Chapter 447: Bodyguards

After Moz happily followed John down to the basement, Richard Castle turned to Gianna with a serious expression and shared his thoughts: "Gianna, I know you have a very secret training base in Africa. I need some manpower!"

"After this recent incident, I realized that relying on just one person is too limiting. There are many things that become inconvenient. If I had enough people on hand this time, things wouldn't have been as difficult. It would have been much easier."

Gianna smiled at Castle's words. "Rick, the people in my African training camp were initially gathered to protect myself from Santino's tricks, not for offensive purposes like you're imagining. Most of them were trained as bodyguards. Now that Santino has completely surrendered, we've shifted focus, and my family has taken over the camp. Even if you wanted to build up your own personal force, there's no need to pull from there, is there?"

"I remember you have a close relationship with the 'Elder' from the High Table. Why not ask him to provide you with a team?"

Gianna wasn't refusing Castle's request but wanted to remind him that her decision to send her bodyguard Cassian to train a group in Africa was solely to guard against her brother, Santino. After Santino gave up on the family head position, she had handed the camp over to her family. Now, Gianna, pregnant and focused on her unborn baby, hadn't concerned herself with those matters for a long time. As Castle's friend, she didn't mind helping out, but she needed to set expectations.

Castle didn't feel that Gianna's words were out of line. He was there to discuss the matter openly. "I know your bodyguard went to Africa to train more security forces, and that's exactly what I need right now. You're right, I have connections with the upper echelons of the High Table, and I haven't abandoned those ties. I do plan to seek help from them, but I still want to bolster my own security."

"You don't know this, but even though Beckett has taken down Senator William Bracken, there are still a lot of hidden dangers. There's also an urgent matter involving Neal."

Gianna was curious as to why Castle brought up Neal at this time. Before she could ask, Castle revealed the truth. "Neal is currently in Rhode Island visiting an aunt who raised him. When he returns to New York, he plans to seek revenge on the person who framed his father. According to my intel, Neal's enemy is another senator from New York State. There's no way I can stand by and do nothing when Neal takes action. But having already dealt with one senator, stepping into a feud with another one... what about my family?"

"This senator is no fool like Bracken. Senator Pratt is far more cunning. If he decides to retaliate against my family, I don't have enough people to protect them right now."

Castle's words were partly true and partly exaggerated. Since his reconciliation with his father, Sean, in France, Sean had secretly stationed guards around Castle's mother, Martha, and his daughter, Alexis. Gianna, however, didn't know this. Castle was playing the family card, pulling out all stops to build his own force.

Gianna was both surprised and amused by the shocking secret Castle revealed. What? You just took down one New York senator and now you're targeting the only other one left?

And then there was the strange irony of Castle's connections. His girlfriend had a blood feud with one New York senator, and now one of his closest friends was seeking revenge on another. Was Castle destined to be a senator's bane?

Gianna, always warm and welcoming toward Castle, couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Rick, you're not serious, right? Neal's enemy is the only other senator left in New York?"

Castle nodded seriously. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm thinking. I want to pull two groups of bodyguards from your training camp to protect my mother and daughter. As for the offensive force, I plan to contact the mercenary team I met in Paris. That way, I'll have enough manpower to protect myself during Neal's revenge."

Gianna was both exasperated and amused by Castle's sincerity. She didn't feel like rejecting him. Besides, based on Castle's usual behavior, she knew that if she gave him two bodyguard teams, he wouldn't mistreat those tasked with protecting his family. She also wasn't worried about Castle having any wild ambitions. He was notoriously lazy and wouldn't cause trouble.

Before Gianna could agree, Castle continued. "You know, I recently acquired a 1% stake in Northrop Grumman. Even though my drone designs and semi-automated flight control system are worth more than that, I've still gained the company's strong support. I've even been appointed as a consultant in their aerospace division. While my own safety is assured, I'm worried someone might target my family, which is why I'm asking for your help!"

Gianna had no choice but to agree at this point. The decisive big sister didn't hesitate any longer and nodded. "Fine, no problem. I'll notify the camp in Africa to send you two teams of bodyguards."

Castle smiled. "Thank you..."

After the serious conversation, Gianna became interested in gossiping about Castle and Beckett's relationship. Castle, in turn, became quite animated. The two chatted and laughed until Moz, escorted by John, returned with the painting he had selected. Even then, Castle and the pregnant Gianna were still gossiping happily.

John signaled to Castle that he had arranged for the treasure in the basement to be packed up and loaded into a container truck waiting outside. Given the friendship between John and Castle, a simple notification was enough; no further discussion was needed. One trusted the other with billions of dollars' worth of treasure, and the other didn't bother to question its value. To John, this treasure paled in comparison to his friendship with Castle.

After all, Castle had pulled him from the depths of despair, helped him find happiness, and even paved the way for him to meet Gianna, his true love. This treasure, no matter how valuable, could never compare to that.

Gianna, too, was grateful to Castle, not just for reuniting her with John but also for saving her from a bloody family conflict. While the treasure in the basement was tempting, both she and John valued their friendship with Castle far more.

Gianna didn't tell John or Moz what she and Castle had discussed. Instead, she happily instructed her butler to prepare a feast for lunch. She and John would be leaving New York for Rome the next day, and it might be a long time before she returned. Now five months pregnant, Gianna knew she wouldn't be back until after her baby was born. Her time in New York had been relaxing, and she had grown quite fond of Moz and the chubby little guy. She was reluctant to leave.

A grand lunch was necessary, and she also needed to wake up the "little brother" who had stayed up all night and was still fast asleep...

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