Yellowstone: Wind in the Smoke

"The High Order will not tolerate such defiant behavior toward its authority." The Marshal trembled with fury, knowing that any fallout from these events would ultimately fall on him.

The situation had spiraled out of control. As a mere servant of the High Order, the Marshal had hoped that Dante would recognize his place and avoid causing problems he couldn't handle.

But now, against all odds, Dante was threatening the High Order with the destruction of their Continentals. Who knew how many rules would be broken by those explosions? It was clear that Dante anticipated any response to his attack and had prepared accordingly.

That's why the Marshal quickly made a call, saying, "I don't think it's worth finding out. Yes, it was our elite soldiers. Fine, I'll resolve this issue immediately."

Dante, who was calmly seated, murmured, "You see, Susie? Just a few minutes of conversation, and the entire High Order is in chaos. After all, they're not as sophisticated an organization as I thought."

"It seems so," Susie replied, realizing that the High Order had never encountered someone like Dante—someone willing to go to such extremes to command respect.

"Fine," the Marshal said, "the High Order agrees to your demands. However, instead of the three hundred million dollars you're asking for, they'll offer one hundred million. Additionally, you'll have their blessing to eliminate those who used the High Order's power to attack you."

Dante remained silent, contemplating the offer. Then he said, "How about, instead of the hundred million, they give me all the assets Vigo had in New York before John Wick killed him?"

"Done. No one's interested in that space anyway, and his brother seems inclined to return to Russia," the Marshal replied, anxious to bring the negotiations to an end.

Once the deal was reached, Dante stood up and, without shaking the Marshal's hand, said, "Well, it seems we have an agreement."

"Yes, it seems so…" The Marshal gritted his teeth, seething at the humiliation.

…

Outside the Continental, Dante's gaze fixed on his men, who stood guard over the vehicles.

"Ensure no men leave the Continentals until we're off their radar. Also, remember that they'll provide us with information about who orchestrated the attack against the Glass family." Dante didn't refer to the attack as being directed at himself but rather at his personal interests.

His presence here was due to external threats against the Glass family, which they were ill-prepared to face. Dante only helped because of his deep attraction to Susie, knowing she was the one for whom he would risk everything.

Everyone has experienced such feelings, but Dante felt them more intensely.

If asked, he still couldn't give a logical answer—only that it was the curse of love.

"I've increased your father's security. I figured if they attacked us, they'd target him next, so I acted preemptively," Dante said as he climbed into one of the black SUVs.

"Thank you for everything you've done for my family," Susie said. She felt she had taken advantage of Dante, dragging him into problems far beyond the help he'd once offered to provide.

But Dante shook his head, indicating there was no need for gratitude.

"Sir, we have the information about who used the High Order's power to attack you."

Dante casually took the electronic tablet, his expression unchanged as he read the information.

The report revealed the attackers and their influence within the High Order. It identified a family that had spent the last two decades trafficking arms. Dante understood perfectly why they wanted him out of the game.

The Sons of Anarchy, with their growing power and influence, had allied with the High Order. This was a clear signal from people who had long been involved with powerful players within the organization.

But as is often the case, the longer one remains in the game, the stronger one becomes—until someone stronger seeks to eliminate them.

This was something Dante had learned in his past life and why he now fought to seize every opportunity for power.

He knew that if he eliminated this enemy, another would take their place, continuing a cycle that might never end.

But he preferred this to leaving things as they were. It gave him peace to eradicate his enemies once and for all.

"We have identified the attackers—the Corleone family…" Dante sipped a glass of wine beside him and furrowed his brows slightly. "I thought this Italian family had met its end in the United States, but it seems part of it survived in this part of the world."

Susie looked at the screen and murmured, "Italian or not, we'll eliminate them."

"Of course."

Dante had reached this conclusion even before Susie said it.

Before acting, however, he needed to clarify some points he had uncovered. First, there was the man coveting the Glass family's perfect business, who had received support from the Corleone family.

Supposedly, this was orchestrated by Henry. But that fool was nothing more than a puppet for more powerful men.

With this clear, Dante knew exactly where to begin.

"First, let's go to my house. I need to change clothes if we're going to visit my father," Susie said, not as a request but as a command to the driver.

Dante smiled faintly and nodded to the driver, then asked, "What should we do about Eddie?"

"It seems he's chosen his side. What else should we do but kill him?" Susie had clearly made her own conclusions about Eddie's actions.

She had hoped Eddie would adapt, as her father had predicted. Instead, he had apparently sold all his territory to Stanley Johnston, who had ordered the Glass family's execution.

"I'm not so sure about that. It's obvious they used that Duke, and I don't think his intent was to harm your family," Dante said, considering that Eddie's actions were driven by a desire to protect his own family.

While saying this, Dante contemplated how best to use this Duke who had been manipulated by Stanley.

"You don't want to kill him?"

"Is it so strange that I don't?"

"A little."

Susie had come to know Dante well enough to understand that death was usually the only option for his enemies. This was the first time Dante didn't want to kill someone, surprising her greatly. She waited for him to explain.

Dante glanced at Susie and said casually, "That Duke might still be useful to us."

"Why?" Susie seemed puzzled, then smiled sweetly. "Are you going to give him a chance to fix everything?"

"I don't like the cocaine trade, but it's highly profitable. I could use Eddie to replace Stanley…" Dante's thoughts began to align now that the paths had become clear to him.

He knew that if he dismantled the cocaine trade, it would resurface in other forms, with mafias from other countries moving into London to claim the lucrative market.

If he couldn't eliminate it, he could at least control it.

Dante would start by taking Stanley's power for himself and letting Eddie manage it. The reward would be sparing Eddie's family, something Eddie would do anything to ensure.

By controlling cocaine distribution, raising its price, and limiting availability, Dante could still make the same profits while restricting access for average-income users.

This was his version of goodwill—saving the world from addiction.