Overview
Pedro Santos has lost his faith. As a child he was one of the youngest ever initiated into the mysteries of Santeria, a religion with its origins in African Yoruba culture. Known as "El Milagrito" (The Little Miracle), people would come from miles around for consultations and rituals performed by him and his mother, Paloma, a high priestess whose first rule was: turn no one away. But Paloma was also a heroin addict.
In “Chango Crying”, we meet Pedro as he’s being released from prison. He spent over four years behind bars for selling cocaine to support his own young children. While in jail, he loses custody of his children, and his mother dies. Feeling like he’s now lost everything, Pedro feels drawn to his mother’s apartment in Hoboken. When people hear that “El Milagrito” has returned, they begin showing up hoping Pedro can perform rituals, like he once did. Pedro wants to help, but the more he’s learned by studying the origins of Santeria, the less he believes in its powers. Yet, he can’t say no.
Soon enough, Pedro gets in over his head. A desperate, New York Socialite comes to him asking for help in finding her son who disappeared in Mexico during Spring Break. Reluctantly, Pedro fulfills his obligation to 'turn no one away' and risks his freedom by leaving the country while on parole. Pedro tracks the socialite’s son to a pair of evil Santeria practitioners who sacrifice humans in rituals designed to protect a powerful, Mexican drug cartel, and finds himself in the midst of a violent drug war. Suddenly, Pedro needs to find his faith, fast, not just to get by, but to stay alive.
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