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37 The Inevitable Confrontation
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2024-09-16 13:54:56บทที่เกี่ยวข้อง
Shadow of Yesterday 38 Volkov’s Army
In the middle of the night, the hardware store owned by the Bratva was deserted. Everything was dark except the room upstairs. Vladimir sat at his table in his makeshift office and awaited the call from his men. His eyes were fixated on the phone. Every passing minute added to his anxiety. The plan was fool proof. It had taken them a week and a lot of resources to come up with it. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get on his boss’s good side. Hugo Ortiz was wide open and all Vladimir had to do was to score. Hugo was going to meet his woman at her house tonight. This piece of information was enough for Vladimir to arrange an ambush. Drops of sweat formed on his pale forehead. His focus was disturbed by a pained groan emerging meters away from him. The source was Gabriel who was tied to a chair, barely holding on to his life. The old man was bleeding from head to toe. Vladimir didn't like the distraction. “Can you please shut the fuck up?” Vladimir yelled and threw a paper wei
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-17Shadow of Yesterday 39 Retreat
The driver pulled out of the neighborhood and looked around for a hospital. A few bullets had collided with the back of the car while most of them missed the target. Hugo had a mixture of emotions on his face. At one moment, it was rage then it was puzzlement but the pain was there all the same. He had been shot at multiple times in the past but had always somehow avoided taking a bullet. This was the first time that a bullet had found its way to him. It was probably because he had been too blinded by the excitement of meeting his lover that he forgot to take care of his security. There were little to no enemies of his that were left breathing but he was in a foreign territory and there were just too many moving parts to take care of. Thinking about his security reminded him of Gabriel and what he was going through. The driver realized that going to a hospital may be dangerous and decided to ask. “Should we go to a hospital?” He asked Hugo. “No. To Varga’s place,” Hugo replied after
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-17Shadow of Yesterday 40 It’s Not Your Fault
When Hugo finally woke up, he had to squint his eyes to bear the sunlight in the room. His head was spinning like a top. It took him a while to recognize the room he was in. As he tried to sit up, he received a painful reminder of the events of the previous night. His arm was killing him. He jolted with pain and lied back down. His groan was audible enough to attract Juan’s attention outside the room. He dashed inside to see if everything was alright. He found Hugo trying his best to endure the pain without causing much drama. Juan had hired a nurse to take care of Hugo as long as he needed. The nurse followed him inside and checked the IV. It was still half full. She injected a painkiller into the IV and started checking the monitors. Juan had prepared well. The room that looked like a military operated armory just hours ago, could now be mistaken for a hospital room with all the medical equipment lying around. Hugo was trying his best to find the least painful angle. “The vitals
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-17Shadow of Yesterday 41 Straight To The Point
Adam stood there with his heart in his mouth. His world had already been shaken by the recent events but the revelation from Dr Gupta somehow made it even worse. He took a seat and tried to catch his breath.“Are you sure?” He finally managed to ask.“The guy who sewed him up was my classmate in med school. He got a shitload of money for giving him first aid. The details were gory but everything made me wonder who the guy was. My doubts became reality when he finally gave me the name,” answered Gupta gravely. “Oh my fucking god! Where did it happen?” Asked Adam with an air of overwhelming panic in his tone. “He didn't know it for sure but he got the hint that some meeting had taken an ugly turn,” Gupta replied. Adam fell silent for a second. “How is he?” Asked Adam, genuinely worried for his health. All hell would break loose if he were to die before Jessica got her answers. “He’ll live. The bullet didn't hit any vital organs or arteries. He’ll be up and running in a week but jud
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-18Shadow of Yesterday 42 Not The First Time
Meanwhile, Adam tried his best to come up with the right words before knocking on the door. No set of words in the world could possibly numb Jessica’s anger down. He let out a defeated sigh and knocked. The door abruptly opened the next second and Jessica stepped out of the room with a straight face, staring into Adam’s soul. Adam braced himself for another barrage of abuses and insults. He knew that he deserved it but only wanted it to wait until the uninvited guests had left. “Do I look presentable?” Jessica suddenly asked, straightening her clothes. Adam was taken aback. “There’s a couple of cops who want to talk to…” Adam tried to explain away but he was interrupted by Jessica.“I’m not blind. I saw them getting out of their car,” Jessica said and headed towards the stairs. Adam hesitated for a moment before following her down the stairs. Jessica knew that the arrival of the cops could never mean anything good in her already dismantled world but her anger suppressed her fear. S
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-18Shadow of Yesterday 43 The Fateful Day
As soon as Wade was done with the archive room, he ordered Carl to drive him to the bank the next day. The entire journey, his brain kept repeating the same words, ‘the hell was he doing there?’ If Hugo had visited the bank alone or just with Gabriel, it wouldn't have troubled Wade that much but the entire army of trained thugs left a lot of questions unanswered. The bank wasn't too far. They stopped the car at the parking lot and went to the entrance. Carlos saw them approach and blocked the way. He could see his own reflection on Wade’s goggles. Wade couldn't help but chuckle. “Aren’t you the same guy who allowed an army of goons inside the bank?” Wade mocked and walked right past him. Carlos had his confidence shattered and his posture weakened. He caught the badge hanging from Wade’s neck as he passed him. Wade stopped and turned back. Carlos was stiff with fear. “Why did you let me through, big man?” Asked Wade without a hint of playfulness on his face. “Because… you’re cops,
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-19Shadow of Yesterday 44 Level Playing Field
Back at Juan Varga’s liquor place…Hugo Ortiz refused to lay on the bed like a helpless person. He stood in front of the mirror and slowly buttoned up his shirt. He tried to move as little as possible to avoid stretching the stitches. Juan had procured a lot of things that he thought his boss might ask for. He was rarely nervous but nothing in his life had ever prepared him for what he was facing today. He stood behind his boss, trying to find the correct words to frame his question. “What do we do now?” Juan finally asked. Hugo didn't take his eyes off the mirror and pondered for a moment. “You know when I was just a boy, I used to keep chickens and roosters. The coop was in the garden of our mansion. There was no greater happiness to me than seeing my flock grow. I used to show my newly hatched chicks to everyone I knew,” Hugo told his story. Juan listened intently. “On Sunday mornings, my father and I used to hang out in the garden of the mansion. My father read the paper while
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-19Shadow of Yesterday 45 Soundproof Hospitality
The van was moving at a blinding speed. The driver expertly shifted the car from lane to lane and maneuvered around the traffic. The interior of the van was extremely dark and the windows were painted black. The maneuvering made the passengers of the van lose their balance every once in a while. The old beggar tried to fight blindly and threw a few random punches in the air but he received a single well timed blow in his abdomen that made him fall down and roll into a ball. His head was covered by a small sack and his hands were zip-tied behind his back. It took him a while to regain his breath. “Do you fuckers have any idea who I am?” The old beggar yelled as soon as his lungs allowed him to speak. “I work for Vladimir. Ever heard of that name?” The beggar added and awaited a shocked or terrorized response. “We know. That’s exactly why you’re coming with us,” a voice laced with indifference responded from the darkness of the sprinting van. “I will rape your families, you fucking b
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด : 2024-09-19
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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
