Page 69 of Pretty Little Disaster

“Your sweet, little fiancée is probably having some doubts.” She shakes her head and tuts. “It’s very cruel to lead a girl on. She actually thought you loved her.” Her laugh is cruel and vindictive and I have to clench my fists and count to ten because I may murder people for a living but, I was still raised to never hit a woman.

“I do, fucking love he–”

My sister proves that she was raised with me as a big brother when she spins around and lands the perfect right hook on Bianca’s cheek.

Gasps break out all around the room as the fake bitch flings herself into Gio’s arms dramatically.

“You should learn how to control your sister,” Gio snarls at me as he comforts her.

“I’m afraid his sister is one who can not be controlled.” I recognize the voice that comes from behind me and Gio turns pale when Dario stands beside his wife, pushing the hair that’s come loose from the fancy hairstyle she’s had done, behind her ear.

“I didn’t mean any offense, Dario….I was just…”

Dario says nothing, just glares at him, as he wraps his arms around my sister's shoulders and leads her away. The look he gives me as he steps past me suggests that Gio Ferrazza could well be my next job.

“Where is she?” I look Bianca square in the eyes, daring her to lie to me.

“I don’t know, I guess she didn’t like what she heard and left.” She shrugs so innocently that I have to step away from her, and pulling out my phone as I do, I check the ‘find my phone’ app so I can see her location.

“She’s still here,” I whisper in my sister's ear as I catch up to her, and the crowd she and Dario are now socializing with.

“I’ll help you look.” She smiles, and I head off to start my search in all the obvious places…starting with the bathrooms.

LORNA

Istand wet and freezing cold on Cass’s doorstep, ringing her bell and ignoring the fact that her car isn’t on the drive. She has to be home, this is the only place I can go, and she is the only person I can speak to about what I’ve learned tonight.

After five more minutes I start to lose hope, and I rush back to Nic’s car so I can rest my soaking wet feet. I make sure the heated seat warmers are on to dry me off as I watch the rain outside pelt against the windshield and sob.

Maybe I should go to my mom’s, but she’s not the best person to get advice from. I’m hoping Cass has just popped out for something and will be back soon because, second to Madalina, she’s a great advice-giver.

I jump out of my skin when I hear a tap against the window and when I look to my right and see Jonah, I clutch my chest and breathe a sigh of relief.

“You scared the shit out of me.” I crack the door open enough for him to hear me but keep the rain out.

“What are you doing here?” he calls out, getting soaked through himself.

“I was hoping to catch Cass” I call over the rain.

“She’s at work, she’ll be home in about half an hour. I’m meeting her here. Come on, I know where her spare key is.”

He slides his jacket off and holds it up over his head, making room for me too, and, deciding that it beats waiting in the car, I open the door and let him help me get out.

I hold the jacket by myself while he crouches down and moves one of the plant pots by the front door. Picking up the key, he opens the door and waits for me to step inside first.

“Thanks.” I hang his jacket on the stand behind the door, while he flicks on a lamp and dries his hands on the sweats he’s wearing.

“Maybe you should sit down?” He clears the couch of all Cass’s magazines, looking at me awkwardly as I slowly make my way over and lower myself to sit.

“You can’t have long left, now.” He stares at my swollen stomach like it scares him and despite all my hurt, I manage to laugh. “About two weeks, he’s running out of room in there, though.” I grab some cushions to pad out my back and make myself more comfortable.

“It looks like it.” Jonah loosens up a little, but when a huge kick to the bladder makes me flinch, he suddenly looks nervous again.

“Relax, it happens all the time. Do you want to feel?” I reach out for his hand, but he shakes his head.

“Cass shouldn’t be long, you want me to make you some tea or something?” He stands up and when his phone starts to vibrate, he takes it out of his pocket, checks who’s calling, and chooses to ignore it. Out of all the gang, Jonah’s the one I know least about, he keeps himself to himself and I’m guessing from the way he’s acting that he can tell I’m upset and doesn’t know how to handle it.

“I’m good. Thanks. You can answer that if you want.” I gesture my head to his pocket as he places his phone back insideit, and then when he sits on the coffee table in front of me, what he says next really surprises me.

---