Yellowstone: Wind in the Smoke

As Susie climbed up to her apartment, Dante stayed in the living room making a few calls. His father had been calling him every morning to check on him and ask how things were going. Dante planned to return home in a few days.

"Yes, Dad, I'll bring you a grandchild when I come back," Dante joked—a line he'd been repeating since he was at home, though it wasn't entirely a joke.

The truth was, he wasn't sure if his current streak of luck with his business ventures would hold out. Like anyone else, he wanted to leave something behind for when he was no longer in this world.

But he wasn't a pessimist. He also wanted to explore everything he hadn't been able to in his past life.

Living a new life, surrounded by things he'd never had before, he was determined to fight for it at all costs.

"Sir, Eddie is outside," Crocodile, who was guarding the entrance, informed him of Eddie's arrival, apparently looking for Susie.

Dante stood up, walked to the kitchen to grab a drink, and said, "Let him in, but search him before he steps into the apartment."

Susie approached, wearing a more casual outfit, and asked, "What's going on?"

"The Duke is here to see you. Does he know where you live?" Dante asked in a serious tone, for several reasons. The most important was to determine whether he could still use Eddie or if it was time to eliminate him.

"He shouldn't know. No one knew where I lived until now," Susie replied.

"Then let's find out," Dante said.

When Eddie entered the apartment, his gaze immediately landed on Susie, and he murmured, "I heard what happened during your brother's fight. I just wanted to make sure everyone was okay."

"How did you know where I live?" Susie asked sharply.

Eddie felt the piercing stares of both Susie and Dante. He had known before stepping through the door that he wasn't welcome, but now he was sure of it. "Listen, I didn't betray you," he began.

"Answer my question," Susie interrupted, picking up a gun from the table and staring directly at Eddie.

"You didn't leave me a way out. You know how hard it is to get out of the business my father was involved in," Eddie explained, trying to justify his actions as efforts to protect his family.

He admitted that he had been used by Stanley, but he had made it clear from the beginning that he didn't want the Glass family to be harmed.

He hadn't anticipated the disaster that unfolded during the fight he hadn't attended—a disaster that left dozens dead and the area swarming with police.

The videos from that night were all over the internet, but they had mysteriously disappeared, leaving only those that had been downloaded.

Eddie had seen the footage of Dante shooting the fighter Jack was facing. Despite Eddie's advice, Dante had chosen someone else, and now Eddie was here to answer for any perceived transgressions.

Dante smiled faintly and said, "We know you met with Stanley, but that man had plans to destroy the Glass family. So first, answer Susie's question."

Dante's tone was more authoritative now, making it clear to Eddie that a vague answer wouldn't be tolerated.

"Jimmy told me—he's a worker who manages the farm on my estate," Eddie finally confessed.

Dante glanced at Susie, waiting for her to confirm something.

"That idiot… how did he find out?"

"That's not important. What's clear is that you need much more sophisticated security. Let's not dwell on these details. The crucial matter now is what we're going to do about Stanley Johnson, and that should concern you a lot," Dante said, taking the gun from Susie's hand and walking toward Crocodile, who handed him a tablet.

Eddie took the tablet Dante gave him and examined the information displayed.

"I told you very clearly that I only care about one person. If you did anything to harm her, I would take the necessary measures to defend her," Dante said, approaching the window to look outside.

"My ears everywhere heard that you didn't want Susie's family to be harmed, but unfortunately, your actions that night brought us to this point."

"So…"

"I'll kill Stanley Johnson, take everything he has, and everything he's built so far. Of course, I won't forget those involved, and that includes you," Dante said, turning to Susie. "But I always give people who can be valuable to me a way out. Fortunately for you, you're one of them."

As Dante spoke, Eddie continued to look at the information on all of Stanley Johnson's businesses, imagining the worst.

Dante, anticipating Eddie's thoughts, said, "That's why I'll give you a job—to ensure no one touches your family. Not just me, but other sources are also looking to erase their trail, and now they want to wipe them out completely."

For better or worse, Eddie's family had been dragged into a conflict far more dangerous than selling off the entire estate of a duchy. It was why Eddie would now work for Dante.

That is, if he wanted to survive.

"I don't know if you're aware of the High Order, but they've got their claws in everything illegal. What seemed like a simple organizational feud has become something much bigger and far more dangerous."

"No matter what you do or where you run, your connection to this problem cannot be erased. But among all the paths that lead to certain death, as I said before, we're similar in many ways. So, I'll make sure you can protect your family."

Dante put on his coat, glanced at Susie, and said, "From today, you'll work for the Sons of Anarchy. Your family won't be touched, and in return, you'll take over all of Stanley Johnson's businesses for me."

"For how long?" Eddie, who had underestimated Dante's danger, saw no other option.

"Indefinitely—or until I find someone better than you," Dante replied as he walked toward the exit.

"Why me?"

Susie smirked at his question and said, "Probably because you're the kind of man who can't betray him. You're the perfect fit for what he needs."

"Crocodile will give you the details. Of course, once we kill that old man, you'll take his place, and I promise your family won't be harmed."

Eddie was momentarily stunned. His heart trembled slightly. He didn't know how to respond—no, he couldn't respond. After fighting so hard to get his family out of the business, he now found himself about to take over one of the largest drug operations in London.

He quickly glanced at Dante, who had walked away with Susie, but even after some time, he couldn't find the words to express what he felt at that moment.

"You're lucky. At least he didn't order your family to be killed," Crocodile said, remaining behind and remarking on the stroke of luck Eddie had. Not everyone escaped unscathed when they crossed Dante.