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43 The Fateful Day
Last Updated:
2024-09-19 19:21:23Related chapters
Shadow 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
Last Updated : 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
Last Updated : 2024-09-19Shadow of Yesterday 46 Saving What’s Already Lost
At Jessica’s house…Night had fallen and the house looked empty. Adam sat idly in the dimly lit living room and stared at the clock as it barely moved. The half full bottle of whiskey stared at him and he stared back. The voices in his head were continuously suggesting him everything ranging from violence to suicide. Recently, Adam had been encountering these thoughts quite frequently and in those times, the bottle had always been his best friend. But today, he didn't crave the alcohol. A part of him wanted the voices to finally consume him. The arrival of police in his already shook up life was not a good omen. It was the harbinger of even worse days to come. With police in the picture, god knows what Hugo would do to get his hands on Jessica. Among the voices, he could hear Jessica’s voice, calling him a liar. It made him break down. Tears fell from his eyes as he sobbed with his face buried in his palms. All this time he had tried his best to convince himself that he had no choice.
Last Updated : 2024-09-19Shadow of Yesterday 47 Tag…
In front of the Citylights Strip Club…A convoy of cars smoothly maneuvered through the empty roads in the middle of the night. Juan Varga had swept the streets beforehand and taken care of any threats in the area. It was safe for Hugo to move in. Hugo sat silently in the car in the middle. The convoy scattered as soon as it was in the vicinity of the club. Only Hugo’s car approached the main gate of the building. The strip club had a long line in front of it and all of the patrons were men. The building was covered in neon outlines of nude female silhouettes. The club was owned by a Russian businessman who just wanted to have something in the US. The Bratva offered to take care of it for him. It wasn't an offer to be exact. They wanted a hideout and the owner wasn't given much of a choice but at least they didn't steal the money the club made. Hugo and Varga stepped out of the vehicle and cut the line. The people in the line were furious but they decided against causing any trouble.
Last Updated : 2024-09-20Shadow of Yesterday 48 …You're It
The moment Hugo saw that security camera, he was sure that Vladimir was here. Hugo could almost see the scared thug shivering in front of a screen inside the room. When the door opened, Hugo found exactly what he had expected. Vladimir was in his boxers standing in front of a small screen. Behind him was an unconscious naked girl lying on the bed. The room was trashed. Empty bottles of champagne were scattered around. A small table at the corner still had two lines of coke on it. There was slow music and faint red lighting in the room. It was obvious that Vladimir had been making full use of the club’s facilities. It seemed that Vladimir had got the news of their arrival a bit too late. He didn't have a gun in his hands. It was meters away from him on the table and he knew better than to make a run for it in front of those two. He eyeballed and tried to intimidate them. It was no use. Hugo might have been two decades younger than Vladimir but his aura was unmatched. He just stood the
Last Updated : 2024-09-20Shadow of Yesterday 49 Friend In Need
Back at Adam’s and Jessica’s house…Jessica had been out cold for a couple of hours and Adam had been right by her side the whole time. The moment she finally woke up, she started crying her eyes out again. She hadn't expected her issues to be that bad. She was tainted. She couldn't give herself to the one she loved even if she tried. Adam comforted her and convinced her to have some rest. He went downstairs to the kitchen and found half the jars empty. The grocery day had passed a while ago. His life had been so muddled in the past few days that he didn't even realize it. He picked up his jacket and decided to pay the store a visit. Adam’s mind kept playing Jessica’s screams on a loop. At one point he had had enough and he stopped the car at the roadside. He closed his eyes and tried to erase Jessica’s pitiful wailing face from his vision. It just kept flashing back. He let out a scream and punched the steering wheel multiple times. The windows were shut so his cry didn't escape the
Last Updated : 2024-09-22Shadow of Yesterday 50 Dead Junkie
Carl drove swiftly and expertly through the oncoming traffic. At times, he even had to drive the wrong way to avoid the delays. Some of the swerves were extremely dangerous and left the drivers around him flipping him the bird. Wade Johnson was in a world of his own. He didn't give a crap about a beggar’s corpse but the specifics left him intrigued. After a long journey, the car arrived in front of an abandoned tunnel. A bunch of police cars and an ambulance stood by the entrance of the tunnel. The place was cordoned off with yellow police tape. Wade got out of the car and walked towards the crime scene. A rookie tried to stop him from entering but another cop who recognized Wade told the rookie to let him through. The Detective lifted the tape with his finger and walked underneath it. A corpse covered by a white sheet lay at the far end of the tunnel. A forensics guy was snapping pics of the crime scene. There were a bunch of yellow cones scattered around with numbers on them. Wade
Last Updated : 2024-09-22Shadow of Yesterday 51 Brothers in Arms (Flashback)
Nebraska, ten years ago…It was a warm and bright day and there was no activity on the streets. The road was deserted except for a rusty white van parked across the street of a hardware store. A hooded figure emerged at the corner of the street and he jogged to the van. His pace diminished until he stopped beside the van and knocked in a distinct pattern. The door of the van slid open and the hooded man entered. The van looked abandoned again. Inside, there were a bunch of computers with trackers and real time surveillance footage. A man worked on the computers and two cops chilled on the other side.“Wassup, Wady?” Arthur yelped. Wade winced. “The van ain’t soundproof, you moron!” Whispered Freddie and punched Arthur on the arm. “Ouch!” Arthur screamed even louder. Freddie put his hand on his mouth. Arthur licked it. “Eww! What are you, five?” Freddie yelled in a whisper and wiped his hand on his shirt while Arthur had a victorious smirk on his face.Arthur was the biggest of them
Last Updated : 2024-09-23
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
