Who's ready to see Antonio settle business with Ashley Linden? Continuing from It's Amore - Chapter 10.

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Chapter 15:

21st January 2012

Chelsea, Brooklyn

1430 Hours

Antonio walked into the warehouse with a smile on his face, it looked to be an evil smile indicating that Ashley was about to get his come-uppance.

Ashley backed away in a little bit of fear as he said, "Hey… hey bro. Let's not get too crazy. Whatever I did… it's not real."

"Don't call me bro. You've caused me a great deal of trouble. But to hear you stalkin' Alexis, taking nude pictures of her and stalking myself as well. You're lucky I haven't brought a bat so that I'd be able to beat your ass in." Antonio growled.

Joe stood behind Antonio peeling an orange in his hand. Ashley looked behind Antonio as he asked, "Joe, a little help here?"

Joe shook his head, "You think I'm helpin' ya… You got another think comin' kid."

Ashley stared at Antonio in disbelief who tightened his fists into balls. He then thought to himself, "Oh this isn't good."

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Antonio took his jacket off and rolled his sleeves up. The gun holster that was on his shoulders hung loosely as Antonio unclipped the gun and held it out for Joe who had taken it.

Antonio raised a fist and smashed it into Ashley's face. He then punched Ashley several more times causing him pain all around.

Ashley tried to raise a hand to punch Antonio but he had anticipated this tactic and lifted him up over him and dropped Ashley onto the ground who groaned and coughed up a little blood.

Joe then handed Antonio his gun back as he held a smirk on his face. Antonio then took a knee as he said, "Now, you should know for the rules about sneaking peeks at ladies in their underwear. It's crude and disrespectful."

Antonio then pulled the hammer back on his gun as he then said, "I'm gonna offer you a three-strike opportunity. If I hear another incident of you goin' around stalkin' Alexis, you lose a strike. If you break those three-strikes, your life's forfeit."

He stood back up and put his gun back in the holster, he put his jacket on and turned to Joe saying, "Take him to the Doctor. Don't scare the kid about who he is."

"I wouldn't do such a thin'." Joe replied. He then noticed Antonio staring at his phone as he said, "That Alexis?"

"Yeah, she's invited me to dinner tonight with her, her dad and Kate Beckett." Antonio explained. Joe smirked, "Good luck kid. You might want to spray before meetin' the family."

Antonio chuckled, "Yeah, I'll do that when I get home." He then sobered asking, "You goin' to see her?"

Joe nodded, "Yeah. Yeah, I'm goin' to see her. I don't know how to tell Natalia 'bout her. Only Jameson knew 'bout her."

"It's not easy to let go of the one person you were ready to spend the rest of your life with. I mean Claudette understood that this is who you are. What you do. Natalia's family know what it's like to lose people they care about." Antonio replied.

"Thanks kid." Joe replied. Antonio nodded as he headed off home.

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Antonio drove quickly heading back Wakefield Drive. He then slid out of his shoes, took off his suit and skated into the bathtub quickly.

After being in the bathtub for nearly 3 hours, he then got out and readied himself, he dressed in a white dress shirt, blue tie and a black suit jacket. He headed out the door clutching his shoulder gun holster and put it on underneath his jacket.

He got into his '47 Beige Convertible and drove off for Manhattan. He looked down at the message he received from Alexis inviting him to Dinner.

"Blue Ribbon Brasserie, 7:15. See you soon, doll."

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After driving through Brooklyn and arriving at the Blue Ribbon Brasserie for 0710 hours.

Antonio parked the car, he turned the engine off, he dove into the glove compartment and pulled out his MEU (SOC) pistol from the glove compartment. He pulled out a clip from jacket pocket and loaded it in cocking the pistol back.

Antonio put it in his holster, he got out of the car and did a button up on his jacket. he straightened his cufflinks and began to walk to the restaurant.

He walked in seeing the mood lighting of the restaurant. He smiled as he had then said, "Good evening sir, do you have a table?"

"I believe a table is set in the name of Castle. A party of 4. I might be early." Antonio said.

"Just in the middle, sir." The waiter said.

Antonio nodded as he walked for a little bit and saw Alexis walking towards him. Alexis was wearing a red blouse with a red skirt, her red hair naturally curled.

Alexis walked over as she kissed him on the cheek before saying, "Hi, handsome."

"Hello gorgeous." Antonio said softly.

The pair walked to the table as Castle got up to greet Antonio who had said, "Antonio, a pleasure to meet you."

"You as well Mr Castle. An honor to meet you." Antonio said as he shook Castle's hand.

Kate Beckett stood up as Antonio shared a widening smile with her as he said, "Hi Kate. You look lovely as always." "Careful 'Tonio. Don't wanna make your girl jealous." Kate teased.

Antonio chuckled, "I never had that intention to make her jealous."

Antonio undid his buttoned jacket as he pulled out a chair for Alexis. He then sat down next to her as she laced her fingers together with his.

Kate noticed the togetherness of both Alexis and Antonio, she smiled at the way they stood close to each other, their love was something, something magical in her eyes.

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Everybody had ordered drinks as Antonio ordered a bottle of beer, Alexis and Kate ordered a glass of wine. Castle ordered a beer as well.

Castle then started, "So Antonio, Alexis tells me you grew up in Staten Island, is that right?" "Yes, Mr Castle. I was raised there but I was born in Brooklyn. My Dad was a 10-year veteran of the Marines, a staff sergeant. In 2000, he joined the FDNY he's a Lieutenant on Rescue 1. He has dedicated his life to defending his country and this city. I'm following in our family's footsteps."

"What does your mother do?" Castle asked carefully.

Antonio shook his head, "I heard last that she was a lawyer. She divorced my Dad when I was 14, she disliked the fact that he had put protecting his city ahead of spending time with us. I knew he did everything to make sure that we stayed safe. I don't hate my Dad for putting this city first before us."

Castle nodded before saying, "You knew Alexis lost her mother at a young age because we divorced." "Yes sir, we told each other small parts of our life stories. When we were getting to know each other."

"I'm curious about your family. Tell me a little about them." Castle asked generally interested.

Antonio laughed softly, "I have 6 cousins, Giuseppe, John are the oldest, then there's Marco, Salvatore, Luigi and Joe. We're fairly close in age. My cousin Luigi was killed in action May 2011. He was overseas in the Navy SEALs."

"Sorry to hear about your cousin. I'm sure he was a good man." Castle replied. Antonio nodded, "Thank you. Luigi was a good man; he held the world on his shoulders like all of us. He never gave up on his brothers in arms and we never gave up on him."

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The small party had ordered something to eat as Castle took the opportunity to head for the restroom. Antonio, Kate and Alexis stayed at the table as Kate then said, "I'll admit, you guys are the cutest people together."

Antonio smiled widely before saying, "I really love her Kate. I don't want to lose somebody that means a lot to me."

Alexis silently awed at Antonio's words; she batted her eyelashes to prevent tears from pouring out.

Kate smiled to say, "I'm proud of you buddy. Alexis is a lucky girl to have you."

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Boom!

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out as most customers started to scream. Antonio, Kate and Alexis ducked.

"All the money in the registers in the bag now! Make a move and you die!" somebody had shouted out.

Antonio looked up from cover, he could see 3 robbers, one female, 2 males.

Antonio's military training had kicked in, he pulled out his 45. Pistol and pulled it slightly, the bullet in the chamber still there. He pulled the hammer back as he called to Kate quietly, "Got your sidearm?" "Never leave without it." Kate said pulling the chamber slightly back.

Antonio signalled to Kate to flank left and he flanked right. Kate nodded as she saw him signal to Alexis, "Stay down."

Antonio moved quietly on the right hoping to get the drop on the two males. The barmen were diligently putting all the money in the registers as the female robber who was behaving erratically made sure that everybody had kept their heads down.

Antonio moved quickly but kept low in order to avoid detection.

Kate moved slowly as she found her target pointing her gun at the female robber, she then called out, "NYPD, DROP YOUR GUNS!"

Antonio popped out of cover and moved to the closest robber and grabbed him in a hostage position as he shouted, "DROP THE WEAPONS ON THE GROUND NOW!"

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The male robbers looked stunned as Antonio held his gun on the robber as he said, "Guns on the deck, now!"

"Not a chance in hell!" the 2nd robber shouted. Antonio didn't flinch as the robber said, "3 on 2. You got terrible odds on your side."

"Wanna bet?" Antonio smirked as he said, "Look at your hand."

Soon a red beam appeared on the man's hand as he looked on in shock. Antonio then said, "How are those odds, now?"

The moment became tense as the lead robber gulped before saying, "Lower your weapons. We're outgunned."

The robbers dropped their guns onto the ground slowly as Kate smirked calling it in.

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2 hours later, the police had arrived. Kate Beckett was briefing her captain. Antonio and Alexis stood by each other as Esposito then said, "Hey Little Castle. You okay?"

"I'm okay. I was just thankful for Antonio and Kate's intervention." Alexis replied.

Antonio shrugged it off, "It was nothing. Just felt the need to react."

Esposito patted Antonio on the shoulder, "That wasn't it. You've got a loyalty to the people you swore to protect. The oath that every soldier takes, you still hear it in your ears, the call of duty."

Antonio nods as he says, "I've always heard the call for duty." "Hoo-ah, brother." Esposito held out his hand for a handshake.

"Ooh-rah, brother." Antonio said as he accepted it and it turned into a strong handshake.

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After the police had left with all the information they had. The small party had left the restaurant. Antonio had taken Alexis to Central Park for a little bit of fresh air they had stopped at the bridge in Central Park just above the riverbank.

Alexis had then said, "That was brave of you tonight."

"Just doing what I had done overseas. Except I was up against trained strangers." Antonio replied. Alexis then asked, "You weren't scared?"

Antonio shook his head, "I was afraid of civilian casualties inside the restaurant. I had to protect you in that process."

"The Marine in you, I never noticed how quickly you go from lovable and charming to a battle-hardened veteran." Alexis said.

Antonio put his hands behind his back as he said, "My war, it never ends. This is what I do, who I am."

"I'll always be this US Marine; I'll always be the guy who'll never stop going to war." Antonio said. Alexis nodded, "No matter what, I'll always be with you. You're the sun, the light in my mornings. No matter what, you'll always be my love."

"I will love you forever, Alexis." Antonio replied as he moved to kiss her passionately, she then wraps her arms round him, running her hand behind the back of his head. She stops the kiss as she whispers in his ear, "I will love you forever as well, my darling."

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I hope you guys all enjoyed this chapter.

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