The once cold and ruthless suit-clad assassin had become a gentle and obedient man after a few months of domestic life. John Wick, still impeccably dressed in his suit with slicked-back hair, no longer wore the grim expression of the past. Smiling tenderly at Gianna, who was carrying his child, John said, "I don't know what Rick has been up to lately. It's as if he suddenly discovered some extraordinary talent, pulling off one major event after another. Last night, he told me in detail about recent happenings. Our writer friend seems to have completely let loose."
Gianna took a sip of her juice, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Oh? How so?"
Seeing his woman's interest piqued and knowing they had plenty of flight time, John didn't hold back and relayed the details Castle had shared the previous night, including Castle's recent trip to Brazil. "You wouldn't believe it, but Rick went to Brazil just to watch the chaos unfold. Hernan Reyes probably never realized that it wasn't some random street gang or a federal agent who caused his downfall, but Rick, who thrives on stirring up trouble."
After hearing John recount Castle's antics in Brazil, Gianna laughed until tears streamed down her face. She hadn't expected Castle to be such a character. After her laughter subsided, Gianna seriously remarked, "You know, I actually know the Hernan Reyes you mentioned. When the High Table considered opening a Continental branch in Brazil, they looked into this influential local figure. Ultimately, they decided against partnering with him due to various reasons. In hindsight, it was a good decision. Otherwise, Rick would have been directly up against the High Table. What else has Rick been up to? Why are we bringing aerospace experts to New York? Is this also because of Rick?"
John sighed and poured himself a drink before continuing, "Yes, after returning to New York, Rick didn't stay quiet and created two remarkable drones. Yesterday, there was a serious explosion and robbery in New York. The Federal Reserve's vault on Wall Street was blown open, and a hundred tons of gold were taken. Such a big event, how could Rick not get involved? Because of the frequent use of his drones over New York, Rick and his hacker friend caught the attention of a company supplying drones to the U.S. military. Last night, the hacker friend was kidnapped by General Atomics, desperate to get their hands on the technology. Luckily, Rick acted quickly and rescued him. Concerned that General Atomics might persist, Rick asked to use your estate as a safe haven for his friend."
Gianna, ever perceptive, quickly picked up on the issue. "So that's why you insisted on bringing the technical director from our aerospace company? Is there something special about Rick's drones?"
John nodded with a wry smile. "Yes, according to Rick, the source code he wrote for those drones' flight control systems is far more advanced than any current or in-development military drones. That's why General Atomics was desperate enough to resort to kidnapping. Upon learning about your involvement in the aerospace industry, Rick suggested I bring your company's experts to New York. He plans to meet with Northrop Grumman this afternoon to discuss collaboration on his drones. If your company wants a piece of the pie, we'll need to put on a show and make sure Northrop Grumman doesn't think they're Rick's only hope."
Gianna nodded thoughtfully but didn't immediately agree. She needed to see Rick's drones firsthand. As a friend, Castle was one hundred percent reliable, but his sudden shift from writing to engineering was hard to believe. She decided to reserve judgment until she saw the drones.
In the meantime, the plane's rear cabin housed her company's technical director and staff, whose purpose was to assess Rick's drones. There was no need for Gianna to worry until they reached New York.
Smiling at her partner, Gianna said, "No matter what Rick is up to, let's treat this as a vacation to New York. After all, I've seen how restless you've been these past months in Rome. We'll consider it a holiday and help Rick if needed. Taking care of his friend is a small matter."
Seeing Gianna's cheerful demeanor, John hesitated. Her attention caught, she asked, "What's wrong?"
John sighed, looking pained. "What I told you was minor. Last night, Rick told me a significant secret. I've been dreading how to tell you."
For something to trouble the fearless John Wick, Gianna's curiosity was piqued. "What could be so serious? This doesn't seem like the John Wick I know!"
John, looking distressed, began explaining. "Rick didn't initially plan for me to return to New York. He just wanted to borrow the estate. He intended to hire a group of retired CIA agents for security. But then he told me something that made me decide to come back myself."
Gianna's eyes gleamed with curiosity, urging John to continue.
John, always straightforward, detailed how Castle and the notorious art thief Neal Caffrey planned to con Vincent Adler. He recounted the discovery of a sunken German WWII submarine loaded with looted art, hidden off the coast of New York. Rick and Neal planned to hijack Adler's recovery operation.
"Wow," Gianna exclaimed, standing up in excitement. "A submarine full of Nazi-looted art? Rick and Neal plan to hijack it after Adler retrieves it? That's incredible!"
Seeing her so animated, John couldn't help but smile wryly. He knew this news would thrill the restless Gianna, but he hadn't expected such a reaction.
Gianna was indeed excited. After all, she had been confined for months, protected by the D'Antonio family like a national treasure due to her pregnancy. Learning about such a thrilling plot was a breath of fresh air. Moreover, the submarine's treasure was enormous, enough to captivate anyone. Knowing Rick had openly shared this with John indicated trust and a potential partnership.
It was clear Rick didn't mind sharing the treasure, knowing John would involve Gianna. With the D'Antonio family's resources, Rick and Neal would need their help to secure the treasure.
Gianna, her mind racing with possibilities, realized this also meant ensuring the safety of Rick's friend wasn't just Castle's responsibility but the D'Antonio family's too. Compared to the treasure, protecting the chubby guy was a minor task. She decided to send a team from Rome to New York for additional security.
With that resolved, Gianna, smiling at her partner, felt ready to face whatever awaited them in New York, excited about the adventures ahead.
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