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🕑 Added 2025-01-17 10:32:25 +0000 UTCWind in the Smoke
Chapter 113 - Rumors
"How do you two get along? Trust me, I know my brother, and romance is the last thing on his mind." As soon as Beth started talking to Susie, she could tell this woman had class. Susie came, as Beth put it, from a family with sophistication.
This wasn’t something you could learn from watching TV shows. No, what Susie exuded was a confidence that couldn’t be faked. Having dealt with powerful men, breaking them when necessary, Beth knew Susie wasn’t pretending.
Beth thought that, this time, her brother had found someone truly worthy of being part of the family. A woman who could effortlessly push Dante to achieve goals he had never imagined.
As soon as Beth finished speaking, a group of women at a nearby table erupted into murmurs, buzzing with excitement.
"So, the owner of this pub is Dante, huh?"
The woman in the most revealing outfit tilted her head playfully, a knowing smile on her lips and curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "He's the city's last great bachelor. If any of us manage to catch his eye, I'm afraid a lot of women will have their hearts broken."
"Come on, what are you saying? There are some other attractive bachelors here."
The blonde woman shot an odd look at the one who made the comment and countered, "Rip, Lee, and Jamie are great men, but none compare to the youngest Dutton, who's building quite a reputation for himself."
Susie couldn’t respond to Beth’s question because they both clearly overheard the women’s remarks.
"Are you going to say something?"
"Should I take it personally?" Susie believed it wasn’t necessary to take every word to heart. Everyone was free to love whoever they wanted, as long as it was done with respect.
But Beth, fueled by alcohol and a desire to cause trouble, approached the table. "I hate to disappoint you, but my brothers aren’t available to just any hussies."
"And who are you, bitch?"
One of the women, who wasn’t well-informed about the Duttons, naturally reacted as anyone might. But her friends quickly restrained her.
"We’re sorry…"
Beth, ready to escalate the situation, turned and noticed a man approaching Susie, trying to flirt.
"Hey, that lady already has a man."
Susie, who had paid little attention to the man, stood up and said, "Let’s find Dante. I think we’ve had enough introductions."
"Don’t mess with me, bitch. And you, you should listen when I’m talking. Do you think I can’t afford to take care of that pretty face of yours?" The man, oblivious to Beth’s presence, directed his words at Susie.
Furious, Beth grabbed a wine bottle from the table of the women she’d just confronted and smashed it over the man’s head without hesitation.
Crack!
"Aaaahhh!"
"Don’t bother committed women, especially my sister-in-law," Beth shouted, glaring at the man bleeding on the floor.
Susie, who had remained composed, now looked concerned. "Do you want to spend a night in a cell?"
"Sweetie, if drunks like him bother you, you can do exactly what I just did," Beth said, staring at the man trying to get up. She grabbed another bottle, ready to strike again, but a hand stopped her.
"Killing him won’t solve anything."
Beth turned to see a man in a suit and coldly said, "Get your hands off me."
"My apologies, Mrs. Dutton, but your brother Dante entrusted me to ensure nothing happened to tarnish his name. And I must admit, you’re making my job quite challenging." The suited man was one of the bodyguards Dante had secretly assigned to Susie during her visit to Montana.
Beth, whose temperament also required surveillance, caused a scene, prompting the bodyguards to quickly escort the man out.
"Do you work for my brother?" Beth asked, surprised. She had closely followed her brother’s growing business empire, managed by experts, and couldn’t help but admire his achievements.
"Please, come with me. He’s waiting for you in the inner area," the man said, pointing the way. He led the two women to the pub’s interior, where a live country music show was underway.
Walking beside Susie, Beth asked, "Surprised?"
"It was unexpected, but I like how you handle your own problems," Susie replied. Having grown up surrounded by violence, the incident didn’t faze her much, but she was impressed by how freely Beth acted.
Beth smiled, gaining confidence. "Tell me, what do you know about our family?"
"Not much. I know the Dutton family owns the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest ranch in the United States, and that it keeps expanding. They have enemies everywhere because many covet their land, so everyone is desperately fighting daily to keep the family’s holdings intact."
"You know the basics, but are you ready to live under that kind of pressure?" Beth smiled. "If you truly love my brother, you need to understand something. For many, our family is enemy number one. Believe me, it’s not easy to live with that, so if you’re not prepared, I ask you not to confuse my brother."
Beth had seen how Dante always worked to keep the family united, secretly learning from their problems and desperately trying to solve them. She wanted the best for him, and it would break her heart if she saw him suffer because of a woman.
Susie’s strength of character wasn’t in doubt, but not every woman was ready to be a Dutton. Kayce knew that better than anyone.
As they entered the lively area, Susie spotted Dante at a private table with some men. She turned to Beth and said, "Trust me, my family has its own struggles. I was raised by my father alongside my brother, so I deeply understand and empathize with Dante. That’s why I ask you to trust me. I’m ready to be the woman he needs."
Beth was left speechless by this response. A smile crept onto her lips. "Welcome to the family, then. Come to me if you ever need to do something you might regret later."
A little drunk, Susie teased Beth, "I’ve noticed you’ve been eyeing that man next to Dante. Is he your man?"
Beth’s eyes widened, and she snorted coldly, "What are you saying? I was just looking at my brother! Believe me when I say no man here could handle my company."
If any of Beth’s brothers heard this, they’d say Rip was the only one who could handle and swiftly counter her outbursts.
Dante had even approved for Beth to finally commit to someone for the first time in her life.
At that moment, the band on stage began tuning up, and the bar’s atmosphere heated up. The noise rose, ready to erupt in the next second.
The first song’s melody played—a classic Bobby Bare ballad, cherished by locals and visitors alike.
For each region, choosing the right music and ambiance was key to success, ensuring this place stayed out of public suspicion regarding money laundering.
Susie sipped her wine and watched Dante as he approached them.
"What took you so long?" Dante asked. Just minutes earlier, he had been extracting information from a man who was no longer among the living.
Beth, looking at her brother, said, "I missed you too. It’s been a while."
"How drunk are you?" Dante asked, surprised, noticing that Susie was also quite tipsy. For a moment, he had no idea what to do with two strong-willed, intoxicated women.
