Chapter 446: Power

Despite his political party's clear decision not to help him, Senator William Bracken was still unwilling to surrender. Of course, who would be willing to give up their powerful seat as a senator so easily? After tasting the sweet fruits of power, who would let go without a fight?

But the situation was undeniably unfavorable for him. How could he turn this around? Bracken stood in his office, deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Castle had no idea that his involvement with Northrop Grumman had pushed Senator Bracken to the brink of ruin. He was happily driving with Moz toward Gianna's estate on Long Island. First, he wanted to properly say goodbye to Gianna and John, who were soon returning to Rome. Second, he needed to transport the treasures hidden at Gianna's estate. Lastly, he planned to bring Fatty back to New York to help keep an eye on Senator Bracken for a while, just in case the desperate senator decided to do something reckless.

As Castle pulled into Gianna's large estate, the first thing he noticed was a large container truck parked in front of the main house. He figured it must have been the truck Gianna had arranged to transport the treasures. He sighed, realizing that after sending Moz and Fatty back to New York in his Mercedes, he'd have to drive the truck to a discreet location and store the treasures temporarily in his personal storage space. It dawned on him that he needed a place like Gianna's estate to store sensitive items. 

Otherwise, cramming everything into his personal space—even with its vast 1,000 cubic meters—would eventually run out of room. It was already packed with weapons, cash, and various other items, including a getaway car he'd stashed early on to protect his life.

The realization hit Castle: his recent confrontations with Bracken had made it clear that operating alone was starting to become overwhelming. It was time to establish his own network of power.

He also needed a safe house or something similar, as relying solely on himself was becoming impractical.

With these thoughts in mind, Castle reflected on his initial intention to bring John into his inner circle. After all, his system had originally suggested teaming up with John. Unfortunately, John had been tied down by Gianna ever since their trip to France, and with Gianna now expecting John's child, it seemed unlikely that John would return to join Castle in his escapades. However, Moz and Neal were still potential allies. Add to that Henry Morgan, the doctor who spent his days with Jo Martinez but never acted on his feelings, and Fatty, who was always up for something. It seemed plausible that Castle could form a discreet, hidden alliance.

As Castle's mind wandered, he finally pulled the car to a stop. John and a visibly pregnant Gianna were already standing in front of the main house, waiting for Castle and Moz. Castle pushed his thoughts aside, laughed heartily, and got out of the car to embrace his friends. After exchanging pleasantries, the four of them headed inside to catch up.

Once seated, Castle recounted the events of recent days, half-boasting and half-serious. After listening, Gianna, who had a wealth of political experience, couldn't help but express her admiration. "Rick, your plan to secure Northrop Grumman shares was brilliant. What's even more impressive is how you managed to align with the backers behind Senator Bracken's party. This move effectively ensures that even if his party wanted to come after you, they wouldn't dare."

She added, "Was this all part of your plan from the beginning? If so, I truly have to admire you!"

Castle chuckled sheepishly. "No, Gianna, you're giving me too much credit. You know me—most of the things I do are spur-of-the-moment decisions. I definitely didn't have such a detailed plan.

I designed the drone simply because I needed something to monitor Vincent Adler's movements. Who would've thought that Fatty flying it all over New York would catch the attention of General Atomics? Honestly, if they hadn't tried to kidnap Fatty, I might have worked with them instead of Northrop Grumman. But they crossed the line, so I chose Grumman.

Also, I've always loved the F-14 Tomcat, so partnering with them just made sense."

Moz burst into laughter at Castle's candidness. "Gianna, you didn't really think Rick was some master planner, did you? The Rick I know always makes it up as he goes along. Right, John?"

John, normally cold and serious, couldn't help but crack a smile as he thought back to Castle's half-baked revenge plot against the Tanasov family. "Yes, dear. If you say Rick is a good friend, I wholeheartedly agree. But as for being a meticulous planner? Let's just say that's not exactly his strength."

Castle, visibly hurt by his friends' jabs, protested. "Hey, what are you two talking about? Sure, I might not be a planner, but the results speak for themselves, don't they? You two better apologize!"

Gianna watched the three men bicker like boys and found it charming. Seeing John act like a normal person—showing emotions, arguing with friends—warmed her heart. Normally, John was so cold and detached, even with her. It was only because of her deep love for him that she could tolerate his introverted nature. Seeing him now, lighthearted and playful, brought her a sense of peace.

Eventually, Castle managed to out-talk both John and Moz with his shamelessness. While Moz was sharp-tongued, he couldn't quite keep up when paired with John, who was more of a deadweight in a verbal spar. If Neal were there, things might've gone differently, but Neal wasn't around this time.

After their playful banter, Castle shifted the conversation to more serious matters. "Gianna, I'm going to move the treasures from your basement soon. But before I do, I was thinking—why don't you, John, and Moz take a look through the collection? Especially those paintings. If there's anything you like, feel free to keep it. I remember after you returned those two paintings to the Bernard family, there were still nineteen left, along with some sculptures.

We've got pieces by Titian, Monet, and other masters. I don't particularly care for them, but if any of you do, go ahead and choose. It's not like we'll be able to sell them anytime soon."

Gianna didn't say much, but Moz immediately lit up with excitement. Of course, he was the most cultured of the group when it came to art. "Rick, are you serious?"

Castle laughed at Moz's eagerness. "Why would I joke about something like this? You know I have no real appreciation for art. These things hold no value to me at the moment since I can't even sell them. Why should I cling to them? If Neal were here, I'd let him pick something too."

Moz believed Castle's words. After all, he had seen even more incredible treasures at Adam's place, and he'd personally helped Castle deal with a Tutankhamun scepter. Knowing this, Moz had no reason to doubt Castle. The thought of having nineteen masterpieces to choose from made him restless. Seeing Moz's excitement, Castle told him to go ahead and pick a painting from the basement before they were packed up. He still had some things to discuss with Gianna.

What Castle wanted to discuss with Gianna was the idea that had been growing in his mind: now that he had enough financial backing, he was ready to start building his own private power.

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