"The boss is here," said a man in a suit who was guarding the entrance.
The main door of The Umbral opened for Dante and his companions, his special guests, who bypassed the line to enter this pub that had gained much fame in recent months.
Once inside, the facilities, designed to create a dark ambiance, paired with the music, generated an atmosphere everyone enjoyed.
The air was filled with the aroma of malt, the spiciness of tobacco, and the seductive scent of alcohol, creating a sense of familiarity even though this pub was often associated with gentrification.
"Alright, guys, this pub was opened after the success of the last one, so tonight, you can drink whatever you want—it's on me," said Dante, rewarding his father's ranch cowboys for their good work.
The pub's bodyguards, stationed in every corner, focused on their boss, who was visiting this establishment for the first time.
The Umbral's brand was rising, and the demand for these types of pubs was so great that one was being prioritized in every state to manage business operations.
It was simple: each pub was strategically placed to control the zones where the Sons of Anarchy held influence. Now, with Montana's power in their hands, their influence had spread like wildfire.
"Welcome, boss. Right now, we have the capacity to host 800 people, not counting the private rooms," said the manager, more of a statistician than anything else.
As Dante entered, he didn't look at the man beside him but said, "You know what to do. I'll be in the private lounge with my friends, so don't bother me unless it's necessary."
"Understood, boss. Welcome."
Rip watched the silhouette in the black suit and couldn't help but think about the past. He had always been told Dante was destined to lead.
From a young age, Dante had felt the need to hold his broken family together, always staying in the background while silently judging everyone. He had always been passive, playing the cards at his disposal. Now, as an adult, he seemed to be the one making all the decisions.
As Dante observed them, Rip felt nothing but respect for this young man who knew exactly who to be grateful to and who to keep at arm's length.
After three years away, Dante seemed taller, stronger, and colder. Since his return, he had demonstrated his love for the ranch and had done nothing but improve his family's situation.
For Rip, this brought immense relief. After John's wife's death, nothing had been the same. Rip had witnessed that beautiful family shatter into pieces.
From Rip's perspective, some of John's children weren't ready to inherit his legacy. Kayce was a disappointment, not to mention that most of them would sell the ranch if given the chance.
Dante and Lee were exceptions, easing John's concerns as he struggled to bring his family back together.
Everything had improved since Dante's return, and for Rip, that was enough. All he needed was for John to feel at peace, as Rip owed him more than gratitude.
"Rip, what will you drink tonight?" Dante asked while speaking to a beautiful waitress who maintained a professional smile.
"Tequila, though beer would be better for the guys," Rip replied, sounding a bit distracted.
Lloyd shook his head and said, "Tonight, we're all drinking tequila."
"I agree."
"You can't handle tequila, Jimmy."
Dante turned to the waitress, who was using an electronic tablet, and said, "Three bottles of your best tequila, two dozen beers, and some food."
"Right away, boss."
"Everyone seems to know you," Ryan said, taking a seat on a long couch.
"They're supposed to; he's the boss," Jimmy quipped, earning a few laughs as the group shifted to lighter conversations while they drank.
But Jimmy's comment carried more weight than it appeared. It was unusual for every employee at this pub to know Dante personally.
Dante, however, paid no mind to the implication. Perhaps Ryan thought the recruitment process for this pub's staff was unusually rigorous.
…
Meanwhile, in a quieter area of the pub, Beth toyed with her drink while scrolling through messages on her phone.
"My brother's crazy for wanting to marry a woman from London. Aren't there any decent women here for him? Although I must admit, those women do have style." Beth hadn't had the chance to meet Susie when she stayed at the ranch, but from what Jamie had said, she was quite attractive and came from a good family.
Like a well-trained serpent, Beth needed to talk to her, at least for a few hours, to determine if she was the right woman for her little brother.
And that's exactly what she planned to do tonight. She knew Susie would be meeting Dante at The Umbral, so she had come here to meet her.
"She should be nearby," Beth murmured. She and Dante had arranged for her to meet Susie on her first night in town.
Unlike other clubs Beth had visited, no one here dared approach her. She wasn't sure why but felt the people around her knew who she was—and not because she was a Dutton. No, there was something else she hadn't noticed.
"Another drink, the same as before," Beth ordered, preferring solitude over bad company.
The sound of heels clicking on the floor caught her attention.
Everyone nearby turned to look at the stunning woman entering the room, but when they saw her heading toward Beth Dutton, they quickly averted their gazes.
Susie entered with a calm expression, surveying the room before approaching the woman she recognized from the photos Dante had shown her back at his house.
Beth glanced at her, almost disdainfully, though curiosity sparkled in her eyes as she assessed this woman.
"Pour me a whiskey," Susie said.
Beth smirked with a hint of irony and, as Susie took a seat beside her at the bar, remarked, "Well, well, it's not hard to guess you're Susie Glass, the woman who's managed to charm my little brother. Do you have a special trick, or are you just good at pretending?"
Unfazed, Susie confidently sat down without asking for permission and calmly replied, "Pretending isn't my style, Beth. But it seems you've already made up your mind about me. Why not say it outright instead of hiding behind shallow remarks?"
Hearing this, Beth chuckled lightly and murmured, "I like that. Direct. But I wonder how much of that is genuine and how much is… a well-rehearsed script to get close to my brother. Tell me, what does my brother see in you? Because believe me, I've got a sharp eye for recycled trash only after one thing from our family."
Unbothered by Beth's words, Susie took a sip of her drink and responded, "I'm not a flea market bargain, Beth. As for what Dante sees in me… I guess you'll have to do better than cheap insults to figure that out."
Beth's interest grew at Susie's sharp retorts. Without a doubt, this woman could easily become her best friend, but tonight, Beth was here to determine if she was worthy of her brother.
"Interesting. Most girls would already be crying in the bathroom. But you… You keep your composure. Is that because you don't care what I think or because you know you need my approval?"
"Getting your approval would be a bonus, not a necessity. But I care enough to be here right after arriving in town. That says something, doesn't it?"
Beth leaned in and whispered, "Don't kid yourself, sweetheart. Being here means nothing if you can't prove you're more than just a pretty face. My brother may be many things, but he doesn't need someone dragging him down."
Susie smiled faintly and replied, "And you're here to make sure of that, right? Protective, like I would be with my brother—but with a tongue as sharp as your instincts. It's admirable, Beth. But have you ever wondered if he might need a little space to make his own choices?"
"Space…" Beth echoed, pulling back slightly and taking a long sip of her whiskey. "That magical word people use to avoid accountability. Listen, Glass, if you're here for the right reasons, you've got nothing to fear from me, and we might even become great friends. But if not… Well, I'll warn you: I know how to destroy people, and I'm damn good at it."
Susie met her gaze and said, "Good to know we're on the same page. Because I know how to play chess, Beth. And I never start a game without ensuring my queen is protected."
She understood Beth's concern—she'd do the same for her brother. She respected Dante's sister's character but had her own strength, too. While she didn't reveal her true intentions just yet, Susie hoped Beth wouldn't be a nuisance.
After a few minutes of conversation, the two women began to understand each other a bit, though they were far from becoming friends.