Alpha Loren

Half an hour later, I was sat on the wall outside Andrea's house.

The driveway had filled with trucks and dozens of men, walked back and forth all with machine guns strapped over their chests and a determined look in their eye.

In between making orders, Andrea glanced over to me and looked me up and down before thrusting the clipboard he was holding to the man next to him and coming over to me.

"What's going on?" I asked as he sat beside me on the wall.

"You'll see," he said. "All in good time."

Of course, that was the answer. It usually was.

"Come," he announced, standing up and holding out his hand. "I want to show you something."

I looked up but didn't move. He raised an impatient eyebrow, maintaining eye cold contact and I eventually stood up. Instead of taking his hand, I walked passed him which of course only amused him.

"By all means, lead the way, Blanca," he said. "To the garden."

I walked through the house to the back garden with Andrea following me. Luciano was sat on the patio, sharpening a stick with a knife. He looked up at me and smiled before lifting the stick up to his face and examining the sharp point.

There were three empty beer bottles on the table which Andrea then grabbed before balancing them on the wall at the edge of the patio.

"You ever shot a gun, Blanca?" he asked.

"No," I said.

that had been strapped

he

tensing his forearms. After a little more encouragement, I finally took it from him and stood motionless, completely unsure of

Luciano remarked

out a short laugh before stepping behind me and reaching around to guide my hands to the correct position.

be in this cartel, Blanca, you've got to learn to shoot," he said.

I asked. "What if I shoot

he replied confidently as he kissed my neck. "Now shut up

other to the trigger and kept

asked once I was steadily

top of mine on the gun, he brought the other to my waist and turned my

on the middle bottle and

with the sound

said gripping my arms.

eyes on the bottle and took a deep breath, keeping myself as still as possible. Andrea slowly let go of

in Spanish, I could tell

I shot.

and crumbled to the floor in pieces.

a

over to the wall and crouched to pick up the

was turned, I still had the