Castle couldn't help but find it amusing. The once fearsome John Wick and the commanding Gianna D'Antonio now resembled overprotective grandparents from Castle's past life. They treated their little Onona like a fragile treasure—so delicate she might dissolve in their hands.
Castle had no doubt that Onona was deeply valued by Gianna's father, the "Old Lion" of the D'Antonio family. This little girl, carrying the hopes of an entire dynasty, was cherished like no other. However, because John and Gianna adored her so much—and because her existence had been such an unexpected blessing—they had ended up in a classic case of "can't see the forest for the trees."
These two, brilliant in their respective fields, were fumbling at parenting in a way that reminded Castle of comedic parenting videos he'd watched on Bilibili in his past life.
Of course, Castle knew that Onona's future was already planned down to the finest detail. By the time she turned three, her elite education would be underway. Gianna, with her wealth and power, had meticulously designed an education plan befitting a child born with a proverbial golden spoon in her mouth.
It didn't matter whether Onona would eventually inherit the D'Antonio family's empire. Whether or not she followed in her mother's footsteps as the next family leader, John and Gianna would ensure she received the best upbringing possible.
But for now, they needed to learn to let go a little. At this age, Onona needed to explore the world on her own, even if only within the safety of her home. Letting her satisfy her curiosity and learn through exploration was the right approach.
John and Gianna were both intelligent, and it didn't take long for Castle's perspective to resonate with them.
Gianna, however, still seemed hesitant. "Rick, I get what you're saying about giving her space, and I know it's the right thing to do... but she's still so small! If John and I really go through with this, we'll need to upgrade the surveillance system at home.
"That way, even if we step back and let her explore on her own, we can ensure she's absolutely safe."
Castle immediately understood. "I get what you're worried about, Gianna. Here's what I suggest: upgrade your surveillance system to better monitor her movements. That way, you and John can focus on other things while still ensuring she's safe.
"Start by letting her explore the house freely. She'll gradually learn to navigate her environment, and you'll be right there to step in if needed.
"Here's an interesting observation: have you noticed that when she falls in front of you, she cries like the world is ending? But if she falls when no one's watching, she just cries a bit, picks herself up, and keeps playing?"
Gianna was surprised by this revelation and immediately turned to John for confirmation.
John nodded. "Remember when Rick had me bring her along on those walks around New York? There were a few times she tripped while we were out. If I was nearby, she'd cry loudly and wait for me to pick her up.
"But when she thought no one was watching, she'd just sniffle, stand up, and keep going. At the time, I didn't think much of it—Rick didn't explain it either. I was too busy feeling sorry for her to notice the pattern."
Gianna rolled her eyes, half amused, half exasperated. "You, Mr. Baba Yaga, who used to take lives without a second thought, are now so softhearted you can't even let her scrape a knee without losing your mind? If I hadn't seen it myself, I'd never believe it."
Castle laughed. "It's normal, Gianna. You two love her so much that you've ended up overcompensating. But now that you've realized what's happening, you can adjust. You're both smart—you'll figure it out."
The three of them spent the rest of the morning discussing Onona's upbringing. For these three, nothing—not even the ongoing drama with Duhoviche—was more important than the future of this little girl.
Meanwhile, Onona was blissfully unaware of the serious discussions about her future. She was busy chasing the family's massive Caucasian shepherd dogs, with the help of the equally massive Ivan. Her peals of laughter filled the air as she treated the dogs as her personal fluffy toys.
At the same time, miles away, Michael Kincaid had just completed an assignment for Duhoviche and received another order.
The former Zeus—now Kincaid—had firmly settled into his new identity as a hitman. Despite his personal code of not harming the innocent, his recent assignments had involved targeting Duhoviche's enemies and traitors, none of whom were particularly clean.
However, Kincaid, preoccupied with carrying out his contracts, hadn't been paying attention to the global news. He had no idea that Duhoviche had become an international pariah or that his own actions were slowly pulling him into a deeper trap.
Since adopting the name Kincaid and shaving his head, he'd discovered an unexpected talent for assassination. His sharp mind and decent combat skills gave him a unique edge in South America, a region dominated by brute-force hitmen. In a short time, he had built a reputation for himself and even attracted clients from as far away as Eastern Europe.
That's how he ended up working for Duhoviche. And as if things couldn't get any better, he'd recently met someone—a younger, fiery woman who had somehow filled the void left by Belle.
Unlike Belle, who had been drawn to the thrill of working with the CIA, this new woman was crass, bold, and unapologetically wild. She fought like a brawler and had a mouth to match, but Kincaid found her impossible to resist. Before leaving for Eastern Europe, he had already won her over and secured her affections.
Back in Eastern Europe, Duhoviche was growing increasingly desperate. As global condemnation mounted and his nation teetered on the brink of rebellion, he doubled down on eliminating his enemies.
Kincaid's efficiency had impressed him, and the hitman quickly became his go-to weapon. Duhoviche's latest orders expanded the target list, giving Kincaid more work—and unknowingly pulling him deeper into the political storm.
Blissfully unaware of the full extent of Duhoviche's crimes or the international attention on his client, Kincaid focused on completing his assignments.
But for how long could he remain in the dark?
As Duhoviche's regime crumbled and international forces closed in, Kincaid would soon find himself in a perilous situation. For now, though, he was content—living the high life, collecting paychecks, and enjoying his new romance.
Little did he know, the deeper he sank into this web, the harder it would be to escape.
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