The night grew increasingly longer as the lights of Pub The Umbral dimmed further, and shadows intertwined on the dance floor.
The patrons danced freely, immersed in their own experiences. Tonight, after resolving the issue with that intruder, no one else caused trouble, and everyone enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation.
Susie, who had been tense for so long, finally felt as if no danger lingered around her.
Her brows eased, and a smile that had been absent for a long time appeared on her face.
It seemed she no longer worried about being followed or someone attempting to harm her family.
Though Dante had assured her that no one would hurt her family again, she still remained vigilant in case any danger approached.
Her laughter echoed through the loud music, and she appeared relaxed and at ease, as if all the troubles she had once imagined had vanished.
As she walked toward the bathroom, her eyes blurred slightly, and her swaying boots tapped a quick rhythm on the floor.
Dante, not far away, kept a close watch on her. He noticed her unsteady steps and secretly worried—last time, when both of them were drunk, things got quite out of hand.
Rip, who was nearby, obviously noticed this scene as he was in a similar state. Following Dante's gaze, Rip took a sip of his beer and asked, "Are you going to send her back and stay a little longer?"
"No, I've had enough. I'll head back," Dante replied with a small smile, patting Rip on the shoulder. Glancing at his sister, who was nearby, he added, "You'd better look after my sister. I'm afraid she's already caused enough headaches for my employees."
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Beth darted across the dance floor like a gust of wind, throwing herself enthusiastically into Rip's arms and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Beth smiled at Rip and exclaimed, "Hey, darling, I missed you!"
She then pouted and planted a red-lipped kiss on Rip's face. Although the position wasn't perfect, it was a playful kiss that caught him off guard.
"You're way too drunk," Dante said, suppressing a laugh as he turned to look in the direction of the bathroom, thinking about Susie's condition.
At that moment, Lloyd was standing by the bathroom door, waiting for his girl.
Seeing this, Dante joked, "You should keep them away from strong liquor or any other drinks in the future. I think you're more charming when you're sober."
"Cowboys have a wealth of knowledge you're still missing, but I don't think you need it," Lloyd replied, maintaining a wide grin on his aged face.
Beth glanced at Dante and asked with a smile after pulling away from Rip, "So, when are you going to marry Susie?"
Rip, uncomfortable being dragged into the situation, said, "We should head out too. We've had enough for tonight."
Despite this, Dante's calm demeanor showed a flicker of emotion that quickly faded, his gaze remaining fixed on the bathroom door.
Even though he was waiting at the door, he knew Susie was safe.
"I'm not sure if I should…"
"Hey, idiot, I told you never to hesitate in my presence, did you forget?" Beth grabbed her brother by the cheeks, but before she could continue, Rip pulled her away from the bathrooms.
"Head home, I'll take care of everything," Dante said, referring to the tab. As promised, all the expenses of the night were on him, a gesture of gratitude to these cowboys for their hard work.
After everyone began leaving, Dante walked toward the bathroom door without caring about the glances he received from those around him.
But at that moment, Lee, who had just arrived, stopped Dante, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Thanks for giving the cowboys a good night."
Dante gave a faint smile. Although he hadn't expected to see his brother Lee here, he turned and asked, "Are you dating someone and didn't tell me?"
"I'm just following your lead. I can't fall behind as the older brother," Lee said. He was, of course, here to have fun but also to keep his brother safe.
"Safe? Remember, even though I'm the youngest, I'm the wisest," Dante replied with a slight smile.
"You've got a point. See you at home," Lee said. He seemed to be looking for someone and walked away after greeting his brother.
Dante looked at a man in a black suit and ordered, "Keep an eye on him."
"Understood, boss."
Just as Dante instructed them to watch over his brother and was about to continue, he felt a soft hand on his waist.
"I'll take care of it," Susie said.
"What's going on?" she asked, squinting and catching Dante's scent. He turned to give her a reassuring look.
"Just handling a few things."
"Important?"
"No, the only thing important here is you," Dante said, taking Susie's hand and walking toward the exit to head straight home.
This time, he wouldn't go back to his father's house. He planned to stay at a nearby ranch to avoid disturbing him.
"So, what are we doing tonight?" Susie asked with a playful smile as they sat in the back seat of a truck.
"Sleep and rest—do you agree?" Dante asked.
The convoy escorting them home consisted of night workers personally responsible for his safety.
Normally, he wouldn't employ them, but since he had been drinking, it was the safest way to get home.
"Tonight, we're going to have some fun," Susie replied with a flirty grin.