The story of two American teens recruited as killers for a Mexican cartel, and their pursuit by a Mexican-American detective who realizes the War on Drugs is unwinnable. What's it like to be an employee of a global drug-trafficking organization? In the border town of Laredo, Texas, Gabriel and his friend Bart abandon promising futures for the allure of the Zetas, a drug cartel with roots in the Mexican military. Mexican-born Detective Robert Garcia has worked hard all his life and is now struggling to raise his family in America. As violence spills over the border, Detective Garcia pursuit of the boys, and their cartel leaders, puts him face to face with the urgent consequences of a war he sees as unwinnable. Slater shows the way in which the border itself is changing, disappearing, and posing new, terrifying, and yet largely unseen threats to American security.

The Straight Hard Workers -- You're not from here -- Flickering candle -- My Dad does drugs -- The noble fight -- Overachieving bitch -- Underworld University -- The Company -- Original Vice Lord -- Bank of America -- The new people -- Raising wolves -- I'm the true one -- Spillover -- In the dirty room -- Garcia's orgasm -- Corporate raiders -- The clean soul of Gabriel Cardona -- The Kingdom of Judgment -- Who's the next top Drug Lord? -- All in the gang -- Brothers of the Black Hand -- Lesser Lords -- A boner for Bart -- The varieties of power -- I'm a good soldier! -- Prophecy -- Last meal -- Heroes and liars -- Career moments -- Catch that pussy -- Twilight -- Frozen in Time -- Legend of Laredo -- The messiest war -- No angels -- Hypocritical bastards -- Another media guy.