Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga (33 page)

“Gracias, I really appreciate that,” said Carlos, stepping close, giving him a hug with todo his affection that he feels for him.

Jose Enrique returns the hug, slaps his back, con gusto. “Okay, I’ll see you mañana. Let me walk you to the elevator. I don’t think you know your way around yet.”

“Si, that will be good, thanks,” said Carlos, following him down to the elevators, thinking,
Gracias, Dios mio, that he is not pissed off at me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
 

JOSE
ENRIQUE
Y
JESSY
WENT
out to dinner. Jessy is getting worried with his silence. I wonder if he’s still stressing out about the cartel.

“Mi vida, what’s bothering you?” asks Jessy, looking at him, wanting to see if she can figure out what’s bothering him.

“Mi amor, todo that has been happening at la familia’s company is bothering me. The cartel is bothering me. I’m really scared for la familia y tu,” he said immensely frustrated. “I hate that I’m not able to control or stop them.”

“Mi vida, Dios will protect la familia, and we will survive,” said Jessy, looking at him with a smile.

“Si, I know and believe, but I’m worried,” he said, trying to smile at Jessy.

“I love you,” said Jessy, leaning in to give him un beso.

“Mi amor, I love you, and that’s why I’m scared that they might try something to hurt us,” he said, looking into her ojos and noticing that she looks tired. “I think that you’re working too hard, and if Mona is not enough help, we will need to hire another interior design assistant. In fact, now that I think about it, we should. That way, the new assistant will be trained and ready for when we go on our luna de miel and all the other occurrences that will transpire with la familia,” said Jose Enrique, thinking about pregnancy and bebes.

Jessy gazes at him and thought about what he said.
He is correct because after our luna de miel, I will be out on maternity leave and so will Mona. La familia will be full of bebes
, she thought with a smile.

“Mi vida, can we go to a hotel tonight?” she asks, wanting to take the pregnancy test with him.

Jose Enrique looks at his amor and notices that she’s feliz y eager to go to the hotel. “Si, mi amor, we can,” he said, looking for the waiter to bring him the tab.

They arrive at a hotel y quickly enter the cuarto. Jessy is excited about taking the pregnancy test.
I know that I’m pregnant
, she thought with felicidad.
I know Jose Enrique will be incredibly feliz.

Jose Enrique takes her into his brazos starting to give her un beso y to undress her.
Mi amor is all I ever wanted
, he thought, kissing her neck y marking her.

“Mi vida I want to take the test first,” she said as he starts to love her breasts.

Jose Enrique hears her, stops his progress to pull back to look at her, raising one eyebrow in question. “Mi amor, what test?” he asks in curiosity.

“Mi vida, the pregnancy test that I purchased,” she said, smiling at him y waiting for his reaction.

“Pregnancy test,” he croaks, looking at her with surprise y then felicidad. “Mi amor, do you really think you can be pregnant?” he pulls her close to kiss her deeply.

“Si, I think that I’m pregnant, and I want to take the test to be sure,” she said, looking into his hermoso green ojos.

“Okay, let’s take the test,” he said, sitting on the cama, watching her go to her purse to get the test.

They both read the instructions, y Jose Enrique kisses her. “Okay, go take the test and come back, so we can both see the results,” he said with a grin, watching her go to the restroom.

A couple minutes later, Jessy returns y sits next to him, looking at the test tube. “Mi amor, these minutes are dragging,” she said with impatience.

Jose Enrique pulls her onto his lap, wraps his brazos around her as the test tube starts to turn into a positive sign.

Jessy screams with joy and turns to give him lots of besos all over his cara.

Jose Enrique is overwhelmed with felicidad, thinking,
un bebe y es mio
. “Mi amor, I love you, y gracias,” he said kissing her deeply, loving her with all of his corazon y alma.

Mona gets up early y went into work, enjoying the fact that she has a great job y a great esposo.
I love his familia. They are all so sweet
, she thought, walking into the office.

“Good morning, Jessy,” she said smiling, going to where she’s working after putting her purse in her desk. “Is there anything you want me to start on today?”

“Si, Mona. I want you to start reviewing all the packages that we have to offer our clients. I want you to be familiarized with the products and our suppliers. Mona, we need to get this department running smoothly.” Jessy smiles looking at Mona, “Both of us are part of la familia and la compania. I will be getting married at the end of July. We will most likely be having our bebes about the same time. Jose Enrique and I were discussing the fact that we will be out more often than not in the next six to eight months.” She smiles, looking at Mona blush.

“Si, Jessy, you’re right. I just didn’t think about mi marriage y bebe effecting mi job,” said Mona, blushing.

“I know what you mean. I never dreamed that I would be getting married y having un bebe,” said Jessy, sitting down. “Jose Enrique suggests that we hire another interior design assistant because we will be out often. I know I will because after the bebe is born, I don’t know if I will be able to leave him.”

“I haven’t thought of the bebe and its needs. I will discuss this with Chris and see what he wants,” said Mona, sitting down to work.

“Do you think it’s a great idea hiring another interior design assistant? I don’t want you to feel that we are replacing you,” said Jessy, looking at Mona with concern.

“I think that it’s the best decision Jessy. We might have our bebes at the same time. I need to talk to Chris about mi job. Jessy, maybe we can take turns coming in during the week to monitor the new assistant after the bebes are born. I don’t know. It’s just a thought,” said Mona, looking at Jessy.

“Mona, that’s a great idea, and maybe we can do half days or rotate days. I don’t know, but it will be an option. We would not be giving up our dream of our career. Maybe we don’t want a career after the bebes are born,” said Jessy, looking at Mona. “Mona, I need you to keep mi pregnancy quiet. We’re not married yet, and it will be a scandal,” said Jessy, blushing.

“Don’t worry, Jessy, no worries,” she said, blushing because she also slept with Chris before marrying.

Hmmm, I didn’t think about after the bebe is born. Will I be able to leave mi bebe? Does Chris want me to stay home and take care of our bebe? I need to discuss this with Chris
, thought Mona. Mona works hard all day y went to lunch by herself. Jessy, Bella, y Paty were having lunch with their novios.

CHAPTER FORTY
 

TONY
IS
WALKING
OUT
OF
his casa after taking a quick shower, trying to take control of his emotions with a cold shower.

Before I return to the office, I need to stop at the job site to check up on mi hermano,
he thought striding to his carro.

Tony arrives at the job site that Ricky is monitoring y parks next to his carro. He gets out and goes to search for Ricky. It is lunchtime, and the workers were at lunch.

Ricky has to be here, because his carro is still here
, he thought, going into the empty building, calling out Ricky’s name.

“Ricky, where are you?” he calls out, walking into the center of the first floor, looking around when he hears him cry out.

“Tony, I’m over here. I need help. Call the paramedics,” wails Ricky with effort, clenching his jaw, groaning, full of pain.

Tony runs to where Ricky is lying. He is lying on the floor full of blood. Tony panics y calls 911 to get the paramedics at the job site.

“Hermano, are you okay? What happen? Who did this to you?” he asks looking at Ricky’s face full of blood, and there’s a slash at his side that appears not to be real deep or dangerous. One of his manos seems to have at least one broken finger.

“Tony, I know it was the cartel. The guey mentioned El Mextli queire jugar. El guey said that this is only un pequeno adviso, that next time it will be worse if we don’t comply with their demands,” said Ricky, coughing up some blood.

The paramedics arrive at the job site y start to attend to Ricky, taking him into the ambulance. “Hermano, remember to be careful how you tell mi reina. I don’t want her upset and risk losing our bebe,” said Ricky, looking at Tony in the ojos with concern y pain.

“Don’t worry hermano. We will try to be careful with Jacki,” he said. “I will follow the ambulance y call Alex.”
I need to call mis padres, and I don’t know if we should call Jacki yet,
thought Tony calling his padres.

“Hola, mi hijo,” said his mama Lupe smiling, thinking that Tony had just left a few minutes ago. “Did you forget something, mi hijo?”

“Mama, don’t get scared, but Ricky has had some injuries at the job site. I need you y mi papa to come to the hospital,” said Tony with anxiety in his voz. “Ricky doesn’t want us to tell Jacki yet.”

“Okay, mi hijo. Tu papa y yo will be there in a few,” said his mama Lupe with faint voz, trying not to cave in to the dolor y fear she is feeling.

“Okay, Mama,” said Tony, ending the call and calling Alex y Jose Enrique.
I need to call mi primo Alex to advise him that Ricky is on his way
. “Primo, I need you to go to the ER. Ricky is hurt,” said Tony in an anxious tone.

“I’m on it, primo,” said Alex, ending the call.

“Primo, I’m on mi way to the hospital. I found Ricky hurt at the job site when I stopped by to check on him after mi meeting with Lopez,” said Tony, not waiting for greetings.

Jose Enrique heeds what Tony is telling him sitting down on his chair with a heavy corazon, full of fear y anger. “Que paso, primo?” he asks with dolor.

“Ricky stated that he knows it was the cartel because los gueys conveyed its un pequeno adviso. Ricky stated that the cartel, el guey mentioned that El Mextli queire jugar. They want us to comply with their demands,” said Tony with rage y frustration.

“Keep me updated, and I’ll check in with Ricky later,” said Jose Enrique with anger. Jose Enrique stands, pacing back y forth in the oficina.
What’s going on? Why are we having so many accidents? This is getting old
, he thought, running his manos through his pelo.

Friday I will contact Chris in the afternoon to discuss the occurrences, and maybe he has some ideas on how to deal with the cartel. This is getting extremely dangerous. They have now started to hurt la familia and this is not going to be tolerated.

“Jose Enrique, what’s wrong?” asks Carlos entering his office, noticing how stress out he is.

“Carlos, the cartel assaulted Ricky, and he’s at the hospital. Ricky informed Tony that it was the cartel. Ricky states that los gueys stated it is un pequeno adviso. He said that the cartel, el guey proclaimed that El Mextli queire jugar. They want us to comply with their demands. Ricky has bruises, a slash on the side, and at least one broken finger. Tony found Ricky hurt at the job site when he stopped by to check on him,” said Jose Enrique with frustration y rage. “I don’t know what to do to protect la familia. I’m scared that they will continue to hurt la familia and cause additional delays at the job sites.”

“Si, amigo, you’re correct, and the cartel appears to be serious about establishing an association with tu familia,” said Carlos, starting to pace along with his amigo.

This is getting scary, and I’m afraid for Paty y la familia. I have never seen the cartel be so vicious and forceful. They really want la familia De La Cruz to associate with them, and the reasons can be many
, thought Carlos. “I can’t think of anything that you can do to stop them,” said Carlos with exasperation y fury.
I cannot help without blowing mi cover, y I’m still a CIA agent no matter how in love I am. This has to be the toughest job I have had en toda mi vida.

“I know what you’re saying, amigo, and believe me that I have tried to think of a solution,” said Jose Enrique undoing his tie. “I’m waiting for Tony to call back with an update on Ricky’s condition.”

The paramedics took Ricky to the hospital, and the emergency staff worked on Ricky. Alex is also called into the emergency room to assist. The doctors are able to stabilize the side wound and take care of the two broken fingers.

Alex walks out of the ER to talk to la familia. “Tios, primo, Ricky is stabilized and doing well. The injuries are not life-threatening. The wound required some stitches, and the fingers were put in a brace. He has two broken ribs and some bruises all over his cuerpo y cara. Ricky will be okay in a few days,” he said, looking at his familia with concern.

“Okay, mi hijo. I will have Tony go get Jacki. She will want to know,” said Mama Lupe, looking at her esposo with dolor.

“I’m on my way,” said Tony, going to get Jacki.
Dios mio, help me tell her in a way that she will not be hurt.
Tony pulls out his cell to call Jose Enrique to give him an update.

The cell rings, Jose Enrique answers it in a hurry. “Hola,” he said, looking at Carlos.

“Hola, Jose Enrique. Ricky is doing great,” said Tony, getting into his carro. “The wound needed some stitches, and two fingers were broken. The doctors put some braces on his fingers. He also has two cracked ribs and some bruises. The doctors want to keep him overnight for observation.”

“That sounds great. I was worried. I have been thinking about what we should do about the cartel. Chris will be here mañana, and I’m going to talk to him about what has been happening,” said Jose Enrique, gazing out of the window in his office toward the sea.

“That sounds great primo,” said Tony, driving to the restaurant to get dinner for Ricky y Jacki. “I have to let you go primo. I’m getting Ricky y Jacki some dinner. I’ll talk to you mañana,” said Tony, ending the call.

“That was Tony. Ricky is doing well. The wound needed some stitches, and two fingers were broken. He has two broken ribs, and the doctors put some braces on his fingers. He has some bruises over his curepo, and the doctors want to keep Ricky overnight for observation,” said Jose Enrique, relaxing.

“Amigo, everything will be okay. The great thing is that the cartel didn’t kill him,” he said, trying to be positive about the situation. “Okay, I just want to check and see if you need anything,” he said, standing to return to Paty.

I need to go see if Greg has anything worked out
, thought Jose Enrique, going to Bella’s office. “Prima is Greg here?” asks Jose Enrique, walking into her office looking for Greg.

“I’m here, Jose Enrique,” said Greg, standing, looking at him.

“I need to make sure that we take care of our investments first. Then I want some options in our stocks,” said Jose Enrique smiling.

“Si, I have already looked into a secure and lucrative portfolio for your investments,” said Greg, going to his brief case. “I can review this portfolio with you y Bella if you have time.”

“Si, that is a great idea,” said Jose Enrique. “We can go into the conference room and use the overhead for your presentation.”

“Si, we can do that. I have mi laptop with the portfolio,” said Greg, looking at Bella smiling with pleasure.

“Tony and Ricky are not available. We need to have Greg make a copy for us to forward to them,” said Jose Enrique.

“I’ll get Paty and you set up in the conference room,” said Jose Enrique, heading to get his hermana. “Paty, I need you to come to the conference room to see the investment portfolio presentation,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Paty y Carlos.

“Okay, hermano,” said Paty smiling. “Come on Carlos,” she said, standing, following behind Jose Enrique.

Hmmm, mi buddy Greg really knows his stuff. I’m glad that he is directing them in the right direction. La familia will be very wealthy
, thought Carlos, looking at the figures.

I wonder if that is the reason that the Mexican Cartel is so keen on associating with them. Is the cartel targeting la familia exclusively because of their wealth? I need to review this with Greg.