Driving up to Gianna's estate, Richard Castle skillfully parked his car in front of the main house. The loyal butler, already waiting for him, stood with ten imposing bodyguards from Gianna's African training camp. After exchanging a friendly greeting with the butler, Castle was introduced to the group of bodyguards.
The leader, a burly man with a clear Slavic heritage, greeted Castle with a friendly smile. "Hello, Mr. Castle, my name is Ivan, but you can call me Big Ivan. I'm the leader of these two teams. Nice to meet you, sir!"
After being introduced to all ten bodyguards, Castle quickly realized how much Gianna and John had invested in his safety. These men were the cream of the crop from Gianna's African training camp. All of them were former Russian Spetsnaz (Signal Flag) operatives, not only highly skilled but also with years of working together, making them an unbeatable team.
Initially, Gianna had recruited these men as part of her own personal security force, but with John now at her side and the internal threat from her family, Santino, neutralized, their importance had lessened. When Castle reached out for help, Gianna decided to send the two five-man teams to New York to assist him.
Castle was intrigued when he learned that Big Ivan, standing nearly two meters tall, was a former major in the Signal Flag unit. He immediately invited Ivan to accompany him to the estate he was planning to purchase, chatting with him as they drove.
Seated in the back of the butler's SUV, Castle openly shared his situation with Big Ivan. He explained how he was originally just a writer but, due to a series of coincidences and his own curiosity, had found himself entangled with various enemies. Among them was the disgraced New York State Senator William Bracken, who had just been taken down by his girlfriend. Castle also mentioned how he had previously clashed with the infamous Brotherhood of Assassins, who had attempted to kill him just over a month ago but ended up being outwitted and eliminated by him. He added that he had a 16-year-old daughter and a 60-year-old mother, both of whom, despite having some protection, could become targets for revenge. This was why he needed additional security.
After patiently listening to Castle's story, Big Ivan asked directly, "Mr. Castle, how would you like us to operate? Should we split into two teams, one to protect your daughter and the other for your mother, or do you have a different plan in mind?"
Castle was taken aback by Ivan's straightforwardness, as well as by his casual dismissal of the Brotherhood of Assassins. Curious, Castle pressed Ivan for more details, and the bodyguard's response left him stunned.
"Mr. Castle, my team has encountered the so-called Brotherhood of Assassins before. They tried to eliminate an important person we were protecting, but we discovered their plan. I led my men to ambush the assassin. You were right to mention their unusual abilities, but we dealt with that assassin by cornering him in a building, then calling in armed helicopters. In the end, both the assassin and the building were reduced to rubble by thermobaric rockets."
Castle was left speechless, and even the butler driving the car stole a glance at them in the rearview mirror. Both men silently thought, "Of course, leave it to the Russians to solve problems with massive explosions. Why did I even bother asking?"
For a Russian force, trained to resolve hostage situations even if it meant sacrificing the hostages, Castle's question seemed pointless. He should've known the outcome: when in doubt, use firepower.
In reality, Castle no longer needed these two teams to protect his daughter and mother, as his recent conversations with Shawn had revealed that the number of covert protectors around them had already increased. It seemed Castle's father had taken additional measures to ensure his granddaughter's safety, not trusting Castle's risk-taking tendencies.
Since Castle was about to purchase an estate, he decided that it would be better to first observe Big Ivan and his men. If they proved trustworthy, he would assign them more permanent roles. For now, though, they could guard the estate he was about to acquire.
Castle was upfront with Ivan, explaining that while he was buying an estate, it currently lacked the personnel to maintain and protect it. He proposed that Ivan and his team temporarily manage the security of the estate while Castle evaluated their performance. He also clarified their salaries: each bodyguard would receive $150,000 annually, while Ivan, as the leader, would earn $250,000. Ivan quickly accepted the arrangement, pleased with the generous offer and understanding that trust would need to be built over time.
Watching over a peaceful estate on Long Island, especially when there were likely to be few disturbances, seemed like an easy job for the ex-Special Forces team. Ivan was delighted at the prospect of making such a high salary without the danger of combat.
As they continued their conversation, the butler pulled up to the entrance of the estate that was for sale. The property wasn't far from Gianna's, and as Castle stood at the gate of the estate, which was noticeably smaller than hers, the butler began the tour. "Mr. Castle, this estate was purchased by a Wall Street investor five years ago. However, due to the recent financial crisis, he's suffered significant losses and has decided to sell. The estate covers 12 acres and includes a private beachfront. There are six buildings on the property: the main house, a garage, a servant's house, a tool shed, and two small guest villas, which could be used to house your bodyguards in the future."
He continued, "Let me show you around. If you're interested, you might need to do some renovation and furnish the place, but I can help you with that."
Castle, accompanied by the butler and Ivan, spent the entire morning exploring the estate. He frequently asked Ivan for advice, particularly regarding the security of the property. Ivan, now fully in his element, provided several suggestions, earning Castle's respect for his professionalism.
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