Chapter 105: Putting on the Bridle

Castle didn't care what Santino thought. Deep in his role, he responded seriously to Gianna on the phone, who was acting with him from Rome: "Yes, he brought two men and four bodyguards, came directly to New York to find trouble with me. He said it was for his losses in Paris recently. He blamed me for his men being killed and his club being destroyed…"

Gianna, the perfect partner, responded with timely surprise: "Really? You didn't get into any trouble, did you? Did Santino come straight after you?"

Satisfied with Gianna's response, Castle continued acting: "Yes, as soon as Young Master Santino arrived in New York, he checked into the Continental Hotel immediately. After adjusting to the time difference, he began arranging people to investigate me, preparing to take action against me… then… finally, I couldn't bear it anymore and had to fight back… Yes, where am I now?… Yes, I've captured him…"

Santino, sitting nearby, was nearly exploding with anger at Castle's shameless words and actions. But being held at gunpoint, he had no choice but to endure it.

Meanwhile, John in Rome watched in amazement as his girlfriend and his friend lied seamlessly. John realized that Castle must have already dealt with Santino. This phone call was likely being made in Santino's presence. Therefore, Castle and Gianna's coordinated performance was meant for Santino. Whether Santino believed it or not was irrelevant; the process was necessary. This way, it would appear that John and Gianna only knew about it after Castle informed them. Thus, Castle could make Gianna mention what John had hinted to Castle earlier—that Castle should let Santino off the hook for the sake of their relationship. This maneuver would make Santino owe Gianna a favor if he was released.

Gianna, understanding Castle's intentions from his tone, was very pleased with her man's friend. 

While Gianna was secretly delighted, Castle finally got to the point: "Gianna, Santino suggested that as compensation for failing to avenge himself in New York, he's willing to transfer the part of the family's power he controls to you. What do you think? Should I accept?"

Gianna became serious for the first time: "Rick, what did you say? Santino offered to transfer the family power he controls to me? Are you serious? Did you threaten him?"

Castle suppressed his smugness, aware that Santino was still there: "Don't worry about that. Just tell me if I should accept his offer."

Gianna replied firmly: "Rick, you don't need to consider me or John. Just think about your situation. I don't want our friendship to suffer because of this… However, if Santino sincerely wants to maintain our sibling relationship and transfers his power to me, I wouldn't refuse it."

Castle listened to Gianna, smiled slyly, and said, "Alright, I understand. I know what to do. Yes… yes… okay, that's it!"

Concerned for his life, Santino watched Castle hang up the phone. Despite his anger and disdain for Castle and Gianna's act, he looked at Castle with hope and asked anxiously: "So? Do you accept my proposal? Will you let me go? I promise I won't trouble you again…"

Castle, who had already made up his mind, looked at the impatient Santino and felt it was time to end the game. "I accept your terms. I'll spare your life if you transfer your family power to Gianna. But there's one more thing you must agree to before I let you go."

Ecstatic that his life was spared, Santino, who had been on edge ever since Castle burst in with a gun and killed his men, relaxed immediately. At this point, he would agree to any number of conditions.

"What is it? What's the condition?"

Desperate to escape, Santino asked directly.

With a sly smile, Castle reached into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out something the size of half a palm. It looked like a small bronze mirror with a recessed center and a copper cover. He handed it to the nervous Santino: "You know this well, don't you? Now, stick out your right thumb, prick it, and leave a fingerprint. Then I'll let you go!"

What Castle took out was a blood oath token. He had bought it from the Continental Hotel in New York when he sent a message to Santino. If he couldn't kill Santino to eliminate future troubles, he would at least put a bridle on him.

"A blood oath token? You want me to give you a blood oath?"

Seeing the familiar object, Santino was filled with mixed emotions. It was John Wick's blood oath token that started everything between him and Castle. Now, after everything, he was being forced to give one to Castle. How ironic!

With no other choice, Santino took the blood oath token, pricked his right thumb, and pressed his blood into the center of the token, pledging a blood oath to Castle. This meant Castle could ask Santino for anything in the future, and Santino would not be able to refuse, just like Santino had done with John's blood oath.

This was Castle's ultimate move against Santino's ill-fated venture to New York.

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