“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.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
I NEED TO TALK TO CHRIS. I need to ask him to stop by Friday or to call me at about one. Jose Enrique calls him several times, and the phone is busy. I will call Gabriel and ask him to tell Chris to call me or show up at mi office, he thought, calling Gabriel.
Gabriel’s cell rings and he answers. “Hello,” he said, wondering who is calling him.
“Hola, Gabriel. It’s Jose Enrique. I need a favor,” he said smiling, knowing that Gabriel will do it.
“Si, primo, what’s up?” said Gabriel grinning, wondering what Jose Enrique wants.
“I have been trying to talk to Chris, but his cell has been busy. I think that he’s talking to Mona, and I don’t blame him.” He chuckles. “Gabriel, I need to talk to him in the office or on the phone on Friday. It’s extremely important. Can you tell him to call me Friday in the afternoon about one?”
“Si, Jose Enrique, I’ll tell him. Don’t worry,” said Gabriel grinning.
“Gracias primo, I’ll be seeing you soon. Take care,” he said contento.
“Si, primo, I’ll see you soon,” said Gabriel nodding in agreement.
Jose Enrique ends the call. I need to make a quick stop at the hospital to check on Ricky.
Jose Enrique walks into the hospital cuarto. Ricky is hugging Jacki. He smiles. Yeah mi primo is doing well he thought.
“Primo, how you doing?” whispers Jose Enrique, noticing that Jacki is sleeping.
“I’m doing better. Mi cuerpo is aching.” Ricky grins, looking down at his reina. “Primo, it was the cartel.”
“Si, primo, Tony informed me. They are getting vicious,” said Jose Enrique with rage. “We will contract more security guards at each job site.”
“Si, that will be good,” said Ricky, sighing. “I will be out in a few days.”
“Don’t worry about it and just get well,” he said, smiling at his primo. “You need to be ready for tu boda.”
“Si, y I can’t wait,” he said beaming with alegría.
“Okay, I just needed to check in to see how you’re doing. I need to get to Jessy,” said Jose Enrique.
“Si, primo, thanks,” said Ricky, nodding at his primo.
Jose Enrique arrives at Jessy’s casa anxiously goes to her. Jessy is ready for him. “Hola mi amor, are you feeling well? Where do you want to go to have dinner?” asks Jose Enrique with concern. “Mi amor, you have been working hard, and I want you to slow down even if you have to schedule two clients a day. I know that Monique is not going to be here on Friday.”
“Si, mi vida, I’m feeling well. I get a little tired at the end of the day. I’m starving,” she said, grinning. “I want some Chinese food.”
“Okay, that sounds great,” said Jose Enrique, pulling her to his side.
They went to dinner y Jessy truly savors the food. She consumes a fair amount. This pleases Jose Enrique. “Mi amor, have you scheduled a doctor’s appointment for the bebe?” he asks with concern in his voz.
“Mi vida, I have not thought of that, but I will mañana,” she said nodding in agreement smiling, wondering what they are having. “You don’t care if it’s un niño or niña?”
“Jessica, I want todos los bebes you want to give me. No, I will never prefer one over another,” he said, pulling her close to give her un beso.
“Mi vida, I love you,” said Jessy in heaven, looking at him con todo su amor.
“I love you.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
JOSE ENRIQUE IS ON HIS way to see what’s actually happening at the job sites. I need to connect with the workers, he thought, pulling into one of the last sites on his list.
Jose Enrique approaches the job site foreman to ask him several questions about the job and the materials. Satisfied with the status of the job, he went to his carro. He sits there scrutinizing each worker.
Hmmm, some are workers that I know and some are new. I have to look and see how many workers we have and the years that they have been working.
I think I will stop and see how Tony is doing. He drives to the last job site and gets out of his carro. Tony should be around here, he thought, since his carro is still here.
“Tony,” he calls out, eager to locate him quickly. He wants to go back to have lunch with Jessy. Jose Enrique walks all over the entire job site and can’t locate Tony.
This is just great. All I need is to have another of mis primos hurt. All the workers are at lunch y Tony’s carro is still here. Where is he?
Jose Enrique walks quickly back to the carros, hoping to see Tony. Tony is not there. Jose Enrique is getting stress y alarmed, thinking of calling him on his cell.
He then hears un carro coming down the road, turning he sees a small sporty carro with Tony in it. Jose Enrique stays where he is, observing Tony. I know he hasn’t seen mi carro or me, he thought with amusement.
Cynthia pulls right next to Tony’s carro, smiling at him. “Well, will I be seeing you later?” she asks, praying he will say si.
“Okay, I’ll see you at the coffee shop at six. It’s on Main,” he said smiling, slipping out of the carro before she pulls him back.
I’ll let him go right now since I will be seeing him again. She smiles at him and waves.
What am I going to do with her? I know she’s the one, mi amor. I can feel it. How will la familia handle the fact that she’s Lopez hija?
How can I deal with a chica that is pushy, spoiled, y demanding? I know that she is already driving me loco on so many levels. She makes me burn for her. She gets me pissed off when she doesn’t listen. She is pushy y demanding. I know she’s spoiled and gets everything she wants. How did she know where to find me?
“Tony!”
yells out Jose Enrique, walking toward him in a hurry. “Where were you?” he asks, worried that he had been hurt. “I was worried when I couldn’t find you. I thought the worse,” he said, stopping in front of Tony, looking at his flushed cara.
He turns and then notices la bella chica that is waving y smiling at him as she pulls out.
Hmmm, was me primo with that bella chica? Is she someone special? She looks bellisima, he grins, looks back at Tony with relief. “Primo, why are you keeping tu novia from us? Why the secret?” asks Jose Enrique, punching him in the brazo, laughing at his primo with felicidad.
Tony turns and barely sees Cynthia smiling y waving at him. Cynthia is making him furious y at the same time muy feliz. “Primo, she’s not mi novia even if she does want to be,” he said, turning to look at Jose Enrique.
“Why don’t you want her to be tu novia? She looks like a nice bella chica,” he said with curiosity, waiting for him to enlighten him, noticing the love bite. It has gotten hot, he thought with a grin.
“Primo, I’m so confused with todo los feelings that she provokes in me. She makes me burn like no other, and at the same time, she frustrates me. She is spoiled, demanding, and aggressive, and everything that I didn’t want en mi mujer, but I know that she is the one, mi amor, I can feel it,” he said, clenching his jaw to the point that you can see the muscles flex.
“Una chica can be spoiled, demanding, and aggressive in her everyday life, but, primo, she can also love, be strong, and be faithful to the hombre she loves. Those traits are also qualities that can be tu support when you need it in a marriage. She looks to be bright,” he said, looking at his primo.
Tony hears his primo and considers his words. Am I seeing Cynthia in the wrong perspective? Can it be possible she can also use those traits to be strong qualities like mi primo mentions? I need to think about this.
“Mi amor has all of those traits, and she is completely different with me,” said Jose Enrique. “I admire una mujer that can be strong and can survive without me.”
Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga Page 27