Chapter One

Three months earlier…

They were building a resort. A massive resort, a place where men could get away from city living and have some fun, and at night, head to the kink club disguised as a barn. That was the hope and dream of the smooth Italian man walking on the dark ranch that first night.

Dante Carrillo. The man was known far and wide for his beauty, his temper, and his sophistication. The co-head of the most powerful mafia family in the western United States overcame his sexuality in a world of macho, man's man enthusiasts, to cause those brutal men to cower in his presence.

No one blinked an eye any longer, no one spoke bigoted slurs behind his back. And only Antonio, his beloved brother, and his treasured husband, Blaine, were able to get into his head once he was set on a course of action.

A special swagger in his step was his trademark. His impeccable taste in the finest clothes was envied. He was one of a kind, but even he could have self-doubts and insecurities. That was also where Blaine shined on him.

He was wearing a dark suit, Armani, and Prada shoes that were no longer shiny after walking in the dust around the ranch. When he wore clothes such as what he had on that night, he felt more confident. He was there to impress, sure, but when he wore fine silks, linens, and wools, they were shields around him. Blaine had wiped a bit of saliva from the corner of his mouth when Dante had walked out of the small bedroom of the trailer where they stayed until their home was built. Maybe, after all these years, he wore the suits for Blaine. There was never a time that Blaine didn't show his appreciation of Dante's clothes.

Blaine had many shields. He'd been a shy man when Dante had met him fifteen years earlier. He was so shy that he was terrified to say a word most of the time. From that young, fragile man grew a beautiful being that smiled on the world and brought peace and happiness to all that were near him. He was blond, sweet, with subtle brown eyes that were lined in a gold that shone brightly. He was still the only one that could make him stop in his tracks and swoon. Overcoming so much, he had become even stronger than Dante in so many ways. Admiring him was easy. Living up to him was much harder.

So, with his shield of fine clothing around him and his hero walking beside him, he headed for the bunkhouse of the ranch.

The bunkhouse was buzzing as he neared it with his bodyguard walking just paces behind him and Blaine. Bruno Cassavetes was the best bodyguard in the business and his life was dedicated to Dante and Blaine. Tall, imposing, handsome, and smart, he moved in front of them to look into the bunkhouse to assure it was safe for Dante's entry.

Dante took a moment to gather himself before going inside the building. Looking at Blaine, he saw the hope and dreams in those beautiful eyes. When Blaine mentioned he'd like to move to the country, to try to have a family and live a more normal and secluded life, Dante had struggled with it.

Speaking to Antonio and Antonio's wife, Selena, they assured him that they were ready to take back the mantle of the family. Dante had stepped in, helping to run the organization while Antonio and Selena raised their small kids. Now that the kids were adults, or nearing so, Antonio was ready to take back the head post and allow Dante to start his own family.

Besides, Antonio's oldest son, Selestino, was ready to learn the business and take his place as the heir to their family throne.

Maybe that's what he worried about the most. He was used to being the top dog, making the rules, and enforcing them. To be nothing except a husband and possible father, well…

Blaine's soft, long fingers threaded through Dante's. That was them, together, always. For all his love of power, no love in the entire world could compare to how he felt about Blaine.

The beautiful man was tall and thin, aging well with only two small lines from the corner of each eye. Laugh lines, and they were attained rightfully. Blaine was never far from smiling, laughter on his lips much more than complaints. Blaine's voice was chipper, if not a little subdued as he acknowledged, "This is big. I know this isn't what you're used to, but it's the best of both worlds for us."

"We were supposed to come here and retire, then I got all these bright ideas for new businesses. I'm breaking my word to you, BB," he said, using the nickname he'd been calling Blaine from the start. The two Bs stood for Beautiful Blaine.

"No, you're not. We can keep busy with this, and we can go home and shut the door and let all these other people take over. You've been running around like a crazy person for months setting this up, Dante. You have bosses for every little bit of this new resort and help for them from all the people you've helped and who have helped you in the past. They're all in there right now, waiting for you to bring them together."

That was the thing about Blaine. He always saw the good. He always had words of encouragement and belief in Dante. Never wavering, Blaine was his partner in every sense of the word and the love he never thought he'd find. "That part about going home and closing the door…man, I'm gonna need a lot of that. We may not be able to make a baby, but we can practice while we wait for one."

Blaine moved close and kissed him warmly, then let go of his hand so he could fully embrace Dante. "We're going to have a great life here, Dante."

"I'd have a great life anywhere you are, BB, but here…it is special, right?"

"Right."

Blaine let go of him and then pushed him gently. "Go. They're all waiting for you."

They're all waiting. Yes, they were. They gathered in the bunkhouse, which was the largest place for them to meet. The many barns and other buildings on the forty-one thousand acres were large, but the bunkhouse was the biggest for the crowd to gather. At least until the other buildings were built.

Bruno came up to stand beside him, ready to shoot down or tackle any threat to Dante, and Dante felt he was ready.

The three of them walked into the building where most of the ranch hands lived, of which, after learning the new owners were gay and were building a resort for more gays to come and enjoy, well, they'd lost quite a few hands.

He'd only seen one or two bunkhouses in his life, and the one he now owned was not any different. A kitchen and dining area, a common area for the hands to relax after a hard day on the ranch, and then, in the back were small racks or bunks for them to sleep. He planned on expanding it to give each hand their own room, even if they'd be small.

More plans ran through his mind as he saw the crowd of people there, most of which he'd brought in himself. They were friends, new and old acquaintances, and the remaining employees of the ranch that used to be called Harrison Ranch.

All those faces were looking to him for direction. Each held hope for a good future, and some worried about that same future.

He was one of them.

The project he'd taken on was so big, so expansive, it was like pushing a boulder up a hill with a toothpick. Sure it was, if he were doing it alone. As he looked at the crowd, he knew that he had a lot of help with that boulder.

In the crowd were old acquaintances, like the tall, dark-haired, and handsome Hunter Westmore from New Mexico. Hunter was there to show the old and new hands how to raise organic beef and help the cattle ranch thrive.

Jace Conroy was in the crowd, sitting tall with his straw cowboy hat resting on his knee beside the hand of one of his two partners, Roland Brady. Roland had his thick curls tied back in a ponytail, looking professional like any architect would. Tango sat close on Jace's other side, furrowed brow as his eyes took in the room, already on his job as head of security for the resort. Tango had a first name, not that Dante remembered it. The three were the main men of the place already. Jace would manage the resort, alongside his architect and security boss. They were excited to begin, just like Dante.

Jace's and his partners' friends sat in the same row as they did. Burke Monteleone, Damon Street, and Joel Barnes, who'd gotten the idea for a woodland gay club, brought it to life and helped it to become a popular destination for many gay men into kink.

The club was called Cowpokes and was a western-themed kink club in the middle of the mountains of Colorado. It was that vision Dante saw while in Colorado helping them. The moment he saw their club, ideas sprang to mind of expanding its reach and meeting the needs of many more gay men. When they looked around for somewhere to build it, Dante found the perfect spot in Montana to form not only the club's twin itself, but an entire resort. They'd hopefully profit from it like Dante and Blaine would.

The Kings, a brother mafia family to the Carrillos, had representatives there, including one of their top guys, Marius Monarco, whom those close to him called Dimples.

Dante stood in front of them until the whispering and private conversations died and everyone began clapping their hands in a show of hope and opportunity.

"Thank you all," he said loudly as the applause died. "Thank you for coming, for providing help here, and for being on the ground floor of this insane idea!"

More applause and most of the room stood to give it. Blaine fluttered his pretty blond lashes at Dante and most of the tension finally left him.

Seated again, every man and woman in the room had their eyes on him. That would return the discomfort to most, but Dante knew he thrived on that. He'd led a multi-billion-dollar organization that had hundreds of partnered organizations from biker clubs to other mob families. He could do this. "We have a lot to do before we open the resort. Before that ever happens, we not only have to build it, but we must all know our separate parts of this joint venture.

"Starting with the bunkhouse and the small homes where the ranch hands with families lived, we're going to upgrade and remodel for comfort and convenience for those still working and those that will be coming to work the ranch itself."

"At that same time, crews will be starting on the home that my husband and I will occupy. I'll let all of you know how you can help, where you will be as far as the three main areas of the new ranch will be, and more. For now, I have a few announcements."

Blaine stood and handed him the piece of paper Dante had dictated to him about assignments. He stopped Blaine to kiss him, getting whistles and more applause for it.

"Settle down! The kink club isn't going to be done for a while and even when it is, no one is seeing Blaine and me naked!"

Laughter, applause, and another standing ovation for that, had Blaine turning bright red as retook his seat. That was the old, terribly shy Blaine that showed through his more confident self at times.

"Get on with it, you blowhard," Hunter Westmore called out to Dante in that deep, resonating voice he had, and not everyone laughed. Most held their breaths to wait for Dante's reaction.

He and Hunter had had several meetings in the past and few of them were friendly. They were not exactly friends but had over the years gained a mutual respect that made him Dante's first thought when he thought of cattlemen. "Hunter," he said to the big, strong man, "I know you are hot for me, but you're married, I'm married, it would never work," he teased, and Hunter laughed loudly, then nodded once in respect. Dante told the others, "Seriously, though, Hunter is just anxious to get back to his husband and new son."

Hunter puffed in pride and held up his phone to show the boy, eight months old, with a tiny cowboy hat on his head of black curls and he got plenty of applause himself.

Unfolding the paper, Dante looked it over, remembering more than he'd thought, including a lot of the names. "First off, we need some heads for all the teams we'll have. While building is the main process, and workmen are being brought in for that, there is plenty to do besides that. The cattle ranch, for instance!

"This ranch had thousands of head of cattle at times. Right now, we're down to five hundred head, which to me, sounds like a lot. Hunter and the hands here tell me that's not much at all. That"s a hobby farm size. Well, for the cattle ranch, we're going to play it by ear as to how big it will get. For now, it'll be no more than the five hundred head. We will, once the resort is open for business, see guests interacting with the animals. There will be those that will want to ride the horses, to try their hands at roping and all things cowboys do. A very small number of cattle will be brought closer to the resort with the addition of a tiny working ranch just for them. The real ranch, however, will be just that. A real, working ranch. To help with costs, sure, but because I refuse to come here and citify this place more than absolutely necessary. I want it to continue as it has for the last century."

The crowd liked that, as he knew they would. He'd already discussed it with most of them.

"Hunter will go through and help get the books up to date and moved over to a new company name. He'll also give the hands the steps to take to make this into an organic ranch. I know it's not possible for all the cattle to be without antibiotics and such, but since Hunter's been accomplishing it for longer than I'm sure he'd like to admit, he's made a good go of it.

"To head up the ranch for now and the unforeseeable future, I've asked parting ranch hands and those that stayed for their advice on who should run it. It was nearly unanimous. I'd like to ask that Dallas McIntyre come up here and everyone, please, give him a hand."

Everyone clapped as Dallas, goddamn-I'm-pretty, McIntyre came strolling from his seat in the back of the dining room and started up the aisle between the chairs and tables to get to Dante.

He had a shy smile, a little pink in his cheeks from the recognition, but otherwise his shoulders were back, and head held in pride as he joined Dante at the front of the room.

"Howdy," he said, then got more applause, especially from those ranch hands that had stayed behind. "I guess I'm ‘sposed to say something."

Dante held his clapping hands up so everyone would join in the encouragement.

"Fine, fine," Dallas said, laughing, to quiet the place. He beamed out at the small crowd, cheeky grin on his handsome face, fingers nervously running through his short beard. "Eh, man, I don't do this kind of thing. It's why I work with animals. They don't ask me to talk to ‘em."

While Dante watched the smiling faces and heard the laughter directed at Dallas's words, he saw more. Marius, one of the Kings, was staring heatedly at Dallas. After licking over his lips, Marius discretely adjusted his dick.

Dallas went on to explain how the new work would start, and how they planned to stay out of the way of the rest of it. Another man was listening intently. Too intently, for it just to be about the business. Ruben Salazar sat beside his sister, Bonita, and never took his eyes from Dallas once while Dallas was speaking. Ruben and Bonita were two of the handful of hands that stayed behind to work with the new owners. While he watched the man, Ruben had a little smile on his succulent lips. Dante doubted anyone would notice it, but Dante just happened to be looking for it.

It was already beginning. See, when Dante visited the original Cowpokes kink club, he'd noticed something rather remarkable. The men there who'd helped to get it started and their friends, they'd all matched up quickly and for life. They refused to say the club was the magnet, of course, and maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was seeing one couple or throuple so happy that it was contagious, that need for the same.

He"d hoped it would continue at the new place, and so far, he had a good feeling about it.

"The hands we have are great, and I'm sure we'll get the hang of this hippy organic ranchin'," Dallas said with a laugh then a little salute to Hunter. "Just kidding, Mr. Westmore."

"Call me Hunter, and I'm sure you're kidding," he said sarcastically, then laughed and stood to shake Dallas's hand while Dallas made his escape back to his seat.

Dante took back the front and looked at his list again. "Right, I guess three of the main introductions I need to make are Jace Conroy, Roland Brady, and Tango. Yes, we just call him Tango. He's running security for the entire resort, so I suggest you don't fuck with him about that."

The three reluctantly came to the front, Jace towering over Tango, but barely taller than his Roland. Roland whispered for Jace to start speaking. The country man didn't like to speak publicly but he was getting used to it.

When Jace started to speak, even through his reluctance to do so, his voice held a commanding air that was maybe due to the fact he was a Dom. Black hair shining in the light, his tight western shirt barely hiding his marvelous physique, he was a natural leader, and everyone staring at him showed Dante that. In their eyes was admiration and attention. "Hey, everyone, I'm Jace and I'll be the manager of the resort once it's finished. We've got a lot to do before that happens, and I want to tell you all that if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please come to me. I've never managed anything this big. I don't know many who have, but I'm not alone in this, and don't fool myself into thinking so."

"If it was only this group here, in the bunkhouse right now, I have a lot of faith that we'll get it moving and on the right track in no time. We all want this to work. Not only have Dante and Blaine given us this opportunity, but they also don't want to sit back and reap the rewards without getting their hands dirty, too. We all have a stake in this place. I moved my partners and me here to start something that could fail, sure. But as I look out at all of you, I have no doubts that it will be successful."

He got a standing ovation that dwarfed Dante's, and Dante didn't mind a bit. Jace would be the man that everyone would go to first, that would carry the weight of so much. He wanted the confidence he had in the man to be universal.

Roland spoke next, and Jace and Tango beamed at him while he did. "Everyone, this is the biggest job in a lot of our lives, I'm sure. It's mine! I have a lot of projects going on my computers right now, but what I really need is more input on the bunkhouse, the employee homes, and the businesses in the resort town itself. Those of you who work and live on ranches will be invaluable to me, and to Jace and Tango, to know how to proceed. I've already been told to add wood-burning stoves or fireplaces to each home besides the natural gas and solar. Montana has harsh winters, and a bad wind can knock out power and other things that make that a priority. I'm grateful for that kind of input and I'd like more. I'd like to get with each of you here for those kinds of ideas that I will need to take into account while working up the plans."

Dante watched everyone as they listened intently, including Blaine, who'd already given Roland a list of what he wanted for their house. That conversation was never-ending, it seemed.

Hunter raised his hand, surprising Dante. Hunter wasn't having anything built, but he thought that the big rancher likely had some ideas for the barns and buildings the ranch would need.

"Roland, as I said, I'm an architect too, in my spare time. I'll help all I can with those plans and give you some ideas you'll need that some here might not know concerning the organic farming and what's involved in that."

"That's exactly what I'm looking for, Hunter, and thank you. I will take all the help I can get, and you may regret offering it."

The gorgeous Creek man, Jet Tall Mound, who was the ranch's veterinarian, stood and said, "I've already spoken to Hunter, and he's shown me the vet's quarters in the barn he designed for his own ranch. We can work on that, the three of us."

"Excellent! This is just wonderful. Thank you, Jet, and everyone for what you've already given me. I am more than happy to work with you all on this big project."

Jet smiled his bright white smile at Roland and sat back down next to Ruben and Bonita.

Tango took his turn, and he was as red as Blaine usually got when having to speak to more than a couple of people at once.

He was a sweet man, kind and eager to get to work. He'd recently worked for Burke Monteleone, the man who'd first thought up the idea of Cowpokes, the western-themed kink club he and his partners owned. Burke ran a site that hired security for those who needed it. He had connections from his time in the military, and Tango had been one of his best.

Small features, small frame, but big courage and sense of self, he started, "Hey, all. I'm Tango, and that's it. I don't do my first name."

General laughter followed and one man in the back yelled, "Like Madonna and Cher?"

"Well…I am gay, so I'd have to turn in my gay card if I took offense to that."

Dante laughed with the rest of the crowd, and Blaine beamed. He was enjoying this immensely.

"I'm excited to share with you all that I've seen what needs to be done for the tight security we'll have here, while still giving the employees and guests that freedom we all crave. The buildings will be tight, the entry points to the resort will be tight, but it's a big area. I'm like Roland, and this is a new gig for me. Any suggestions, I'm more than open to them. I want this to be like a family, like we all do. One of my challenges and privileges is to help protect this family."

Jace slung an arm around Tango's neck and gave him a hard peck on the cheek for that while everyone clapped and cheered for Tango, then cheered and whistled for the kiss.

To his amusement and surprise, Bonita Salazar stood and said, "I get this is a gay place. I'm gonna be one of a few women here, though, right?"

"Right," Tango agreed. "We have the former den mother, I guess she was called, to take back her job cooking and caring for the bunkhouse here, and more to work in the resort store, hotel and such."

"We're not getting the second-class citizen treatment, right?"

Jace came forward, smiling. "Hell no! We not only love our women friends, but even we get tired of being surrounded by men!"

Uproarious laughter came then, and Dante watched Blaine clapping loudly. His best friend in the world was a woman named Tara who had been that long before Dante had met him.

After giving Jace a wink, Bonita retook her seat and seemed satisfied.

Dante watched the three head back to their seats and he waved up Burke, Damon, and Joel. It was, after all, their baby as much as Dante's.

Dante shook their hands as they got on the stage, the shy, small Joel hiding directly behind his two Doms. Burke started speaking while Damon hugged the terrified Joel.

Burke was not only luscious, but he was a big man. Barrel chested, tall, and imposing, he held the attention of the room easily. "This club, the centerpiece of what the resort will be, was an idea I had a couple years back when my only partner at the time, Damon, asked if we could move to this tiny place in the mountains so he could live his dream of a small ranch. I wanted a piece of the city with me, a place where, once or twice a month, men could come and relax, enjoying the country and some kink, too. When Dante first approached me with the idea of a second location, I didn't know if it would work. Coming here, seeing this…paradise, well, I think it's somewhere others will flock to. I'm happy to help get this place going and Damon, Joel, and I will be here plenty to help start it, and to see how it's going after it's completed."

The master of ceremonies because of his big personality, Damon took the front then, handing Joel off to Burke. "Hey, y'all!"

"We don't say that here," Dallas called. "This is the north!"

Damon's booming laughter was contagious. "Sorry! I'm from the north, but not this far! I love it here, and I can see this becoming something much bigger than we ever thought, just like the first Cowpokes has. Already, the folks that head there to get away and have some fun, they're all waiting for the word that this one is open. We in Colorado can only open once or twice a month. This place is all the time, anytime. What few of you know, however, is one part of the place that is crucial. Dante is planning a small airport."

Gasps and shocked faces were all around the room.

"Yeah, right? It's insane, but he wants to make it as convenient as possible for folks to come here and spend their hard-earned money. We are going to help make this place a destination that is a must-see, must-be place!"

Joel wasn't going to speak, not in front of a crowd. He was terribly shy, and that is why Dante's heart filled as he saw Blaine get up from his chair and head right to Joel, taking him by the hand to lead him outside.

Relating to that shyness, and just loving people, that was Blaine. He'd been through terrible traumas in his past, from watching his mother die of cancer, being in an abusive relationship, and then being kidnapped and sold as a sex slave to a dungeon in Mexico. That was why, for the most part, Dante had tried to keep all things as good and happy as he could for the man of his heart.

There wasn't a sweeter soul in the world, but Dante could tell Joel was close. As they left the room, Dante's heart swelled, and then he started taking and answering questions from the crowd with the others.

The place was going to succeed. He felt that in his soul.

What he didn't know, however, were all the obstacles and deaths that were about to happen that would make them all wonder if it was worth it…