Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga (35 page)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
 

JOSE
ENRIQUE
RETURNED
TO
THE
office. He immediately proceeds directly to Jessy’s office to talk to her. “Mi amor, I just came back from checking on Tony and the job sites,” he said, taking her in his brazos with fear y anxiety. He is muy contento to verify that everything at the office is secure.

“Mi vida, are you okay?” she asks, wondering what is bothering him.

“Mi amor, I’m okay, I just wanted to see you,” he said with a grin. He gives her another beso y returns to his office.

Jessy shrugs her shoulders, continuing to review the new contract.

Jose Enrique enters his office, walks to look out of the window. He wonders what he can do to stop the Cartel from harassing la familia.

We have worked so hard, and now this outside force comes into our vidas to destroy everything. Mi poor primo cannot even love his life’s amor because of the cartel.

On Friday morning, Jose Enrique is at the job site early to help Bella y Paty with the lunch picnic for the employees.

They have a few office employees assisting to organize and prepare the event. The job site workers are having their photos taken for the company security badges. The job site workers enjoyed their picnic.

The majority of the job site workers are long time employees. Los primos did recognize them and have known for many years. They met the new employees, and the badges are working out great.

The employee picnic is a huge success, and Tony is pleased with the outcome.

Jessy is at the office, managing, since all of them are here.

Paty has to leave early, and Bella is finishing up the last details on security badges.

Jose Enrique leaves right after everything is cleared, and Tony returns back from having lunch with his mujer.

Jose Enrique walks into Jessy’s office, “Mi amor, I’m back, and the lunch at the job site was a huge success,” he said, bending down to give Jessy un beso.

“Si, mi vida, I’m contenta that it turned out great. I’m working on the security package,” she said grinning, looking into his ojos. “I also made an appointment with the doctor.”

“Mi amor, that’s fantastic and I want to go with you,” said Jose Enrique, pulling her up into his brazos to give her un beso and a hug. “I don’t want you to work too hard. We need to get another assistant because I know that Monique will be having un bebe soon.”

“Si, mi vida I agree. Mona stated that they thought she is also expecting,” said Jessy smiling at him. “We’re going to have a lot of little bebes in la familia because I think that Jacki is also pregnant.”

“Really, Oh dios mio, our padres will be real feliz. Mi hermana Danni is also expecting” said Jose Enrique, thinking of his primos changing diapers with him. “I will not be the only one changing diapers.”

“Mi vida, you’re wicked,” she said nodding rolling her ojos, thinking of the bebe.

“Okay, I need to get some work done,” said Jose Enrique, letting go of Jessy. “See ya later mi amor.”

Jose Enrique is in his office, waiting for Chris to show.
I need to see if he can suggest or do something to help us out.
He stands up with anxiety to pace. He is alarmed with the cartel aggressive behavior.
We need to get them off our backs
he thought with frustration.

The phone rings, and Jose Enrique answers it. “Thank you for calling De La Cruz Inc. How may I assist you?” he asks, wondering who is calling.

“Mr. De La Cruz, this is Larry Banks from the Los Angeles PD. I’m calling to advise you that we found an employee of yours murdered. His ID states his name was Samuel Jefferson, and he had some paperwork from your corporation. Was he an employee?” asks the Los Angeles PD.

“Yes, he was. He was supposed to meet us at three on Friday, and he never showed. We have called his numbers on file without any success. We have had no response from our voice messages,” said Jose Enrique, wondering who killed him.

“The last time you spoke with Mr. Jefferson was on the phone last Friday?” asks the officer Banks.

“Yes, that was the last time that I spoke with him, last Friday in the morning,” answers Jose Enrique with amazement.

“Thank you for your time. We just wanted to verify that he worked at your corporation,” said the officer Banks.

Christian walks into Jose Enrique’s office and sits down, waiting for him to end the call.

“Thanks for the information,” said Jose Enrique, he looks at his primo Christian, he motions him to close the door.

Christian stands up and closes the door with curiosity, wondering what’s up.

“Primo, you doing well?” asks Jose Enrique smiling, looks at Christian after his elopement. “Congratulations.” He grins.

“Gracias, primo,” said Christian with felicidad. “What’s up?”

“Primo, we have reason to believe that all of those problemas that we have with the materials were caused by our job site manager Jefferson. Jefferson has been missing since last Friday. I was just talking to the officer, and he advised me that they found Jefferson dead,” said Jose Enrique, getting up to pace his office.

“Wow. Do they know who killed him and why?” asks Christian, understanding his stress.

“Primo, Ricky was attacked at one of our job sites on Wednesday. Tony found him in time before he lost too much blood,” he said. He turns to look at Christian, as he jumps up to walk over to him.

“You’re shitting me,” he said with concern y anger. “Who would hurt him?” he asks, getting all worked up. “Is this la razon that you want to talk to me?”

“Si, primo, there are a lot more cosas I want to review with you,” said Jose Enrique, gazes into his primo’s ojos. “The Mexican cartel has been causing all of this to force us, la familia, to associate with them. They want us to use our company to do some money laundering. Primo, the cartel states that Mr. Lopez recommends us.”

“No fucking way,” said Christian. He walks to look out of the window, thinking of ways to help la familia. “They are dangerous y ruthless.”

“Si, primo, we don’t know what to do to stop them from badgering la familia. I’m afraid for la familia. Now I think that they killed Jefferson. He was supposed to come in on Friday to give us a report of the problemas with the materials,” said Jose Enrique, looking out of the window, thinking.

“We put security in place. I know that you noticed when you came in,” he said, indicating the badges. “We also have security at our padres’ casas and job sites all day and night.”

“How long has this been going on? Why didn’t you tell me about it?” asks Christian with frustration, anger, and fear for his familia.

“We received the first call last Friday,” said Jose Enrique. “Ricky and I prayed, hoped it was a prank call. The caller called us on Monday about the same time in the afternoon.”

“I just know that the government agencies are aware of their calls,” said Christian, pacing, wondering which agency will be monitoring his familia. “Primo, this is serious shit.”

“I know. That is why we want to inform you, so you can help us figure out a way to get rid of them. They also warned us from informing the police. I don’t know what else to do,” said Jose Enrique, looking at his primo.

“Damn, I need to talk this over with Gabriel. Maybe we can come up with something. I also need to figure out which government agency is monitoring la familia. I know for a fact that is happening,” he said, looking at his primo.

“Who else knows about this?” asks Christian, looking at his primo.

“Ricky, Tony, Bella, Jessy, Paty, y Carlos,” said Jose Enrique, looking at his primo.

“Who in the hell is Carlos?” asks Christian, wondering where he came from and what he’s up to.
I bet he’s one of the government agents and has already infiltrated la familia’s company. Hmmm, I wonder how they got in so fast.
Chris waits to see what his primo has to say about Carlos.

“Primo, Carlos is mi great amigo from college. He called me on Monday asking for mi ayuda with his legal contracts. He asked if Paty can help him since she is an attorney. I feel that it is no problema since I have known him forever. He is also right now marrying Paty. They eloped to Vegas, and nobody knows,” he said, observing Chris’s cara go into all sorts of emotions.

Damn, he’s an agent, and that’s how he infiltrated mi familia’s company. But what’s up with the elopement? I need to know if anybody else has infiltrated.

“Primo, I need to know if anybody else has been in our management offices. Did Carlos recommend anybody for anything?” he asks, waiting for Jose Enrique’s response.

Hmmm, I can see that there is another agent here now, and maybe I can talk to him.

“Primo, mi amigo Carlos highly recommended his amigo for our financial consultant in 401k that we are thinking of implementing, stocks, y investment of our money,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Chris with curiosity.

Yeah, that’s them. Hmmm, should I show up at where he is or have Jose Enrique call him to the conference room?
“Primo, who’s working with this guey, and what’s his name,” asks Chris, trying to decide on his action plan.

“Chris, he’s working with Bella since she’s in charge of our finances and employees,” said Jose Enrique, looking at Chris turn white.

“No way in hell,” said Chris, pacing back and forth, thinking of a plan. “I need to meet him without alerting them. Shit, they will know who and what I do.”

“What are you talking about, primo?” asks Jose Enrique, extremely confuse with Chris’s comments.

I cannot allow Jose Enrique to know that he has government agents in the offices every day because he will freak. The government agency will get pissed off at me.

Hmmm, I need to check this guey out without alerting him that I know who he is. Yes, that’s what I need to do now.

“Okay, primo, I’ll think about what to do. Don’t talk to anybody else about this. I need to go y check out this guey with Bella,” said Chris, exiting his office, going down the hall to his hermana office.

Huh? What is Chris up to, and why is he so stressed about Gregory? Is there something that I haven’t notice?

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
 

BELLA
’
S
DOOR
IS
LOCKED
,
AND
Chris knocks on it. I know that Bella never closes or locks her door. Hmmm, what’s going on here?

I better act like I don’t notice anything, so I don’t alert this agent that I’m on to him.

Bella opens the door, and she looks flushed y well-kissed. “Hermano, you’re home.” She hugs Chris and steps back. “Hermano, I want you to meet mi novio Gregory Preston McKenzie,” she said with a huge feliz smile flashing her dimples.

“Tu novio?” he asks with surprise, regards the guey, noticing that he is also measuring him up.

“Si, hermano, he’s the one,” she said, feliz that she has found the one.

“I see, hermana, y I’m muy feliz for you,” he said smiling, looking at his hermana feliz cara.

“It’s great to meet you, McKenzie,” said Chris, shaking his mano. “So when’s the wedding taking place?”

I know that they have been together by the love bites on Bella’s neck, y she told me she will not wait. I damn well will make sure there is a wedding.

Greg is observing Christian.
I know damn well that Christian knows who I am y Carlos. He’s trying to control his frustration y anger in this situation.

To top it off, he knows about Bella y me, and he wants us married fast. I don’t blame him. He is who he is for a reason, and I respect that. Okay, I will play.

“Christian, delighted to meet you, y the wedding will take place when and where mi Bella wants,” he said grinning, pulling Bella back into his brazos, claiming her as his.

“You should have gone with Carlos y Paty,” said Chris, knowing that she didn’t know about it.
Ahh huh, but he did by his surprise look that I know.

“Chris, did Paty elope?” asks Bella, looking at him with surprise. “She didn’t mention anything to me.”

“Well, Jose Enrique y Greg knew, and I want to know when you’re going to Vegas?” asks Chris, looking at Greg. “I strongly believe that the sooner, the better.”

“I agree, and how about tonight?” he asks Bella, looking at her, wondering if that will be something that she wants to do.

Bella looks at Greg and is ecstatic to marry him so quickly. “Do you mean it? You do want to go and get married?” she asks, looking into his beautiful blue ojos and ensuring that he is serious

“Si, baby, I do,” he said, pulling her closer, not caring that Christian is there. “I love you.”

“Oh, mi vida, I love you,” she said with a huge feliz smile. “Okay, we can go tonight.”

“Can you give us the hotel information where you got married?” asks Bella with a smile. “We can call and have everything ready.”

“Si, hermana, that will be the best way to do it, and I think that you should go now, so you have plenty of time to take care of business,” he said, looking at Greg, wondering if he will get out of this.

“Si, baby, let’s go now. I just have to go get some things from me cuarto, and then we can leave,” he said smiling, looking at Chris.

“Okay, mi vida. I’ll go get some items from mi casa. Chris, you’re covering for me at home?” asks Bella, looking at her hermano with a questioning look.

“Si, hermana, I’ll take care of it. I’ll tell them that you y Paty decided to go out, and I’ll have Jose Enrique state the same thing. The hotel is the Paris Hotel, and you need to talk to the concierge Mary Jones. I suggest you call her now since she is most likely taking care of Paty y Carlos,” he said, looking at Greg, noting that he did it now.

“I’ll call right now,” said Greg, looking at Bella to see if she is sure, as he takes out his cell to call the hotel.

“Thank you for calling Paris Hotel. How can I help you?” said the clerk.

“This is Gregory Preston McKenzie, and I need to reserve the bridal suite for tonight,” he requests, looking down into Bella’s ecstatic cara.

“Mr. McKenzie, we do have one bridal suite available. Would you like me to reserve it for you?” asks the clerk, ready to take his additional information.

“Yes, please, and can you please transfer me to your concierge Mary Jones?” he said with a smile, looking at Chris.

“Yes, Mr. McKenzie. Your reservations are complete. I will transfer you to Ms. Jones,” said the clerk.

“Thank you for calling the concierge, Mary speaking. How may I assist you?” asks Mary with a smile.

“Yes, Ms. Jones, this is Gregory Preston McKenzie, and I need you to arrange my wedding ceremony. You were highly recommended by Mr. Christian De La Cruz, and I will like you to arrange everything just the same as his wedding,” he said smiling, seeing that Chris is pissed off at that.

Yeah, I know that you just did the same thing hermano
, he thought with glee.

“Yes, Mr. McKenzie. Everything will be ready, and do you have an idea what type and color of flowers you will like at the chapel?” asks Mary, wondering how many more quick weddings will be coming her way.

“We will be arriving around six, and I want roses, red roses,” he said, looking down into Bella’s pleased cara.

“Will you need wedding rings, gowns, accessories?” asks Ms. Jones.

“Yes, everything that we might need, and my bride can select what she wants,” he said with a smile.

“Okay, Mr. McKenzie. I will be awaiting your arrival,” said Ms. Jones, happy to assist in another wedding.

“Thank you,” he said and ends the call.

“Okay. Everything is taken care of, and we should go get our bags and leave, so we can be married by eight,” he said grinning with alegría, looking at Chris.

“Thanks for taking care of this issue immediately,” said Chris with some respect and acknowledgment of his effort to satisfy him.

“No problema,” said Greg with a grin, looking down at Bella. “Baby, why don’t you get a head start, and I’ll pick you up at tu casa at three.”

“Si, mi vida,” said Bella, turning to look at Chris. “Will you tell Jose Enrique what’s up?”

“Si hermana, y no worries, everything will be taken care of,” he said, looking at his feliz hermana.
I can see that she really does love him, and that’s okay with me as long as they marry today.

Bella starts turning off the entire computer systems y gathers her purse, turns to Greg. “I’ll see you in a few,” she said, going up to him on her tiptoes to give him un beso.

Greg is not going to allow her go just like that. He doesn’t care that Chris is watching. He pulls her close and kisses her properly.
Oh yeah, this is un beso,
he thought, letting her go, smiling down at her.

“Okay, baby,” he said, looking over her head at Chris’s pissed cara.
Well, isn’t that too bad?
Greg thought, smiling at him.

“Adios, hermano, y gracias,” she said. Bella gives him a hug, then leaves.

Christian turns to close the door and then turns to Greg with his eyebrow lifted in a question.

“Yeah, I know,” he said, not bothering to hide it because he is going to be part of la familia and because of whom he is—a SEAL.

“Okay, spill,” said Christian, sitting down to listen to him.

“It started last Friday, and you know that the government monitors everything. So we got assigned to see what’s up, to gather intel. You know that’s all we can do,” said Greg, sitting down in Bella’s chair. “I’m spilling because of who you are and because of Bella.”

“Yeah, I know,” said Christian. Frustrated, he got up to pace around the office. “I just learned of this now from mi primo Jose Enrique.”

“It fucking stinks. Carlos and I have been trying to think of something to get them off la familia’s back,” said Gregory, standing up to go to the window.

“Jose Enrique just got news from the police that our job site manager was found murdered,” said Christian.

“Fuck, no,” said Gregory, turns to look at him, y starts to pace. “They are willing to kill, and that sucks.”

“Damn, I’m terrified for mi familia, and I’m only here until Monday morning,” he said, pacing back y forth.

“We have been keeping track of the calls and advising our SO officer, but you and I know that they will do what they want and when they want,” said Gregory, pacing around the office, trying to think.

“Okay, go and take care of this marriage,” said Chris, turning to look at him. “I’ll be here this weekend, and I’ll talk to you and Carlos on Sunday dinner.”

“Okay,” said Greg, going to leave to give the intel to his SO officer Jackson.

“Greg,” said Chris, looking at Greg stop and turn at the door. “Thanks.”

“No problema. We’re familia,” he said grinning, turning walking out.