I walk confidently next to Luis. I try not to watch him but keep an eye on our surroundings instead, scanning the area as we walk up the drive to Tom' home. Luis says he's worried about me, but I'm terrified for him. Luis is the target. Not me, not his men, just him. We might be considered collateral damage in a war between cartels, but the fact is, if Luis falls, his regime falls.

I breathe deep and force myself to channel the old Lena. The one who could think like a machine, ...