Yellowstone: Wind in the Smoke

"My interests lie in weapons and weed; I have no desire to meddle in your business. We're all in agreement on that, right?" Dante spoke as they walked through a neighborhood that had once belonged to another gang.

Around them were houses with children playing nearby. No one dared to even glance at them.

Dante's overconfidence as he walked through this area made Tommy uncomfortable.

On the contrary, that confidence—walking through a neighborhood that had once been controlled by another gang—indirectly conveyed that he could easily take away what they were so proud of and had worked so hard to maintain.

Looking at Dante's friendly face, James didn't trust that he was as innocent as he appeared. He knew all too well the kind of monsters who hid their predatory nature under layers of charm, revealing them only when the situation called for it.

"You've been incredibly respectful this whole time, and we appreciate that. But we need to find the source of the problem," James said, addressing the core of his concern.

It was clear he didn't have control of the situation, which was why he abruptly changed the subject.

Dante smiled at this and replied, "I've done my homework, Mr. James. I believe I know who's attacking you, but I don't know who's targeting me. Whether it's a coincidence or not, we should consider the possibility that your attacker isn't the same as mine."

"Do you know who it is?" James couldn't believe it. They had been investigating the issue extensively and only knew that a woman was behind the attacks.

Tommy, the most impatient of them, asked, "Who's the son of a bitch?"

"Hmm, take this as a gift from me to your organization," Dante said, handing an envelope to James. James was about to open it, but Dante gestured for him to follow. "I have something to discuss with you."

"Just me?" James was reluctant to exclude his partner.

But Dante, wanting to speak to him alone, said, "There's something else I want to ask you—something personal."

Tommy looked at James and nodded, indicating he should go. Though annoyed at always being treated like James's subordinate when they were both bosses, Tommy made sure to keep Susie as a potential hostage, should anything happen.

James followed Dante, who walked toward an alley, stopping at the entrance. Dante asked, "Now that you've achieved some truly impressive things, haven't you thought about retiring?"

"What are you talking about?" James asked with a smile that was anything but genuine.

"You've got a pub, influence, and it seems like you're about to get everything you ever wanted. I just want to help you," Dante said. He had no desire to take control of the cocaine trade in New York, but he knew it was something that would inevitably come to his doorstep.

That's why he wanted to understand what James sought for his future, so he could start working with Tommy, who seemed far more ambitious than the man standing in front of him.

"Let me be clear about something: I'm not interested in you. But for some time now, Felipe Lobos has been trying to meet with me. Do you know what your drug supplier wants from me?" Dante fixed his gaze on James, who lowered his eyes, lost in thought.

"That's impossible..."

"But it's plausible. Maybe he wants me to expand into other states or replace you as his distributor. No offense, but the Sons of Anarchy are more... sophisticated," Dante said, pulling out a business card and handing it to James, who was frozen in place.

"What are you going to do about it?"

Dante smirked slightly and said, "I'll think about it, but you should too. I can support you in whatever you want—mayor of the city? I can make that happen. More pubs? I can help you with that too. But you need to decide quickly."

"I'll call you later..."

"You should. And you might also want to look into the women you surround yourself with," Dante said with a mysterious smile, knowing he held a weapon against James. Though not directly his enemy, James could become a nuisance.

If James didn't choose wisely, Dante could sell him out to Felipe Lobos, who would gladly kill someone who had betrayed him to a female prosecutor investigating him.

...

Tommy stayed with Susie, so he asked her, "What's your relationship with him?"

"My relationship? I suppose that shouldn't concern you. Better yet, you should ask yourself who you're talking to," Susie replied. She had encountered countless men whom she had ordered to be killed.

To her, Tommy was just another name that could be added to that long list.

"It was just a simple question…"

Susie looked at Tommy and said, "You and your friend have serious problems, but I suppose you've got it all under control."

"Of course, we've got everything under control," Tommy replied. He suspected this woman might belong to a drug cartel family, as she seemed very familiar with the methods being used here.

What puzzled him was why they had been brought together in this place. What was the endgame?