Chapter 18
Elena stood by the motel doorway, watching the newcomers settle in—Jake Cogburn, Max “Thorn” Thornton, and “Enzo” Ramos from the Colorado Brotherhood Protectors, alongside the newest Blue Ridge members: Maya “Viper” Reynolds, Jason “Jax” Monroe, and Eli “Shadow” Torres.
She knew little beyond their names and that they were here to protect her and Banner. Strangers bound by shared danger.
She made a mental note to remember all the names and faces. They were here to protect her, after all.
Jake Cogburn caught her attention first. The steady confidence in his eyes was unmistakable, tempered by the subtle click of his prosthetic leg, a reminder of sacrifices made on the road he’d traveled.
Thorn moved with precise alertness, his sharp gaze missing nothing, like a hawk watching the surroundings.
Enzo’s calm demeanor suggested a man who measured every move carefully, quiet but capable.
Among the Blue Ridge Protectors, Maya “Viper” Reynolds stood out with fiery eyes and a poised stance that spoke of a woman not to be underestimated—dangerous in the best way possible.
Jax’s easy smile and relaxed presence hinted that he was the one who could ease tensions with a well-timed joke.
Shadow was quieter, his steady, thoughtful eyes observing more than he said, like a guardian quietly keeping watch.
Her gaze often found Moose, who balanced toughness with a surprising ease—cracking jokes even while discussing grim details. Moments ago, his whispered quip coaxed a rare half-smile from Bear, showing their deep bond and shared history.
But when the talk shifted back to Weatherly, Moose’s face grew dark, like storm clouds gathering. Elena felt a chill run through her and knew he was holding something back. Her heart bumped faster. If Weatherly was in danger, it meant trouble wasn’t far away—maybe even close to her.
Trying to be brave, she took a step closer. “Moose… please, I need to know exactly what happened. You’re keeping something from me.”
She looked at the grim pictures spread out before her, feeling a mix of shock and confusion. Tears welled up and slipped down her cheeks as sorrow overwhelmed her. She felt sorry that this had happened to the agent, to someone caught in such a terrible fate.
She knew no one had actually seen Weatherly being captured or tortured—only the aftermath. Bear and Moose had studied the body in the photograph carefully, and from the way their faces tightened, Elena understood without words: Weatherly had been broken, beyond what she could fully grasp yet.
Without thinking, Moose reached out and gently wiped the tears from Elena’s cheeks. For a brief moment, the vulnerability between them felt raw and real. Then, realizing he was surrounded by his team, he quickly pulled his hand back, his usual guarded demeanor snapping back into place.
The silence hung only for a moment before Moose broke it, his voice heavy with the gravity of their discovery.
“The Latin Counts laid a trap with Ramírez, Guzmán, and Delgado waiting. They forced Weatherly off a remote stretch of highway, disabled his car, but spared his life. Then they took him somewhere isolated and tortured him for information, likely about us, his findings, especially Elena’s location. ”
Elena swallowed hard as Moose’s eyes locked on hers and he went on. “They might think you have the intel Aaron gave the DEA, which is why Weatherly was targeted. But it’s just an assumption based on what they found or what they believe he knew.”
Though no one had witnessed it, the signs on Weatherly’s body told a devastating story.
Bear and Moose were certain he’d given up everything the gang wanted before they killed him and had then staged the scene to send a deadly message.
The chilling truth settled over Elena: they weren’t just hunting Weatherly.
They were coming for her and the farm next.
Her throat tightened. “They want me dead.”
Elena sat on the edge of the worn motel bed, watching as the team methodically checked their surveillance equipment.
They inspected security cameras, tested motion sensors, and went over the layout to ensure everything needed to secure the farm was accounted for.
Their quiet conversations centered on setting up a reliable perimeter, but Elena’s mind was elsewhere. All she could think about was Nancy.
Where was Nancy right now? Was she safe? Could she be wandering, confused or scared, with Jim none the wiser? What if the gang showed up there? A knot tightened in Elena’s stomach.
Voicing the thought, her voice barely a whisper, she said, “We need to get back to the farm.
Moose’s breath caught, his eyes locking onto hers. He understood the fear behind her words but knew they hadn’t left things to chance. Before they left, he and Bear had gone over security measures with Jim. He was aware of the dangers and had been vigilant about reinforcing their defenses.
“We talked to Jim,” Moose said reassuringly, his tone calm. “He knows what to watch for. The farm is way off the beaten path.”
Still, he placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “But you’re right. We should head back. It is only a matter of time before this catches up to us all.”
Before she could say more, the comm crackled to life.
Link’s calm, steady voice filtered through the small earpiece.
“Update: There’s movement among the Latin Counts.
Looks like a group of maybe ten gang members left Detroit heading south toward Banner.
If they drive straight through, it’s an eight to ten hour drive. ”
The weight of the news pressed in on Elena. The danger was closing faster than they’d anticipated.
Bear’s voice then rose through the low buzz of planning. “Thorn and Enzo, take a walk through town. Look for anything unusual. Check in with Gladys and Shorty at the diner—they’re the eyes and ears of the community. Anything they hear, we need to know.”
Elena watched as Thorn and Enzo nodded, pulling on jackets, ready to fade into the streets.
Bear turned to Jake. “You and I will coordinate with law enforcement and the DEA. We have to keep intelligence tight—no surprises.”
Moose stepped forward after. “The rest of us head back to the Wilkins’ farm. Nancy, Elena, Jim—they need protection close by. We have to get the cameras up and running and make sure the perimeter is secure.”
Jax moved smoothly through the room, handing out small, sleek comm devices—compact units designed for real-time communication that didn’t rely on cell signals or phones.
Bear’s tone hardened, firm and unyielding. “Keep these on you, 24/7. No exceptions. One call, one alert could make all the difference.”
Sitting in the truck, listening to Link’s update, Elena felt the gravity settle deep within her. The Latin Counts’ trio was a clear threat, but a bigger fear gnawed at her: there were more coming.
She glanced over at Moose, whose jaw was set tight, eyes scanning the dark horizon ahead. Tonight, there was no room for mistakes.
“We won’t let them get to you or her,” Moose said quietly, reading her thoughts.