The first shot shattered the silence.
Kerian ducked instinctively, glass exploding behind him as bullets ripped through the farmhouse window. “Get down!” he barked.
Jonathan rolled for cover, firing back through a sliver in the curtains while Erica kicked the table over for Catalina to hide behind.
“Who are they?” Catalina cried, her heart racing as she crouched low.
“Same people who took you,” Kerian answered, his tone sharp, controlled — the voice of a soldier resurfacing. “They found us faster than I thought.”
More rounds slammed into the walls, sending wood splinters flying. The air filled with smoke and panic.
Erica reloaded with practiced precision, shouting, “We’ve got at least six outside — maybe more circling around back!”
“Make that eight!” Jonathan growled, spotting movement near the barn. “They’ve got night gear. Professional.”
Kerian’s instincts kicked in fully now. “Erica, cover the north side. Jonathan, you and I take the front. Catalina—”
“I’m not just hiding,” she said, trembling but determined. “Tell me what to do.”
For a brief second, pride flickered in his eyes. “Stay low. If anyone gets inside, you run. Don’t think — just move.”
She nodded, gripping a heavy fire poker she’d snatched from near the fireplace.
Then chaos erupted.
Three men burst through the side door, armed and masked. Erica was already moving — two clean shots dropped the first, while Jonathan tackled the second, slamming him into the wall. The third aimed at Catalina — but Kerian was faster.
He lunged forward, disarming the man and driving an elbow into his throat. The intruder collapsed with a wheeze.
“Basement! Now!” Kerian shouted to Catalina, shoving her toward the back as more gunfire tore through the kitchen.
She ran — heart pounding — but froze when she saw headlights cutting across the field outside.
Two vehicles skidded to a stop, and more men poured out.
“We’re surrounded!” Jonathan yelled.
Kerian gritted his teeth. “Then we make it count.”
They split off — Erica taking the east window, Jonathan covering the stairs. Kerian stayed near Catalina, guarding the back entrance.
Just when it seemed hopeless — when the entire farmhouse seemed ready to collapse under the hail of bullets — the roar of another engine echoed in the distance.
Then came a different sound — controlled, precise bursts of return fire from the tree line.
Kerian froze, recognizing the pattern instantly. “That’s military formation.”
The attackers faltered, caught off guard as two shadowed figures advanced through the smoke, firing with unnerving accuracy. Within moments, three of the masked men were down.
“Who the hell—?” Jonathan started, but then a voice called out:
“Kerian! Catalina!”
Catalina blinked, tears springing to her eyes. “Dad?!”
Out of the shadows stepped a broad-shouldered man in tactical gear, face streaked with dirt but eyes blazing with fierce determination. Behind him came a younger man — Catalina’s brother, breathless but grinning, a rifle slung across his chest.
“Dad?!” Kerian echoed, stunned.
Catalina’s father fired one last shot before ducking behind cover beside Kerian. “Looks like we showed up just in time,” he said coolly.
Catalina stared, speechless. “How—how did you find us?”
“Your mom called when she couldn’t reach you,” he said, reloading. “I tracked your signal — and the chaos your friend left behind helped narrow things down.” He gave Kerian a pointed look. “Good work, son.”
Kerian blinked, caught off guard by the word.
Before either could respond, another explosion shook the ground. The last wave of attackers charged from the back — desperate, reckless.
Kerian and Jonathan moved as one, covering the front while Erica and Catalina’s brother flanked from behind. Catalina’s father gave crisp orders, directing them like a small strike team. Within minutes, the gunfire slowed, then stopped.
Silence returned — heavy and electric.
Bodies lay still across the dirt outside. Smoke drifted into the moonlight.
They’d won.
For now.
Kerian lowered his weapon, exhaling hard. Erica checked Jonathan, brushing off a shallow cut on his arm. Catalina stumbled out from behind the overturned table, eyes wide, chest heaving.
Her father rushed to her, gripping her shoulders. “Are you hurt?”
“No… I don’t think so.”
But even as she said it, her vision began to swim. The edges of the room blurred, sounds muffled. Her heart pounded too fast — then too slow.
Kerian caught her as her knees buckled. “Catalina—hey, stay with me!”
Her lips parted, trying to speak, but the words never came.
The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was Kerian’s face — terrified, shouting her name.
Then everything went black.
YOU ARE READING
Curves For The Agent Cowboy
Romance"I'll be right back.. I need to go and find out what's taking Nick so long. I'm thirsty!" With that being said she ignored the scared look on Catalina's face and walked away. Catalina watched her go and when she turned back around she was surprised...
