Read Online New Growth (Spook Hills Trilogy Book 2) by Jayne Menard - Free Book Online
Authors: Jayne Menard
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behind, as well as the larger amounts in their network of
accounts?"
"That part does surprise me. Perhaps Cristo
and Eduardo were forced to make a fast exit." Cruze knew his
supposition was improbable, but he needed some small thread of hope to
hang onto. The shock of his brothers’
deaths sat raw and dark within him.
Cruze said, “If Cristo and Eduardo were caught or killed,
their money laundered by numerous convoluted routes externally from the United
States might also be gone. To me their
wealth is immaterial. My share was
protected. It will more than exceed my
requirements, even if I lived far more extravagantly than I do now.”
“If your brothers escaped with only the shirts on their
backs, the four of us could still live in comfort using your financial reserves
and mine, which I will gladly share. Alternatively if Cristo and Eduardo are dead, a
part of you will also die. I know your
brothers will always carry your love and allegiance,” Julio said.
“Forever they will be my brothers, as you are my cousin,”
Cruze smiled sadly and took a drink of champagne. “Did you know that after I was finally
released from juvie, Cristo and I cut our palms and shook hands , taking a blood oath to protect Eduardo? Such a kid thing to do, right? Even so, the events of that horrible summer
of 1985 made our bonds of allegiance stronger.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, toying with their
food and remembering their teenage years when all four of their lives went all
topsy-turvy.
"Nine months have elapsed since the FBI raid in New
Mexico,” Julio said. “Cristo would have
phoned me, if not you."
"He was furious with me for getting out of the
business."
"But he was not angry with me. In answer to your question, it is possible
that they had their deaths enacted though unlikely."
"Find out where their bodies are. I want DNA tests done," Cruze said. I must know for sure about Cristo and Eduardo.
"The DNA results will give us certainty. I miss them, Cruze. Every day I think of them. Your brothers. My cousins." Julio lowered his head. His jaw clenched, relaxed and clenched again
as he suppressed tears. "I always
wished one day we would all walk away, start over and live more normal lives. And yet, I’m not sure Cristo and Eduardo could make the transition. Cristo’s style would be to go down fighting."
"The same way Eduardo believed himself infallible at
outsmarting his foes," Cruze said, shaking his head sadly. “While I hate to admit it, my brothers may
have orchestrated their fates. They
taunted the FBI and DEA with their phony setups. They did have the ill luck to be pursued by a
relentless FBI agent, but they could have exited when I did. If only they had!”
"We may only have each other left," Julio said, “I
was so glad to get your call this week.”
"We need to be certain about what happened to Cristo
and Eduardo.”
Julio pushed his plate away after only nibbling at his
entree of delicate Pompano. "I have
to go."
“Do not forget me,” Cruze said with such wistful softness
that Julio’s self-control almost shattered.
"Never."
Julio took a last infinitesimal sip from his flute, collected his briefcase and the bag
containing a partial payment from Cruze. Cruze stood, and they gave each
other their traditional farewell – a horizontal fist bump with a pound on their
hearts. In their case, the gesture came
from familial love and commitment. Ever
since their childhoods together, Julio had chosen to be loyal only to himself
and the three Fuentes men.
Understanding Cruze’s depth of agony from the loss of his
brothers, Julio gave him a subtle smile and winked to remind him of their bond. His cousin
remained the only person who comprehended the real identity behind his facade.
Under his man’s clothing, his body reflected his birth as a female child named
Annetta, who during her late teens had
accounts?"
"That part does surprise me. Perhaps Cristo
and Eduardo were forced to make a fast exit." Cruze knew his
supposition was improbable, but he needed some small thread of hope to
hang onto. The shock of his brothers’
deaths sat raw and dark within him.
Cruze said, “If Cristo and Eduardo were caught or killed,
their money laundered by numerous convoluted routes externally from the United
States might also be gone. To me their
wealth is immaterial. My share was
protected. It will more than exceed my
requirements, even if I lived far more extravagantly than I do now.”
“If your brothers escaped with only the shirts on their
backs, the four of us could still live in comfort using your financial reserves
and mine, which I will gladly share. Alternatively if Cristo and Eduardo are dead, a
part of you will also die. I know your
brothers will always carry your love and allegiance,” Julio said.
“Forever they will be my brothers, as you are my cousin,”
Cruze smiled sadly and took a drink of champagne. “Did you know that after I was finally
released from juvie, Cristo and I cut our palms and shook hands , taking a blood oath to protect Eduardo? Such a kid thing to do, right? Even so, the events of that horrible summer
of 1985 made our bonds of allegiance stronger.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, toying with their
food and remembering their teenage years when all four of their lives went all
topsy-turvy.
"Nine months have elapsed since the FBI raid in New
Mexico,” Julio said. “Cristo would have
phoned me, if not you."
"He was furious with me for getting out of the
business."
"But he was not angry with me. In answer to your question, it is possible
that they had their deaths enacted though unlikely."
"Find out where their bodies are. I want DNA tests done," Cruze said. I must know for sure about Cristo and Eduardo.
"The DNA results will give us certainty. I miss them, Cruze. Every day I think of them. Your brothers. My cousins." Julio lowered his head. His jaw clenched, relaxed and clenched again
as he suppressed tears. "I always
wished one day we would all walk away, start over and live more normal lives. And yet, I’m not sure Cristo and Eduardo could make the transition. Cristo’s style would be to go down fighting."
"The same way Eduardo believed himself infallible at
outsmarting his foes," Cruze said, shaking his head sadly. “While I hate to admit it, my brothers may
have orchestrated their fates. They
taunted the FBI and DEA with their phony setups. They did have the ill luck to be pursued by a
relentless FBI agent, but they could have exited when I did. If only they had!”
"We may only have each other left," Julio said, “I
was so glad to get your call this week.”
"We need to be certain about what happened to Cristo
and Eduardo.”
Julio pushed his plate away after only nibbling at his
entree of delicate Pompano. "I have
to go."
“Do not forget me,” Cruze said with such wistful softness
that Julio’s self-control almost shattered.
"Never."
Julio took a last infinitesimal sip from his flute, collected his briefcase and the bag
containing a partial payment from Cruze. Cruze stood, and they gave each
other their traditional farewell – a horizontal fist bump with a pound on their
hearts. In their case, the gesture came
from familial love and commitment. Ever
since their childhoods together, Julio had chosen to be loyal only to himself
and the three Fuentes men.
Understanding Cruze’s depth of agony from the loss of his
brothers, Julio gave him a subtle smile and winked to remind him of their bond. His cousin
remained the only person who comprehended the real identity behind his facade.
Under his man’s clothing, his body reflected his birth as a female child named
Annetta, who during her late teens had
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