Chapter 50. Bad Mood
“Shoot. What did Cooper promise in return?"
"Cooper is going to give me a project to procure official cars for police officers in Georgia."
"I think Cooper knows the most effective way to get your attention. So, everything you did in front of me that night was a lie? Fake charade?”
Although reluctant to admit it, Gideon nodded faintly.
"It was all Cooper's plan. He told me to keep you there as long as possible to give his assassins time before killing you."
"They almost pulled it off. Cooper must be so disappointed that you failed."
"He promised me he would give me the project, whether the assassination failed or succeeded."
Logan stood up and walked over to Gideon. He towered over him. Logan pressed the muzzle of his Glock against Gideon's temple, which was throbbing with fear.
"I could kill you right now to pay for what you did to me."
“P-please, let me go. I've told you everything," Gideon stammered.
If Logan pulled the trigger and shot him in the head, he would die with a hole in his head. But Logan didn't want the last thing he saw to be his brains all over the floor.
“Tell me if you can be of use to me or not?”
Logan crouched down and slapped Gideon’s bruised cheek hard. The pain was excruciating. Gideon clenched his jaw, to keep from letting out a loud, painful scream.
“Cooper has a secret,” Gideon shouted quickly.
He was a little relieved because he could keep his life a little longer. Logan was interested in the information he had about Cooper.
“Cooper is not married. His daughter, not his biological child."
"How do you know? There is no mercy for a liar. So, don't try to lie to me."
Logan pressed the muzzle of his gun to Gideon's temple, which was throbbing rapidly. He was scared.
“T-that's the truth. I heard it from someone who used to work for Cooper."
"Who was that person?"
"I can't tell you. I heard you used to date Cooper's daughter."
Logan's face turned grim. His feelings for Brittany may have faded, but he never liked it when people brought up old wounds. It took years for the wound of Brittany's death to heal. He didn't want it to affect him anymore.
“You've crossed the line, Gideon. All the things you say are just worthless bullshit. You'd better die."
“W-wait. I will do anything for you. I absolutely will.”
"Can I keep your word?"
"Of course. You can take my word. I'll be your spy to frame Cooper. I still have a good relationship with him.”
“Hmm… an interesting offer. But I'm not interested anymore now. I have better spies out there. Kill him."
The burly men beat Gideon repeatedly without mercy. The sound of bones cracking echoed throughout the room. His battered body fell to the floor. He was breathing heavily through his torn nostrils. His lungs constricted and hurt like every oxygen he breathed contained tiny needles that hurt his lungs.
While Logan was busy watching his men beat Gideon, his cell phone suddenly rang loudly. He picked up the call on the second ring after he read Betty's name on the screen.
"What's wrong, Betty?"
"Riley is missing."
Logan's face darkened. Black clouds seemed to be clumping around his body, which looked as stiff as a tree trunk.
"Have you tried looking for her in every corner of the house? She might be hiding."
"She's not hiding. I can't find her anywhere. Riley ran away from this house."
Logan's palms clenched inside his pants pockets. That was really bad news in the midst of his very bad mood.
"How could she escape? The gate is always locked."
"Jacob and Kaella went shopping today. I think Riley slipped out when they went to the market. Now, Jacob is trying to find her."
"When did you start noticing that she was missing?"
No answer. All that could be heard on the phone was Betty's heavy breathing.
"Answer me, Betty!"
"Two hours ago. I was going to tell her that lunch was ready, but she disappeared."
"Why did you just tell me now?" Logan scolded her harshly. The veins in his temples bulged and throbbed.
“Her trail must be cold, and she’ll be harder to find. If she met someone on the way, she could have hitched a ride anywhere.”
“I think she has someone to help her. Riley can't escape from your house alone without someone's help.”
Logan paused to think. Someone who might help Riley was Wren. Only Wren had the ambition to keep Riley away from him.
“Someone in my house must have helped her. She can't get through that gate without activating the alarm. Only Jacob has access to turn off the alarm besides me. And did you say Jacob was looking for Riley?”
"Yes. He left half an hour ago."
“He may not have gone to find Riley, but he will take Riley away from this town. What car did Jacob use?”
"A van. He had just come home from shopping when he found out that Riley was missing.”
“Watch everyone in the house, Betty. I will find Riley soon.”
Logan squeezed his phone tightly. Anger rumbled in his chest. He threw his phone against the wall and let the shards scatter on the floor. He then walked hastily over to Gideon and grabbed his collar roughly. He beat Gideon blindly until Gideon fell unconscious on the floor.
“Go find Riley in every corner of this city. Find her. Bring her alive. Don't hurt her even an inch because I'll be the one to punish her. Do you understand?" Logan snapped harshly.
The men nodded in understanding and hurried out of Logan’s room.
Disturbing Logan while he was angry was a fatal mistake. They should get away from Logan’s office and do what they had to do before a table or chair was thrown at their faces.