Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 979 : Last Chance

*Leo*

I lifted my head as my cell phone blared obnoxiously. I cursed the little device when Bianca stirred from where she lay against my chest. I kissed the top of her head and wrapped my arms more tightly around her. One quick glance at the digital clock on the nightstand revealed that it was the middle of the night.

I shut my eyes for a quick second, knowing that this was going to be a work call and it was likely urgent. I let myself enjoy just another moment of peace, focusing on the feeling of Bianca’s naked body pressed against mine.

I had known that it was only a matter of time before our peace was interrupted. That was the life of a don though. We couldn’t really have a normal life. I knew that was why I had to leave this position. I had to do it for my family. I couldn’t even imagine having a baby around this chaos.

Bianca lifted her head and looked at me. There was a tiny bit of moonlight streaming in through the curtains. It was just enough light to make out the look of confusion on her angelic face.

I kissed her forehead. “Sorry, love,” I murmured, my voice still thick with sleep. I shifted to snatch my phone off of the nightstand. My eyes narrowed when I saw that it was Alessandro calling. I cleared my throat before answering. “This better be good, Al.”

“Oh trust me,” Al said, his voice flat and filled with rage. “I won’t disappoint you.”

That got my attention. I sat up straighter in bed, which alarmed Bianca. She turned on the light on her side of the bed and sat up as well, watching me with large, round eyes. I gave her an apologetic look before returning to the call.

“What the hell does that mean?” I demanded.

“I looked into Darion as you suggested,” Al said, his tone clipped.

My heart raced slightly. “And?”

“And it looks like you were right to be suspicious of him,” he said.

I looked up at Bianca, who was watching me with interest but it was clear that she couldn’t hear what Al was saying. That was probably for the best. I didn’t want her to be afraid if this was worse than even I was anticipating.

“Darion has been deceiving us,” he said. “I confirmed that he has been paying off his professors but that is just the tip of the iceberg.”

This wasn’t that surprising to me, considering all of the shit the little asshole has been putting us through. “I can only imagine,” I said dryly, waiting patiently for the man to get on with it.

I could feel his frustration through the phone, which was impressive considering that he was one of those men who kept his cool in even the more stressful situations.

“What’s going on?” Bianca asked so quietly that she was essentially just mouthing the words.

I put up a hand to caution her, rubbing a hand over my face, having a feeling that I was going to need another drink after this conversation.

“That negotiation he did for us last year was just a ruse,” Al growled. “It was all bribery. He was desperate for money because his parents cut him off six months earlier.”

I was suppressing a growl as well. That meant Darion was just bluffing each time he claimed he would use money from his parents to get his way. If his parents did truly cut him off, I would place a bet that they wouldn’t come running to his aid for something like getting Taylor thrown in jail.

“That connects a lot of dots,” I said. My eyebrow quirked with amusement when Bianca huffed. I was clearly frustrating her with my vague language. She would have no clue what Al was telling me. That was partially intentional on my part. I grinned at her and gave her a little nod, silently cautioning her to wait and that I would explain as soon as I was off the phone.

“Thank you for calling to tell me,” I said flatly. “Although, I wouldn’t have complained if you had waited for sunrise.”

“There’s a reason why this couldn’t wait,” he said and his voice was even icier. “Darion just called from LA county jail.”

My eyebrows flew up. “What are his charges?”

Bianca’s jaw dropped. “Darion?” she mouthed and I nodded grimly.

“Drunk driving and public intoxication,” he said and I could almost hear him shaking his head. “He asked me to bail him out since he doesn’t want to call his parents.”

My teeth ground together at the thought of that little twit getting away with yet another fuck up. “So, you’re going to get the bastard?” I asked it but there was no inflection toward the end of my sentence.

“Actually, I’ve decided that I’m going to leave his fate up to you,” he said. “That seems only appropriate considering everything that he’s put you and your fiancee through.”

“I appreciate that,” I said, trying to bite back the evil grin that wanted to break out on my face.

He read my tone easily. “I should warn you that he could be a liability if cut loose. He knows too much.”

I thanked him again before hanging up.

“What’s going on?” Bianca asked before I even had a chance to set my phone down.

“Al was able to confirm your claims,” I told her, my mind racing as I contemplated my next move. “He’s currently at the LA county jail. He’s being charged for drunk driving and public intoxication.”

Bianca was quiet, her eyes dropping to the comforter. A tick formed in her jaw. “Is he buying his way out of this one too?”

“He won’t be able to since his parents cut him off months ago,” I told her. “Darion called Al, asking for help but Al has decided to let me decide his fate.”

Bianca frowned, considering this. “So what are you going to do?” she asked tonelessly.

“I was actually going to ask you what I should do,” I said. “I’m leaning toward going to bail him out.”

Bianca’s jaw dropped. “Why?” she asked. “He deserves to rot for what he did to Amara.”

“Trust me,” I told her. “I won’t let him get away with what he did.”

Bianca looked uncertain and I saw the war raging behind her eyes. She studied the smirk on my face for a long moment before she nodded.

“Thank you,” I said before standing to my feet.

Bianca looked up at me in shock. “You’re going now?” she asked. “It’s the middle of the night!”

I moved around the room, slipping into some clothes before grabbing my keys and wallet from off of the nightstand. “I’m not going to be able to sleep now after that call,” I told her. “I need to deal with this now. You’re right. He has gotten away for all the shit he pulled for too long.”

Bianca nodded in understanding and I was surprised to see some pride glint in her eyes. “Good luck,” she told me.

I bent to kiss her, marveling at how lucky I was to have her. “Go back to sleep,” I ordered gently, caressing her cheek in the palm of my hand.

She smirked. “And what makes you think I’ll be able to sleep?” She asked. “You aren’t able to.”

“I’m not the one growing a person inside of me,” I said, reaching down to pat the little bump beneath her nightgown.

She stuck her tongue out at me but obediently got back under the covers and let me tuck her in. I tapped beneath her chin affectionately before leaving the room.

Sunrise was still a few hours away when I got to the station. The police officer who led me to the holding cell was a young guy. And I nodded curtly to him when he gestured to the one Darion was being held in. I showed him my card which allowed me access to the keys so he relinquished them to me.

“Thank you,” I said. “I should be fine on my own. I’ll call if I need anything.”

The guard hesitated but then nodded and left me alone.

Darion was sitting against the wall, his head hanging. He looked absolutely pathetic. He looked up when he heard my footsteps and I saw relief flash in his eyes. He stood quickly to his feet.

I approached casually, slipping the key in the lock and stepping into the cell with Darion, shutting the bars behind me. “Don’t look too thrilled to see me,” I said. “I’m well aware of the games you’ve been playing, lying and paying people to do your bidding.”

Darion clenched his jaw but said nothing.

Good because I wasn’t done. “You’ve also been stealing money from us and redirecting shipments,” I said flatly, growing angrier when I remembered the territory he cost us.

“I should just leave you here but out of respect for Alessandro, I am willing to give you one last chance to prove that you aren’t the worthless piece of shit you’ve been set on showing us,” I said.

Darion scoffed, his face completely nonchalant.

I saw red. Here I was giving him a chance to leave this dirty cell and he was still being arrogant. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and slammed him hard against the wall.

“I mean it,” I growled, glaring murderously at him. “I’m going to get you out of here but you better make it worth my while. If you don’t, you’ll be wishing you were back in this cell because you’ll have to deal with me.”

Darion was gasping now since I knocked the wind out of him. “I understand,” he managed to choke out.

I did not let him off easy, pushing him even harder against the wall. “From now on, you do what you’re told. No more drugs. No more parties. You go to your classes and then you’re reporting to me where you will be doing all of the grunt work I give you without complaint.”

I finally let him go and he immediately grabbed his shoulder, which was probably bruised now but I honestly didn’t give a fuck. I lifted my chin, glowering down at him as if he was nothing more than a bug beneath my shoe. “Do we have an understanding?” I asked knowingly.

Darion might have been a little shit but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew that I was in complete control. It was either agree to my terms or rot in jail for the next couple of decades.

Darion nodded and I was shocked to actually see respect in his eyes. “Yes, sir. I understand. I will do whatever you ask.”

I held back a smirk and nodded. “That’s what I thought,” I said. “This is your last chance.”

And then I turned and opened the cell, gesturing for him to go through it.