Chapter 15
The next morning, after Link confirmed that Marcus Weatherly was indeed a DEA agent from the Washington, D.C., office, Moose picked up his phone and dialed the number. He laid the phone on the dining room table, setting the volume loud enough for everyone to hear.
On the third ring, a sharp, clipped voice barked through. “Weatherly!”
Moose’s tone was crisp and authoritative, “This is Senior Chief Petty Officer Wilkins. I understand you’re looking for a young woman named Elena Roberson.”
The DEA agent’s voice carried a hard Boston edge. “Yeah, we’re on a case with Ms. Roberson, but I don’t know you. What’s the military have to do with this?”
Bear leaned forward, his voice calm. “Agent Weatherly, I’m Stephan Kowalski, head of the Blue Ridge Protectors—a chapter of the Brotherhood Protectors. We’re providing security for Elena.”
Elena’s breath caught. She’d never heard of the Blue Ridge or the Brotherhood Protectors. Her eyes jumped between Moose and Bear, silently searching for an explanation.
There was a pause on the line before Weatherly answered. “I know the Brotherhood Protectors and Hank Patterson. I respect the work you do keepin’ the peace.”
Bear and Moose confirmed details with Weatherly, arranging to meet the agent at the diner at 2pm, once the lunch crowd thinned. It was the best place to talk privately and get the full picture.
The call ended abruptly when Jim stood up, gruff as ever. “Chores need doin’. I’m gettin’ back to it.”
Bear nodded. “Moose and I’ll head into town, meet Weatherly, get all the info we can, and be back before supper.”
Moose caught Elena’s uncertain gaze, a blend of fear and unspoken questions. “Why don’t we sit in the living room for a bit?” he suggested softly. “I’ll answer what I can.”
As they moved, Moose found his eyes drifting toward her more often than he wanted.
There was something raw and magnetic in the way she carried herself, a quiet strength beneath her guarded movements that drew him in despite every warning bell blaring in his mind.
He told himself to stay detached, reminded himself of the wide gulf between them: her youth, his role, the weight of responsibility pressing down like a stone.
But the details crept in regardless: the soft light catching strands of her hair, the tension in her jaw, the faint tremor when she swallowed.
He felt the pull deepening, a simmering heat beneath his skin, mixing with adrenaline and something more complicated, something that whispered of danger and desire intertwined.
He fought it fiercely, shoving down the swirl of emotions. Not now. Not here. The urge to reach out, to steady her, to hold her close, gnawed at him, but a sharper, colder voice bit back. Don’t lose focus. Don’t cross the line.
Bear’s voice cut through the room, grounding Moose harshly. “The Latin Counts’ leader, Marcus DeLuca, is dead set on finding you. He’s right behind Weatherly, the DEA agent. Word is an informant told Marcus that Aaron passed evidence on their drug deals to you.”
Moose watched as Bear’s surprise shifted to something sharper as he stepped closer. “How did you not know what Aaron was really doing? His side job with the Latin Counts—it wasn’t something you could just avoid.”
Elena planted her feet firmly, her eyes blazing with sharp defiance.
“Aaron worked two jobs. I busted my ass full-time and took college classes online at night. We shared an apartment because we had to—not because it was some cozy love nest!” Her voice cut through the tension, edged with frustration and raw honesty.
Moose felt a flicker of pride for her fire burning through the weariness.
But then the steel in her gaze flickered, the walls she’d built showing cracks for just a moment.
Her voice softened and wavered. “But… I didn’t know shit about any of this.
Who was Aaron really? What the hell did he have to do with the Latin Counts?
And why the hell didn’t he tell me?” She swallowed hard, fear gnawing at the edges of her words. “If I stayed? I thought I’d be dead.”
Moose’s tone softened too, but there was a hard edge beneath the protectiveness. “I get it. But now that you’re caught in this, whether you like it or not, every move has to be smart. Every step could mean the difference between surviving and getting buried.”
He hated how much he wanted to do more than just talk—how he wished he could reach out, shield her from the storm that was closing in. His heart raced, tangled with a fierce urge to protect and the cold reality of the danger they faced.
Bear leaned forward, voice steady and grim. “We’ve got to keep you safe. If the Latin Counts think you’ve got what they want, they’re coming for you. They don’t stop.”
Elena’s eyes flicked between them, a chaotic storm of fear and fierce resolve clashing beneath the surface. Her voice was low but fierce. “What are we supposed to do? I’m not about to just sit back and let them catch me.”
Moose met Elena’s fierce gaze as her words hung in the air.
Without thinking, his hand reached out and closed around hers.
She froze, caught off guard by the unexpected touch.
The warmth of her skin sent a sharp, electric jolt through him—a sudden contrast to the cold fears he knew lay beneath her surface.
For a brief moment, he saw the tension in her face melt away, replaced by something softer, almost vulnerable.
But almost as quickly, he pulled his hand back, stepping away as if burned. He caught the flicker of confusion—and maybe hurt—in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but held back, the moment slipping away too fast.
Inside, Moose’s thoughts wrestled chaotic duels: desire and duty, fear and guilt. Crossing this line would complicate everything, jeopardize all they were fighting for.
He forced himself to steady his voice, even as his heart thundered. “We’ll keep you safe. That’s a promise.”
The room thickened with tension, unspoken fears and the weight of what lay ahead. Bear checked his watch and stood. “We should get moving. Weatherly’s not one to wait around. The sooner we know what we’re up against, the better we can plan.”
Moose nodded, rising slowly. His eyes flicked to Elena one last time. Her pale face showed the fear beneath but beneath that, a steel-hard resolve that earned his respect. He gave her a small nod before turning away.
He sensed Bear’s sharp gaze on him. Turning, Moose lifted his chin slightly, silently signaling that he was focused and not distracted—that his attention was firmly on the task ahead.
As they moved toward the door, Elena shook her head, as if brushing away any illusions. Without looking back, she spoke plainly, “I have work to do.”
The drive into town was quiet; the calm streets of Banner felt deceptively peaceful against the storm brewing around them. After a moment, Bear broke the silence. “Weatherly’s sharp. If anyone can help us figure out what we’re really dealing with, it’s him.”
Moose rubbed his jaw. “Yeah. But it cuts both ways. The DEA’s here means this is serious. And the Latin Counts…they don’t mess around.”
As Moose and Bear stepped into the diner, Gladys spotted them immediately, waving towards the back corner from behind the counter. With a warm smile and that unmistakable sweet drawl, she called out, “I’ll bring y’all some coffee and cherry pie!”
The lunch rush had tapered off, and the rear booth sat mostly empty. Weatherly was there, focused on an open folder beside a steaming cup of coffee. He looked up as they approached.
“Stephan, Senior Chief,” Weatherly greeted. “Thanks for coming on short notice.”
Bear gave his hand a firm shake. “Just call me Bear. That’s Moose. We appreciate you meeting us.”
Weatherly gestured toward the booth. “Let’s get straight to it. What I’ve got isn’t easy news, but you need to hear it if we want to keep Elena safe.”
Moose settled into the seat, leaning in. “Give us every detail. The what, the who, and the how.”
As Moose and Bear settled into the booth, Gladys set down the coffee pot and the plate with three slices of steaming hot cherry pie. Her warm smile never faltered as she said, “Nothin’ like a little sugar and caffeine to keep y’all sharp.”
The three men paused briefly, each nodding in appreciation, and Weatherly smiled quietly. “Thank you, Ma’am.”
With a friendly nod, Gladys turned and headed back toward the kitchen, leaving the men to focus on the task ahead.
Weatherly took a breath before starting.
“As I told you on the phone, Marcus DeLuca leads the Latin Counts hunting Elena. They believe she has or had evidence against them, thanks to Aaron. It doesn’t matter if she actually holds anything; they won’t take chances.
These guys are ruthless and won’t hesitate to eliminate anyone standing in their way. ”
He slid the folder across the table. “We’ve intercepted communications. They’re closing in fast—surveillance, tracking, even threats against anyone connected to Elena. The DEA’s got resources here, but Marcus has eyes everywhere.”
Moose listened intently as Bear laid out the grim details.
“The Latin Counts have three key players tailing you, Weatherly. Elías ‘El Chivo’ Ramírez, their enforcer; Mariana ‘La Serpiente’ Guzmán, co-founder and strategist; and Carlos ‘El Zorro’ Delgado, their hitman and scout. All dangerous in their own right.”
Weatherly leaned back, his expression tightening. “I know I’m being followed. It’s part of the job, but it doesn’t make it any less worrying. The window to keep Elena safe is closing. We need to move fast and coordinate tight. The gang’s making bold moves. One wrong step and it’s over.”
Moose felt the weight of the situation settle heavily on his shoulders. This wasn’t just about protection anymore—it was a battle against a ruthless enemy with everything on the line.
Weatherly’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke. “The DEA is stretched thin right now. I don’t have backup on this—just me. If the Brotherhood Protectors can assist, it would be more than appreciated.”
Moose exchanged a look with Bear, understanding the unspoken weight behind Weatherly’s words. This was bigger than any one agency—it was going to take every ally they could find to keep Elena safe.
Moose looked at Bear. “We need more Protectors here. Should we bring in our new members, check if Hank has anyone who can get here within twenty-four hours?”
Bear nodded thoughtfully. “It’s time to call in every favor.”