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“Listen, can you stay after, have a beer or something?”
“I’d really like that.”
“Cool. I’ll take you back to Dante’s, if you want, or you can use one of the cars.”
“I’ll send for Bennie. He can drive me.”
Ruben patted his arm and then pointed into the living room. “They’re all ready.”
As they sat down to discuss business, Sel thought about how thrilled he was that he’d pushed the issue and came to Montana. He was making friends, learning from Dante, and he felt so much that he’d found where he was supposed to be.
Chapter Eight
Sel listened to the negotiations and didn’t chime in again. Dante laughed easily and was much more relaxed when discussing normal business compared to cagey business.
Not that anyone would have known he wasn’t completely relaxed during the other meeting. Dante had a casualness about him that few could see past. He was one of the few. Dante wanted to be legit, have a fairly run business where everyone could profit nicely. That freed him to be with his husband and future kids.
Ruben was excited to be at the meeting. From what he’d heard, he was almost a victim of the killer that had stalked the ranch in the previous fall and winter. How anyone could hurt him, Sel didn’t know. He smiled readily, deferred to his men only enough to let them think they were in charge.
Marius was a King and knew all the business on both sides of the legal line. He got up and gave a speech that took a lot of pressure off Dante.
“Now, the security here that Tango is in charge of, he’s got the entire ranch covered as best we can, but there are always holes in that, as he could attest to.”
Tango was without his partners, who were both helping in other areas of the ranch that day, but they weren’t needed. He shined as he spoke. “We are doing great with the added personnel. The bikers, especially. They’re great for the perimeter. The ranch hands look out while they’re working, doing double duty.”
Marius took back the floor. “Tango has cameras all over, and the only problem I see with those is when the guests come. Sneaking off to…well, have a nice natural experience, they won’t want to think about cameras possibly capturing them.”
Dante chuckled at that. “I second that.”
Tango added, “No one wants that. It’s for now until we either are sure Alex Brooks is captured or long gone from here.”
Nathan Lee said, “I want a camera at my office. I’ll have drugs there, being there won’t be a pharmacy close. I can get the needed permits and licenses for that pretty easily. That means anyone with a taste for opioids, or benzos, will think my office an easy mark.”
“I’ve already discussed this with Dante when he brought up the need for a clinic.” Tango told him. “Floor safe that will only open once an hour, and only with one person in that room, you. There is great technology now to assure that. The room will also be a panic room. We, unfortunately, got the idea for that from Alex Brooks and his father’s panic room. Go inside, lock the door, and be the only person in it to open the safe. In that room will be a panic button so we can send our security team if needed. You’ll be perfectly safe. They’ll be caught.”
Nathan was impressed. “That’s great. That’s exactly what is needed.”
Lonnie Walton spoke next. “Tango, you have done an amazing job. For a place this size, that can’t have been easy.”
“We’ve all done it. I’ve worked nowhere like this, where everyone works together for a common goal. It’s been encouraging.”
Sel saw something in that meeting. The easy way all the men had with one another, though some had never met before that day.
There was laughter, agreement, pats on the back, and when it disbanded, most were meeting after for drinks and more conversation.
Marius and Ruben stayed in their home with Sel after Sel sent Dante away with Bruno. Bennie stayed outside on the porch at Dante’s insistence. Ruben commented on that with a little laughter, “He’s your babysitter?”
“Unfortunately, yeah,” Sel groaned. “At least until that guy is caught, and probably after.”
Ruben whispered to him while he pointed his thumb behind him, “I’ve got one, too.”
“At least yours is hot,” he whispered back.
“True. Sorry.”
Marius came to them and pressed a hand on each of their shoulders. “You two will get used to the security. It’s done out of love.”
Sel brushed off the hand and quipped, “Oh, I know. I came here for more freedom, not less.”
