Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 973 : Struck Down

*Leo*

I had to physically keep myself from letting my temper go out of control as I pulled into the parking lot of a bar. It wasn’t even noon and the kid was already drinking his mind away. I reminded myself that while he was my responsibility, it was still this bastard’s choice what he did and it would be his downfall, not mine, when it eventually caught up with him.

Darion didn’t seem to care that there are eyes on him and that I am aware that he is fooling around and skipping classes. He also didn’t seem to care that this is going to affect him considering that he is still on trial in terms of this position.

I should have named him unfit for this as soon as he started coming on to Bianca the first day but it was kind of a favor to Al that I was still willing to give the brat a chance.

That, and the fact we were creeping closer and closer to my child’s due date and I needed out of this operation sooner rather than later.

I stepped out of my car and strode up to the doors of the bar, shoving them open. This one was surprisingly crowded considering it was the middle of the day. Even so, it was easy to spot Darion as he was the center of attention as always, chatting with a group of college age kids.

I didn’t care that I could be making a scene and pushed through the small crowd to stand right in front of Darion. “Follow me,” I ordered without the preamble. I turned on my heel and strode out of the bar, not waiting to see if he would follow. He would if he knew what was good for him.

A couple minutes later, he emerged from the building, looking completely unruffled but the tick in his jaw showed his irritation.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked cockily.

I just grinned pleasantly at him. “We have some errands to run,” I informed him flatly. “And since you decided to skip out on your classes, I figured you might as well join me. It’s time you worked for what you signed up for.”

Darion looked like he would have wanted nothing more than to argue so I was a little shocked when he got into the passenger seat of my car without another word.

I planned a grueling day for the bastard, hoping to put him in his place and maybe get that arrogant look off of his face.

He looked around as we walked into the real estate building. The group member for the shareholder meeting was already gathered and I could see the displeasure on Darion’s face as he realized just what we were doing.

“Pay attention during the meeting,” I warned him as we moved to the front of the table. “You’ll need to be wise in business ventures for this role.”

Darion just nodded and I thought I caught a hint of a smirk on his face but I just shook my head and started unpacking my things for the meeting. I took my place at the head of the table while the other members started pulling out notebooks and pens.

Darion took the seat beside me and leaned back in a stance that was far too casual but I just clenched my jaw and made no comment.

I arranged this meeting so that we could discuss projections and property development strategies. We were well into it within twenty minutes, sharing numbers and it looked like Darion wasn’t paying attention at all until he decided to chime in out of nowhere.

“Our urban redevelopment project is expected to increase revenue by fifteen percent,” I said, going over a chart. I turned. “I believe there were concerns about cost overruns last meeting?”

Mr. Harper, a stern-looking gentleman, nodded. “Yes, cost of materials has been insane recently. How are we going to combat such risks?”

“Yes, I’m aware of the risks,” I said but before I could explain further, Darion leaned forward so suddenly that I whirled to look at him in shock.

“Mr. Harper, you are absolutely right to be concerned about the costs,” he said, suddenly very charming. “Leo here is being modest though. The team has already built in contingency budgets. I dare say you are in good hands!”

The shareholders chuckled and started to murmur approvingly to each other.

“That’s a refreshing perspective you got there,” Mr. Harper said, clearly impressed. “Well done, young man!”

I tried to shake off the strange interaction but as the meeting continued, Darion was suddenly intent on being the star of the show once again. He kept on sharing unique insights and thoughts, causing the group to praise him over and over.

I turned to level Darion with a glare toward the end of the meeting but he paid me no mind, soaking in the attention he was getting.

Mr. Harper pulled me aside after the meeting. “He’s sure got a knack for this, doesn’t he?”

My voice was tight. “He’s got something alright,” I muttered.

Darion was still smug about the whole interaction when we got back into the car. “This beats classes any day,” he announced. Then he rolled his eyes. “I don’t see why they can’t just give me my degree already. I’m clearly ready for the business world without all the wasted hours.”

I didn’t answer and just continued to drive, taking us back to the base and around the side to the training grounds. There were a handful of guys there, practicing shooting guns. Darion’s eyes rounded as he got a look around.

I smirked as I gestured for him to follow me. In no time, we got set up in front of a target. I watched as Darion fumbled with his gun as one of the guys gave him a quick rundown on how to hold it.

“Have you ever shot before?” I asked as I lined up my gun toward the target.

Darion was quiet for a moment. “Not since I was fifteen and went with my dad to a range,” he admitted.

Something in his tone suggested there was more to the story but I simply didn’t care to hear it. Besides, we weren’t here to spend quality time together. I prayed that that day never came.

I hit the target easily, hitting the dummy square in the chest and in the head. I stepped aside to let Darion take a turn. The kid hesitated, walking slowly up to the mark on the floor where he was supposed to stand.

I believed him when he said he hadn’t done this in over five years. It showed in the uncertain way he held the weapon, as if he were expecting it to come alive and bite him. It was satisfying to see since I had never seen him without an arrogant smirk on his face.

His first shot didn’t even come close to hitting the target, hitting the wall a couple of feet away. I tilted my head and continued to watch as he shot several more times, one of the bullets nicking the target. He tried again, once again missing the dummy entirely.

I waited until he lowered the gun in defeat before starting to step forward to fix his pathetic excuse for form when he suddenly stiffened and threw the gun to the ground out of frustration.

Time seemed to slow and I could tell the gun was going to fire because of the way Darion threw it. I grabbed the idiot and threw him to the ground, lying beside him just as the gun fired. I looked up a moment later and saw a tiny bullet mark in the wall opposite us. My temper flared when one of the other guys sent us a wide-eyed look since he was standing right next to the hole.

My temper flared and I grabbed Darion by the collar, pulling him up. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I demanded. “You almost killed someone!”

Darion met my gaze unflinchingly. “Whatever, this is pointless anyway,” he said flatly. “The boss doesn’t need to know how to shoot. All I’m going to be doing is ordering people around.”

I saw red at his words and shoved him against a nearby wall, pulling out a gun from my belt and pressing it to his head. I had him pinned so he could barely even struggle, one arm locked far up his back.

I just held him like that for a moment, allowing him to feel the fact that he couldn’t get out of my hold even if he wanted to.

“Even the boss can get apprehended and struck down,” I told him calmly, pushing him even harder against the wall, tugging on his bound arm a little more so he could feel it. “Especially since bosses have targets essentially painted on their backs at all times.”

Darion’s whole body was stiff as he struggled feebly, barely able to move a full inch as I shoved him into the wall. I fingered the trigger, allowing it to click. Darion inhaled sharply, panic finally settling in and he must have realized that he pushed me way too far and that I was beyond angry this time.

It would have been nice to play this out a little longer and see just how much more I could make him freak out but I could tell that I made my point. Reluctantly, I let him go and straightened, tilting the gun so that he could see it fully.

“Someone with a little more training would have been able to recognize immediately when there isn’t even a clip in the gun,” I said, my voice laced with heavy disappointment.

Darion was breathing heavily and staring up at me with wide eyes. He controlled his expression a moment later, his jaw tightening with rage.

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was just embarrassed at being played the fool but this was clearly the only way to teach such an arrogant prick. I wordlessly slipped a clip into the gun and raised it, easily hitting the target a dozen times with quick movements, each bullet striking the silhouette in the head.

Darion was staring at the target, his fists clenched at his sides but I thought I detected an echo of awe in his expression.

Under normal circumstances, I probably would have felt immense satisfaction putting Darion in his place but I just felt cold rage over what almost happened. Darion was my responsibility and he nearly killed someone because of his arrogance. It would have been all my fault.

I handed Darion the gun I just used to blast out the target’s brains. He took it wordlessly but with a tad more respect than he had previously. It wasn’t much though. I could tell it was going to take a lot more to teach this guy to keep his overconfidence from overtaking him.

“You’re not leaving until you hit that target in the head,” I told him coldly before taking my place behind him and crossing my arms, showing just how serious I was.

Darion’s whole posture was stiff with displeasure as he ground his teeth before turning to face the target.