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🕑 Added 2024-10-02 15:46:54 +0000 UTCWind in the Smoke
Chapter 10: The Threshold
The city near the Yellowstone ranch was being renovated, with amenities commonly found in more advanced urban areas now being introduced here.
All kinds of people moving to Montana wanted to bring with them what they were accustomed to in their previous homes, and the newcomers sought to make this place feel more familiar to live in.
Dante, of course, appreciated this, but those who didn’t were the ones content with the way things used to be, frustrated by the changes. He couldn’t say he was in favor of the evolution because he didn’t feel the same as the people who lived here, so he chose to remain neutral in the fight many were engaged in.
But he knew he needed to expand his franchise, so he would open his fourth pub here. The threshold would open in the city, strategically located exactly where he needed it to be.
“Sir, the location has been chosen to ensure a good parking area where a few well-off guests can park,” said William, showing Dante the plans he had oddly taken an interest in reviewing.
Dante wanted to leave the house to see the farms that would be completed by the end of the month, but before that, he decided to visit the site where his pub would be built to familiarize himself with the business’s location.
This place would have an underground parking lot, divided into two areas: the first public and the second private. After all, Dante needed a hidden space where he could run his business.
“Have the managers arrived?”
“Lisa is handling the permits that haven’t been delivered yet, but knowing how she works, we’ll get them soon.” William was confident in Lisa’s ability to secure what Dante needed.
Dante nodded slightly and said, “Take me to the farm near the Indian reservation, where I’ll also visit my brother.”
“Understood, sir.”
Life in this peaceful place could be his first step away from gang fights for a while, but knowing that Susie was on her way here, Dante could think of many things before fully embracing the feeling of tranquility.
After giving one last look at the place, he walked toward a black truck, and William, who was in some way his bodyguard, respectfully opened the back door for him.
The other men in the convoy climbed into the other truck afterward. They were all professionals, and Dante made sure to pay them well, in addition to controlling their lives.
A clear example was Lisa, who asked for a favor from his organization to kill her husband, who had been beating her. She worked in business management, and after that favor, she offered to clear her debts with the bank in exchange for working for him.
Everyone who worked for Dante owed him significant favors. Loyalty was the only thing that mattered to him. But even so, there were problems he needed to be cautious of—after all, big obstacles could always arise.
“How’s your day, boss?”
Dante looked at William in the passenger seat. This burly man had been hired from special forces after Dante paid for an operation for his daughter, which wasn’t covered by her insurance.
“It’s a peaceful place. We should go horseback riding after solving our problems.”
“You’ll have to teach me. I’ve never ridden a horse.”
“It’s like screwing,” Dante said with a smile. After all, he didn’t usually chat much with his subordinates. But things were different with Tom, William, and Lisa.
There wasn’t much more to say about it. Conversations like these didn’t happen often.
But Dante was happier now, so he asked, “How’s your daughter?”
“She’s recovering very well. Thanks for asking, boss.”
“Call her every day. I’m sure she wants to hear your voice.”
“I do.” William looked at Dante through the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile. His boss was different from any cartel leader. Beyond the dark business, his boss was more like a businessman.
Dante solved most problems with words, but when that wasn’t enough, he could go further—further than anyone would want to face someday.
Under normal circumstances, Dante was a very reasonable man.
“We’re here, boss.”
Dante, who was reviewing his finances, looked up to see the ranch closest to the Indian reservation. The ranch was beautiful. It didn’t have much livestock, but it was spacious enough to host a cannabis farm that could generate several tons of product.
Montana, after all, was the perfect place to fly under the radar.
“Has the family to take care of this farm been selected?” Dante got out of the truck without waiting for the door to be opened and headed toward the cabin.
William caught up with him and, in a calm tone, said, “We haven’t found a suitable family yet. We could bring one from New York, but it’ll take some time.”
Dante stood in front of the cabin to get a better look at the place. Maintaining this site would cost him no more than a hundred thousand dollars annually. Electricity would be an issue, but not with the solar panels.
As for the families who would take care of his farms, they were relatives of people under his command who had either died or lost the ability to continue serving.
Dante’s organization was still young, but many members wanted to spend time with their families, so this would be a perfect place to retire for a few seasons.
“They just need to be trustworthy.” Dante murmured before turning toward the construction underway.
A factory to produce yogurt, a perfect cover for the real business underneath the factory.
“I want a report from Lisa on the interests of our buyers. We must be prepared for any undesired situations.” After walking around the ranch, Dante nodded, satisfied with the place.
“I’ll inform her.”
The place was lush and green, with mountains surrounding it—a spot no one would visit unless something truly scandalous happened.
Dante got back in the truck. There wasn’t much left to inspect, but he wanted to feel at peace with his farms. As for security, there was no need to post guards since problems were unlikely.
On the way to the Indian reservation, Dante gazed at the vast landscape that brought him a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a long time. That’s the charm of Montana—this place would do everyone who visited it some good.
As they passed the reservation, Dante gave the driver instructions on where to move. He had some knowledge of where his brother lived but wasn’t sure if it was in that exact spot.
“There are children playing.”
“Yes, this seems more like a shelter than a place where my brother would live.” Dante didn’t say much because he had caught the attention of all the people living there.
