Page 53 of Pretty Little Disaster

“Why is your stupid sister so obsessed with throwing parties?” Lorna moans once she’s done smiling at the latest guest to arrive.

“Maybe this one was my idea,” I confess, knowing it will only add to her frustration. She looks so damn hot when she’s angry that I can’t help myself.

“Nic, we aren’t fucking royalty, we don’t need an engagement party, especially since we’ve been engaged for two months now and it’s obvious why we’re getting married.” She quickly pastes on another smile when the Leones step through the entrance and head straight for us.

“Nic, this must be the lovely Lorna.” Vincenzo Leone holds out his hand for hers, and when she offers it, he takes his time and kisses it. I smile too, while I visualize the marble step from the staircase behind us, between his teeth and my boot in the back of his head.

“I see you are wasting no time in getting started on a family.” When his other hand starts to reach out like he’s going to touch her perfect, round bump, I block it and move him along.

“Why the fuck do people think they can do that?” I angle her body into mine and whisper into her ear.

“Beats me.” She shrugs.

Vincenzo moves on to find a waiter with the champagne tray, while Lorna tugs at the bottom of her dress in frustration.

“What’s wrong? You keep fidgeting.” Everything she does lately has me on edge. She still has eleven weeks left of being pregnant and I’m already a nervous wreck.

“What’s wrong? Can you notseewhat's wrong here, Nic?” She looks down at her huge, swollen middle. “I swear this dress had plenty of room in it last week when this stupid idea was sprung on me, now it looks like it’s been sprayed on, and don’t even get mestartedon how I’m going to use the bathroom.” She shakes her head and stops the waiter with the canapés as he passes, loading herself with one in each hand.

“Well, you look beautiful,” I assure her, sliding my arm around her waist and tugging her closer.

“You have to say that, you're the one who did this to me,” she snarls before popping one of the canapés into her mouth.

“Lorna, I don’thaveto say anything. And take a look around you, most of the guys in this room can’t keep their eyes off you.” I can be sure of that fact because I’ve planned at least six fucking murders in my head in the past half an hour.

“They can’t keep their eyes off me because there's so much of me to see. This dress makes me look like a beached whale and I swear I’ve started putting weight on my ass.” She looks back over her shoulder.

“I love your ass.” I squeeze it and she throws me a look that could kill before she finishes her last canapé. My girl’s been in one of her delicate moods all day so I stroke her back and kiss her temple.

“Lorna.” We both look to the door when we hear her name and her face lights up when her mom and Kevin step throughit. “My goodness, look at you.” Patsy’s eyes stretch wide as she looks down at her daughter's swollen stomach, “You’re glowing, sweetheart.”

“See what I mean? That's the polite way of saying I’m fat.” Lorna turns her head and tells me under her breath.

“I can’t believe it, how many weeks do I have to wait now?” Her mom takes a firm grip on Lorna’s belly and almost gives me a heart attack when she shakes it.

“Eleven weeks but I could go over, Madalina did.” Lorna smiles and looks down at her ever-growing bump. I can’t even imagine how hot she’s going to look after eleven more weeks of growing my child, and I’m better off not thinking too much about it, considering her mom and stepdad are right in front of me.

“It seems so far away but it will fly by,” Patsy assures her. “I must find Serena, she sent me a text about a baby shower. I’m going to make a cake.” She kisses Lorna's cheek before dragging a silent Kevin away with her.

“She’s excited.” I see her spot Serena and wave her hand in the air enthusiastically.

“She has been emailing me baby names every day since we told her. I don’t know what planet she thinks I’m going to be giving birth on, but people give their kids some weird names.” Lorna screws up her face and slides her hand across the side of her stomach.

“Is he giving you shit in there?” I check.

“Yep, right under the ribs” She turns her frown into a smile when Cass and the boys show up, all of them taking in their surroundings and looking shocked by Dario and Madalina’s impressive mansion.

“Guys, over here.” She calls them over and I make an effort by greeting the guys with a handshake, and Cass with a kiss to her cheek.

This is the first time I’ve seen them since the night at the beach house. I’ve spoken plenty to Cass on the phone and although they aren’t my kind of people, I appreciate what they did to keep things controlled. Lorna’s had Cass round to the apartment a few times while I’ve been to work but it’s the first time she’s seen the boys, and I really hope it’s not going to be triggering for her.

“Wow, Lor… you almost look ready to pop!” I scowl at Wes when he opens his big mouth, and he quickly shakes his head when he realizes his error. “I…I mean, you're glowing.” He levels it up from bad to worse and it makes Lorna side-glance me, sternly.

“She looks incredible, doesn’t she, Jonah?” Cass elbows him, but he’s far too busy helping himself to a glass of champagne and looking around the room. I guess being here is making them all a little nervous, last time we were together there was a man's head in pieces all over the floor. He’s probably very aware that, right now, he is in a room with New York's most dangerous men.

Leaders from all the districts are here tonight, all of those except Bruno who, of course, sent his nephew with his apologies. I can see now why Dario was so insistent that we have the party here, we would never have fitted all these people into my apartment and it would have been nowhere near as luxurious. Dario, throwing this party for us, is sending out a message, one that tells the districts that this isn’t a one-man race.

“You armed Conte?” Wes leans in and asks under his breath.

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