“Here,” said Greg shoving his wallet back to him and pushing him forward in the path to the club.
“What are we going to do? I don’t want the cartel to hurt our mujers. If we call the police they might hurt them,” said Jose Enrique, starting to panic.
“Jose Enrique, we’re going back to la casa, and we are going to call the government agency that has been working with you,” said Carlos, taking control of the situation and looking at Greg nod in agreement.
We can’t stay out of this now and not advise la familia that we’re CIA agents. Not when our mujers are in danger and fuck our jobs and careers, thought Greg, looking at Carlos.
“Si, I’m in,” said Carlos, knowing full well what Greg is thinking. “Let’s go.”
“Okay,” said Greg, turning to go to his carro, knowing full well how angry la familia and CIA agency are going to be with him and Carlos.
“Come on, Jose Enrique, let’s get back to la casa,” said Carlos, walking him to his carro. “Do you want to leave mi carro here, and we can go in yours?” asks Carlos. “Mi carro is a rental.”
“Si, that sounds good,” said Jose Enrique, starting to snap out of this and controlling his fear and rage. “We need to do something before they hurt our mujers.”
“Si,” said Carlos, sitting in the passenger side, watching if Jose Enrique is now okay. He waits for Jose Enrique to get into el carro to start talking. “Jose Enrique, I need to tell you something real important.”
“What can be more important than our mujers that are in the clutches of that ruthless, lowlife bastardo?” growls out Jose Enrique with fury reflecting in his ojos that are shining with the intense emotions that are ruling him.
“Amigo, I need you to know that Greg and I are CIA agents that are assigned to gather intel on the cartel’s phone calls and to determine the level of your involvement,” said Carlos with regret in hurting one of his best amigos and now familia. “I’m sorry for the secrecy and deceit in approaching you.”
“Que diablos are you saying, Carlos? Did you marry mi hermana also for kicks and giggles?” he shouts at Carlos, looking and growing furious.
“No, guey, I love Patricia with todo mi alma y corazon,” said Carlos through clenched teeth. “I know that you and la familia are not involved and never will be involved with the cartel. I also know that the cartel has been harassing you y tu familia. That is why we are here to gather intel and to assist if needed.”
“A lot of help you and Greg have been!” yells Jose Enrique in rage. “Do you see what has happened? The cartel has our mujers, and your CIA agency and all the other government agencies could had helped and stopped this a long time ago.”
“Jose Enrique, I know and that is exactly how we feel, and now we need to go call them to get them to move and get our mujers before those bastardos hurt them,” said Carlos with pain mirroring in his voz y su ojos. “Our mujers are in grave danger.”
“Si, guey, I know, and they also have mi prima, Claudia. The government doesn’t appear to be doing anything to rescue her,” said Jose Enrique, trying to control his emotions, turning on the carro.
“Let’s get to your casa, and we need to get all the agencies involved. I don’t care how late it is and who I have to call to get them to take actions,” said Carlos with rage. “Greg is following us. Jose Enrique, we sincerely fell in love with Paty y Bella,” said Carlos with sincerity and honesty.
“I really hope so, guey. I really gave you all of mi trust, and you gave mi nothing but lies,” said Jose Enrique with clenched teeth.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
THEY ARRIVED AT JOSE ENRIQUE’S casa and went into la familia cuarto. Jose Enrique is trying to decide if he should wake up his padres or wait.
“Si, Jose Enrique, I think that it’s time that tus padres learn about the cartel,” said Carlos, pacing back and forth.
“Si, we need them to know and also tus tios. Las casas are going to be full of government agencies,” said Greg, pacing back and forth, trying to think of what to do. I hate this. I have mis manos tied. It sure does me a lot of good being a CIA agent. This is fucking too much to stand, he thought, trying to control his terror and rage.
“Carlos, we need to get this going now because time is running out for our mujers!” yells Greg, pulling out his cell and calling the special operations officer Jackson.
The cell call went through to SO officer Jackson’s voice mail. “Jackson, this is Greg, and I need you to call me back ASAP. It is an emergency,” he said, hanging up to turn to get the number of the FBI agent from Jose Enrique.
“Jose Enrique, you have the number of the FBI agent that you have been talking to?” requests Greg with urgency and exasperation. “You need to get tus padres up so we can communicate what has been happening.”
“I’m calling the police to get something going now,” said Carlos with frustration, pulling out his cell to make the call.
“Si, I’ll go and wake up mis padres,” said Jose Enrique, going to get them and walking out of the familia cuarto and into the hallway to get to their cuarto. He pauses outside the door, dreading the reaction of his padres. I don’t want them to get scared or ill, he thought as he starts to knock on their door. “Padres, I really need to talk to you,” he said through the door, praying that they heard him.
“Si, mi hijo, just a minute,” said his papa Francisco, starting to get up and putting on his robe. “Amor,” he said, trying to wake up his esposa by rubbing her back.
Mama Queta turns to look at her esposo with sleepy and concerned ojos. “What’s happening?” she asks, noticing that he is up.
“We need to go to the familia cuarto. Jose Enrique needs to talk to us. Our hijo sounds real concern and scared,” said Papa Francisco, assisting her out of her cama with tenderness.
“Si,” She quickly gets out of la cama with his assistance and puts on her housecoat, walking toward the door with her esposo.
They went out of the cuarto and saw Jose Enrique waiting for them down the hallway. “Mi hijo, que pasa?” asks his mama Queta with concern upon seeing how grave and pale Jose Enrique looks, trying to control his emotions and terror.
“Mama,” croaks out Jose Enrique, trying to control his emotions. “Let’s go to la familia cuarto,” he said walking toward where Greg and Carlos wait for them.
“Mis hijos, que esta pasando?” asks Mama Queta, looking at the grave, furious, and terrified caras of all three of her hijos. They all look like they are ready to cry, she thought.
“Tell us que esta pasando,” demand papa Francisco, knowing that something terrible must have happen to have his muchachos like this.
“Padres, Jessy, Paty, y Bella have been kidnapped by the Baja California Cartel,” said Jose Enrique with anguish, feeling a tight, painful dolor in the center of his chest. He is trying to control his emotions, turning to Carlos y Greg to elaborate.
“Si, we are calling all the government agencies to get them to move now and rescue our mujers,” said Carlos with grief y terror in his ojos, trying not to break down.
“Si, la policia are on their way, and I know that the FBI y CIA will be here soon,” said Greg, wiping his mano across his cara, rubbing his ojos, refusing to break down. Not now when I need to be alert y ready to move for mi Bella. I need to get mi Bella back en our casa ASAP.
“Mis hijos, por que paso esto?” asks papa Francisco, looking at Jose Enrique, Carlos, y Greg for answers, trying not to get scared for his hijas.
“Padres, we tried to keep this under control and not to get you y mis tios involved. We didn’t want to worry you,” said Jose Enrique, starting to pace back and forth. “Padres, this all started on June 3 to be precise—the phone call from the cartel asking la familia company to work with them in money laundering. Of course I told them that we definitely are not interested. They continued to call and to make threats. Then they started causing our jobsites to have delays, causing la familia’s company hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. They also are the ones th
at beat up Ricardo, trying to scare and pressure us into working with the cartel. Tony was also affected because the cartel also contacted and pressured our client, Lopez, to also work with them. El Señor Lopez was told by the cartel that we recommended him. The cartel told us that Lopez recommended us. This caused all the issues with Tony’s relationship with Cynthia. El Señor Lopez’s security guards beat Tony up, and that is why he is in el hospital,” said Jose Enrique with relief to finally share the burden, stopping in front of his padres.
“Si, I also want to make real clear that I love Patricia with todo mi alma, corazon, y mente,” said Carlos, walking toward his suegros.
“Si, I also love Bella con todo mi alma,” said Greg, walking closer to see their reactions when they learn that he and Carlos are CIA agents.
“We need to tell you that Greg and I are CIA agents. Our mission is to get intel from la familia company and to see what level la familia company is involved with the cartel,” said Carlos, hearing Mama Queta gasp with shock. “I know that you are not involved with the cartel because I know Jose Enrique.”
“Si, we confirmed this immediately. Our SO officer stated that the government is going to set a trap for the cartel and stop them from harassing la familia,” said Greg, walking back and forth. “The cartel is extremely ruthless and kidnapped our mujers this evening at the club. We didn’t see it coming,” said Greg with frustration and rage.
“Dios mio, mis niñas,” cries out mama Queta upon learning the magnitude of danger that las niñas are in. She cannot tolerate so much terror and dolor, and she faints.
Greg was closer to mama Queta, and he was able to catch her before she hit the floor. He takes her to the sofa. “Queta,” cries her esposo, Francisco, going to her to see if she is breathing.
Jose Enrique calls 911 to get the paramedics to come to la casa, looking at Carlos and Greg for directions.
“The police are on their way,” said Carlos, pulling out his cell to call special operations officer Jackson, letting it ring and hearing it go into voice mail. He dials again, thinking that he will call until he gets him on the line. He finally gets through after the fourth call
“Corona, this better be good!” yells his SO officer Jackson, sitting up in bed.
“Sir, I need you to get us some help in rescuing our women. The cartel has kidnapped my wife, Greg’s wife, and Jose Enrique’s fiancée,” states Carlos. “I need the government to get on it.”
“Corona, what are you talking about?” asks SO officer Jackson, getting up from his bed in his boxers. I don’t understand what’s going on, and when did they get married? “Did you say your wife?”
“Yes, Greg and I were married two weeks ago,” said Carlos. “We didn’t want this to interfere with the mission.”
“You should have told me because this changes everything, and I need to talk to the CIA commander Martin about what has transpired,” said SO officer Jackson, starting to get dressed. “Where are you?”
“We’re at Jose Enrique’s home,” said Carlos, looking at Jose Enrique and Greg. “Sir, we need your help in rescuing our wives.”
“Corona, I need all the intel,” he said, walking to his desk to write down all the intel. “Okay, I have it.”
“Please help us get our wives,” said Carlos with an imploring tone, willing to beg if necessary.
“Agent Corona, I will be there shortly after I make the call to Commander Martin,” said SO officer Jackson, not believing that his men fell in love and married. They should have advised me of this. Yeah, I know that they didn’t want to be moved from this mission. I understand, but I know it’s not wise. Their safety, the De La Cruz safety is jeopardized when the agents’ hearts and minds are involved. They will not be able to react in dangerous situations.
Now the cartel has these young women, and who knows if we will be able to rescue them in time. This is exactly what happens when your heart is involved. I need to get the FBI and get the military to help in their rescue. I know that their cousin and brother are Navy SEALs, he thought, making the call.
SO officer Jackson made the call to the CIA commander Martin and waited for the call to be answered. “Jackson, this better be good,” he barked into the cell, waiting to hear what in the world happened that can’t wait till morning. He turns to see what time it is. It’s fucking 2400! He sat up in bed in his shorts, waiting to hear what is so important. “Well?”
“Commander Martin, I’m calling to inform you of the new developments with the De la Cruz family and the new drug cartel. The cartel has kidnapped three of the young ladies early this evening at approximately 2200. The cartel sent a note to Jose Enrique De La Cruz. The young ladies that were kidnapped are Ms. Jessica Cortez—Mr. De La Cruz fiancée, Ms. Isabella De La Cruz, and Ms. Patricia De La Cruz. I need to advise you that Agent McKenzie married Ms. Isabella and Agent Corona married Ms. Patricia,” said SO officer Jackson, not sure how this is going to affect them.
“This is incredible, and there really is not much we can do or say about the marriages. Agent McKenzie and Agent Corona are permitted to marry. The issue here is the fact that they didn’t advise the CIA. They were supposed to be transferred from this mission if we had been informed of their marriage,” said CIA commander Martin.
“Yes, sir,” said SO officer Jackson, waiting to hear if he was going to get the Navy SEALs to deploy to rescue these young ladies.
“I will call the CIA director Young and request that the Navy SEALs get deployed immediately to rescue these young ladies. I know that you have the crucial intel from the kidnapper’s note? You have located the location of where the cartel has taken these young ladies?” asks CIA commander Martin, going to his office to write down the intel.
“Yes, sir, the drug cartel is the one that is new and is in control of Baja California with the ambition of taking control of California. He is new and ruthless, trying to establish his power and position. He is located in Baja California, and I have the air traffic reports that indicate where a helicopter was en route at the time frame of the kidnapping. Sir, I emailed you the intel,” said SO officer Jackson.
“Good, now I will give the Navy this intel, with any luck the young ladies will be rescued before they come to any harm,” said CIA commander Martin. “Keep me informed on any new developments. I will contact the FBI to advise them of these new developments with the De La Cruz family.”
“Yes, sir,” said SO officer Jackson, ending the call and going to his room to get dressed. He is out of his casa and in his carro, heading to the De La Cruz residence.
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVE AND START to check mama Queta vitals. They are concerned with her blood pressure and unconscious state. The paramedics take her to the ER. Mr. De la Cruz went along, leaving los muchachos behind to deal with all the agencies that are arriving.
“Si, padre, go with mi madre. I will talk to all the government agencies y mis tios,” said Jose Enrique, starting to take control of the situation.
“Si, mi hijo,” said papa Francisco, getting into the ambulance with his esposa with concern on his cara.
Jose Enrique calls his tios to get them over and to inform them of what is taking place.
Greg and Carlos are taking control in giving the police, FBI, and CIA all the kidnapping information and the note.
“Agent McKenzie and Agent Corona, I need to speak to you,” said SO Officer Jackson, walking to the side of the cuarto near the French doors that led to the patio to have a little privacy. “Can you advise me why you didn’t inform me of your marriages?”
“Sir, we didn’t want this to affect our mission. We didn’t want to risk being transferred,” said Greg, looking at Carlos who’s nodding in agreement.
“Sir, we needed to be close to our wife and family to monitor the cartel. We feared for their safety. Look what happened right under our nose. We never thought that they would kidnap our wives,” said Carlos with pain and fear in his ojos.
SO Officer Jackson sees the
terror, pain, and frustration that his agents are under. Carlos and Greg are trying to control their emotions. I really feel bad for them, and I pray that everything will work out. I know that the director has requested to have the Navy SEALs deployed to rescue the women.
“I just finished speaking to Commander Martin. He advised that CIA director Young has requested the Navy SEALs to be deployed in extracting the young ladies, your wives. The note actually allowed us to determine fairly quickly the whereabouts of this new drug cartel lord. He is definitely a new drug cartel lord that is anxious to take over California, and he has control of Baja California,” said SO Officer Jackson, looking at Greg and Carlos’s relief on hearing that the Navy SEALs is being deployed.
“I believe that your brother and a De La Cruz are part of the Navy SEALs. I think that they are part of the team that is being deployed,” said SO officer Jackson, looking at Carlos’s reaction.
“Yes, sir, that is correct. They are family,” said Carlos, looking at SO Officer Jackson with some relief that his hermano and Christian are part of the team that is being deployed.
“Have you heard anything on the FBI agent that was kidnapped by the other drug cartel lord in central Mexico?” asks Carlos, knowing that la familia is really concerned for Claudia. “The FBI agent is my wife’s cousin.”
“Yes, we’re aware of this. The Delta Force has been deployed in rescuing the FBI agent De La Cruz,” said SO Officer Jackson, feeling some empathy for the De La Cruz family.
“Is there a reason why the De La Cruz family was not advised of this?” asks Greg, feeling very pissed off at the government agency. I have never before felt this immense disappointment and frustration in our government, he thought with extreme pain.
“Agent McKenzie, you and I know that the government doesn’t communicate any information until they want to. You know it’s always on a need to know,” said SO Officer Jackson with some weariness.
Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga Page 37