Chapter 104: The Double Act

Castle watched with a dark expression as the terrified Santino sprang from his chair, ready to flee the dining room in a panic. It seemed Castle had truly frightened him, making him forget that he was armed. Castle couldn't just let Santino run around unchecked, so he raised his gun and fired two shots, aiming just ahead of Santino's feet.

The bullets stopped Santino in his tracks. He heard Castle's sinister voice behind him: "If you run again, I'll shoot you on the spot. Now, come back and sit down. It's very impolite to run off when someone is still talking, isn't it, Santino?"

Santino was nearly driven mad. His mind, already clouded with fear and Castle's timely intimidation, instinctively tried to flee without considering that Castle had a gun. Now reminded of the gun, he realized his life was still in Castle's hands.

Defeated, Santino dejectedly returned to the dining table and reluctantly sat down again.

Thinking he might not escape Castle's wrath, Santino asked in a low, despairing tone, "Why? We've never crossed paths before. Why are you helping Gianna and John?"

Castle laughed at Santino, who had gone from arrogant to utterly despondent. "Weren't you listening? You said it yourself: I'm John's friend. Do you think I'd just stand by while you use my friend? Sure, we didn't know each other before, but since John is my friend, I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. If you need a reason, it's because we're on opposite sides, understand?"

"And those traffickers in Paris you teamed up with kidnapped my friend's daughter. What was I supposed to do? Just let it happen?"

Hearing this, Santino couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. He cautiously asked, "You have connections with the 'Elders,' don't you? Otherwise, why would their special team attack my club?"

Castle had no intention of clarifying for Santino. He maintained his enigmatic facade. "That's something I can't disclose. I can only say you brought this upon yourself."

"Now, Santino, do you have anything else to say?"

Santino was startled, thinking Castle had grown impatient and was about to kill him. At this moment, all his family pride and personal dignity were thrown aside. The desire to live made him discard his scant pride and beg, "Can you spare my life? I promise I'll never bother you again. Please, for Gianna and John's sake, for giving John his freedom back with the blood oath, don't kill me!"

Santino, drenched in sweat and pleading desperately, almost made Castle break character and laugh. But the act had to continue to ensure Santino was thoroughly frightened. Castle had to make sure Santino would be too scared to ever cause trouble again.

Castle stared sternly at Santino. "Give me a reason to spare your life! You came to kill me and now expect mercy when I'm in control? Do you think I'm as brainless as you?"

Santino frantically racked his brain, searching for a compelling reason to make Castle relent. In a moment of desperation, he came up with a plan he hoped would be irresistible to Castle.

Hesitantly, Santino glanced at Castle, sitting with a stern expression, and said, "You said you're friends with John and Gianna. I'm Gianna's brother. Other than our father, I'm the closest to her by blood. You know our father's health isn't good; he won't last many more years. If you spare me now, I can fully support my sister in controlling the family after our father dies. You don't know this, but our family isn't as united as it seems. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known about your activities in Paris. If you let me live, I'll hand over my control of the family's forces to Gianna and never trouble you again."

Santino doubted that money or other bribes would sway Castle. Pressed by the shadow of death, he smartly seized on Castle's friendship with John as his lifeline. He played his final card, offering to transfer his influence within the family to Gianna, hoping this would secure Castle's forgiveness and save his life.

Castle, slightly surprised, observed Santino with a hint of admiration. At the brink of death, Santino had finally demonstrated some level of practicality. It was said that not even Gianna could wrest control from him without a fight. Now, faced with death, he was willing to relinquish his power.

Intrigued, Castle remained silent, watching Santino anxiously await his response. After calculating that he had sufficiently scared Santino, Castle finally spoke. "You say you'll hand over your influence to Gianna and never trouble me again?"

"Yes... yes..." Seeing a lifeline, Santino couldn't care less about family power or revenge. His top priority was survival. He would worry about everything else later.

In response to Santino's anxious and hopeful eyes, Castle took out his phone and dialed John Wick in Rome.

"John, hello. Still up? Yes, I need to speak with Gianna. Is she around?"

John, puzzled by Castle's call for Gianna, handed the phone to her without questioning the situation in New York.

"Rick, what is it?" Gianna's sweet voice came through the phone.

Castle smiled. "Hello, Gianna. Sorry to bother you. Did you know your brother Santino is in New York, looking to settle a score with me?"

Gianna, sharp as ever, immediately understood that her foolish brother must have been caught by Castle. Realizing Castle's intent, she played along seamlessly. "Rick, I had no idea Santino would go after you. Are you alright?"

John, confused, watched Gianna as she talked to Castle. Meanwhile, Santino stared disdainfully at Castle, recognizing the act. He thought, "If Gianna hadn't tipped him off, how would he have known I was in New York? Now, they're putting on a show for me? Do they take me for a fool?"

Still, this move deepened Santino's fear and respect for Castle. Dealing with someone who was shameless enough to pull this off was truly formidable.

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