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16 Reconciliation
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2024-09-09 01:05:27Adam stepped out of the house with his heart in his mouth. He broke into a jog as soon as he was out of Jessica’s sight. He needed to get her out of there. The nightmare he had been running from was back in his pursuit. His mind was flooded with negative thoughts. A part of him was furious, wondering where he went wrong. Jessica needed to be away from what was coming her way. He tossed the envelope on the backseat and drove off. He could feel the air thicken around him. Adam had never been in such a panic since that fateful day. It started to drizzle. The rain drops skidded across the windshield. They were getting heavier and heavier by the minute. He took deep breaths and tried to calm himself as he drove on.
Jessica watched the movie as it neared its end. There were a lot of classic comedy scenes on the trot. She laughed and instinctively searched for Adam. It made her feel holl
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It was another sleepless night for Jessica. Adam also stayed awake on the other side of the bed but both of them were oblivious to each other. They had problems of their own. The only thing in common between them was the wish for the ordeal to end soon. Jessica’s head throbbed with pain every now and then. None of her pills seemed to work. The rain had lasted the entire night. It only added to their stress. Each flash of lightning triggered the flashes of what Adam had run away from. They both got up from the bed at the first sight of sunlight. The storm had vanished and the sky looked as clean as it could ever be. Both of them sat across one another at the table and stared at the breakfast. Neither of them had the appetite for it. All they could do was poke it around the plate with grim thoughts while checking the clock every once in a while. Finally, it was time. Jessica excused herself and walked to the door. “Let me drop you there,” Adam offered as he got up and grabbed his keys.
Last Updated : 2024-09-09Shadow of Yesterday 19 Camila (Flashback)
Two years ago in Colombia…The clouds shrouded the cornfield and the old farmer stood at the edge of the field with a hoe and a sack on his back. He hadn't touched the bottle for two whole days, awaiting the fateful day. There was no doubt that it was about to rain. The arrow had already left the bow. It was just a matter of time. The clouds rumbled and yielded a faint flash. The first drops fell and one of them landed on the farmer’s head. The old man smiled. It was time. The impact of the light droplets on the leaves echoed. The farmer was ready to dig new drains through the field and check if the old ones were in functioning condition. “Papa!” he heard behind him. He turned around and found his youngest daughter running toward him with an ear to ear grin. At first, he was irritated and angry at her as it was dangerous running around in the field at that hour and it would waste a duration of the invaluable rain in taking her back to the house. But just one glance at her blissful sm
Last Updated : 2024-09-10Shadow of Yesterday 20 Hugo (Flashback)
The sun rained fire and Casa Ortiz glowed like it had gemstones encrusted in its outer walls. Mateo Ortiz didn't care about the money when he commissioned the building. It just had to be perfect. The servants ran around serving juices to the guards deputed on the gates and in the open grounds of the mansion. It was Hugo’s order. There had been a few instances of servants passing out because of the heat. The servants on the inside were also given time off to spend in the air conditioned rooms. Hugo’s right hand man, Gabriel, was sitting under an umbrella in the yard taking care of the Ortiz family’s businesses. A pedestal fan whirred a foot away from him yet it failed to make any difference. He had over a dozen ledgers with unintelligible numbers and codes. There was a lot that only Gabriel could understand in case someone grew a pair to get their hands on the ledger and betray Hugo Ortiz. He looked over every single entry on every single page and occasionally left a mark on them befor
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Camila reluctantly accepted the glass of water and slowly gulped it down. Her mind raced to nowhere. When she left her house, she expected to be treated with a gun to her forehead but the warm welcome had left her utterly speechless. She realized that the cartel boss was squatting in front of her, warmly looking into her eyes. He had her hand softly clasped in his hands. It was getting too much for her to handle. She wasn't accustomed to such respect. All of it was infuriating for Michelle. Camila was feeling like a fish out of water. Her adrenaline had worn off and now she was sitting inside a mansion owned by a man who was famous and infamous for a lot of things. The reality of her situation had started to kick in. The couch she was sitting on seemed to be worth more than her father's annual income.“What troubles you madam?” Hugo softly spoke in his mesmerizing voice. Camila wa
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Moments ago, Mario’s men were confident enough to take on entire armies yet there they were, shivering with fear of a man younger than most of them. “If the farmer is not here within ten minutes, I will skin you all alive!” the cartel boss shouted and the men understood the assignment. They ran to the cars and disappeared. There was smoke and dust everywhere. Such was the urgency. The men returned with the old man in what seemed like a blink of an eye. They escorted him into the mansion like royalty. The man who had beaten him up was the first thing the old man saw as soon as he was inside. Seeing him in such a state made his doubts fade away. It diminished his anxiety. Camila ran to him as soon as she caught a glimpse of him. They both embraced each other passionately. The father and daughter shed a river of tears. The farmer was confused. The thugs had tried to improve how he looked but they couldn't pull off any miracles. The old man had an unmistakable blackeye. He was wearing a
Last Updated : 2024-09-11Shadow of Yesterday 23 The Guest (Flashback)
No paved road led to Camila’s house. The car moved swiftly yet smoothly through the rocky and uneven road. Silence had been dominant in the car through most of the journey. Camila stared out of the window, lost in her thoughts. A part of her was sold to the cartel boss. She had expected to find an indifferent man ignorant to the feelings of the poor but in reality she ended up meeting one of the most empathetic persons she had ever seen. All those stories and rumors about him taking innocent lives and being cruel in general had no truth in them. He had gone out of his way to address Camila’s grievance. She felt a spark for him in her heart. But the man was ruthless. Although he cared for the poor, he still took lives mercilessly. The man was feared and Camila was also burdened by the crippling fear of what the man filled with so much empathy could become in an instant. Camila hadn't seen Hugo fire the hand cannon but she could imagine him doing so well enough to run a shiver through h
Last Updated : 2024-09-11Shadow of Yesterday 24 Heaven and Back (Flashback)
Camila was not accustomed to having a godlike figure in her house. She had all the right to be nervous. Hugo was seating himself when she almost gave herself a facepalm. She had forgotten all the etiquettes of hospitality. “Tea or Coffee,” she asked as she disappeared into the kitchen.“Just a glass of water.”Moments later, Hugo was getting fascinated with the handicrafts and painting on the walls. Everything in the house was linked to Colombian culture and it all looked hand made. He picked up a doll from the floor. He had never seen anything like it. His entire childhood had been flooded with imported toys and European devices. He realized that he was getting stalked by two little devils from the doorway. As soon as he looked at them, they disappeared. “Come on out. Don't be shy,” he said in a soothing voice. Two little heads emerged from behind the wall and reluctantly made their way towards Hugo. “What are your names?”“I’m Sofia and she’s Eleanora.”“And her?” he asked, point
Last Updated : 2024-09-12
Latest chapter
Shadow of Yesterday 90 From Lamb to Wolf
One year later…It was a cold winter with frost setting in on the grass and there wasn't much activity around, be it human or wild. It was one of the cons of living in the state of Montana but Adam and Camila couldn't have asked for anything better to start anew. The huge ranches in Missoula gave the perfect escape to the estranged couple. It had taken some of Frank's connections to get the ranch at a low low price. The previous owner had died of a cold a decade ago and the rumors of his wandering ghost didn't do any favors to the value of the estate. Adam was preparing the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. They had invited only their closest friends. Adam had even offered to pay for the flights of a few while the others didn't need it. He stood at the window as the sun went down.“It’s burning!” Ell shouted and Adam almost jumped out of his socks. He ran to the kitchen to check on the turkey in the oven. The timer still said fifteen more minutes to go. Ell and Sofia giggled and high fi
Shadow of Yesterday 89 Lost
Hugo was pushed away from Adam with the force and he lost his grip on him. He regained his balance and looked back at her. The golden magnum in her hands was unmistakable. He had been too consumed with Adam that he didn't realize when she had opened his drawer. Adam stared at Camila with wide eyes. He hadn't expected that from her in a million years. Hugo took one step in her direction and she pulled the trigger again. Adam shielded his ears. This time the bullet tore through him and he was down. Camila stood over Hugo as he took his dying breaths. There was no anger in his eyes, just immense sadness and tears. It broke Camila to see him like that. He barely managed to put his hand on her dress and gripped it. The sleeve of his shirt moved and she caught a glimpse of the watch she had gifted him. A tear escaped her eye. Then Hugo let go and his lifeless hand hit the floor. Adam and Camila stood there like mannequins. It took them a while to realize that it was over. Camila broke into
Shadow of Yesterday 88 To Take a Life
No matter what Hugo did it only ended up making matters worse. He stormed out of the bedroom and went downstairs. It was raining cats and dogs. The sound of the rain and thunderclaps echoed across the mansion. He walked to the living room and almost smiled when his mind expected to see Michelle on the couch tapping away on her phone. He sat down and buried his face in his palms. Something had to give. They say faith can move mountains but what they don't say is how long one must have it for. Hugo was at the verge of giving up. He had tried everything and provided everything a woman could ever ask for. Even rocks eventually give in to constant pressure but Camila was something else. She didn't even pretend to love him. The disdain in her eyes was so obvious that even the servants weren't oblivious to it. “Would you like something to eat?” Asked a servant with a professional ear to ear smile. She was an old woman who had been with the Ortiz family since Mateo Ortiz took charge. Nobody
Shadow of Yesterday 87 It’s Me
Adam put his hand on the Tokarev in his belt but he knew that it wasn't going to save him if he was a sitting duck against an army. The shadow of the man strengthened on the ground. Adam pulled out the gun and aimed it where the head of the guard was expected to be. His hands were shaking. One gunshot could end it all before it even started. A lot could happen to Camila as well if he was found in the mansion. His forehead was covered in sweat. The thunder rumbled outside and it shook him from the inside out. The guard stepped out of the room and caught Adam standing right in front of him. He was an old man with a gray beard. He pointed his AK47 right at his face and walked closer to him, examining him. Adam didn't even breathe. “What was it?” Yelled the other guard from inside the room. Adam felt the old guard’s grip tighten around the weapon and he followed suit. One badly timed itch would have started a war. The two of them didn't break eye contact for even a second. “Just a cat!”
Shadow of Yesterday 86 Intruder
Days passed agonizingly slow for Camila. The security around her had tightened exponentially. Her each step was carefully watched. She had a strict routine that even laid out her lunch, dinner and bedtime. Hugo still hadn't been physically intimate with her but that didn't mean she had any say over anything else. She wasn't allowed to leave the mansion alone under any circumstances. The servants and guards had orders to stop her at all costs and failure would result in execution. The recent bloodshed left little doubt in the gravity of the orders and everyone shadowed her twenty four hours. She wasn't allowed to own a cellphone. The walls were suffocating the life out of her. It was a starry night with a crystal clear sky. Camila stood at the balcony watching the only friends she had left. The stars never hurt her. They were free and Camila envied them. She cursed the day she had fallen in love with Hugo. She had been blind to the blood running through the white walls of Casa Ortiz.
Shadow of Yesterday 85 Best Served Cold
An extravagant yacht floated a couple of kilometers away from Tortuga Bay in Ecuador. A party was being hosted on the vessel. There were dozens of women of all shapes and sizes wearing swimsuits and bikinis, dancing to the beat. The tables had lines of coke on them and every once in a while, one of the guests showed up and one of the lines vanished. Dominic Carter was the center of attention as he sat on the beach chair wearing a tropical print shirt and a pair of shorts that barely hid what it was supposed to cover. Two girls sat on the armrests leaning their bodies on him and he wasn’t complaining. Everyone was trying to be on his good side since he was the proud host of the party and the yacht. Most of the girls enjoying the party had made their way to his list through his bedroom. The rest were future prospects. Dominic preferred them in their mid teens. Half a dozen guards were scattered across the vessel and two of them stood behind Dominic like mannequins. The lines on the tabl
Shadow of Yesterday 84 Misfit
A month later…The flight from the United States descended with the sun. Ernesto Cortissoz Barranquilla International Airport was already bustling with activity. There weren't many passengers traveling from the United States to Colombia. The majority of them were tourists and the rest were back to see their families. Among the crowd of arriving passengers was Adam Peterson trying his best to blend in. He wore a pair of oversized sunglasses and a baseball cap. He walked over the line at the immigration. He produced his passport that read, “Alex Bradley” and the officer didn't take long to return it after stamping it. He went through the formalities and stepped out of the airport. His mind was working over time. He couldn't spend one minute without looking over his shoulder. There was some truth to Frank’s words. This was a stupid idea. Hugo Ortiz didn't have much support back in Nebraska yet he still managed to wreak enough havoc to have the federal government involved. But this was hi
Shadow of Yesterday 83 Why?
Michelle was out with her friends drinking at Club Toledo. The place was packed with young boys and girls trying to get noticed and have a good time. The flickering lights and deafening bass music filled the club. It all reeked of sweat and cheap deodorants. Michelle was looking for a new target as usual. All her friends had found someone to spend the night with. Michelle had higher standards and no such man was up for grabs in the club. She decided to stick to the drinks. She checked the watch and it was ten already. Juan didn't show up. She’ll have to tame that stallion some other day. Even thinking about him made her mouth water. She caught one of her friends dragging a muscular guy to the restroom and she couldn't help but laugh. She ordered another round. Her phone pinged and drove her attention away from the psychedelic lights and deafening music. The screen said, “Message from Pedro”. She cringed as she was in no mood to deal with his tantrums and failures. She tapped on the ph
Shadow of Yesterday 82 The Mastermind
Hugo stood in the light of the burning cabin as he smoked a cigarette. He had never expected that from Pedro. Hugo’s father had assumed the financial responsibility for Michelle and Pedro. The siblings had been less than grateful but Hugo had never expected Pedro to do something so heinous against his saviors. Hugo knew that Michelle would give him hell for doing what he did to her brother but he didn't regret it. Pedro was to become an example for those who dared to look at the Ortiz family the wrong way. Hugo extinguished the cigarette under his shoe. He still had to break the news to Michelle. He shook his head and entered the SUV. Juan was typing away on his laptop. As soon as Hugo was inside, Juan ordered the driver to step on it. Hugo was silent for a while until he finally had enough of the secrecy. “What’s up with you and computers?” Hugo asked. Juan was a bit reluctant.“Senor Ortiz… I have a confession to make. I didn't drop investigations into Madam Michelle when you told
