Castle had no idea about the hidden murderous intent targeting him. Just returning home, he was now dealing with the headache of his troublesome mother's new romance. As soon as he walked in, he saw his mother sitting with his well-behaved daughter Alexis at the dining table, each holding a tub of ice cream and indulging themselves while discussing Martha's new boyfriend, Chet.
"Mom, do you think it's appropriate to discuss your new romance with Alexis?"
Castle was exasperated, watching his mother enthusiastically gossip about her new relationship with her granddaughter. Even though Alexis was smart and perceptive from a young age, she was still only fifteen.
Martha, hearing Castle's complaint, turned to look at her son, even more troublesome than herself. "I'm just talking to Alexis about how I feel after moving in with Chet. I didn't say anything inappropriate. Besides, with a father like you, do you think Alexis is more influenced by you or by me?"
The red-haired daughter looked like a little fox that had caught a chicken, her eyes curved as she watched her grandmother retort her father. Wisely, she did not get involved. Seeing the visible frustration on her father's face, Alexis quickly offered her ice cream to him. "Dad, want some ice cream? It's your favorite chocolate flavor!"
Taking a big bite of the ice cream his perceptive daughter handed him, Castle gave her a thumbs-up to show his approval and commend her for the distraction. He then moved to the dining table to listen to his mother's feelings about moving in with Chet.
While three generations were happily enjoying family time, Vincent Adler's henchman, Larson, had already taken Vincent's private jet from Argentina and was en route to New York to begin his assassination plan against Castle.
Receiving the information on Castle, Larson found it laughable. He wondered if his boss had lost his mind. Why else would he recall Larson from an important mission in Argentina for a seemingly inconsequential writer? In Larson's eyes, a writer like Castle was just a small fry, easily dealt with.
Larson couldn't understand why his boss would have him abandon a hard-won lead to return to New York and swiftly eliminate a writer who, at most, had extensive social connections. Looking at Vincent's information, Castle indeed had ties with many powerful factions. But so what? Larson believed that as long as he acted quietly and set up a flawless scheme, killing Castle would cause no more than a cursory investigation by the NYPD. Other factions linked to Castle would likely only put on a show of concern.
Sitting on Vincent's private jet, the seasoned assassin had already sentenced Castle to death in his mind. He planned to spend a few days following Castle to learn his routines before making his move.
Unaware of Vincent's cautious scheming and Larson's imminent arrival, Castle continued his leisurely life. This would soon change dramatically once he stepped out of his door.
By 10 AM, Castle had just gotten out of bed. The house was quiet. His mother had gone to stay with her new boyfriend, Chet, and his daughter had left early to meet a friend for breakfast. With nothing to do, Castle found himself restless despite his desire to relax at home.
After two cups of coffee, Castle decided to visit Abraham's antique shop for a chat, as Neal would likely be busy with his FBI partner, and Mozzie was helping Neal search for Alex. With nothing else planned, Castle grabbed his keys and headed out.
However, the special agent skills from the 'Jason Bourne' reward alerted him to something amiss as soon as he sat in his flashy Ferrari. The system's skills were exceptionally strong, having directly imparted Jason Bourne's refined abilities to Castle. Now, Castle was potentially even more formidable than the original Jason Bourne, bolstered by enhanced physical abilities and John Wick's firearms expertise.
The car hadn't been tampered with, but his instincts, honed by Bourne's spy skills and John's assassin abilities, told him someone was watching him. Keeping his composure, Castle pretended not to notice and started the car, driving out of the garage while pondering who might be monitoring him.
It wouldn't be his father, who knew his capabilities and wouldn't bother with such measures. Nor would it be King or Winston; they'd contact him directly if they needed anything. Law enforcement agencies were also unlikely suspects, given his close relationship with the NYPD and connections in the mayor's office.
That left Vincent Adler as the most probable culprit. Despite their recent truce and agreement for Castle to persuade Neal to find and hand over the music box, Vincent seemed to have second thoughts. It was clear he wasn't planning a friendly dinner but rather something more sinister.
Castle underestimated the ruthless logic of someone like Vincent. In Vincent's world, anyone not a friend was a potential enemy.
Vincent had been wary since receiving Castle's detailed profile, deciding quickly to preemptively remove this potential threat. He called back his top assassin, Larson, from an ongoing mission in Argentina to ensure Castle was swiftly and cleanly eliminated.
As the night passed, with Castle chatting with his mother and daughter, Larson planning his kill on the private jet, and Beckett fuming over case files at the precinct, the stage was set for the coming confrontation.
The next day, Castle, uncharacteristically sleeping in, woke to an unusually quiet house. After brewing some coffee and pondering his day, he decided to visit Abraham's shop. With Neal and Mozzie occupied, Abraham seemed the best bet for company.
Oblivious to Vincent's deadly plan, Castle's mundane day was about to take a dramatic turn. As he stepped out of his house, the game began.
Larson, already in New York, had instructed his men to tail Castle. Castle, feeling the unseen eyes, played it cool, keeping his routine while mentally preparing for the impending threat.
Castle's peaceful life was on the brink of upheaval, his every move now watched by a skilled assassin determined to end him.
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