when he was teasing me but then he always made sure to show me he didn't mean what he was saying after.

Thankfully before anyone could tease me any further about my sexual noises, the pilot came out to let us know we were about to land and within twenty minutes we were getting off the plane.

"Where are you staying Lucia?"

"Oh damn." When she replied with wide eyes stopping in her tracks, we all turned to look at her. "I forgot about that. I was too busy trying to pack."

I frowned at her words and so did Arturo who was busy lighting a cigarette when the conversation started.

"Just book into a hotel." When I suggested this her eyes widened a little more and she bit her lip almost like it was an instinct when she was nervous. "Um...yeah, I guess I will."

I could tell the smile she gave me was forced but before I could try to question her, Santiago tugged on my hand.

"Baby come on, we need to go if we want to get back to the house before the twins go to sleep."

"Give me one second. Lucia, you're welcome to come and stay with us if you don't have anywhere to go."

"N-no, it's okay. Honestly Maddie you can go. I'll just call a cab and go to a hotel." When she said this, she gave me another smile and this time I reluctantly nodded my head before giving her and Arturo a quick hug and then following Santiago to his car.

~ Arturo's POV ~

She was hiding something, anyone could freaking see that. She watched as Maddie and Santi got into the car, driving away before she turned to look at me, clutching her phone in her hand.

"So..."

"What?" I rose an eyebrow at her as I released a puff of smoke causing her to scrunch her nose up.

"Where are you going?" Ignoring the way she spoke in such a small voice compared to earlier when we were back in Mexico, I just gave her a one word answer.

"Home."

She nodded her head as she looked around at the empty tarmac ahead of us where the plane had stopped. We were literally in the middle of nowhere.

"Do you um...do you know any good hotels around here?" This time when she looked at me I couldn't figure out what emotion was in her eyes. She was trying her best to hide it, but unfortunately for her I was a pro at hiding my emotions so I could easily tell when someone was failing to do it.

"No."

Once again she nodded her head without even arguing back with me like she did before.

Something was on her mind.

"Aren't you going to call a cab?" Her head snapped in my direction as I tapped the excess ash off the end of my cigarette. "I will, I'm just..."

"Panicking."

When I said finished her sentence for her, her eyes widened slightly before she shook her head.

"No, I'm just thinking, that's all."

"About how much you're panicking right now?" I gave her a small smirk as I put the cigarette back in my mouth.

I definitely smoke way too much but it helps me to stay calm.

"Why would I be panicking Arturo? Anyway, why are you still here? Just go home."

Rolling my eyes at her words, I took another long drag of my cigarette before blowing the smoke in her direction causing her to scrunch her nose up again.

Cute.

I knew it wasn't the most pleasant thing to do to someone, but she annoyed me earlier and the way she did that thing with her nose was cute.

"Relax, I'm going in a second and then you'll be the only one for miles." Although I could tell the thought of being the only one out on the tarmac on this side of the airport scared her, she just nodded her head.

"Okay."

I rolled my eyes at her response before taking one more drag of the cigarette before I put it out.

Once I'd grabbed my bags, I went over to my car which was already brought here by someone from the airport valet service, putting my bags into the trunk.

Of course Lucia just stood there clutching her phone in her hand by her two suitcases as she watched me.

And then she just stood there watching when I went over to her and picked up her two suitcases aswell.

"Wait! Those are mine, you can't take them."

When I heard her pathetic response a few moments after I'd taken her bags, I just rolled my eyes again before closing the trunk once they were inside.

"Get in the damn car."

Without waiting for her response, I got into the drivers seat, enjoying the feeling of being back in my grey Aston Martin Rapide.

I had missed this baby.

While I was busy enjoying the purr of the engine as I chose some good music, Lucia finally made her way over to the passengers seat and got inside, carefully putting her purse down on the floor between her feet.

Just as I was about to put the car into gear, I heard the sound of a squeeze bottle squirting loudly next to me.

"What the hell?" Her eyes widened when I turned to look at her when she squirted more of that stupid antibacterial gel into her hands. "My car isn't freaking dirty, if you don't like it then get out."

As she stared at me, she nervously closed the lid of the bottle, tightening her grip on it ever so slightly, although it was enough for me to notice.

"Actually...I just didn't want to dirty anything with my hands...it looks really expensive." She gave me a nervous stare as she quickly threw the bottle back into her bag and rubbed her hands together causing the strong scent of the gel to invade my senses.

"I'm also kind of a germaphobe. It's not personal." This time she gave me a nervous smile which faltered when I didn't reply.

She probably thought I was still mad at her but honestly after snapping at her...for some screwed up, sick, perverted reason, I just wanted to...

Hug her?

"Whatever." I shook my head before throwing the car into first gear and speeding off, away from the plane.

She stayed quiet for quite a while as I fought the urge to turn my head to look at her while I drove. All I could see from the corner of my eye were her tanned legs thanks to the sophisticated dress she was wearing and the way she was resting her hands on her lap, fidgeting her fingers nervously.

One thing I'd noticed about her was that even though she worked for a cartel, just like her boss Hugo, she wore professional clothes. Her hair was in neat curls cascading down her back and she wore that fitted navy dress which you would expect to see someone wear if they worked in an actual accountancy firm.

"Oh I like this song!" All of a sudden she reached out and spun the volume dial to turn the music up, causing me to turn my head in her direction.

The action caused her to frown and she instantly reached out to turn it down.

"Sorry."

"N-no, it's fine. Turn it up if you want to."

This time she didn't say anything as she gingerly stuck her hand out and turned the dial again before resting her hands back on her lap.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You waited twenty minutes to ask me that question?" I turned my head in her direction as I rose an eyebrow, giving her a teasing smirk.

"Um...I kind of have a habit of forgetting important things. Kind of like how I forgot to find somewhere to stay before we came here."

Why is it that with everything she says I somehow manage to learn something new about her?

With other women, who I would never let sit in my car, ever, just to make that clear, all they do is blabber on about meaningless stuff. Half the time I just block them out.

But with her...I didn't.

"Well, you clearly have an issue with hotels, so I guess I'm taking you to my house? Although I can't see how staying with a tattooed stranger who you know is part of a dangerous cartel would be more comforting than a hotel."

"You'd really let me stay with you?" She seemed to ignore almost everything I said, instead just picking up on that one thing.

"I suppose. Just don't piss me off and stay the hell out of my way."

She didn't say a word and instead just nodded her head, wringing her fingers together again.

Finally we pulled up to my house and I got out of the car, heading the trunk to start unloading the bags.

"Let me help." Just as I finished taking out my own, I turned to see Lucia watching me.

"You're wearing heels and a dress, there's no way you'll be able to lift those bags out of there."

I think we both knew that she packed freaking rocks or something into her suitcases and that she wouldn't be able to lift them, but for some reason she was stubborn.

I rose an eyebrow at her as she stepped towards me, placing a hand on my chest to push me away a little before she gripped the handles of one of her suitcases.

I can't lie and say I wasn't impressed that she managed to pull it slightly out of the trunk, but after that she just struggled causing a small chuckle to escape my lips.

She was entertaining at least.

She also didn't give up which earned her some of my respect.

She continued to struggle as she wobbled in her high heels, trying to pull her suitcase out of the trunk. Without even thinking, I stepped up behind her, my arms going either side of her as I took the suitcase and helped her to lift it and then put it down on the floor.

Since I was taller than her, even in her stupid heels, from the side I could just about see the satisfied smile on her face when the bag finally hit the ground. But then her smile dropped when she realised the position we were in.

"Um...I think you're a little close to me. Please could you move away?"

Frowning at her sudden shift in mood, I slowly backed away from her, watching as her body instantly relaxed when I was a good distance away from her.

"Sorry."

She didn't say anything else in response to my apology as I took out her other suitcase, rolling both of hers to the front door with the intention of letting her into the house before I went back for my own bags.

However as soon as I put her bags down in the entry hall and turned around to get mine, I saw her struggling up the driveway. She was rolling my suitcase on one side of her while her small frame was being completely weighed down by my duffel bag on her other shoulder.

Not to mention that stupid purse in her hand which probably had a million bottles of antibacterial hand gel in.

"What the hell are you doing?" I quickly rushed over to her to take the duffel bag off her shoulder causing her to release a breath while straightening up again.

"I'm helping, what does it look like I'm doing? I can't let you do all the work."

"Next time if you want to help just carry your stupid purse and leave the heavy stuff to me, okay?"

Woah, back the hell up.

Next time?

"O-okay...sure."

I nodded my head before taking the suitcase from her too, heading into the house with her behind me.

"You have a beautiful house." As I closed the front door, I turned to see her staring at the decor of my house with a small smile on her face, her eyes twinkling as she did.

"I always wanted to be an interior designer when I was young but, well, my dad decided I was better at math, so here I am."

She let out a small chuckle before turning to face me again, only to stop laughing when she saw me already staring straight at her.

She held my stare for a moment before clearing her throat.

"So, where am I staying?"

Snapping out of my little trans, I grabbed her bags before gesturing for her to follow me upstairs.

This is the first time a woman has been upstairs in my house and it happens to be one that I hate.

A lot.

Usually if I sleep with any women I do it at their house and then get the fuck out before they can even begin to think there's a way we could do it again.

Finally we reached the guest room that she was sleeping in and I gestured for her to go inside before I followed her inside with her bags.

I watched as she looked around the room with wide eyes before she eventually drifted over to the floor to ceiling windows over looking LA.

The view from the house was the main reason I bought this house, from every room you could see LA and at night it was so beautiful.

"Is this okay?" At the sound of my voice she spun around, a soft smile dancing on her lips.

"It's beautiful. Thank you Arturo. I promise, I'll be out of your hair tomorrow, and I'll definitely try to make it up to-"

"You don't need to go. I mean...I guess you can stay here until you leave for Mexico, you know, when your business is done with us."

Her eyes widened in surprise at my words and I'm not going to lie, I was a little surprised by my words too.

Okay, no, I was shocked.

"Are you sure? That's too much Arturo-"

"Yes I'm sure..."

No I'm not.

".... don't worry about it...."

What the hell is wrong with you?

"...just make sure you stay the hell out of my way and we'll be good."

Much better.

Her eyes widened at my change in tone and she nodded her head quickly, forcing a small smile on to her face.

"Of course, I'll stay away from you."

I nodded my head before looking around the room awkwardly.

"Well, your bathroom is over there and there's towels and things in the closet over there." I gestured towards two different doors before I began to make my way back towards the hallway.

"If you need me, my room is the last room at the end of the hall. Try not to need me though." I sent one last glare in her direction before closing the door without waiting for her response.

What the hell am I doing?

I let out a sigh and went back downstairs to get my own suitcases before deciding to take a shower to calm myself down.

I have no clue how long she's going to be here for, most likely it would be weeks or months if that Hugo dick wants us to spend all the 700 million dollars before she goes back.

All I can say is this is going to be interesting.

~ Madison's POV ~

"Hurry up."

"Hurry up."

"Hurry up."

"Hurr-"

"Are you freaking kidding me right now? Shut the hell up."

When Santiago finally turned to look at me with a glare I bit my lip quickly nodding my head while he searched through his carry on bag for his house keys.

I'm just saying, you'd think that if someone knew they were coming home, they'd get their house keys ready.

Finally when I heard the familiar jingle of the keys I let out an excited squeal causing him to roll his eyes as he unlocked the front door quietly before pushing it open.

Both Santi and I stepped inside, listening carefully for any sounds of our children.

It definitely wasn't hard either.

"Give it back!"

"No! It's mine Cameron!"

"No it's not, it's for boys Kenzie."

"But you don't even play with it! Why can't I have it?"

Turning to look at Santiago I smiled when I saw the way he was biting his lip to stop himself from showing any kind of vulnerable emotion.

"Home sweet home, huh?" At the sound of my voice he turned to look at me before cracking a small smile.

"Come on." Closing the door behind himself, he took my hand in his tugging me in the direction of the living room.

My eyes widened when I saw that the entire floor was covered with a crazy number of toys and the twins were sitting in the middle of the room arguing over one of them, as usual.

My eyes drifted over to my mom who was sitting on the couch, but instead of looking at the TV which was playing some kind of documentary, she was already looking at the two of us with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face.

I gave her a smile while lifting my finger to my mouth, signalling for her to be quiet before Santiago and I quietly crept up behind the twins. We dropped down to our knees right behind them before I gave Santiago the signal and then he reached out grabbing Kenzie while I grabbed Cameron.

As soon as we did they squealed before turning to see who it was and then their screams got even louder.

I don't even think they even said anything coherent for the first few minutes as they stood up to their full height which was much taller than when I last saw them, before turning around to hug us. As soon as I wrapped my arms around Cameron the tears that had been threatening to make an appearance all day at the thought of seeing them finally welled up in my eyes.

Without letting go of Cameron I eventually turned to look at Kenzie who had just been released from her hug with Santiago. As soon as she saw me looking at her, she eagerly stepped into my arms allowing me to hug her too.

I know I was being a little selfish by hugging them both at the same time but I couldn't help it.

As soon as I had them both in my arms for the first time in five weeks, a sob escaped my lips. They didn't seem to understand why I was crying but they just stood there hugging me for a moment before I eventually placed a kiss each on their cheek.

"I love you both so much. I'm so sorry for being gone for so long."

"It's okay mama, we had fun with Grammy." Eventually I released my tight grip on them, giving Kenzie a tearful smile before I gently pushed Cameron in Santi's direction.

"Give daddy a hug." He nodded his head before going over to Santiago who had just been watching me hug the twins with a soft smile on his face before now pulling Cameron into a hug.

As I stood to my feet again, I lifted Kenzie up into my arms letting out a groan when I did.

"What have you been eating? You're so heavy now baby." When I said this she let out a giggle. "I eat my breakfast, then I eat lunch and then I eat dinner and then I eat my fruit...sometimes."

I nodded my head letting out a small laugh as I finally walked over to my mom who was now standing to her feet. I managed to pull her into a hug with Kenzie in one arm since she had her arms wrapped around my neck to support her weight.

"Thank you so much for looking after them mom, I-"

"Maddie it's really okay. I'm just glad that you're both home safe and well." When she said this she glanced over at Santiago to give him a small smile which he returned.

That's progress I guess. She really did hate him before.

"I should probably head off Maddie, but I will come and see you soon and we'll catch up properly."

I watched as she picked up her purse giving Kenzie a kiss on the cheek as she said goodbye to her.

"But mom..."

"Maddie enjoy your time with your family." She gave me one last smile before going to say goodbye to Cameron, sending Santi a small smile as a goodbye too.

And then she was gone.

"Why did she go so quick?" Turning around, I looked at Santiago who was now holding Cameron in one arm as he stood next to me. I shook my head in confusion in response to his question.

"I don't know."

He let out a small sigh before nudging me with his shoulder.

"You cried first, I won the bet." As soon as he mentioned the bet we made in the car, a smile tugged at my lips and I shook my head.

I have no clue why I would even think of entering into a bet with him since it was so obvious I would lose.

It was a sexual one though so I'm not really complaining. We're still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship so any chance we got we would be thinking about that.

"You might have to wait a few days for that baby, I don't think we'll be alone anytime soon." When I said this I glanced down at the twins who were both giving us cheesy smiles causing me to laugh.

In the car we also discussed the fact that Santiago and I wouldn't be able to spend any time together for the next few days. I knew he wanted to spend a couple of days with them before getting straight back into work too so we would be together for that. But, now that we were actually together and didn't hate each other, I had a feeling it would be a lot harder for us to have any alone time.

"Now that we've gotten past the hellos. Would either of you like to tell me why the living room is such a mess?" I rose an eyebrow at Kenzie whose smile suddenly dropped and she looked away awkwardly.

Then when I turned to look at Cameron he was busy fiddling with the chains around Santiago's neck, acting as if he didn't hear the question.

"I want this room tidied up in the next ten minutes. Do you understand me?"

This time although they weren't looking at me they both nodded their heads while Santiago just chuckled. After this we put them down on the floor and they started picking their toys up into their arms before taking them back upstairs to the playroom to put them away where they were supposed to stay.

At least while they made a million trips up the stairs, it gave Santiago and I a chance to take our bags upstairs to our room and to start unpacking.

When I heard the bedroom door close behind me and the last of the bags being put down on the floor, I began talking to Santiago while taking my jacket off, hanging it up in the walk in closet.

"Babe, just put all your laundry in a pile on the floor, I'll start on it tomorrow, I'm so tired r-"

Before I could finish my sentence, I was suddenly spun around and pressed up against the mirror on the wall. Expecting him to kiss me or something, I stood there waiting but when he just stared at me, I frowned in confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay now. You were crying earlier and I hate it when you cry."

His words brought a smile to my face as I lifted one of my hands, placing it on his cheek.

"I'm okay now baby, thank you." He nodded his head before leaning forward, his body pressed against mine as he cupped my jaw and brought his lips closer to mine. However before he could manage it, I heard one of the twins call my name from another room causing him to groan out loud.

"Can we go back to Mexico please? At least I could kiss you there."

I let out a laugh at his words before gently pushing him away from me so that I could go and find out what they needed.

It really was good to be home.

What did you guys think of this chapter?

Lucia and Arturo are just 😍😍😍😍