NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4
The next day dawned bright and clear, the kind of morning that promised an uneventful and boring day for most. But for Logan Mason, it would be anything but ordinary.
Logan was in the back seat of his luxury car, scrolling through his phone as Liam sat beside the driver in the front. They were headed to a remote location for a high profile photoshoot.
"Logan, I confirmed the shoot starts at-" Liam began, but Logan cut him off with a dismissive wave.
"Don't micromanage, Liam. It's annoying," Logan said coolly, not even looking up from his phone.
Liam sighed, muttering something under his breath, but Logan didn't care. He was used to the world bending to his boss whims, and today was no different. Or so he thought.
As they turned into an empty stretch of road, the driver slammed on the breaks. The car skidded to a halt, and Logan's head snapped up.
"What the hell—"
Before he could finish, a group masked men emerged from the surrounding trees, guns raised.
"Out of the car! Now!" one of them barked.
Liam froze, his face pale, but Logan's expression remained as indifferent as ever.
"Do you know who I'm?" Logan asked, his tone bored, as if these men were mere nuisances interrupting his day.
The leader of the group stepped forward and yanked the car door open, grabbing Logan by the collar.
"You're coming with us," the man growled.
Logan's lips curled into a smirk. "If this is about money, you're wasting your time. I'm not the one who negotiates my paychecks."
The man's grip tightened, and Logan was pulled roughly out of the car. Liam started a protest, but one of the men showed him back into the vehicle.
"Stay out of this if you value your life," the man warned.
Logan, meanwhile, stood tall despite the guns pointed at him. He straightened his jacket, his movements slow and deliberate. "You are making a mistake, little boy. This won't end well for you."
The leader hissed as he angrily shoved Logan into the waiting van.
Logan didn't resist, but his cold and arrogant demeanor didn't falter. As the van's doors slammed shut behind him, he glanced at his captors with a look of utter disdain.
"Let me guess," he said dryly. "You're working for someone who's holding a grudge. Let me save you some time: you guys aren't the first, and won't be the last."
The men exchanged uneasy glances, but their leader remained stone faces. "Shut up."
Logan leaned back against the van's wall, his smirk still in place. "You'll regret this. Everyone does."
As the van sped off, Logan's arrogance didn't waver, but deep down, a flicker of unease crept into his mind. This wasn't just another publicity stunt gone wrong.
And he had a feeling that whoever was behind this wouldn't be swayed by his usual charm.
***
Carlos Moretti sat in his sprawling estate, a glass of whiskey in hand, as the sound of footsteps echoed down the marble hall. His men had returned, and from the way to they shuffled nervously, he could tell they had brought Logan Mason.
"Bring him in," Carlos ordered, his voice calm but laced with menace.
Two of his guards dragged Logan into the room, his hands bound tightly behind his back. Despite his disheveled appearance, Logan carried himself with the same arrogance as always, his piercing gaze scanning the room with an air of indifference.
Carlos leaned back in his chair, studying Logan like an hawk. "Look who we have here, isn't it the great Logan Mason?", he said, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "National heartthrob, the man every woman wants and every man envies."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "I know I'm popular, I don't remember asking for a reminder. And you must be the insecure mafia boss who thinks kidnapping me will change that."
The room went silent. The guards exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how Carlos would react. But Carlos merely chuckled, swirling his whiskey.
"You've got guts," he said, his tone amused. "I'll give you that."
Logan shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk. "Guts, charm, looks, wealth, you name it. Now, if you're done with the compliments, maybe you can explain why I'm here."
Carlos's amusement faded, and his expression hardened. He set his glass down with a loud clink.
"My sister, Samantha," he asked coldly. "Ring any bells?"
Logan's smile widened. "Ah, yes. The desperate actress who thought batting her eyelashes at me would get her a date or let her climb my bed."
Carlos jaws tightened, but he kept his composure. "She's my family. And I don't take it lightly when someone disrespects my family."
Logan leaned forward slightly, his confidence unwavering. "Look, Carlos, or whatever your name is, I don't have time for your family drama. Your sister was embarrassing herself, and I didn't feel like indulging her delusions. End of story."
Carlos slammed his fist on the desk angrily, making everyone in the room flinch, everyone except Logan, who was looking at him like he was some idiot.
"End of story?" Carlos snared. "You think you can humiliate my sister and walk away unscathed? You're in my world now, Mason. And in my world, actions have consequences."
"Logan's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "And what exactly do you plan to do? Kill me? That won't go unnoticed. I'm too valuable. Too famous."
Carlos's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Kill you? No, no. That would be too easy. I plan to break you, piece by piece, until you beg for mercy. And then, maybe I will consider letting you go."
Logan stared at him indifferently. "You're making a mistake," he said calmly.
Carlos chuckled as he leaned forward. "We'll see about that."