Panic-stricken, you slid across the floor to collect new cartridges. One of the attackers had already made it up the stairs and wandered along the porch.

A second tried to force open the door. Luckily, Alejandro had been extra cautious and had chosen a safety lock that needed a good few minutes to be broken.

Full of rage and aggression, a man held his gun through the broken kitchen window to threaten you.

Hastily you raised the pistol you had clipped to your belt and fired two shots. In your agitated state you did not manage to aim well.

A shot hit him in the shoulder. Gripped by the force, he stumbled back. The second bullet hit his hand.

With a scream, he dropped his weapon and fell over the low railing to the ground, where he landed on one of the corpses.

Startled, he cried out as his hand went straight to the dead man's face. Blood covered his skin. Screaming and kicking, he crawled back to the cars.

But before he could get to the safety of the interior, Diego blocked his way.

"Get up and get back.", he growled, pressing the barrel of his pistol into his face. "Or die."

Shaking with fear, the man shook his head.

"I beg you.", Diego, he whispered. "I have children..."

"I'll tell them you died honorably for the cartel."

He pulled the trigger.

His rash manner elicited an amused chuckle from you. If he continued to be so careless with his resources, soon there would be no one left to beat you black and blue.

"Not a born leader.", you smirked and reloaded the pistol.

Not a second too soon, because suddenly a soft crack sounded. The door swung open and came to a halt with a clang.

A narco jumped into the kitchen, his finger already twitching on the trigger, so you raised your gun and placed half a magazine in it.

Gasping, he fell motionless to the floor, blood pouring from his mouth, which he slowly choked on.

More narcos approached. Now that the door was open, the last resistance had fallen.

Your eyes jumped around. You could retreat but then the house would become a death trap. You knew from experience that it was never smart to let yourself be trapped like a rat. Even if they could bite.

Out the back of the house there were no windows either, it had been built right into a mountain wall.

"Not good...", you muttered to yourself and grabbed another handful of ammunition.

Bullets started raining down again.

Apparently Diego had decided that half dead you were still alive. It would be enough for her, even if she wouldn't be thrilled.

Two more shots took the life of a man. He stumbled over his own legs as the life drained from his eyes and fell to the ground, blocking the door.

Blood was already soaking the floor of your home. The sight was so grotesque when you thought that once your children had played on this floor.

Hastily you pulled yourself up by the countertop to take a look through the window.

Of the entire troop of narcos, only a handful remained. Only a few of them still seemed to have the will to face you. On the other hand, they were also afraid of Diego's wrath. It was obvious that he did not value their lives much.

"Must be hard to have the value of vermin.", you muttered, raising your eyes again to make sure no living one was lurking outside your entrance.

You couldn't close the door, it would take too long to move the bodies and then barricade the door again.

Eyes were on you. A thousand emotions were visible, from fear to disgust and hatred.

The situation had improved in your favor but you didn't want to celebrate before the spook finally ended.

Diego hesitated again to give the order to attack. He was smart enough to be able to count. He and his men were still outnumbering you, but their ranks had been well thinned. It seemed that he was no longer as sure as he had been at the beginning.

Out of caution, you backed further into the room. Your eyes wandered over the floor.

Ammunition was running low. If you counted correctly, you had a full magazine left for the rifle and about ten rounds in the pistol. Your shooting skills were not as good as they used to, but it would be enough.

If there would be no more unpleasant surprises.

Relief spreads through your chest. But you refused to become careless.

Your fingers closed around your weapon.

All at once, shots rang out again.

The hair stood up on the back of your neck. A cold shiver crept down your spine.

No one in the vicinity had fired.

The shots came from behind.

Surprised, the narcos jumped apart and took shelter by their cars. Once again, a shot rang out. Someone screamed in pain. Several shots shattered the silence.

Confused, you frowned. Your brain tried to find an answer to who could have opened fire again.

Maybe Diego had called for help.

But why would the reinforcements decide on their own people?

Unless they were not narcos.

The blood froze in your veins. Eyes wide open, you jerked your head up.

In the distance, a single person approached, scrawny and barely tall enough to be identified as a threat. Like a rookie, he walked in the open expanse toward the house while occasionally firing a few shots.

Annoyed, Diego signaled two of his men to take care of the distraction. The rest stayed behind to take care of the real problem.

"Moro?!", you gasped and jumped to the door to take advantage of the moment of confusion and open fire again.

One of the men fell victim to his carelessness. With a loud bang he fell onto the hood of the car and slid into the sand.

A trail of blood remained.

Diego's gaze leapt over his shoulder into the distance.

"Is someone getting jittery?", he asked with a broad grin. "Bien."

With a signal, he ordered the others to keep firing and followed the men who were to take care of Moro.