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71 The Real Face (Flashback)
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2024-10-18 18:54:16Related chapters
Shadow of Yesterday 72 Lesson Well Learned
Present day…Hugo sat in the dark hotel room. Juan was at the window talking on the phone nonstop. He was answering all the calls received on Gabriels phone. Those calls mostly dealt with the cartel businesses and problems. Juan was equipped to deal with most of them. As long as Gabriel was in the hospital, Juan was responsible for everything that he managed and he was doing it well. Hugo had nothing but admiration for him. Juan Varga was young and not even of the same nationality. He had lost everything in Mexico and came to the US with nothing but dreams and the gigantic balls to achieve them. His father had the bright idea to run for mayor against the ruling party and it ended up costing him his life. The family scattered across the country trying to save their lives while Juan decided to escape the country entirely. He had killed and had almost been killed several times to get where he was. Hugo needed men like him in his inner circle. Juan was a dying breed and Gabriel was gettin
Last Updated : 2024-10-20Shadow of Yesterday 73 Crossfire
It had started to drizzle and silence dominated the neighborhood. The abundance of houses with turned off interior lights indicated that most of the neighborhood preferred to sleep in early. It had something to do with the next day being a working day as well. There were no cars on the road. It was almost midnight. A lone car entered the neighborhood and slowly approached the other end of the street. The car abruptly stopped at the corner of the street and Hugo Ortiz stepped out of the vehicle. He wanted this to go as smoothly as possible. The car drove away as instructed. Hugo walked towards the house where he had received the bullet. It almost made him smile. So much had happened in the past few days. He walked through the neighborhood without sparing a glance to the surrounding houses. He didn't like this kind of neighborhood. They seemed too artificial to him. Too square. There was no room for creativity or culture. Just queues of identical cubes of concrete that looked devoid of
Last Updated : 2024-10-20Shadow of Yesterday 74 The Price
Carl hastily started the vehicle and floored the accelerator. The car came to life and screeched out of the neighborhood. The road was like the surface of an ice cap and it was a miracle how they didn't crash into a tree. They were out of sight in no time. The car raced through the long empty road with open fields on either side. The drizzle had become heavier and the drops on the windshield weren't making Carl's job any easier. Hugo kept on yelling and shouting in the back of the vehicle but his expressions had shifted more towards sadness than fury. Wade had his eyes on the barely visible road and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He felt like a dog that had finally managed to catch up with the truck. He had never even thought of his plan of action afterwards. Now that it was finally done, he was stumped. The risk of repeating the same mistake loomed in front of him and the irony wasn't lost on Wade. The car had been on the move for a while and other than an odd groan or two, H
Last Updated : 2024-10-20Shadow of Yesterday 75 Regroup
The black car sped through the deserted road, back into the city. It had been an eventful night for Hugo Ortiz. Wade had just become the first person in Hugo’s life who managed to walk away after threatening him. Gabriel sat beside him with a brace on his arm. His face was riddled with stitches and bandages. They all were silent. “I was at the house fire when you called. The gringo architect is in the hospital. He took a bullet to his shoulder. He’ll live if he wasn't on blood thinners. They found another man in the house burnt to a crisp. But there was no sign of any woman,” Juan said.“Volkov took my Camila!” Hugo said without taking his eyes off the window. Juan was in a deep thought.“That explains the dead mercenary,” Gabriel said. “How the hell did he get my number?” Hugo asked. The question had been pricking at him for a while. “The same way he found out about Camila. We’ve got a rat,” said Gabriel. “Vladimir?” “Not possible. We’ve been watching him. He didn't even call hi
Last Updated : 2024-10-22Shadow of Yesterday 76 The Motel
In the darkness and eerie silence of the night, Crescent Motel stood like a beacon with all its neon lights and out of order billboards. The place was a haven for all sorts of criminals. Police had been so accustomed to the area being through hell that they had stopped trying to make it a better place. They had started using the place to scout for informants. A refuge for criminals secluded from the civilized demographics was not all bad news. At least they would let the innocent people be. Police had decided long ago that they were better off not messing with the hornet’s nest. Usually, the neon boards had one or two hookers smoking cheap cigarettes under them. But tonight, it was different but only a trained eye could catch it. There was no usual crowd outside. Hidden in plain sight were over a dozen trained mercenaries. Four on the roof, four in the building and the rest scattered around in obscured spots. An SUV stopped in front of the building and Ivan Volkov emerged from it wear
Last Updated : 2024-10-22Shadow of Yesterday 77 Rescue
The convoy of mercenaries drove swiftly through the streets of Bassett. The roads were completely deserted and wet due to the rain that had stopped just an hour ago. The vehicles splashed through the puddles and the sound of the engines and splashes were the only sound strong enough to be heard. Juan had preferred to take the lead for this mission but he knew better than to argue with his boss who had a reputation for having a volatile temper. Juan had been operating in the area since forever so he knew all the obscured paths and dead ends of the city. Hugo had never been in the city before. Hell, he couldn't even tell the FBI from the cops. Juan just hoped that he wasn't walking into his own doom. He checked on Bethany and gave a thumbs up. “Stop right here,” Hugo ordered and the convoy stopped. Juan looked at him, awaiting an explanation. “We go on foot from here. We move as soon as the snipers find a high vantage point,” Hugo said. Juan nodded and conveyed the order to the rest o
Last Updated : 2024-10-23Shadow of Yesterday 78 Am I a Monster?
The gunshots were closing in and Ivan’s men yelled and cursed. There was no doubt the motel was under attack and Ivan was sure it was the expected rescue attempt. He had some expectations for a hand of negotiation from Hugo but it seemed off the table. The man was going for the kill. The entire building rumbled under the gunfire. Jessica was neither shocked nor scared. She just awaited what was coming her way. Ivan was double minded if he should aim at the door or at Jessica. The gazes of both of them were stuck like flies on the door when the window shattered and a tall figure swiftly rolled into the room. Before Ivan could react, the masked figure aimed his gun at his head. The figure pulled off his mask and revealed his identity and Ivan was not amused at all. Ivan’s words echoed in Hugo’s mind and he saw red. “We don't go after the wives of our enemies! What kind of lawless bastard are you? I thought we had some principles!” Hugo yelled at Ivan. He was shaking with rage. Ivan sta
Last Updated : 2024-10-23Shadow of Yesterday 79 Aftermath
A week later…The police in the city had been on high alert. There had been no more incidents of violence since the fire and the motel shootout. The federal government had gotten involved since the past two weeks had been the most bloody in the history of the city. It made the people skeptical of each other. There were more checks at the airports and border control was more strict. The government got wind of who the seafood businessman Marko Juarez was in reality. Linda Schmidt was under inquiry for Professional Misconduct. Her client had jumped bail under a false alias and there was suspicion that she knew more than she shared. Ivan Volkov was found in the chewed up motel along with a dozen armed dead bodies. Ivan had no outstanding warrants on him in the US and there was nothing that connected him to the cartel big shot who had wreaked havoc in the city. Hugo Ortiz had vanished like the silver dollar. Every department and agency tried their hand but got nothing. People wondered if t
Last Updated : 2024-10-24
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
