"How was that trip you never shared with the family?" John asked as he walked toward his favorite armchair.
Dante knew where his father wanted to steer this conversation and asked, "Did something happen that I should know about in my absence?"
"Do you think you're indispensable for this family's safety now?"
"I believe I am…" Dante sat in front of John, placed a wooden box containing a bottle of tequila on the table, and said, "I want to protect this family."
"And do you think disappearing will accomplish anything?"
"It wasn't for long. Besides, Susie knew where I was going."
John ran his right hand over his chin and said in a more serious tone, "Yes, but as far as you've told me, she's going to be your future wife, and I'm your father."
What worried Dante's father was that his son might be in trouble, just as his daughter Beth suspected. She had told John that whatever Dante was doing without consulting the family couldn't be anything good.
If the suspicions about Dante were true, then John had to know and do whatever was in his power to protect the son he hadn't raised as well as he should have.
Truth be told, John was trying to be a good father. He wanted to change things, and when he thought about it, he realized he hadn't paid much attention to Dante, who had always seemed fine as a child.
But now that things had changed, he believed his youngest son was involved in things that could spiral out of control very quickly.
"Tell me about your injuries," John said, changing the subject.
"It's nothing. I got into a bar fight…" Dante wasn't good at making excuses; he knew the more he talked, the stranger it would seem.
But there was no way he would tell his father the truth—there was no need for him to know what he was doing because Dante didn't need his help.
That was why only Kayce knew. He was the only one who truly understood.
"Jamie is going to become the Attorney General…" Dante wanted to change the course of the conversation.
"What?"
"We need you to become the new mayor of Montana. That's the only way our family will officially have the power needed to eliminate any of our enemies." Dante recognized that his father could easily take on such an important role.
John, who had just been arguing with his son about whether he was in trouble, said, "That's not the topic we're discussing."
"It is now."
"Are you dodging my questions?"
Dante looked at his father and said, "I'd rather not answer some things. You just need to know that everything I've done has been to protect this family from those who want to harm us."
"I didn't ask for your damn help, Dante, for God's sake." John didn't want to admit that he needed one of his sons to help keep the family safe—a family that, by right, he was supposed to protect.
But Dante obviously knew his father needed more than just sending one of his branded cowboys to kill someone and bury them in the family's sea of corpses.
"You do need it. Do you want to imagine what would have happened to my brother Lee if I hadn't killed my brother's wife's brother?" Dante asked, staring intently at his father.
"Don't shout those things." John was caught off guard by his youngest son's attitude. He had never exploded like this before, and only now did he realize he had put too much pressure in the wrong place.
"You don't want me to shout these things? Then start listening to me. Everything I've done so far has been to protect us. Whether you like it or not, we were born into a family that will never know peace unless we are so strong that even the government thinks twice before touching us." Dante's voice shifted in tone. He knew the FBI already had a profile on him, and the investigators were doing their job to find him.
"I don't like your attitude, Dante. Do you really think fighting everyone will earn us respect? Right now, we're like a wounded man in the middle of the desert, just waiting for vultures to feast on us. And we won't fix that by killing everyone who wrongs us." John clenched his fists as he looked at his youngest son.
"Father, I know you have doubts about whether I'm in danger…" Dante stood up and said, "I am not in danger, nor have I put the family in danger."
Right now, Dante wanted to say that he was the danger to everyone else, but he kept silent instead.
"I bought a crematorium. It's being remodeled. Whenever you need to get rid of something that you don't want found, my men will take care of it." Dante knew about the family cemetery—it would only take one curious tourist to find it, and the family would be buried along with all those corpses.
John remained silent. He couldn't speak because he never imagined his youngest son knew all these things.
But now that Dante was aware of what the family had done to keep this land in the Duttons' hands, there was no reason to lie anymore.
"Are you doing this for a particular reason?"
"With today's technology, it's dangerous and risky. That's all."
John nodded and said, "Do what you think is best."
"Since we're on the subject, I'll take care of clearing out the family storage. I'll move the cemetery somewhere else." Dante had no intention of being the family's saint. That was never his goal.
Once he got involved in the family's darker dealings, there would be no reason for anyone to question his actions.
"You need to discuss that with Lee." John couldn't get much out of Dante, so he would leave that to his daughter Beth, as she had more influence over Dante than he did.
Dante nodded slightly, checked the time, and said, "The businesses I'm creating, not just for the family but for many people in general, will bring us great returns. My plan is to make this ranch one with global influence."
"Are you suggesting we get involved in competitions?"
"I have a few million we can invest to make a name for ourselves and build social power." Having social power would make it easier to protect the ranch. That's what Susie had told him, and he intended to put it to the test.
John was satisfied with his son's initiative. Whatever Dante was doing, he didn't really care to know. He seemed intelligent and in control, so John would wait patiently for him to open up.
"Are you going to see your woman?" John, noticing Lee entering the room, changed the subject.
"Maybe tomorrow. Today, I'll spend time here with my family," Dante said, not feeling particularly eager to see Susie, who he figured was fine.
"You should take better care of my sister-in-law. She's a good woman for you, little brother," said Lee, who had come in to talk about the things Dante had done in Mexico.
…
Kayce's Ranch
It was late at night, and the family of three had gathered for dinner.
What once felt awkward or new had become their new life. Thanks to Kayce's efforts, the ranch had truly become a home for the family.
They also looked after a curious bear that visited them from time to time.
Everything seemed fine, but there was a small problem—the family of Monica's late brother.
"My nephew brought up your brother again…" Monica had had this conversation with Kayce many times.
"I'm not having this conversation again." Kayce moved his food around with his utensils and shook his head.
"But they're convinced your family killed my brother, and that boy is certain your brother is to blame," Monica whispered.
"Those are dangerous words, Monica. My brother practically gifted us this ranch. His businesses help the reservation more than its own president does with those casinos that destroy people's lives." Kayce didn't know what would happen if his brother found out what they were saying about him.
Monica had no problem with the Dutton family. They went against many of her principles, but she loved her husband and knew that everything that had happened to her brother was the result of his own actions.
You know your own family better than anyone else, and she recognized that her brother had serious anger issues.
"My brother is the youngest in the family. The idea that he's involved in the ranch's problems is illogical." Kayce knew how dangerous his brother was—he had more power than even their own father.
He respected everything his brother had done for his fellow soldiers and agreed with many of his actions. That's why he would always support him, no matter what others thought.
"Tell that woman to change her mind, or she won't be able to stay in our family anymore. That depression is starting to affect us," Kayce said before getting up from the table.