Sean agreed readily. After all, the people he needed to protect were Martha, who gave him Castle, and his beloved granddaughter. Sean, already irritated by Castle's teasing tone, thought angrily, "Damn Santino, itching for trouble, aren't you? If my son doesn't kill you this time, I will!"
Just as Castle was about to hang up, Sean interrupted, "Rick, wait. You plan to handle Santino yourself? Do you have a plan? Manpower? Intelligence? You're not going to charge in alone after ensuring Martha and Alexis are safe, are you?"
Castle rolled his eyes, though Sean couldn't see it. "Dad, do you think I'm that reckless? I told you, New York is my turf. Besides, I've been hanging around the police station every day. How could I not have a plan?
Santino is staying at Winston's hotel, where guns can't be used. I contacted you to avoid putting Winston in a tough spot because he owes you a favor. I'm preparing a nice surprise for Santino once he steps out of the hotel. As for the details, you'll see. I guarantee it won't implicate me while teaching Santino a lesson. He'll learn that a local snake can't be underestimated, though he's more of an oversized fly than a dragon."
Knowing his son had a plan and wouldn't act recklessly, Sean laughed heartily, feeling reassured. "Alright, I'll see what you can do. I'll arrange protection for Martha and Alexis immediately. Be careful, Rick!"
With Sean no longer concerned, he hung up amid laughter.
Having ensured his mother and daughter's safety, Castle leisurely took out another high-end laptop from his space and began hacking into the New York police surveillance system with ease.
Why could he easily invade the NYPD surveillance system? Besides his top-tier hacking skills granted by the system, his frequent and unnoticed visits to the Twelfth Precinct had allowed him to secretly set up a hidden backdoor in their internal network.
After quickly locating several surveillance cameras around the Continental Hotel, Castle began preparing the surprise for Santino...
Meanwhile, in Rome, in the D'Antonio family castle, John was discussing the situation with the expectant mother, Gianna.
John, watching the maternal glow on Gianna's face, couldn't help but advise, "Gianna, are you really going to let Rick kill Santino? Aren't you worried your father will be angry when he hears? I think you should inform your father, after all, Santino is still your brother."
Gianna rolled her eyes at John flirtatiously. "John, you fool. Do you think my father doesn't know Santino went to New York? You underestimate him.
I believe he's pretending to be unaware for two reasons. One, he wants to use this to test the mysterious person who helped Rick in Paris. And two, he's likely given up on Santino, that hopeless case. With the third generation of the D'Antonio family on the way, he's willing to let Santino dig his own grave.
Moreover, we can't be certain Santino went to trouble Rick. What if he denies it when confronted? We can't force him back home."
John wasn't worried about Castle's safety, but he was concerned about the potential clash between Castle and Santino, and the reaction of the old D'Antonio lion.
Understanding her man's thoughts, Gianna smiled. "John, we've seen Rick's skills firsthand. As long as his family isn't in danger, we don't need to worry about him. The real concern is my foolish brother getting himself killed by Rick.
But if Santino went to New York to trouble Rick, it's his own fault. Though he's my brother, I stand with Rick. If you're really worried, we could send some people to help Rick."
Gianna's words eased John's mind. He knew better than Gianna how terrifying the old man behind Castle was. He wasn't worried about Castle's safety, just about Santino provoking Castle and then getting killed, which might anger the old D'Antonio lion.
With Gianna practically assuring him that even if Castle killed Santino, it wouldn't turn the D'Antonio family against him, John decided to relax and enjoy the show with his pregnant wife.
Gianna, seeing her man relieved, enthusiastically began imagining their child's future. "John, do you think we'll have a boy or a girl? I hope it's a boy, so he can inherit the D'Antonio family leadership, and we can travel the world. Unfortunately, the doctor says it's too early to tell."
John's usually tense face softened as he responded to Gianna's topic. "I hope we have a beautiful little princess like you. How wonderful would that be?"
Gianna, caught off guard by John's sudden sweet words, blushed deeply. Staring at John, who remained expressionless yet spoke such tender words, she laughed.
After rushing to New York overnight, Santino D'Antonio, believing the Continental Hotel to be the safest place in New York, rested and gathered intelligence on his primary target, Castle. Refreshed, he finally appeared at the Continental Hotel bar.
Winston, informed by his assistant Garon about Santino's arrival, decided to meet him out of respect for the High Table and to keep control over the situation. Sitting in his designated spot in the bar, Winston greeted Santino.
"Santino, why have you suddenly come to New York?" Winston, dressed like an old-fashioned gentleman, with a cigar in one hand and a drink in the other, looked calmly at Santino.
As a playboy without inheritance rights, Santino didn't dare flaunt his status before the powerful owner of the New York Continental. He answered respectfully, "Yes, I have a personal matter to handle in New York. I might need some intelligence support from the Continental and you."
"Is that so? What is it? Let's see if I can help..." Winston replied noncommittally, watching Santino coldly.
"A few days ago, some of my men were attacked in Paris. The attacker is now in New York, and I'm here to find him. You know, my men are part of the D'Antonio family. Our honor isn't easily violated."
"What do you need from me?" Winston remained expressionless.
"I need you to help me find the address and location of a writer named Richard Castle. He's the one who attacked my men..."
Winston's eyes suddenly flashed with a chilling light as he stared at Santino. "What did you say???"
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