Page 45 of True Valor
Julie thought for a moment.It had been sodark.Maybe brown, but there was no way of knowing for sure.Shespoke the thought out loud.
“How about his height.Tall, short?”
Julie pulled away and stood.“Stand up.”
He did and she moved him against the wall ofthe small room.She backed up, looking him up and down, focusing onhis eyes.“Maybe six inches shorter than you.”
A rap at the door made them both turn.“Twominutes, Miss Galloway,” the voice said.
“Okay, thank you.”
Cruz moved to where she stood and pulled herclose again.“They’ll only allow visitors on Sunday and Wednesday.But you can write letters any time.Address them to me and I’llgive them to Nic.Be careful what you write.They can read them.We’re staying at the Sleepy Z Motel.I’ll come back Wednesday.”That said, he lifted her chin and kissed her goodbye.
Nic looked up when the door opened.
“Amigo!Let’s go to breakfast.I’mbuying.”
Nic was not amused.“Where the hell have youbeen?”
“Kissing your girlfriend.”Cruz smirked,walked over, and slapped Nic’s boots, “Didn’t your mother everteach you not to put your shoes on the bed?C’mon, let’s goeat.”
The grin never left Cruz’s face, even whenNic leapt off the bed, grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed himinto the wall.
“You’re going to ruin my sweater, man.”
Nic shoved him again, then let go and stalkedaway.He trusted Cruz with his life, had on many occasions.Thequestion never arose between them whether one would encroach on theother’s action.
Oh, yeah.Cruz was definitely a player.Wherever he went, women followed.He could get them without even asecond glance.He was the most charismatic person Nic had everseen.His body language, the way he wore his clothes, his incessantsmile.But when all was said and done, Eric Cruz was loyal to hisvery core.
But that damned smile.
Eric waited at the door, his stance saying heknew Nic would come around.
Son of a bitch.
“So what happened to your arm?”Ericasked.
“Run-in with a booby trap.”At Cruz’squestioning look, Nic continued, “Nails.Spring loaded.”
Cruz moved to block the doorway.
“Let me see.”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
“Nic.Let me see.”
That tone saiddo what I say rightnow.Most of the time, it wasn’t worth a fight.Nic pulled hisshirt off.
“Dios mio,” Cruz pulled his sunglassesup and stared at the ugly marks on his chest, leaning in to get abetter look.“You coulda been killed, punctured a lung.”
“They just grazed me.”
“Yeah, right, if by grazed, you meanfilleted.”He shrugged and put his shades back on.“They look okaynow though.”
“Some herb or something Julie put on ‘em.I’mdriving,” Nic said, pulling his shirt back over his head.Cruzopened the door and stepped back, allowing Nic to lead the way.Niccould hear him chuckle under his breath.
Nothing was said on the drive, and onceseated at a table, the usual thing happened.The waitress fell overherself attending Cruz’s every need.Nic was used to beinginvisible when Hollywood was around.Cruz wasn’t exactly fromHollywood but that’s what the team called him.
