Hot & Enchanting (De La Cruz Saga)

by Macias, P. T

  “Hermano are you okay, what happen? Who did this to you?” asks Tony looking at Ricky face full of blood and intense pain. The slash at his side appears not to be real deep and dangerous. He’s bleeding and one of his hands appears to have at least one broken finger.

  “Tony I know it was the cartel. The guey mention El Mextli queire que juegen. They said that this was only a pequeno adviso and that next time it will be worse if we don’t comply with their demands!” grunts Ricky coughing up some blood.

  The paramedics arrive and start to attend to Ricky. They take 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,” says Ricky looking at Tony in the eyes with concern and pain.

  “Don’t worry hermano, we’ll try to be careful with Jacki,” replies Tony. “I will follow the ambulance and call Alex.”

  I need to call mis padres and I don’t know if we should call Jacki yet, thinks Tony making the call to his padres.

  “Hola mi hijo,” says his Mama Lupe smiling. “Did you forget something mi hijo?”

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

  “Okay mi hijo, your papa and I will be there in a few,” replies his mama Lupe with faint voice, trying not to cave in to pain and fear she’s feeling.

  “Okay mama,” says Tony ending the call. He calls Alex and Jose Enrique. I need to call mi primo Alex and let him know that Ricky is on his way.

  “Primo I need you to go to emergency, Ricky is hurt,” says Tony.

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

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

  Jose Enrique hears what Tony said and sits on his chair with a heavy heart full of fear and anger. “Que paso primo?” asks Jose Enrique with pain.

  “Ricky said that he knows it was the cartel, because they said it was un pequeno adviso and that the cartel wants us to juegar with them. They want us to comply with their demands,” says Tony with frustration and anger.

  “Keep me updated and I’ll be on my way after work,” replies Jose Enrique with anger.

  The paramedics take Ricky to the hospital and the emergency staff work 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 emergency room to talk to la familia. “Tios, Tony, Ricky is stabilized and doing well. The injuries are not life threatening. The wound required some stiches and the fingers were put in a brace. He also has some broken ribs, we wrapped him up. He has some bruises all over his body and on the face. He will be okay in a few days.” says Alex looking at his familia with concern.

  “Okay mi hijo, I’ll have Tony go and get Jacki. She will want to know,” says Mama Lupe looking at her esposo with pain.

  “I’m on my way,” says Tony going to get Jacki. Dios mio help me tell her in a way that she will not be hurt, thinks Tony.

  Tony arrives at Jacki’s casa. Tony jumps out of his carro and knocks on her door. Jacki answers with a smile. “Hola Tony,” says Jacki. She motions him to come into the casa. “What’s up?”

  “Jacki I need to take you to Ricky,” says Tony, letting some of the urgency to sit in. “He was hurt a at the job site. He asked me to come and get you.”

  Jacki sways and Tony catches her. She grabs hold of his arm and takes a deep breath. “Mi baby is okay?” asks Jacki trembling and in pain, she takes deep breaths.

  “Jacki calm down, he’s okay. That’s why he didn’t want us to tell you right away. Ricky doesn’t want you upset,” replies Tony. He looks at his hermanos bella esposa.

  “I’m okay Tony, I need to go to his side,” responds Jacki straightening her back with determination looking at him.

  “Okay Jacki, I’ll take you,” replies Tony, smiling and admiring her strong will.

  “Let me get my purse and tell mis padres,” says Jacki striding to her room. She quickly grabs her purse and then strides into the family room to speak to her padres.

  “Papa, mama mi esposo is hurt and in the hospital. I’m going to him. I’m telling you right now that I’ll be staying with him from now on. He’s hurt and I will take care of mi esposo,” states Jacki looking at her padre.

  “Mi hija I told you and Ricardo that you can’t live with him until you’re married by the church,” bellows her padre as he stands to look at his hija.

  “Si padre, I understand your requirements, conditions and reasons. I was trying hard to keep you happy, but now mi esposo is injured, and in the hospital. I will not play this game any longer,” states Jacki walking away.

  “Mi hija, please don’t make me mad!” roars her padre walking after her. “I want you in la casa at night.”

  “I’ll be back to get my things padre,” replies Jacki walking out the door with Tony.

  “Are you okay,” asks Tony looking at her with concern. She looks real pale and ready to faint, thinks Tony. He walks close to her in case that she faints.

  “Yes I’m okay, I need to be with Ricky,” replies Jacki. She has tears in her beautiful eyes and pain.

  “Okay we’re on our way,” replies Tony sliding into the carro.

  Jacki enters the room that Ricky is in and sees that his padres are with him. Gracias Dios mio, he’s alive, thinks Jacki running to him.

  Jacki cries when she sees his beat up face. “Baby you’re okay?” asks Jacki leaning down to tenderly kiss his lips and every single bruise.

  “Yes I am, I’m only a little bruised up and have a few stiches. Mi reina are you feeling okay?” asks Ricky with concern seeing that she’s very pale. “You need to stay calm.”

  “I know Baby, I need to make sure that you’re okay,” answers Jacki looking over every inch of his gorgeous body. Satisfied that he’s intact, she sits next to him, tenderly rubbing her fingers over his face.

  “Mama, papa mi reina is going to have our bebe,” announces Ricky grinning with happiness in spite of his injuries.

  “Si mi hijo, are you sure?” asks his mama going to hug Jacki. “We will have a nieto, muchas gracias mi hija!”

  His papa is immensely feliz with the news. “Gracias Jacki, a nieto is what we have been waiting for,” says Papa Jorge, smiling giving her a hug.

  “Si, I’m a few weeks,” says Jacki smiling, blushing looking at her Baby. “Ricky I love you.”

  “I love you mi reina,” replies Ricky pulling her closer to him, moaning in pain.

  “Baby, don’t move. Are you coming home tonight?” asks Jacki looking at him and then at his padres.

  “I don’t know, the doctors haven’t said anything,” replies Ricky looking at Jacki.

  “Baby, I’m staying with you, and I don’t care where you’re at. I’m staying at your side,” declares Jacki leaning into his side.

  “Mi reina your papa will be pissed,” says Ricky with frustration, wanting her close.

  “I know Baby and I already told him that I was staying with you and I need to take care of you,” says Jacki giving him a beso very softly on his split lip. “Your mi esposo Ricardo and I will take care of you.”

  Ricky looks at her and sees that she’s very determined. I just love that about her, thinks Ricky grinning. When mi reina wants something, she digs her heels in.

  Alex walks into the room and looks around at la familia, he smiles. “Primo we want you to stay overnight for observations. Jacki can stay with you,” says Alex smiling. He notices how she’s already resting right next to him. “You will be taken to your room in a few minutes.” he turns to look at his tios and smiles.

  “Como estan Tios,” asks Alex.

  “Buen mi hijo, now that we know that Ricardo is going to be o
kay?” replies his Tio Jorge

  “Si mi hijo, I’m okay,” says his Tia Lupe observing Jacki and Ricky.

  “Okay tios, tengo que trabajar (have to work),” says Alex smiling, walking out.

  “Si Baby, I will stay with you,” says Jacki not going to budge on this. “Have you eaten?”

  “No, I have not and I am hungry now,” replies Ricky turning to his hermano Tony. “Hermano, can you bring us some food?”

  “Si hermano, I’ll go get you some food,” replies Tony standing and walking out. Tony pulls out his cell and calls Jose Enrique to give him the latest information.

  “Hola Jose Enrique, Ricky is doing great,” states Tony getting into his carro. “The wound needed some stiches and two fingers were broken. The doctors put some braces on his fingers. He also has two cracked ribs and some bruises all over. 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. Christian will be here on Friday and I’m going to talk to him about what has been transpiring,” says Jose Enrique looking out of his window in his office.

  “That sounds good primo,” says Tony driving to the restaurant to get the food for Ricky and Jacki.

  “I have to let you go primo. I’m getting Ricky and Jacki some food. I’ll talk to you manana,” says Tony ending the call.

  Tony takes the food quickly back to the hospital. He wants to make sure that Ricky and Jacki have a good meal.

  “Hermano here’s some Italian food,” says Tony setting the food in front of them on a table.

  “Gracias hermano,” says Ricky grinning, adjusting his position so he can eat and pulls his reina next to him moaning. “I told papa and mama that I’m okay. I advised them to go home and relax.”

  “Si hermano I agree with you,” says Tony taking a seat. “Jose Enrique knows that Jacki isn’t coming back to work until the honeymoon is over and I told him what happened to you.”

  “Hermano gracias for all of your help,” says Ricky taking a bite of his chicken.

  “Ricky, Jose Enrique said that he is going to talk to Christian manana in the afternoon to see what he suggests we do,” says Tony.

  “Great, I’m glad that he is, because that’s exactly what I wanted to do since the first call,” says Ricky trying not to alert Jacki of what was occurring. He looks at Tony to alert him not to say anything else.

  “I see, and I will continue to monitor the job sites,” says Tony standing to leave. “Hermano I’m leaving. Do you need me to get you anything else?”

  “No hermano, that’s it. Thank you again for getting Jacki.” says Ricky looking over at Jacki.

  Jacki smiles and starts to look sleepy after eating the food.

  “Mi reina take a nap,” says Ricky noticing how tired she looks.

  “Adios you two,” says Tony walking out of the room to get home. This has been a very long and emotional day, thinks Tony.

  Jose Enrique walks into the room looking at Ricky hugging Jacki. “Primo how you doing?” whispers Jose Enrique noticing that Jacki is sleeping.

  “I’m doing better, I feel a sore,” replies Ricky looking down at his reina. “Primo it was the cartel.”

  “Si primo, Tony told me. They’re getting vicious,” says Jose Enrique with anger. “We will have the job sites with more security guards.”

  “Si that will be good,” replies Ricky sighing. “I will be out in a few days.”

  “Don’t worry about it and just get well,” says Jose Enrique smiling at his primo. “You need to be ready for the boda.”

  “Si and I can’t wait,” replies Ricky with felicidad.

  “Okay, I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. I need to get to Jessy,” says Jose Enrique.

  “Si primo, thanks,” replies Ricky smiling

  Ricky leans back and pulls his reina into his arms. He is content that he has her at his side even if not in the best of circumstances.

  I know that her padre is pissed off and will most likely make mi reina’s vida amarga. We only want to be together and that’s why we eloped. She’s mi esposa and now she’s carrying mi bebe, thinks Ricky putting his hand on her womb rubbing it softly.

  “Bebe I love you with todo mi corazon,” says Ricky leaning down and kisses her womb tenderly. Yeah, I knew he was coming the moment his life started, thinks Ricky pulling his vida into his arms slowly.

  Ricky falls asleep with Jacki in his arms. It has been a tiring day for both of them. The nurse enters the room to check up on Ricky and sees that his vitals are okay. She didn’t wake him.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Jacki wakes up running to the toilet not feeling well. Hmmm, I wonder if it was the dinner that we had last night, thinks Jacki. Very weak, she returns to bed next to Ricky.

  “Mi reina how long have you had this morning sickness?” asks Ricky concerned with her nutrition. “Have you gone to the doctor to get your prenatal pills?”

  “Baby, I didn’t think about it and this is the first time that I have had morning sickness,” replies Jacki attempting to smile at Ricky.

  He pulls her into his arms, rubs her back. “Mi reina I’m having mi primo Alex check you out and get you some prenatal pills. It’s important for you and our bebe,” says Ricky with concern.

  “Si Baby your right,” replies Jacki loving how he loves her. Jacki falls asleep again in his arms.

  Is it normal to sleep so much? I need to talk to Alex, thinks Ricky observing Jacki sleep.

  The nurse enters the room and takes his vitals. “Can you please call Doctor De La Cruz? I need to speak to him,” requests Ricky.

  “Yes Mr. De La Cruz,” replies the nurse returning to the nurse station to call Doctor De La Cruz.

  Alex walks into the room expecting to see Ricky worked up about something. Hmmm I wonder what he wants, thinks Alex, walking quietly into the cuarto.

  “Primo thanks for coming,” says Ricky smiling, looking at his primo curious and surprised face. “I want you to check Jacki out. Mi reina is having mi bebe and I want you to get us some prenatal pills.”

  “Wow primo, congratulations this is awesome,” replies Alex. “Our padres are going to go crazy with the bebe.”

  “I know and I want to make sure everything is good. Mi Reina had morning sickness this morning. She said for the first time. I just want to make sure that she and the bebe are okay and that they both get the nutrients that they need,” says Ricky looking at his primo with concern. “Is it normal to sleep so much?”

  “Si primo it is normal, especially in the first few months, she’ll be having morning sickness, sleeping, and fainting spells. These systems do not last long in most cases,” states Alex amused, smiling at his primo.

  “She’s sleeping again right now and can you still check her and the bebe?” asks Ricky looking at Jacki’s flushed face. “Is she hot?”

  “No primo, she’s okay and don’t worry I will take her vitals and bebe right now.” replies Alex getting closer to Jacki. “She will need to make an appointment with her gynecologist to have the bebe measured and ultrasound taken. All of the process is very exciting.”

  “El bebe sounds good primo and I will get her some prenatal pills. She still needs to make an appointment with her doctor,” says Alex walking out to get her the pills.

  “Baby, what did Alex tell you?” asks Jacki barely remembering hearing what he said

  “That it’s natural for you to sleep and the morning sickness will only in most cases last through the first months. He’s getting us your prenatal pills. He said for you to make an appointment with your gynecologist,” replies Ricky immensely feliz. “Mi Reina I want to go to all your appointments.”

  “Si Baby I will love that,” replies Jacki, kissing him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “Mi Reina you need to behave because, we cannot do anything in this bed and I’m still hurt,” says Ricky.

  “Baby that’s right, I forgot that you have stich
es. How are you feeling today?” asks Jacki with concern.

  “I’m doing well, but I just cannot do a lot of moving,” replies Ricky, grinning, leaning in to whisper. “Mi Reina when were in our casa, you can love me, and I promise not to move.”

  “Baby you’re so wicked,” replies Jacki grinning.

  “Primo here are the pills and Jacki you need to make an appointment with your doctor,” says Alex happy to see them so in love.

  “Gracias Alex,” replies Jacki blushing.

  “Mis hijos buenos dias,” says his Mama Lupe walking into the room. “How are you doing today?”

  “Doing good Mama, hola papa,” says Ricky looking at his padres. “Alex just checked out Jacki and gave us her prenatal pills.”

  “Mi hijo, Alex is she okay?” asks Mama Lupe worried that Jacki could be having problems with the bebe.

  “Tia everything is okay, Jacki needs to rest, make a regular doctor appointment, and take her prenatal pills,” replies Alex grinning at his tios. “Ricky is doing great and he can go to casa now.”

  “Bueno, we are here to take them to la casa,” replies Papa Jorge nodding.

  They went home to the casa and settle Ricky into his cama. Jacki is at his side. The phone rings and Jacki answers, it is Jessy. “Hola hermana,” says Jacki going to the restroom trying not to wake Ricky.

  “Jacki, how is Ricky doing?” asks Jessy.

  “He’s doing well, right now he is resting,” replies Jacki wondering what is going on. “Is papa real pissed?”

  “Yeah, he is and he wants you back in la casa. I just don’t get why he gets so upset. Your wedding is only a few days away,” says Jessy shrugging her shoulders.

  “Hermana, I’m not going back to stay in la casa. I will go back to get mis cosas. Mi Baby needs me. He was hurt and now it’s my responsibility to care for him.” says Jacki.

  “Jacki I totally agree with you and so does mi mama,” replies Jessy. “You know that papa is real, real old school. You’re lucky he didn’t throw Ricky out that first day.”

  “Yes I know and you know that I had been trying to please him, but this is serious. I’m not backing down Jessy,” Jacki is frustrated with her papa. Hmmm I better calm down, thinks Jacki taking a deep breath.