Yellowstone: Wind in the Smoke

Dante, using his scythe, cut down the weeds around him one by one. "You know you can't run from the family forever. One day, your son will need to meet his uncles, grandfather, and true roots."

"He already has them with his mother."

"We are Duttons. Are you really going to let your own son miss out on the blessings of our family? Physically, we could give him everything he ever wanted. Don't misunderstand me; I'm just saying you need to demand what my brother has at home." Dante couldn't fully grasp it, but he understood one thing: his brother's pride, along with the issues at home, had led him to defy their father's wishes.

Proud and stubborn, Kayce left home, joined the army, and severed all ties with his family.

Dante had tried everything to bring him back, but as the youngest, he wasn't about to babysit everyone.

"I know we can't run from him…"

"Run? Damn it, Kayce. Your wife's family hates you. Why the hell do you think I keep insisting on giving you opportunities? It's not charity; you're my brother."

"Then tell me where you got all this money." Kayce wanted to know how his younger brother had come into so much wealth.

"It's clean money."

"That's not my point."

Dante stared at his brother for a few seconds, knowing there was little he could hide from him. He finally said, "Do you want to know my secret?"

"You're my brother. You know I'll keep it." Kayce stopped what he was doing and stepped closer to listen.

"When I was studying abroad, I discovered something: hundreds of thousands of veterans are struggling with chronic pain, drug dependency, mental health issues, and homelessness." Dante was about to explain how he had created the Sons of Anarchy society.

"War veterans are dying every day from opioid overdoses. It made me furious to know that, so I set out to create an organization that would recruit these veterans through anonymous connections."

"Once I had the foundation, I started working in transportation. Then I realized there was money to be made selling certain things. Of course, the risk was high, so I turned to selling weapons."

"For God's sake, Dante…" Kayce couldn't believe what his brother was confessing.

On any given night, the number of homeless war veterans in the United States could rise to 60,000. The situation hadn't improved much over the last three years, though efforts to address the issue were said to be showing some results.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs had been praised for securing more resources to fund the homeless program, despite the wave of budget cuts hitting the country.

However, veterans and their families were demanding more effective measures to ensure a dignified life for those who had made U.S. military missions in Afghanistan possible.

"The country has forgotten people who deserve more than just a roof over their heads. You, better than anyone, understand that. Those sacrifices should be properly rewarded, but since everything isn't roses, I took it upon myself to fix it while uniting forces to take what belongs to us in this country."

Dante demanded his share of this, as the head of the entire organization. But the profits went to those who weren't part of his society.

The Sons of Anarchy were a movement that helped veterans who could no longer be involved in these businesses.

"I'm not a hero or pretending to be one. I'm just someone smart enough to take a little." Dante smiled faintly.

Kayce ran his hands through his hair and muttered, "You're an arms dealer?"

"That sounds cool, doesn't it?" Dante wasn't ready to explain that he also sold drugs—that would be too much for his brother.

"Have you lost your mind? If Dad finds out, he'll die of a heart attack."

"That's why you're the only one who knows, and I know you understand me." Dante was, in a way, getting into his brother's head to make him see his perspective.

What Dante needed from his brother was trust—a guarantee that everything he had would go to someone in their family if something ever happened to him.

Dante didn't think he was immortal, nor did he go through life believing everything would always be fine.

It was true he had brothers within the Sons of Anarchy who could take over if something happened to him. But what could be better than having his own brother step in?

"What do you think?" Dante looked at Kayce intently, hoping he hadn't made a mistake.

Kayce looked back at Dante for a few seconds and said, "You're my brother. Of course, I'll support you."

Since they were kids, Kayce had noticed that Dante was always different from everyone else. He never behaved like a child his age and, in some way, always tried to protect them from harm. Now that he knew this about his brother, the least Kayce could do was protect and help him in the smallest way possible to repay all the care Dante had given him.