With the flexible display technology for visual stealth already developed (or stolen) by Castle, and the production process handed over to the fully automated systems controlled by Jarvis, Castle found himself with a rare moment of free time. Meanwhile, Little Fatty and Ramsey were still buried deep in the supercomputer lab, furiously coding the algorithms necessary for the stealth system.
Just as Castle began to enjoy this unexpected respite, the Watanabe Consortium decided to send three assassins to kill him.
Seriously? Did they not know that the world's most feared assassin, John Wick, lived next door and was currently being tormented by a seven-month-old girl armed with milk bottles and diapers?
After reading through the detailed intelligence Powell had sent him on the three bumbling assassins, Castle became intrigued.
He had no intention of handing over this information to Beckett or involving the NYPD. Instead, Castle saw an opportunity to turn this situation into a game—a way to toy with the Watanabe Consortium before presenting the evidence to President Benjamin in the White House, thereby giving him a reason to go after Japan's political elites.
So, Castle immediately called his neighbor, who was desperate for a distraction from the chaos of parenthood.
"John, I just got word that the Watanabe Consortium—you know, the same idiots who were behind Alexis's kidnapping during Christmas—has sent three assassins to New York to kill me. It seems their current patriarch is still bitter over his son's forced suicide and his nephew's volcanic demise. What do you say? Want to have a little fun with these fools?"
John Wick practically leaped at the opportunity. Though he knew it would only take a few days, he welcomed any excuse to escape the unrelenting demands of his baby daughter, whose bottles and diapers were slowly driving him insane.
In less than ten minutes, John arrived at Castle's study, dressed in his trademark tailored suit, with his Glock 17 pistols holstered and ten spare magazines strapped to his waist.
Castle couldn't resist teasing him. "Really, John? Is your little Ohnona really that terrifying that you'd jump at the chance to help me?"
John shot him a tired glare, his usual stoicism cracked by exhaustion. "You told me that babies don't start crawling until nine months. So why is my seven-month-old already racing around the house like a little demon? Last night, she crawled under the bed while Gianna wasn't looking and nearly gave us both a heart attack.
"Why do babies have this much energy, Rick? Why?"
Castle smirked, thoroughly enjoying his friend's misery. "Relax, man. Most babies start flipping over at three months and sitting up at five or six. Crawling usually starts around nine months, but that's just the average. If little Ohnona's ahead of schedule, that just means she's healthy and developing well. Be happy about it!"
John groaned, his frustration evident. "Healthy or not, she's wearing me out. And now that she's mobile, I'm constantly worried she'll vanish the second I blink. Do you know how exhausting that is?"
Castle leaned back, amused. "So, you're telling me you're willing to face off against three assassins just to get a break from your daughter?"
John's face lit up with an uncharacteristic grin. "Damn right. Compared to the nonstop chaos she puts me through, taking out a few assassins sounds like a vacation."
Castle burst into laughter, the image of the world's most feared assassin being outmatched by a crawling baby too hilarious to contain. "Man, if people knew that Baba Yaga—the Boogeyman himself—is being run ragged by a seven-month-old girl, no one would believe it!"
For once, John allowed himself a small, genuine smile. "I can't believe it either. When Helen passed, I thought my life was over. Who would've guessed that after that trip to Marseille you roped me into, things would turn out like this?"
John's face softened at the memory, but then he turned serious. "By the way, about that care package you sent me—the lu-rong and gou-qi stuff—what the hell is that? Every time I take it, I feel like my whole body heats up."
Castle couldn't help but laugh again. He remembered the time he'd gone to Chinatown in Flushing and bought a box of traditional Chinese health supplements for John, claiming they were for improving stamina. The fact that John had faithfully taken the supplements, which were meant to "restore vitality" for middle-aged men, only made it funnier. No wonder Gianna had gotten pregnant so quickly.
But instead of explaining the specifics of deer antler, wolfberry, and yin-yang huo (horny goat weed), Castle simply gave John a mischievous grin and said, "Trust me, buddy. Those are great for a man's health."
John's expression shifted as understanding dawned, and Castle's knowing smirk confirmed his suspicions.
After a good laugh, the two finally got down to business.
"This time," Castle said, his tone serious, "I don't plan on involving the NYPD—not at the start, anyway. I want to use this opportunity to strike back at the Watanabe Consortium. We'll take care of these three ourselves, leave one alive as a witness, and then hand everything over to Benjamin to use against Japan.
"Jarvis already has them tracked, so... what do you say? Feel like playing?"
John raised an eyebrow. "Why not just take them out directly? Isn't all this 'cat and mouse' stuff just wasting time?"
Castle shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, it's not like they're much of a threat. They're already under 24/7 surveillance, and I know exactly what they're planning."
John sighed, recognizing Castle's tendency to overcomplicate things just for entertainment. Still, he couldn't deny that he was looking forward to it. After all, it wasn't every day that he got to blow off steam with his friend.
As for Castle, he wasn't worried about the assassins in the slightest. With Jarvis monitoring their every move and his Long Island estate fortified like a modern-day fortress, he could afford to take his time.
Castle's mind was already on the bigger picture—using this incident as a political weapon to weaken the Watanabe Consortium and Japan's influence in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the three assassins remained blissfully unaware that their every move was being watched. Thanks to Jarvis and Ramsey's God's Eye hacking tool, Castle had complete visibility into their so-called "safe house." It was only a matter of time before the hunters became the hunted.
For Castle and John, this wasn't just about survival—it was about sending a message. And for John, it was a chance to take a much-needed break from diapers and baby bottles.
The assassins had no idea what kind of game they had just walked into.
(End of Chapter)
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