Page 24 of Gentle Warrior

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.”

16 - MOOSE

Moose sat in the driver’s seat, his jaw clenched as the familiar scenery blurred past outside the windshield. He had initially planned to take Elena and Nancy back to their headquarters in Virginia, thinking the safest place was far from this chaos. But now, realizing the true extent of the danger that loomed over the small town, Moose knew those plans had to change.

The drive back from town was tense and silent, each man lost in thought. Moose finally broke the quiet, glancing over at Bear with a grim look. “It’s not just Elena we’ve got to protect,” he said, voice low but firm. “This gang, they don’t care who gets hurt as long as they find what they want. Anyone in this town could become a target or a pawn.”

Bear nodded in agreement, eyes fixed on the twisting road ahead. “They would use anybody: family, friends, innocent folks. The whole town is under threat.” Moose’s mind raced, understanding now that they needed reinforcements; not just for Elena’s safety, but for everyone. They had to stay and fight, to ensure the town didn’t fall into chaos. Moose clutched the steering wheel tighter, determination settling in. They couldn’t afford to leave now, not with everything at stake.

Moose clenched his fists. “We need reinforcements. Enough Protectors to keep watch over everyone, not just Elena. Twenty-four hours to get them here or things are going to get ugly real fast.”

Bear agreed silently, the weight of what lay ahead settling heavy between them as they pushed forward.

Back at the farm, Bear reached out to Hank Patterson, founder of the Brotherhood Protectors. “Hank, things are escalating fast. We have to protect this town; the Latin Counts are gonna drag their gang war into Banner.”

Hank’s voice was resolute. “Let me find out who all is available. I’ll get them on the helicopter to Banner, do you have a field it can put down in? Call you back with details.”

Moose grabbed his phone and dialed Link’s number. “Link, listen up. We need the three newest Protectors, get Viper, Jax, and Shadow kitted out and ready to roll. Load up the SUVs with ammo and gear, and make sure there’s plenty for Bear and me too. We coulda used them yesterday.”

The more tense the situation, the quicker the jokes seemed to fly. It was almost a nervous instinct now. There was a short pause before Link responded, his voice steady but no less clipped. “Got it, Moose. I’ll get ’em squared away. Viper’s been itching to get out in the field. Jax and Shadow are at peak readiness; they’ll be there well before your bedtime protocol kicks in.”

Moose chuckled softly, a brief crack in the tension. “Good. I’ll make sure I pick a good book tonight. And fill me in on the Latin Counts’ movements—start running surveillance on any signs they’re moving toward Banner or Elena’s location. We need situational awareness like yesterday. No more delays.”